Led Dash Lighting

[sh@dow]

no worries, actually found this by accident while looking for info on berlina dashes (I wanted the added info from the triple screen display, although I don't think that will happen unless I replace the whole dash)

[Phreddy]

No, you can fit a three window trip computer type cluster (from Berlina / Calais) into the standard models, you just need to get the Holden guys to recode it with the Tech 2 - all the plugs are the same. (as long as you make sure you get a VZ cluster - a VY one won't work... Different connector)

[vzlumina]

How come bdcmedia's wheel buttons light up? Are they meant to light up normally? mine don't

[aperfectcircle]

Thanks Mate - LOL!! You've revived an old thread here!

In the recent past there has been a development on "colour morph" needles for speedo and tach, I've actually started doing VEs now, and just ironing out the last wrinkles with VT/VX conversions Woo-hoo!!

Cheerz!

Colour Morphing.
I remember asking this some time ago.
Ive still got that link.
So is it doable in the VY/Z's as well?
Have you got a small video or pictures of this happening.

[Phreddy]

The buttons don't light up in Exec, Lumina, Acclaim, S, SV6 manual, and VY-I SS.
They do light up in later SS, Calais, Berlina, SV6 auto, Monaro, and HSV models.

And before you ask, it is possible to do but it means the "clockspring" (the rotating thing that gets the electrical contacts to the wheel) has to be replaced along with wires added to the harness, not the mention the wheel button pods need to be pulled apart and the LEDs and resistors need to be soldered in. Oh, by the way - I got the price on a clockspring from Holden - even at trade it was over $300. (needless to say I didn't worry any further about my wheel buttons lighting up)

Jamie - got the colour change thing happening not all that long ago. However it only works if the needles are white in colour, so that when the lights are on the back of the needle reflects the different coloured light.

[cewing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hKDQfrVhgM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfltZ9s5dY

Thats my dash with morphing lights

[vzlumina]

The buttons don't light up in Exec, Lumina, Acclaim, S, SV6 manual, and VY-I SS.
They do light up in later SS, Calais, Berlina, SV6 auto, Monaro, and HSV models.

And before you ask, it is possible to do but it means the "clockspring" (the rotating thing that gets the electrical contacts to the wheel) has to be replaced along with wires added to the harness, not the mention the wheel button pods need to be pulled apart and the LEDs and resistors need to be soldered in. Oh, by the way - I got the price on a clockspring from Holden - even at trade it was over $300. (needless to say I didn't worry any further about my wheel buttons lighting up)

Jamie - got the colour change thing happening not all that long ago. However it only works if the needles are white in colour, so that when the lights are on the back of the needle reflects the different coloured light.

Oh thats bulls*^t aye, i mean come on they should do that i mean its not like its a lux feature . . . and just out of curosity why SV6 auto and not manual?

Dam i'm cranky i whish mine lit up so bad lol.

[Phreddy]

HAH!! Yeh, I feel ripped off that the Auto SV6 gets 'em and I didn't!!

The reason is that basically for the Auto SV6 with "active select" (the little formula 1 paddles on the back of the wheel) do run the illumination circuit to the wheel to light up these buttons, so I guess they figured they'd illuminate the stereo buttons as well. The closckspring for these must also carry more conductors (wires) so the switches in these paddles are connected to something. In the manual they naturally don't have the paddles, so the lower model clockspring was used. PITA!!

I've actually given thought to modifying the clockspring, but in the end thought better of it. In the case of an accident an insurance company might use the fact that this assembly has been modified as a reason to knock back a claim. (seeing as certain safety features of the car rely on the clockspring assembly...)

Cheerz!

[vzlumina]

HAH!! Yeh, I feel ripped off that the Auto SV6 gets 'em and I didn't!!

The reason is that basically for the Auto SV6 with "active select" (the little formula 1 paddles on the back of the wheel) do run the illumination circuit to the wheel to light up these buttons, so I guess they figured they'd illuminate the stereo buttons as well. The closckspring for these must also carry more conductors (wires) so the switches in these paddles are connected to something. In the manual they naturally don't have the paddles, so the lower model clockspring was used. PITA!!

I've actually given thought to modifying the clockspring, but in the end thought better of it. In the case of an accident an insurance company might use the fact that this assembly has been modified as a reason to knock back a claim. (seeing as certain safety features of the car rely on the clockspring assembly...)

Cheerz!

Bloody Holden, they should have just made them all light up!!!

[sh@dow]

I've seen the colour morph vids: that's nuts! does it have to be blue and red or can it be done in other colours (green/red for instance)?

[sh@dow]

I've seen the colour morph vids: that's nuts! does it have to be blue and red or can it be done in other colours (green/red for instance)?

[alby85]

hey everyone glad to be a member of this site. ive just picked up a vz ute and i would be interested in a blue dash lights. anyone have any idea on how much this would cost to get done

[alby85]

hey phreddy coz u ahve done this can u remember off the top of your head what kind of leds the vz has

[MadE21]

thats awsome phreddy, love the morphing lights. i'm on the hunt for a 3 panel cluster now, can i just send you the cluster to have the lights changed? i'll get my mate at holden to chuck the new cluster on tech2 and do the reset for me

[Phreddy]

Sure can MadE21 - shoot me a PM to discuss...

[MadE21]

pretty new to the whole "new" holden thing. played around a bit with VN's etc. but i'm a bmw guy at heart, so can you tell me what models have the 3 panel cluster?

[Phreddy]

Some Lumina, and all Berlina, Calais, Monaro, and HSV models have 3 window clusters. Oh, also one of the Adventra line-up - CX or LX - whichever was the "luxury" end. (best I reckon to stick to the conventional sedan or ute clusters though)

They're around, can be a bit tricky to get hold of though - depending on exactly what you're after. (I got a HSV cluster for my car - hard to find, and kinda spendy....)

[Zeussy]

hey Phreddy, just saw these mods, wondering on the tech level of the install of these led's, and i saw that one other fella used the standard old skool led's and it looked like they lit up alrite, but i'd assume it would b better to go with the little square ones?? im thinking go the bright white all around, except where the fatory had red, in the tacho, temp, fuel and heater with the blue and red, and leave the blue highbeam, and warning lights stock, but my stereo wont match, its an aftermarket kenwood, with changable led's they go red blue or green i think, does the white dials go well with the blue lcd screen in the dash?? it just looks like they stand out and look way clearer than the blue?? dunno, what do you rekon ur the 'yoda' of this kinda mod.. haha

[Phreddy]

Heh - "little square ones".... Sorry Mate, not having a shot at you...

They are "Surface Mounted" components - in other words, they solder to the surface of the circuit board, rather than having leads which go though a hole in the board. They are quite tricky to solder in place, and you need to have some pretty professional level soldering tools to get the job done - along with the skills and experience to be able to use these tools. (my soldering iron is worth around $600 alone - the tips cost $35 each!)

I've said this over and over before, it's not a job that I recommend to people to take on if they haven't worked in electronics repair, specifically with surface mounted devices. The cluster must be stripped down to a base circuit board before the LEDs can be changed, and this requires a significant amount of DE-soldering - I have a de-soldering station (worth around $1200) to help me out with that. I have almost 30 years in the electronics industry, and I wouldn't take on the job without those tools.

The bottom line here, if you screw up your cluster, you're up for a furtine to replace it. Holden will not sell you individual components, you must buy a complete cluster. From Holden, they START at around $400 for a base model (Exec etc.) cluster, and the figure heads skywards from there. If it's screwed up, it'll be expensive!! (and still green!!!!)

Having said that, other parts of the job are quite easy - the switchgear and so on - quite do-able by someone with average "hobbyist" skills and tools - just not the instrument cluster! Seriously though, the cluster is a very sensitive instrument. There must be great care taken in stripdown and reassembly, and of course the re-work itself.

As for how the photos appear (your concern about the blue being too bright or something...) again, as I keep on saying, the photos can be misleading! Camera lenses play tricks, especially when shooting LCDs - before you finally make a decision on your colours, try and have a look at an install from somewhere - there are several out and about now, there must be a member of JC who's not too far from you who can give you a look over it? Also have a look at my website for some example photos of different colour combos.

[Zeussy]

just asking if it were possible, and / or how much i would be looking at if i were to get you to do an install for me?? i actually like doing the job as you get some satisfaction out of knowing 'i did that' sorta thing, and would probly do the 'easier' stuff like the switches and so on, depending on if im confident to do the cluster or not, i wouldnt just jump in there with my dse soldering iron all gungho and burn something, but if it looked do-able id probly have a crack, im probly just rambling now, but its been a looooong week, so if your schedual (dunno bout the spelling?) isnt too flat out for an install maybe sometime soonish, and some prices.. like for you to do it all, or just the cluster, or just the led's, cheers again for your advice and any info you can provide..

[IEVLV8]

sent you a PM Phreddy

wanting to get my 2 cars done

[jimmybobrowe]

I got mine done by the legendary man himself and all my mates love it!! Its quite annoying sometimes coz they want to drive it!! I still can't believe how such a small mod makes the car look so awesome at night!

[GTRwilson]

anyone in Brisbane do the same work as you Phreddy?

also could you PM a price that you would charge to do all lights to blue in an '05 VZ SV6 auto?

[Mr X]

anyone in Brisbane do the same work as you Phreddy?

Same question for Melbourne?
I'm pretty good with electronics and soldering but I'm not so sure I can do the instrument cluster without spending a chunk of money on equipment.

Also fantastic work Phreddy, I was thinking of doing the dash lights myself before seeing this but had no clue how to do the instrument cluster.

[eat4d]

Hi all. Well I have just finished changing all the little green led's (except the radio) in my VZ SS. After having PHREDDY put together and unbeleivable LED kit with full instructions it has turned out to look amazing. What I did with the steering wheel controls was to make them RED to got with the red stitching on the steering wheel. If any of you are planning on doing this, I recommend you either ask PHREDDY to do it or be VERY good with soldering and electronics as the surface mount LED's are very fragile and you really only get one go at putting them on! Having said that it was great fun and I highly recommend you give PHREDDY a PM and do it. His instructions are VERY comprehensive and really dont leave you asking "What The?"

Well, I hope you enjoy my pics, I am sorry about the quality but it is hard to take photos of lights without using maflash!!!

Brett

Hey mate can u please emailme eat4d@hotmail.com please what cost as well regards huss