View Full Version : General Building New AC Panel Faceplate
jawn101
09-09-2014, 11:58 AM
He means the FAN FAIL unit.
That would be a neat feature for the RPM relay to have :)
This looks great, Dave. I can't wait to see one in person, somewhere. It's awesome to see people tackling problems like this, between you making this and Billy making those new faceplate decals you've basically eliminated another "NLA" part.
Tillsy
09-09-2014, 06:48 PM
He means the FAN FAIL unit.
ROTFL!!! Don't mind me, running on three hours sleep in three days :hysterical:
Tillsy
09-14-2014, 02:53 AM
The blue is stunning, absolutely stunning... and if you combine with his solid state fan fail relay you even get the fan symbol illuminating specifically only when the fans are on ;)
Further on this... if you use Dave's solid state fan relay one of its features is it keeps the fans running for an additional 20 seconds after you turn the car off. As above if you use his solid state fan fail relay AND his LED board then you get the fan symbol illuminating when the fans are running. Combine all THREE and you get this cool result for 20 seconds if you completely turn off the car whilst the fans are running...
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=30738&d=1410676950
Also, I should post into this thread the installed/running photo I posted in the What Have You Done thread to show how awesome the blue is :)
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=30729&d=1410533426
Thanks for the pictures Tillsy! Although I've got to ask, where'd you get a blue headlight switch? Mine's getting "sticky" on me, so I could definitely use a replacement. Or is that part of the kit? It matches quite nicely if I do say so myself.
Tillsy
09-14-2014, 08:02 AM
Thanks for the pictures Tillsy! Although I've got to ask, where'd you get a blue headlight switch? Mine's getting "sticky" on me, so I could definitely use a replacement. Or is that part of the kit? It matches quite nicely if I do say so myself.
I've replaced my headlight switch with a hazard switch, as I only need a 'single toggle' rather than a dual position due to it only controlling my headlights (and only if car is on, that way I can't leave them running). I've offloaded my park lights via a relay that is on whenever the car is on - I use them as DRL so no need to separately switch them on.
The lighting I achieved by removing the stock filter inside the button itself and substitute the light bulb with a coloured LED.
Headlight switch becoming sticky or not working is common - the load of the park circuit going through that switch slowly melts it - not the headlights themselves as the switch merely triggers a relay for those. You might be able to repair yours, or otherwise replace.
GS450-Junkie
09-14-2014, 09:22 AM
I've replaced my headlight switch with a hazard switch, as I only need a 'single toggle' rather than a dual position due to it only controlling my headlights (and only if car is on, that way I can't leave them running). I've offloaded my park lights via a relay that is on whenever the car is on - I use them as DRL so no need to separately switch them on.
The lighting I achieved by removing the stock filter inside the button itself and substitute the light bulb with a coloured LED.
Headlight switch becoming sticky or not working is common - the load of the park circuit going through that switch slowly melts it - not the headlights themselves as the switch merely triggers a relay for those. You might be able to repair yours, or otherwise replace.
DPNW offers a nice headlight relay splice in kit for around $10.00. This is a good update to do as long as you have everything ripped apart for the AC Panel install.
Tillsy -- care to tell us more about your headlight and hazard switch LED replacement? Dave's ac panel looks so good, but at the same time it makes me want more out of those two switches for lighting. Yours look great!
Bitsyncmaster
09-14-2014, 09:35 AM
If you instal a colored LED into the switches, you can remove the colored filter under the switch cap and really get a bright true color displayed. One of the first things I did to my car 7 years ago was to solder a colored LED into the switch and then spliced a current limiting resistor into the wiring. When you solder an LED rather than a bulb LED replacement, you can mount the LED further from the switch cap and get a full fill of illumination.
I'll have to look into the replacement LED option. With the A/C panel, that sucker looks amazing! What's the bulb type for the switch? I'll see if I can find a drop-in replacement for now, maybe wire up a custom solution later.
Also Dave, PM Sent -- I'm ordering a blue one! :D
DMC5180
09-14-2014, 04:54 PM
Shep,
Here is what you are looking for https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrument-cluster-gauge/74-led-bulb-1-led-wedge-base/226/
pick your favorite color :biggrin:
Here is what you are looking for https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrument-cluster-gauge/74-led-bulb-1-led-wedge-base/226/
pick your favorite color :biggrin:Thanks! :thumbup:
I looked through their site and found another option that might work:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrument-cluster-gauge/74-led-bulb-1-smd-led-wedge-base/227/
Seems to be a bit shorter, but it's also an SMD. In my experience, SMD's have been brighter overall, but it may just be better design and/or more bulbs, so I'm going to order two of each -- one red, one blue. Will (briefly) report back which one works better when I get them in.
DMC5180
09-14-2014, 06:17 PM
The link that I posted is the one everybody uses. You see the results in the photo posted by Tillsy, but your free to experiment.
GS450-Junkie
09-21-2014, 01:19 AM
Thanks! :thumbup:
I looked through their site and found another option that might work:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrument-cluster-gauge/74-led-bulb-1-smd-led-wedge-base/227/
Seems to be a bit shorter, but it's also an SMD. In my experience, SMD's have been brighter overall, but it may just be better design and/or more bulbs, so I'm going to order two of each -- one red, one blue. Will (briefly) report back which one works better when I get them in.
Did your LEDs come yet????
Did your LEDs come yet????They did, and so did the A/C panel. Haven't had a chance to install them yet -- am aiming for Tuesday aince I have the day off ;) Will post pictures once I do, scout's honor! :)
Just to keep everyone posted: I got the removal part done, and replaced both bulbs, but so far haven't hooked up the new A/C panel yet, so no pictures. Only had about an hour available, and with an automatic, it was harder to get as far as I did before I had to put the project on hold.
With regards to the bulbs, I'm VERY happy with the red SMD and its brightness. Looks quite bright! Not sure why, but the blue one isn't as bright. Will try swapping it for the wedge-type bulb and see if that helps. Also found out the headlight switch isn't bad per se, it just needs a new spring in it. It'll push and click fine, but the retracting mechanism isn't as strong as it could be, so it needs a light "tug" at times to pull the switch back out. Interestingly, the hazard switch had a blue light filter on it :confused0: and swapping it to the headlight switch results in a slightly dimmer but also differently-colored blue. Will post more updates soon! :)
DMC5180
09-24-2014, 06:38 PM
Yellow incandescent light with a blue filter shows up green.
Yellow incandescent light with a blue filter shows up green.Which is why it was puzzling that it was on the hazard switch, not the headlight switch. Must've been switched at some point, but my headlight switch always showed up yellow. Now I know why.
DMC5180
09-24-2014, 07:45 PM
Your headlight switch was just missing the filter that's all. Both switches were supposed to appear green. The blue headlight switch and red hazard look was a trend DMCH started when they developed the replacement headlight switch kit several years ago.
Bitsyncmaster
09-24-2014, 07:52 PM
Your headlight switch was just missing the filter that's all. Both switches were supposed to appear green. The blue headlight switch and red hazard look was a trend DMCH started when they developed the replacement headlight switch kit several years ago.
I always thought the headlight was blue stock and the hazard was red stock. It's been a long time with my LEDs so you may be correct.
Strange, I just looked through all my pictures, and of about 1000 I've taken, not a one has the hazard switch lit.
Now that you mention it though, I think the headlight switch was yellow and the hazard switch greenish, so maybe this was why. The strange thing is it didn't seem out of place when I upgraded to red, only "brighter". I don't know how I didn't notice that :hmm: Good catch!
DMC5180
09-24-2014, 08:56 PM
I always thought the headlight was blue stock and the hazard was red stock. It's been a long time with my LEDs so you may be correct.
James said, when they were doing the replacement headlight switch project, they choose blue for headlight switch and since they had sourced the blue LED. They figured why not modernize the look of the hazard switch with a red LED. It made more sense than green. When they sent out the first batch of new headlight switches, they threw in a red led for the hazard switch as a bonus.
Got the A/C panel install done! And I also figured out why the blue LED wasn't as bright as the red one -- they put the wrong labels on the packages, so the SMD label was on the Wedge bulb and vice versa. Took it out and immediately noticed it wasn't like the Hazard light. Must not have noticed it before, but let me tell you, that SMD version is definitely worth every penny more -- that sucker's bright too! Apparently the wedge ones everybody uses just aren't as bright as they can be. I guess I'm an SMD convert now :biggrin:
Here's a picture of everything installed (click to embiggen):
30984
The interesting thing is: I absolutely never knew this before, but apparently the bulb for my "lock door" light was blown all these years, or had a bad connection or something. I've never seen that light on before, so I figured it was a bad door lock module. Apparently I was way wrong, and it works just fine! :) Now I can be annoyed by that light 24/7 instead of just not seeing it! :nana2: (kidding -- it'll come in handy soon!)
And those wondering what that switch is where the rheostat goes, that's my Awooga horn ;)
DMC5180
09-28-2014, 12:48 AM
Looking good.
Hmm, I thought the fan symbol was supposed to be green on a blue panel and vice versa.
Tillsy
09-28-2014, 03:30 AM
Hmm, I thought the fan symbol was supposed to be green on a blue panel and vice versa.
It backlights blue, and changes to green when the fans are running.
Bitsyncmaster
09-28-2014, 04:45 AM
It backlights blue, and changes to green when the fans are running.
Only if you have my fan fail unit. What I do is drive a low current at minus five volts out the fan fail pin when the fans are running.
DMC5180
09-28-2014, 09:17 AM
Okay, now I get it.
GS450-Junkie
10-05-2014, 12:12 AM
Thanks! :thumbup:
I looked through their site and found another option that might work:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrument-cluster-gauge/74-led-bulb-1-smd-led-wedge-base/227/
Seems to be a bit shorter, but it's also an SMD. In my experience, SMD's have been brighter overall, but it may just be better design and/or more bulbs, so I'm going to order two of each -- one red, one blue. Will (briefly) report back which one works better when I get them in.
Shep,
I bought 2 of these SMD LEDs for my switches. 1 Blue, 1 Red. Swapped them out and neither will work. When I turn the flasher unit on, nothing happens. When I turn the headlight switch on, a hear a fuse pop and the headlight switch remains dark. Any ideas? Nothing can ever be simple with this damn car.....
Shep,
I bought 2 of these SMD LEDs for my switches. 1 Blue, 1 Red. Swapped them out and neither will work. When I turn the flasher unit on, nothing happens. When I turn the headlight switch on, a hear a fuse pop and the headlight switch remains dark. Any ideas? Nothing can ever be simple with this damn car.....Whoops, forgot to mention one VERY important detail -- the leads wrap around the bulb, so you need to cut them shorter. Make sure they each go from where they originate to just short of the bottom of the bulb, otherwise they'll wrap around and short out the contacts. If they don't light up, flip them around and try again -- they're polarity-sensitive. Sorry about that, I completely forgot that I did that when I installed them.
Also, they should only turn on with the headlight switch, not the hazard switch. Keep us posted! :)
DMC5180
10-05-2014, 11:53 AM
Shep,
I bought 2 of these SMD LEDs for my switches. 1 Blue, 1 Red. Swapped them out and neither will work. When I turn the flasher unit on, nothing happens. When I turn the headlight switch on, a hear a fuse pop and the headlight switch remains dark. Any ideas? Nothing can ever be simple with this damn car.....
If you happen to have the DMCH replacement headlight switch, you may have popped the inline fuse near the logic box.
GS450-Junkie
10-05-2014, 11:56 AM
Whoops, forgot to mention one VERY important detail -- the leads wrap around the bulb, so you need to cut them shorter. Make sure they each go from where they originate to just short of the bottom of the bulb, otherwise they'll wrap around and short out the contacts. If they don't light up, flip them around and try again -- they're polarity-sensitive. Sorry about that, I completely forgot that I did that when I installed them.
Also, they should only turn on with the headlight switch, not the hazard switch. Keep us posted! :)
Well, this evidently was the key to the puzzle here as the headlight switch began working immediately. I do however have found a new problem as I still have no hazard switch, or any turn signals at all. I do have my dash and center console all ripped apart as part of my interior refurb and perhaps I'm just not seeing or thinking of something that may be unhooked but as of now I have no indicators. I have a brand new hazard switch installed as mine was sticking, and I have checked all my fuses. Still nothing. Hmmmmm...... Wish I could button this up so I can get Dave's AC Panel back in so I can start enjoying it !!
DMC5180
10-05-2014, 12:00 PM
Make sure your flasher unit is plugged into the socket.
GS450-Junkie
10-05-2014, 12:01 PM
Make sure your flasher unit is plugged into the socket.
That was the first thing I checked. :thumbup2:
DMC5180
10-05-2014, 12:07 PM
Check fuse 6, make the key is ON too.
GS450-Junkie
10-05-2014, 12:11 PM
Check fuse 6
That was the 2nd thing I checked. :thumbup2:
Got me wondering if it's the flasher unit. Are we supposed to swap it out with a different kind if we are changing over to all these LED bulbs?
DMC5180
10-05-2014, 12:18 PM
Yes it must led compatible . But usually the lights will come on but not flash.
GS450-Junkie
10-05-2014, 01:12 PM
Yes it must led compatible . But usually the lights will come on but not flash.
Do we have a compatible part number everyone is using or is there a universal shelf replacement?
DMC5180
10-05-2014, 01:46 PM
I use a Tridon EP-35. Local auto parts store stuff. google it.
Did you confirm you had the Key ON. You also may want to your ground point Flasher unit. I'm only suggesting this because you've had so much of Dash apart.
I have a hunch -- put the stock flasher back in and see if it works. I know I bought an off-the-shelf replacement from AutoZone (I forget the part number), but they had two of the pins swapped, and I had the exact same problem that you're describing. Then I put the stock one back in, and it ran fast, but it still worked. From there, it was just a matter of figuring out which pins to swap.
GS450-Junkie
10-05-2014, 06:44 PM
Well, it was the flasher unit. Put in the new LED compatible unit and it started flashing immediately. I have had LEDs in the binnacle for years, but apparently LEDs in the headlight/hazard switch make a difference. Here is an interesting note.... An LED in the hazard switch will not light up if the switch is connected and dangling in your hand down near the floor. It will light up once you get frustrated after nearly 35 minutes and put the hazard switch back into it's original mounted position in the din bracket. And the incandescent bulb did the same for that matter. Huh.
DMC5180
10-05-2014, 06:48 PM
So all is good for now?
GS450-Junkie
10-06-2014, 07:48 AM
So all is good for now?
For now.... stay tuned.
Tillsy
10-06-2014, 08:27 AM
Sounds like you need to top up this ;)
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=31043&d=1412598353
GS450-Junkie
10-06-2014, 10:43 AM
Sounds like you need to top up this ;)
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=31043&d=1412598353
I knew I forgot something!!
I bought Dave's led board a few months ago and I need to install it.
On the installation instructions, if I'm not mistaken it says that we need to remove the entire center console?
Do we really need to remove them entirely?
Even if its still in place we should be able to access all the wires I think?
I didn't saw any picture of all the wiring in this thread.
Does someone took pic during the all the process of the installation please?
Thank you for any help/advice.
Michael
04-19-2020, 10:39 AM
I bought Dave's led board a few months ago and I need to install it.
On the installation instructions, if I'm not mistaken it says that we need to remove the entire center console?
Do we really need to remove them entirely?
Even if its still in place we should be able to access all the wires I think?
I didn't saw any picture of all the wiring in this thread.
Does someone took pic during the all the process of the installation please?
Thank you for any help/advice.
No, just the top armrest piece/shifter housing that slides in the center console. I had to remove mine to notch it so the edge wouldn't touch the board. I also think I put some protective foam rubber strips just to make sure nothing grounded against it.
Bitsyncmaster
04-19-2020, 11:41 AM
A few people have done the wiring without removing the console. I've removed mine a few times so I think that effort was less than trying to see behind that center metal plate. Maybe if your radio pulls out easy that may work.
Ok, then I'll see if that's easy without removing it, however I'll remove it, thanks.
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