The complete VR/VS interior illumination replacement & conversion guide

[Fonzie]

The
almost
Complete VN/VP/VR/VS interior illumination replacement & conversion guide

First things first, Read the disclaimer at the bottom of this post.
Second; When doing any electrical work on your car, remove the relevant fuse first.
Third; Anything you do, do it backwards to reassemble!


Tools
Small Flathead Screwdriver
Medium Flathead Screwdriver
Medium Phillips Head screwdriver
Pointy Nose Pliers (Not necessary, but helps a lot)
Common Sense (Also not necessary, but helps a lot)

Extra tools:
Gauge Cluster: Fork
Power Window Switches: Soldering Iron

Index:
1 - Lights
-1.1 - Globe Types
-1.2 - Globe Locations
2 - Gauge Cluster
-2.1 - Cluster Removal
-2.2 - Cluster Face
-2.3 - Indicator Lights
-2.4 - L3 Cluster LCDs
-2.5 - Fascia Change
-2.6 - Cluster Needles
3 - Buttons
-3.1 - AC/Rear Demister/Hazards
-3.2 - Speed Alert
-3.3 - Trip Computer
-3.4 - Power Window Buttons
4 - Other
-4.1 - Auto Transmission
-4.2 - HVAC Unit
-4.3 - Climate Control
-4.4 - Key Light
-4.5 - Interior Festoon
-4.6 - Glovebox
-4.7 - Boot
5 - Credits
6 - Disclaimer

1 - Lights
---------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1 - Light Types
There are several different globe types inside a VR/VS commodore, They are outlined below. Also pictured is the globe you can use to replace them.
T5
#Haven't taken pics yet.#

T10


B8.5D
#Haven't taken pics yet.#

Neo Wedge T3


Neo Wedge T4


3mm LED
#Haven't taken pics yet.#

Festoon
#Haven't taken pics yet.#

IMPORTANT!
LED's have a polarity.. Which means it will only work one way. If you replace any globe with an LED, TEST IT before fully reassembling whatever unit it is. If it doesn't work, put it in the other way!

1.2 - Light Locations
A list of the lights that illuminate the corrosponding item, and their original colour.
L2 Cluster (2.2)
-Gauge Face: 4 x T10 (White)

L3 Cluster (2.2)
-Gauge Face: 3 x T10 (White)
-LCDs (2.4): 4 x Neo Wedge T4 (White)

Indicator Lights (2.3): 1 x B8.5D (White) Each

Rear Demister (3.1)
-Indicator: 1 X Neo Wedge T3 (Orange)
-Illumination: 1 X Neo Wedge T3 (Green)

Air Con (3.1)
-Indicator: 1 X Neo Wedge T3 (Green)
-Illumination: 1 X Neo Wedge T3 (Green)

Hazards (3.1): 1 x Neo Wedge T3 (Red)

Speed Alert (3.2): 1 x Neo Wedge T4 (White)

Trip Computer (3.3): 1 x B8.5D (Green)

Window Switch (3.4): 6 x 3mm LED (Green)

Auto Selector (4.1): 1 x T5 (White)

HVAC Unit (4.2): 2 x T5 (White)

Climate Control (4.3): ?

Key Light (4.4): 1 x T5 (White)

Festoon (4.5-7): 1 x Festoon (White)

2 - Gauge Cluster
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2.1 - Cluster Removal
1. Lower the steering wheel as low as possible. Look directly at the cluster and undo the two screws circled red in the below picture.

2. Wedge a small flat blade screwdriver between the dash surround, and the dash. There are several clips you have to pop out.
3. Once all the clips are unclipped, unplug all the plugs. You may want to label the rear demister and aircon ones, as I have a feeling they are the same size/shape.
4. If you don't have a L3 cluster, skip this step and step 5. Open the drivers kick panel by turning the circled 'clips' 90 degrees. They should pop out.

5. Look up towards the cluster, and unplug the plug circled red below.

6. Look directly at the cluster, and undo the two screws circled red in the below picture. (I'm aware one of the screws isn't there, that's because the tab on my cluster broke off.)

7. Pull the cluster straight back towards you. Then angle it and remove it to the left of the steering wheel.

2.2 - Cluster Face
Things you'll need:
_ x T10

1. Remove the cluster (2.1)
2. Place face down on table

3. Twist globe holders circled in red (above), and pull away from cluster.

4. Pull globe directly away from holder. It shouldn't take much force.
5. Insert new globe. Replace holder.

2.3 - Indicator Lights
Things you'll need:
_ x B8.5D

1. Remove the cluster (2.1)
2. Look for small black globe casings. On the L3 cluster they are on the bottom, on the L2 cluster they are on the black.
3. Twist and pull away from the cluster.
4. Replace and reassemble.

2.4 - L3 Cluster LCDs
Things you'll need:
4 x Neo Wedge T4

1. Remove the cluster (2.1)
2. Remove forward casing. Undo screws, circled in below picture.

3. Lift up tabs gently (They will be fragile)

4. Separate forward casing. The black gauge surround should lift straight out now.

5. Unplug PCB from LCD unit.

6. Undo Screws

7. Undo more screws, and lift tabs.

8. Globes are circled in RED, If all you want to do is replace them then use a flat blade screwdriver to twist them, remove, replace, reassemble. If you wish to remove the LCD diffusers, continue.

9. Undo the screws circled in pink, in the above picture.
10. Separate PCB from unit.

11. Lift up white rectangle. Do one at once, otherwise you may get them mixed up. Be gentle.

12. You will see the green diffuser, remove it, and replace white rectangle. Reassemble.


2.5 - Fascia Change
Things you'll need:
Fork
Fascia

1. Follow steps 1-4 inclusive of section 2.4. (Remove the cluster, and disassemble).
2. Wedge two prongs of fork under needle. Lever up SLOWLY and CAREFULLY (Repeat for each needle).
3. Undo all screws on the gauge fascia. Circled red in the below picture.

4. The fascias should now lift straight up. Replace with the new ones.

5. Re seat needles. The temp and fuel needles can only go on one way, but the RPM and Speedo needles aren't set. I found the best method of aligning it, was seating it slightly, rotating it anti clockwise until it was at 0, then pressing down slowly but firmly.

6. Reassemble cluster.


2.6 - Cluster Needles
Things you'll need:
Fork
Nail Polish Remover
Nail Polish

1. Follow steps 1-4 inclusive of section 2.4. (Remove the cluster, and disassemble).
2. Wedge two prongs of fork under needle. Lever up SLOWLY and CAREFULLY.
3. Once needle is removed, get some nail polish remover on a tissue... And just rub away at the orange backing. Eventually it'll come off.

4. You'll need to back the needle with something now, otherwise it'll be virtually invisible. I am using nail polish. I had to throw a condom and pocket knife in the below photo, I couldn't deal with a photo of nail polish remover, nail polish and cotton swabs on my desk without something to reinforce my manhood.

5. Re seat needle. The temp and fuel needles can only go on one way, but the RPM and Speedo needles aren't set. I found the best method of aligning it, was seating it slightly, rotating it anti clockwise until it was at 0, then pressing down slowly but firmly.

3 - Buttons
---------------------------------------------------------------------

3.1 - AC/Rear Demister/Hazards
Things you'll need:
_ X Neo Wedge T3

1. Remove cluster surround (2.1)
2. Remove switches from surround, they have tabs on either side.
3. Twist globe with screwdriver, replace.


3.2 - Speed Alert
Things you'll need:
1 x Neo Wedge T4

1. Remove cluster surround (2.1)
2. Look directly at back of speed alert, twist globe, remove, replace.

3.3 - Trip Computer
Things you'll need:
1 x B8.5D

1. Remove cluster surround (2.1)
2. Look directly at back of trip computer, twist globe, remove, replace.

3.4 - Power Window Buttons
Things you'll need:
6 x 3mm LED
Process outlined HERE in another How-To of mine.

4 - Other
---------------------------------------------------------------------

4.1 - Auto Transmission
Things you'll need:
1 x Transmission Fascia
1 x T5

1. Pull the ash tray up, circled in the below photo. Mine is modified a little, but they still pull straight out.

2. Put your hand in the hole and pull the transmission surround up. It can take a little bit of force.
3. Once you have it unclipped, Unplug the cigarette lighter (Two plugs, one for illumination). Then twist the surround 90 degrees to fit it over the auto selector head, and remove.
4. Remove the transmission selector fascia, it lifts straight up. If replacing the globe, it is directly under it.
5. To change the fascia to a new one, you need to use the old one. Sand the black back off the old one, You only need to do it where the light will shine through.

6. Attach the new one to the TOP of the old one. I used double sided tape. A small drop of superglue in each corner would work to.
7. Reassemble. Be sure to align the fascia properly, Shift between the gears before putting the surround back on to check.


4.2 - HVAC Unit
Things you'll need:
1 x HVAC Fascia
2 x T5

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 of 4.1 to remove the transmission surround.
2. Undo the screws in the 3 locations circled red in the below photo.

3. Remove the radio surround, You will probably need a small flat blade screwdriver to lever it out.
4. Undo the screw that holds the HVAC unit in, circled red in below photo.

5. Unclip the temperature control lever. This is in the 'upper' left of the drivers foot well. Picture shows it unclipped.

6. Pull the HVAC unit striaght back and unplug all plugs/hoses.
7. Once you have the unit out, Remove the dials and fan speed tab. They should pull straight off.
8. Gently press in the 3 tabs (Circled red below) on either side of the unit, and remove the fascia.

9. If you're changing globes, do it now. If you're changing the fascia too, read on.
10. Wedge a small flatblade screwdriver under the old fascia, at the 8 points circled red below.

11. You will probably braek the old fascia slightly, But you're not using it again.. Once it's removed, Sit the new fascia in.

12. You can attach it somehow, glue or something, but I didn't as it's going to be pressed against the unit anyway.
13. Reassemble unit.
14. Push the unit back into place, making sure that long metal bolt goes down the drivers side to where it needs to be. Plug the plugs/hoses back in. The hoses can only go on one way, so don't stress.
15. Put the heater unit's screw back in, put the radio/heater surround back on, screw in place, put auto/manual shifter surround back in place.
16. Clip that metal bolt back to that white thing. Easiest method i found was the following: Turn the hot/cold dial all the way to the cold side, this will pull the metal pole towards the heater unit. Pull the white lever thing towards the rear of the car, clip the rod in. Now when you turn the dial to hot, it should push the white lever in the other direction...
17. The vacuum you lost when you disconnected the hoses? It means your system won't work when you put it back together, because the vacuum is no longer there. Don't yell at shit for an hour then go joyriding like i did. Just start the car, give it a few seconds, and she'll be ready to go. This is why you always here "SHHH" and "HSSSS" when you turn between them. Look at that, you learn something new every day.


4.3 - Climate Control
Unfortunately I have no immediate access to a car with climate control. If anyone would like to fill in this section, PM me with the details and I will post them up along with your name in the credits section.
I know Philthy has a spare climate control unit lying around in the hell he calls his shed, I'll pinch it and rip it to pieces in the next few weeks if noone fills this one out for me.

4.4 - Key Light
1. Get in the drivers foot well, and look up at the bottom of the steering column. Undo the four screws circled in red in the below picture.

2. Pull the plastic bit down.. It may be a little stuck on various things. You will probably find the globe falls out of its holder at that point.. Simply replace and reassemble.


4.5 - Interior Festoon
1 x Festoon
Pull down on interior light cover. Pull festoon down slowly. Replace.

4.6 - Glove Box
1 x Festoon
Wedge small flat blade screwdriver under clear plastic casing. Lever away. Remove festoon bulb, replace.

4.7 - Boot
1 x Festoon
Wedge small flat blade screwdriver under clear plastic casing. Lever away. Remove festoon bulb, replace.

5 - Credits
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I certainly believe credit should be given where it's due, So here are some people who helped out in some way.
Trayner: Showed me pictures of his custom gauge fascia (Before he upgraded to L3), helped me decide to buy them.
Hozy: Suggested using 3mm LEDs for power window switches (3.4).
88GreenVN: For all his work and help regarding L3 clusters. If he wasn't there, I wouldn't have an L3 cluster to make blue.
Sniperknight: For his short explanation regarding how to remove the L3 LCD diffusers.
Speed_Graphics: This is the bloke that custom made the fascias for me. He's remarkably helpful, Very good with communication . He has an eBay store, I highly recommend him.
p0o0ohbear and warden_jb2002: I bought most of the globes I used off these guys' eBay stores. Fast postage, combined postage and good prices. Again, i highly recommend them.

6 - Disclaimer
---------------------------------------------------------------------

If you break anything, (Including yourself), It is not my problem. And more importantly, not my fault. The content of this thread is available for use at your own risk. Do not copy this without my permission.

Feel free to PM me with questions, I'll do my best to respond well and in a timely manner.
Fonzie

[Fonzie]

Post 2 reserved.

Fonzie

[social]

****in nice work mate good job and white background display? Jeez, you got talent!

[Trayner]

Wow man, you did awesome in this . I really want to do mine now .

[Fonzie]

Nah mate, I didn't want them to be white. Think it looks crap.
Day

Night


Fonzie

[HoZy]

Hey mate, If you ever need any LED installs done let me know, I'll solder up what you need.

Be it Custom LED Trip Computer, Needles, Dials, Switches, HVAC, Just lemme know via PM.

Some Random Pics of my stuff



Also

Calais LCD LED Conversion, HoZy's Way!

Cheers
MaT

P.S- Awesome Guide!

[Fonzie]

Hey mate, If you ever need any LED installs done let me know, I'll solder up what you need.
Be it Custom LED Trip Computer, Needles, Dials, Switches, HVAC, Just lemme know via PM.

Solder up? The only thing that needed soldering were the power window switches?

[HoZy]

Solder up? The only thing that needed soldering were the power window switches?

Thats if you use shitty replacement globes... Do it properly do it custom ^_^

[Fonzie]

Wow, pic didn't load up earlier. THAT is cool. What LED's did you use for it? They look like surface mount or something from the pic. The gauge faces and the trip computer buttons are the only ones I'm not entirely happy with. Have some white LED's on the way to fix the gauge faces, And just haven't gotten around to throwing any more in the trip computer buttons yet.

Shitty replacement globes? I found everything else to come up pretty well. My AC/Demister buttons are quite good, As are my LCDs. Intending to go to pinch-a-part sometime soon and get 2 T5 globe mounts out of a wreck... Put one extra in the top of the HVAC unit, and one extra in the transmission selector on the P end.

[HoZy]

There Surface mounts 0201 if i remember correctly, Same I use to do VY+ Dash conversions.

[_R_J_K_]

Awesome thread! This will come in handy...

[Fonzie]

Just discovered a few more pictures in the folder, thought I'd upload them so people could see the results.



Fonzie

[NickVR]

Well done mate. Great write up, I'll definately look back at this for mine when the time comes.

[trav27]

Awesome thread!
This will help me a lot for sure.
Just one thing though,how did you get the blue leds to shine though the red parts of the dash?

[markovr]

Ive tried a couple of gauge faces from speed graphics and from cruzin central....my honest opinion is the cruzin central are the goods in the daylight but complete rubbish at night....the l3 dash uses only 3 lamps to light the gauges up and without the diffusers that are on the originals faces ,the light is all over the place....they did supply some standard lamps that had foil pressed over the ends to diffuse the light immediately behind the gauge and this helped when the red speed graphics gauge faces were installed and at night they light up very well for just lamps without too many modificaions.
[IMG][/IMG]

[Fonzie]

Awesome thread!
This will help me a lot for sure.
Just one thing though,how did you get the blue leds to shine though the red parts of the dash?

The lights behind the gauge cluster aren't blue LED's.. They're white LED's. Otherwise the needles would appear blue, and the red bits wouldn't light up. I changed the fascia

Ive tried a couple of gauge faces from speed graphics and from cruzin central....my honest opinion is the cruzin central are the goods in the daylight but complete rubbish at night....the l3 dash uses only 3 lamps to light the gauges up and without the diffusers that are on the originals faces ,the light is all over the place....they did supply some standard lamps that had foil pressed over the ends to diffuse the light immediately behind the gauge and this helped when the red speed graphics gauge faces were installed and at night they light up very well for just lamps without too many modificaions.
[IMG][/IMG]

Are the ones from cruzin central the ones that light up the whole gauge face white during the night? They look absolutely crap... I didn't want white gauge faces (day or night), I wanted mine to look original, but illuminate blue... Which is what I now have. There's a few white LED's in the mail so I can illuminate the rest of the dials, should arrive sometime this week.

@ Holden; It's a pretty stupid design using only 3 back lights IMO.

[trav27]

The lights behind the gauge cluster aren't blue LED's.. They're white LED's. Otherwise the needles would appear blue, and the red bits wouldn't light up. I changed the fascia



Are the ones from cruzin central the ones that light up the whole gauge face white during the night? They look absolutely crap... I didn't want white gauge faces (day or night), I wanted mine to look original, but illuminate blue... Which is what I now have. There's a few white LED's in the mail so I can illuminate the rest of the dials, should arrive sometime this week.

@ Holden; It's a pretty stupid design using only 3 back lights IMO.

Hey, can i ask where abouts did you get the fascias from? it looks real sweet!

[Fonzie]

Hey, can i ask where abouts did you get the fascias from? it looks real sweet!

Speed_Graphics: This is the bloke that custom made the fascias for me. He's remarkably helpful, Very good with communication . He has an eBay store, I highly recommend him.

It's all in the how to mate... What you're after is in the credits section. I got the fascias off eBay, from a bloke with the user name "Speed_Graphics". He did a great job, and was very good with communication.

[trav27]

My bad i didn't see that,but thanks dude much appreciated!

[Dum*P*ster]

I assume, this would be VERY close to Vn-Vp as well wouldn't it?

Either way, great write up!

[Jamie-b]

Hey mate, If you ever need any LED installs done let me know, I'll solder up what you need.

Be it Custom LED Trip Computer, Needles, Dials, Switches, HVAC, Just lemme know via PM.

Some Random Pics of my stuff



Also

Calais LCD LED Conversion, HoZy's Way!

Cheers
MaT

P.S- Awesome Guide!

That looks amazing mate,
Ive got one of theose custom facial things in my car, and it looks good during the day but at night it has dark patches at the top of the guages, ive been thinking of doing somthing like this to try and fix it,
What type of LED's did you use? You said surface mounts but i dont really know what that is, what size LED where they?
Also what strength resistors would i need to use?

[Fonzie]

I assume, this would be VERY close to Vn-Vp as well wouldn't it?

I have a feeling removing the cluster is different... But as far as I know, the rest would be near identical. It's only labeled VR/VS because I know they're the same, and did this all on a VS.

[Dum*P*ster]

The cluster for a Vn-Vp are the same, hard to tell the difference. Just the step "How to take out" is different to a vr-vs :P

I HATE reading How to guides.. I get to many ideas..and things i wana do to the "Never ending list"

[HRVATSKI_VOJNIK]

after muking around with my spare speedo, blue seems to be the only one to be able to pass though the green tint with out much hassle. while red seems to be the worst, barely able to pass though. (tested with 1Watt leds)

i wanna convert mine to white, but i'd have to remove the tint. since the green tint is between the black front and white rear, its not gonna happy anytime soon

[AussieHuddo]

hey is there anyway of making the key light under the steering light a different colour?? like any easy way of changing the tint on the plastic bit by replacement or something??