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Blue led dash conversion

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by lpe350, Dec 4, 2011.

  1. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    Hello everyone, I think you might like this.

    I swapped out all the "green" leds on my console and changed them to blue leds.

    I used 3mm flat top leds and all it took was a lot of time and patient. (I don't advise you to try this unless you're really good soldering) fyi, It can be done with any color leds.

    enjoy!

    PS, my phone doesn't take the greatest pics. The blue appears almost white but it is actually blue ... lol...

    Pic 3 is actually the latest update with a little red mixed in. (12/10/11 11:56pm)

    Pics 4,5 is my wife's Prius with the same mod in PINK. (12/15/11 2:16pm)
     

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  2. roypaik

    roypaik Member

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    awesome!

    is it possible to change the lights on the multi-information display?
     
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  3. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    I do not believe it is possible. I think that is not back lit but it is an actual led display. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. :confused:
     
  4. NineScorpions

    NineScorpions Economy, Meet Style!!

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    Very nice! How does the brightness compare?
     
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  5. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    Thanks! It is much brighter but it can be adjusted by the dimmer.
     
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    I like the idea, could you post a pic of the leds at their dimmest setting, mid level, and full on? The pic you posted looks like full on? You can change the current limiting resistor and set full on at a lower max brightness if super bright blue whacks you out at night.
    I envision just a nice soft dull deep blue light against the black. I was also thinking of either Red or Amber, I am sorta leaning towards Amber. Blues do look good however!
     
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  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Oh how I wish I was good at soldering lol. I would love to change mine to amber or white.
     
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  8. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    That looks stellar! Nice work on the color. I think it looks way, WAY much better than the normal mellow green color.
     
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  9. mgb4tim

    mgb4tim Noob

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    that's pretty bright! LOL
     
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  10. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    I'm very curious about how the conversion was done on the A/C display panel. Normally it is a dull green - even during daytime operation. We're you able to get that background area to backlight as the same blue - or is that just an illusion in your pic?

    You might tell members about the tear-down process to get to those LEDs. Several panels on the sky-bridge need to come off and then the radio/sat and A/C control units must be extracted (4 bolts for radio). Once you get the units extracted, you need to remove the display panels to get access to the LEDs. Lamps in the shifter area should be easier to access.

    Great job though...have you done this before?
     
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  11. ucsmfu

    ucsmfu Senior Member

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    how did you do it ?

    it looks sick !!!
     
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  12. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    Everything pretty much pulls off on the Prius besides for the (4)10mm screws holding the nav/radio in place. The rear of the a/c unit has 7 phillips screws and the Nav radio has 6 Phillips screws holding the front panel in place. I don't think fellow members would have differculty with the disassembly part. Like I mentioned before, the soldering is the hard part. The circuit boards are labeled "a" for + and "k" for -. (Once again, I don't recommend trying this unless you have experience with a hot iron)

    The back of the ac display has 6 leds which were changed by removing the 2 screws holding the display against the panel.

    As far as doing this before, I've done 2 Corvettes(one red/one blue)and a GMC yukon (white) before. The Prius is by far the easiest of the 4. I am still trying to finish off the window switches and power button as well as the steering controls.

    I kinda like the BRIGHT lights, but it will dim all the way down and cut off at the same time the multi display cuts off from too little voltage. I used super bright leds, I guess one can always use standard leds if it appears too bright.
     
  13. dehhh

    dehhh Junior Member

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    very nice.

    if I were to mod it I would do a soft white.
     
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  14. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    OP - again, great job and keep us posted on how the other controls turned out. Where did you get the LEDs from? Have you noticed any change in the color of the background of the A/C status panel during daytime operation (i.e. is it still bright blue)?

    I kept your notes in post #12 in case I decide to do this one too. I like the look of blue since it ties in better with the speedo/MID cluster color. Keep track of how the steering wheel LED changes went...I've wondered how that silver plastic trim comes off the wheel. Those OEM LEDs are way too dim IMO, maybe more powerful ones would bring them up so they are easier to see.
     
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  15. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    The blue is nice and bright even during the day, but it really doesn't match the multi display at all :(. The silver steering wheel panels can be removed by following the directions in the JDM steering wheel tread. I'll try to get to the other lights this weekend if time permits.

    Update! The steering wheel came off quite easily by removing the the small panels on either side with a screw driver and then prying on the spring clip to release the air bag. After that, 2 phillips screw on each side will release the silver pieces with the switches.

    The Ipod style switches only had 2 green leds on each side but there were provisions for 4 on each side so I soldered 4 blue 3mm leds on each side. (I would use standard leds next time since the super bright ones I used are really bright and the steering wheel controls do not dim with the dash dimmer.) The hands free buttons had 2 leds which I replaced. I also replaced the little green dots on the window switched with blue leds but I didn't include the pics. (just picture blue instead of green, lol)

    I also installed the aftermarket heated seat switched under the sky bridge with blue leds to match.

    Can anyone tell me how to disassemble the "start" button without breaking it so I can change that to blue too? I tried but didn't have much luck and didn't want to break it since the car would be useless if that happened until I would be able to replace it. Thank you in advance!
     

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  16. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    TTT, updated ^^^ :)
     
  17. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    Awesome job on the steering wheel! I wish Toyota had used your "blue" concept as it has much cooler look to it. Too bad the speedo/MID pales by comparison now.

    Can you post some details as to how you got the silver trim plates off of the steering wheel?
     
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  18. lpe350

    lpe350 Member

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    Update! I got the "power" button apart and changed out the 1 green led to blue. I also did the radio over and used red leds where the button divider are to give it a little contrast. :D
     

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  19. timthecyclist25

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    Wow, that's pretty cool.
     
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  20. NineScorpions

    NineScorpions Economy, Meet Style!!

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    Excellent job! Looks good.
     
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