Sourcing parts for LED conversion job

[DIXIE]

hey guys..

i wanna do the old blue led conversion, but i majorly cbf buying a kit or whatever.. im pretty handy with a soldering iron, so i figure i can manage, as long as i load up on LEDs from jaycar or something..

anyhoo..

the things i need help with are.. how do i get the dash cluster out or apart? every access point is hidden in these new cars! lol

also, what size led's do i need, and if any of you have done it before, whats involved in doing this? i did a search, but all the posts were like 4+ years old, and didnt really help me in terms of procedure.

oh and! where is the easiest and most accessible place to get an OEM globe out, so i can compare sizing and whatever to LEDs (when i go to jaycar)

do any of you know how many LEDs are required for the conversion?

any help or advice would be appreciated

thanks :)

p.s i want to achieve like what this dude has done:

http://www.kingjake.net/smd/1.jpg

your interior looks AWESOME!! :D

[Nurb608]

Dash Cluster is pretty easy to get out apparently, only took the guy that did my car 5 minutes. If you have a look at AOC in the uk, vxronline.co.uk etc, there are a few how to threads for this. I believe there is also a list of the correct SMD's somewhere there aswell.

[Keep'emRunning]

..iirc 12 x 509T for dash & MFD, 2x32mm festoon rear passenger, 1x42mm festoon front compartment, can't remember the numberplate.

http://www.opelaus.com/forums/showthread.php?22426-kerG-sri-t&p=427820&viewfull=1#post427820

http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/ACEparts-Performance-Lighting/

Never did the console a few here will chip in about those ones hopefully :)

[Nurb608]

Have a look here too at the kits, still might be cheaper from them, not sure. It does tell you the type though ;) http://www.ledconversions.co.uk/acatalog/Astra_H___Zafira_B_Individual_Kits.html#a33

[gmonkey]

Alrighty astra h dash my speciality hahah. I've done 4 led conversions so far. :p

to remove cluster there's two t20 torx screws under the steering wheel column undo them turn ur wheel on the face of the column there's to plastic screw covers take them off remove the screws. Remove the ring surround around ignition. Seperate the two panels of column and disattach the cover that connects to the cluster. Then there is a torx at each bottom corner take them out and pull from bottom and down and out a little there is a red clip in the back for all the wires slide this off. That's got the cluster out now. To open it up now there is about 8 torx t10 in the back of it remove them and take the front plastic ring surround off and the back thin plastic. Remve the see through plastic cover (think was clipped down). Remove the needles by using something to lever them off e.g. A fork (becareful) now needles are off u can remove the cluster display cover and carefully take the odo screen out. and seperate the Chip from the white plastic holder u can now freely solder.



There's about 3-4 smds on each ring and 6 or so for the manual odo display. Don't bother doing the lights at te base of the needle won't do anything

[gmonkey]

Feel free to pm me with any questions

[DIXIE]

AWESOME!! thats what i needed!

i was reading around on vxronline and i mustve looked through like 20 threads, and all they kept saying was how hard it was and that people should get it done by some guy..

(we obviously dont have that luxury!)

can you tell me which led's i need to buy?

and how much of a bitch is it to actually solder them in?

[gmonkey]

Soldering was easy! The hardest ones to do are the elec window size ones.. Sorry don't know the names of the smd types I ussually just buy the kits

[DIXIE]

yeah i might just buy the kit and whack them all in myself :)

those ledconversions.co.uk ones..
you have to specify either 36PLCC-2 or 24PLCC-4... i have NO idea what that means.. help??

[Nurb608]

yeah i might just buy the kit and whack them all in myself :)

those ledconversions.co.uk ones..
you have to specify either 36PLCC-2 or 24PLCC-4... i have NO idea what that means.. help??

This may help you better ;)

http://www.astraownersnetwork.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-60326.html

[DIXIE]

nup.. still confused! lol

[Nurb608]

nup.. still confused! lol

lol, somewhere in there it give's you the smd type and how many you need for each bit.

[DIXIE]

yeah.. theyre not very model specific in their conversation though..

gmonkey, which kits do you usually buy?

[gmonkey]

I ussually get the standard 24

[DIXIE]

whats the difference between them??

[gmonkey]

Think the 36 Is for autos as they have a larger odo screen

[DIXIE]

ahh okay cool.. thanks for ur help man :)

i'll prob break ur balls with 5000 questions once i actually do this thing :D

[gmonkey]

No problem mate as I said done a few now :p there not hard to but does help having a good soldering iron

[DIXIE]

yeah thats not an issue..
i saw on the uk forums, the guys take the stuff out of the car and do all the soldering like inside their house
did u do that too or is it easy enough doing it in the car?

[gmonkey]

Did it inside aswell to scared to burn interior with soldering iron :p


If u order one of the kits u get instructions with it aswell

[DIXIE]

lol cool.. how longs the whole thing take start to finish?

[gmonkey]

Depnds on how good ur soldering skills are and abilty to unassemble parts :p should be able to do in one night (4-5 hours)

[DIXIE]

haha sweet. i might even take step by step pics and do a how to guide for the site..
saves the next person having to bust nuts like i am lol :D

[mmahle]

Dash Cluster is pretty easy to get out apparently, only took the guy that did my car 5 minutes. If you have a look at AOC in the uk, vxronline.co.uk etc, there are a few how to threads for this. I believe there is also a list of the correct SMD's somewhere there aswell.

I jumped when I saw this... Is anyone you know Nurb that I can pay in Melbourne to get this done? ><

[Nurb608]

I jumped when I saw this... Is anyone you know Nurb that I can pay in Melbourne to get this done? ><

Nah, I had to go to NSW to get this done, well it was a side benefit of going there. You only really need someone really who is good at soldering electronics. Pulling the stuff apart is the easy bit, with the exception of trying to get those wondow switches out without scratching them!