How to remove parts of dash

[sxc_sound]

Hey guys,

i was driving around last night and noticed that a fair few of my leds are blown in the dash, i worked out how to get to the "Mode" button led and replaced that, i need to know how to remove the fan/heater/aicon knobs and whatever else to get to the leds behind them. I attached a pic of where im talking about.

Also while im at it maybe the ones behind the gear selection, to change to a differnt colour.

Thanks

[Ripcell]

to get the dash apart, pull the center console up (it will feel brutal) by sticking ur fingers under the power window switch, theres a gap behind the stick. (1 in the drawing)

you will have to unscrew the 2 screws under the little rubber mat, (number 2 in the attached pic

once you remove that piece, theres 2 screws that hold the pocket in, take them and the pocket out. (3)

then take the 2 screws above the cluster out, and also the 3 screws under the fuse holder cover out.

the top of the facia is held in with clips, they are fairly durable but make sure you dont break them, they just come out as you pull the dash out

sorry about ****ty attached pic, i havent loaded photoshop on this box yet

[Ozzie]

Their actually standard 1.2v globes not led's
If you want to fit led's you will need to buy them seperatly and use resisters.
Youll also need to make sure you buy the correct globes to replace them with or they will keep blowing.
A good idea is not to touch the glass part of the globes when you install them, (sometimes they blow when installed then you have to pull it all apart again)

[sxc_sound]

i bought just a blue led T5 from autobarn and replaced the "mode" button globe and it seems to be working fine, are there special leds that need to be used as well as resistors or do you just need the resistors?

[wrx884]

if u can remove ur mode button as u said u did u can remove the whole dash and get 2 the other bits u need.

Blue LED Dash Conversion

[vxcalais_01]

to get the dash apart, pull the center console up (it will feel brutal) by sticking ur fingers under the power window switch, theres a gap behind the stick. (1 in the drawing)

you will have to unscrew the 2 screws under the little rubber mat, (number 2 in the attached pic

once you remove that piece, theres 2 screws that hold the pocket in, take them and the pocket out. (3)

then take the 2 screws above the cluster out, and also the 3 screws under the fuse holder cover out.

the top of the facia is held in with clips, they are fairly durable but make sure you dont break them, they just come out as you pull the dash out

sorry about ****ty attached pic, i havent loaded photoshop on this box yet

DO you need to remove the radio during all of this ? I have an auto so i think even my gear selector is blown, is this just a globe ? Also i have one blown in the instrument cluster, one for the coolant and one for the lcd in the bottom RH corner on a calais. Are these globes universal, i know Holden charge and arm and a leg for them.

[Ripcell]

if its the stock radio it will need to come out, you might need to remove your radio if its an aftermarket one you might just have to remove the surround if it overhangs the facia.

your t-bar should be illuminated too it just has a globe just under the power window switch. you might want to check that the coolant globe is even in there because some clusters didn't even have them.

as for universal globes, ive been trying to find them aftermarket myself, holden charge like $7 a globe bloody rip off.

[vxcalais_01]

if its the stock radio it will need to come out, you might need to remove your radio if its an aftermarket one you might just have to remove the surround if it overhangs the facia.

your t-bar should be illuminated too it just has a globe just under the power window switch. you might want to check that the coolant globe is even in there because some clusters didn't even have them.

as for universal globes, ive been trying to find them aftermarket myself, holden charge like $7 a globe bloody rip off.

Yeah, it the dash cluster, theres a few that you need, so around $40 all up (They may even be $12 each). Maybe just get 1 and see what it is and source it from somewhere else. I have a Max Ellery;s and it list part no.s would only Holden have those ? I will post them. The worse is the climate control temp controls etc. They run on a circuit, you pull one, they all blow.

[Ripcell]

Yeah, it the dash cluster, theres a few that you need, so around $40 all up (They may even be $12 each). Maybe just get 1 and see what it is and source it from somewhere else. I have a Max Ellery;s and it list part no.s would only Holden have those ? I will post them. The worse is the climate control temp controls etc. They run on a circuit, you pull one, they all blow.

they are osram globes, i have got a mate who works for osram, but domestic lighting not auto, hes trying to pull some strings but no luck with the other department

[Ozzie]

You'll need to buy some LED's seperatly from the resister's...
You'll need to solder the resister's to the LED's.
Most LED's are only 1.5v, and the cars output is 12.v .

The cheapest way of doing it and even easier is to buy globe sleeves for the standard globes.
They come in a range of colours (white, red, blue, yellow, green ect...) And they just slip over the standard globe like condoms. You can get them from any autopro store for about 1.00 a pack of 5-10 depending on the size.

You'll even notice the globes that are blown have green sleeve's over them.
You can buy new standard globe's cheap from most auto store's.

I think ebay sells pre soldered in-dash LED kits in packs though their hard to find for a VT/VX.

[sxc_sound]

So how do you get to the globes that light up the fan controls, my car doesn't have climate control. Do you have to remove the dash surrounding part to get to the globes behind it? or can you just pull the front off it somehow?

[Ozzie]

You will need to remove the face plate from the dash. Theres just 9 screws holding it all in, then it pulls out all the way arround enough for you to get your hand behind it to unclip the wiring harness's on the mode, hazzards and headlight switches...
Depending on your head unit you may also need to remove it or anything obstructing the dash plate.

Once the dash plate is off you will see two screws holding the fan controlls (one on either side)
Undo the two screws and pull the fan controls out until you can reach the one wiring harness behind it and unclip it.
Now you will have the whole fan control in your hand and you will see the globes on the back of it. (black round and flat backs on them)
Youll need a screwdriver or something similar to un-screw the globes.

[wrx884]

You will need to remove the face plate from the dash. Theres just 9 screws holding it all in, then it pulls out all the way arround enough for you to get your hand behind it to unclip the wiring harness's on the mode, hazzards and headlight switches...
Depending on your head unit you may also need to remove it or anything obstructing the dash plate.

Once the dash plate is off you will see two screws holding the fan controlls (one on either side)
Undo the two screws and pull the fan controls out until you can reach the one wiring harness behind it and unclip it.
Now you will have the whole fan control in your hand and you will see the globes on the back of it. (black round and flat backs on them)
Youll need a screwdriver or something similar to un-screw the globes.

Just 2 add wen ur pulling the heater control unit out theres also a metal rod 4 the heater dial u'll need 2 count back the number of threads sticking out or mark it so it goes back in the clip the same way. U'll also need 2 dissconect the vacume hoses just pry them off carfully with a flat head screw driver.

Also depending on wat type of unit u have u may only need 2 unscrew the globes from behind like ozzie said but if u have the other 2 types u need 2 open up the unit 2 get 2 other globes.

use a butter knife (somthing flat with no sharp edges) and pry off all the dials. Unlip the 6 clips holding the facia on (3 clips top, 3 clips bottom) once u have this off u can get access 2 the PCB board inside and see the globes that u need replacing. then reverse the procedure.

Also with the cluster the globes r interchangable with other wedge type globes that u can buy from anywhere such as repco or jaycar they just slip into the globe holders. other gobes in the VT/Vx's (appart from the auto shifter thats another wedge type bulb same 1 u use in ur side repeaters) u need 2 do some soldering (not all) and use differnt size bezels. (which u can get from jaycar again)

[Ozzie]

Just 2 add wen ur pulling the heater control unit out theres also a metal rod 4 the heater dial u'll need 2 count back the number of threads sticking out or mark it so it goes back in the clip the same way. U'll also need 2 dissconect the vacume hoses just pry them off carfully with a flat head screw driver.

Also depending on wat type of unit u have u may only need 2 unscrew the globes from behind like ozzie said but if u have the other 2 types u need 2 open up the unit 2 get 2 other globes.

use a butter knife (somthing flat with no sharp edges) and pry off all the dials. Unlip the 6 clips holding the facia on (3 clips top, 3 clips bottom) once u have this off u can get access 2 the PCB board inside and see the globes that u need replacing. then reverse the procedure.

Also with the cluster the globes 4 interchangable with globes that u can buy from anywhere such as repco or jaycar they just slip into the globe holders. other gobes in the VT/Vx's (appart from the auto shifter thats another wedge type bulb same 1 u use in ur side repeaters) u need 2 do some soldering (not all) and use differnt size bezels. (which u can get from jaycar again)

Ahh yes very true ty wrx.

I rember it had 6 plactic clips... 3 on top and 3 on bottom, unclip them and the face and guts pull off

[vxcalais_01]

I find it quite disgracefull how difficult Holden have made it. Clearly a money making scheme. I knwo this is blasphemy, but you would never have this prob with a Toyota. SO easy it was to fix the oldies car, as well as the missus.

[Astranomical]

Toyotas aren't that much better. Our Hilux has three fuseboxes, one of them's behind the glovebox, meaning that if one of the fuses or relays in that box blows, the glovebox must come out. Wouldn't it be easier to simply put all the fuses and relays in one fusebox under the bonnet or wherever?