LED Gauge Cluster - 1990's Hondas - AZHT

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06-04-2011, 10:02 PM #1

Phempalegalize it.Join Date: Aug 2006

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LED Gauge Cluster - 1990's Hondas

Had a couple requests for this DIY.

This will work in most of your Hondas, but things like the cluster removal procedure, bulb quantity, and even bulb sizes may vary by vehicle.

To verify your gauge cluster bulb type, check you vehicle at the following site:http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...lacementGuide/

It will most likely be the bottom listing, labeled "Instrument-general". My Del Sol take 74 typebulbs.

The key is toget good bulbs with multiple diodesarranged in a way that they disperse light in a spherical manner.This is important if you want to avoid visual "hot spots" in the lighting.I went with 7 of these. They contain 3 radial-mounted SMD's on each bulb. From SuperBrightLEDs.com:

6 colors available, $3.49 ea.

Follow your Haynes or Chiltons manual for instructions to remove your instrument cluster.

Here is the Del Sol cluster removed:

D Gauge Cluster - 1990's Hondas - AZHT.net http://www.azht.net/forum/showthread.php?t=150709

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In the Del Sol, remove these 7 bulbs by twisting.

The other bulbs are for the instrument signals, and should not be replaced with LED's. Doing so makes them act strange (some lights stay onconstantly when replaced with an LED).

There will be a glass bulb in each plastic holder that you must remove. You will be reusing these plastic bulb holders.

If you lose or break one, you can get a replacement from the same site you got the LED's, link.They come with a standard LED for $1.79, but I suggest removing that bulb that comes with it, and use the same type of bulb that you used in all theothers, for color and brightness consistency.

Insert the new LED you got from SuperBrightLEDs.com into the p lastic holder. Like so:

Reinstall the bulbs as you removed them, and test by plugging in all connectors and turning on your lights.

Now, you WILL initiallybe disappointed, as half of the lights will appear to not work.... don't worry!These LED's will only work if installed with the polarity correct.Unfortunately, the only way to do this is by trial-and-error.Take note of the area that seems dull, take that LED out and flip it around.Do this until the gauges glow evenly.


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Reinstall cluster and surround carefully!

I've done this to two of my Honda's. The quality of the final product greatly relies on the design of the gauge cluster. My accord looked MUCH betterthan the Del Sol, mostly because the Accord gauges are lit by both the rear and above.

'94 Del Sol:

'91 Accord:

Thinking of changing the Del Sol gauges to ultra-white, which should make the redline area red again. Will update if I do!

06-05-2011, 02:43 AM #2

NSL Codyg

Join Date: Sep 2010Location: Peoria


Thanks for the info! Just got myself a new project for the week now!

06-05-2011, 03:12 AM #3

aztowgod

i likey


13 27/10/2014 5:05


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06-05-2011, 10:31 AM #4

StreetMechanic

Join Date: Apr 2009Location: Globe, AZ

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ya very good idea, you have multiple color leds or is it just the one,__________________I live my Life a Quarter mile at a time, for those ten seconds or less I'm free -- (Dominic Toretto)

06-05-2011, 12:58 PM #5

ineedvtec

Join Date: Apr 2009Location: The I-17Posts: 66

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Freakin sweet!__________________

Lovin My First Honda

06-05-2011, 01:21 PM #6

Atomic-Orange-Turbo-SlothGod of Thunderdome

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amber for JDM status LOL__________________Live slow, die whenever

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06-06-2011, 02:42 AM #7

badboss23

Join Date: Mar 2010Location: the real westside


great write up i want to do this .

06-09-2011, 12:13 PM #8

REJ1-94func-shun

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: phoenixPosts: 2,501

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that looks like it would be fun to do

my lights are kinda going out if i do it ill post up pics__________________

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Originally Posted by Thatssojdmyo153... I was buying stuff before 150 anyway.

06-10-2011, 03:26 AM #9


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Colten79Drew

Join Date: Apr 2007Location: Glendale


shit.. i'm doing mine!!! shit looks clean__________________PM me for...-engine building...

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06-10-2011, 05:55 AM #10

ROCKS626You never had me!

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: In the heat.. ha haPosts: 116

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how long did it take to do this bro? nice work

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06-10-2011, 03:20 PM #11

skar1MDM Member #0024

Join Date: Apr 2007Location: Phoenix


If you've removed your cluster before it'll take ten mins, i did it on my girls hatch pretty easy, nice write up op

06-10-2011, 08:58 PM #12

trujdm

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: 2SawnPosts: 647iTrader: (30)

Just ordered my set of LED bulbs to bring life to my CRX cluster. I'll take before and after shots to show the difference it makes once they get here.__________________94 Civic DX Coupe (Sold)

93 del Sol S (Sold)94 del Sol VTEC (Sold)96 Civic EX Turbo (Sold)96 del Sol S Turbo (Sold - Finally)

88 CRX Si (Current Project)93 Civic LX (Sold)

06-11-2011, 09:12 PM #13

rOkaZ(_!_)

Join Date: May 2008Location: in the cleavage..


guess imma do this.. but what about for the climate control ?__________________

06-11-2011, 11:20 PM #14

Phempalegalize it.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rOkaZguess imma do this.. but what about for the climate control ?

Depends on the car, but it's a similar procedure. Replace existing bulbs with LED's of the same size.

However, from what I hear, it's not too easy to remove the climate control in most Hondas. The temperature control is usually connected to a cable thatphysically pulls on a mechanism.

06-13-2011, 11:09 PM #15


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Adolfom

Join Date: Oct 2010

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ordered mine today should have em by end of week__________________1990 Ford F-150 xlt with 351 windsor h/o1997 Honda Accord Ex(sold)1994 Honda Civic(wrecked)2006 Nissan Sentra (Sold)1999 Honda Civic (Project Car)

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06-14-2011, 06:15 PM #16

trujdm

Join Date: Jul 2007Location: 2Sawn

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Got the LED's in the mail today, can't put them in until tomorrow since I left my camera at work and want to take pics of the process.__________________94 Civic DX Coupe (Sold)93 del Sol S (Sold)94 del Sol VTEC (Sold)96 Civic EX Turbo (Sold)96 del Sol S Turbo (Sold - Finally)88 CRX Si (Current Project)93 Civic LX (Sold)

06-15-2011, 08:14 PM #17

trujdm

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: 2Sawn


Well I installed them but I'm not 100% thrilled with it. It sucks for those of us with d ifferent bulb types because it's hard to perfectly match the colorshade. In the CRX I have 3 different bulb sizes; 194's, 74's and a 24. I ordered them all on the same website and tried to match up the bulb model orstyle (whatever you want to call it) between the sizes. What I mean is they didn't have say the Matrix for example in all 3 different sizes, they might havea Matrix 2 for one of the sizes and a Supernova Matrix for another. It's close but not perfect, which will most likely bug me. I also ordered some LED's totry and get the needles to light up red but they ended up a weak red/pinkish shade, so I nixed that idea. I o rdered them from Autolumination.com sincesuperbrightLED's didn't seem to have the 24 size, they are all the Super White color. Anyways, here are some pics:

Back of cluster (brown bulb holders are the cluster lights on the CRX, there are 6 altogether)


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These are the little bulbs on top that light the front of the gauge faces that I ended up not using


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Before (Old and Busted)

After (New Hotness)


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__________________94 Civic DX Coupe (Sold)93 del Sol S (Sold)94 del Sol VTEC (Sold)96 Civic EX Turbo (Sold)96 del Sol S Turbo (Sold - Finally)88 CRX Si (Current Project)93 Civic LX (Sold)

06-15-2011, 11:41 PM #18

Phempalegalize it.

Join Date: Aug 2006Location: Tucson


Looks great in the pic, but I can understand your frustration about the color differences. Trial and error with different bulb types/brands is the only sureway to get it right. Luckily, the bulbs aren't very expensive

Good job!

06-16-2011, 06:23 AM #19

trujdm

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I don't know about them being cheap, altogether it was $60 shipped. Kinda pricey in my book, so I was expecting better.__________________94 Civic DX Coupe (Sold)93 del Sol S (Sold)94 del Sol VTEC (Sold)96 Civic EX Turbo (Sold)96 del Sol S Turbo (Sold - Finally)88 CRX Si (Current Project)93 Civic LX (Sold)

06-16-2011, 06:23 PM #20

Phempalegalize it.Join Date: Aug 2006

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Quote:

Originally Posted by trujdmI don't know about them being cheap, altogether it was $60 shipped. Kinda pricey in my book, so I was expecting better.

hmm, well, the ones with radial-mounted SMD's (surface-mount diodes) should all have been consistent in color.

If you mismatched typed of diodes (conventional LED alongside SMD's) I can see why there would be a difference.

06-18-2011, 02:41 AM #21

sn000t

There used to be a DIY on CB7Tuner that showed how to retro fit light up needles and do all custom LED's but it was fairly complicated and wouldprobably take a few days to do....__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulgt2164


13 27/10/2014 5:05


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Join Date: May 2010

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I hunt with piano wire.

Requires real skill. It is hard to sneak up on those damn squirrels.

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06-23-2011, 02:09 PM #22

RolowJoin Date: Mar 2006Location: Peoria, AZ


anybody have any idea how many I need for a 92-95 civic?

06-23-2011, 11:46 PM #23

drhonda09

Join Date: Sep 2009Location: Tempe AZ


Quote:

Originally Posted by trujdmI don't know about them being cheap, altogether it was $60 shipped. Kinda pricey in my book, so I was expecting better.

how many bulbs did you use for the crx cluster??

i wanna do this to mine but i need to know how many to order of each bulb type..

thanks__________________

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06-24-2011, 06:18 AM #24

trujdm

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: 2SawnPosts: 647iTrader: (30)

Quote:

Originally Posted by drhonda09how many bulbs did you use for the crx cluster??i wanna do this to mine but i need to know how many to order of each bulb type..

thanks

3 - 194's2 - 74's1 - 24

My CRX is an 88, not sure if these numbers change for the 90-91 cluster.__________________94 Civic DX Coupe (Sold)93 del Sol S (Sold)94 del Sol VTEC (Sold)

96 Civic EX Turbo (Sold)96 del Sol S Turbo (Sold - Finally)88 CRX Si (Current Project)93 Civic LX (Sold)

06-29-2011, 03:20 AM #25

azskateman

Join Date: Jun 2006Location: Peoria


Little tip. Dont waste your time on EBAY bulbs mine worked for a month or two before they lost connection__________________check out a few of my rides

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07-01-2011, 12:43 AM #26

Trick

Join Date: Aug 2007Location: Tucson...Posts: 2,527

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just did my cluster, forgot to take a before pick but here are the results... i like em

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x768.


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rc_jdm

07-01-2011, 07:26 PM #27

azjaredI like turtles

Join Date: Jan 2007Location: AZ


i did this to mine a long time ago with the climate control but i need to get different led's with more then one like your using to even it out

shitty pic, you get the idea

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Originally Posted by klEEnR.Em1azht price is ussually 3/4 of the retail price then you get lowballed another 1/2 for the being on this website. so that will leve you at 15bucksfor this and im offering 20. so thats a steal for u

07-02-2011, 03:52 PM #28

Colten79Drew

Join Date: Apr 2007Location: GlendalePosts: 6,284

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Quote:

Originally Posted by trujdmBefore (Old and Busted)


f 13 27/10/2014 5:05


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93 Civic LX (Sold)

07-03-2011, 04:00 PM #30

drhonda09

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one question, does the dimmer still work with these LED bulbs?? just curious__________________

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