Gauge/Instrument Lights?

[KnightFiyah]

Hi everybody,

I have a 1993 Toyota 4Runner and I wanted to know if anybody had tinkered with the color of the gauge/instrument lights.

The default green is really ugly to me personally, and I really wanted to switch it to a different color.

I've searched online for days and no one really explains the process and I don't want to open up the dashboard and find out that I can't put it back together...so yeah.

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[slosurfer]

I didn't change any bulbs but I put some blue indiglo overlays on my gauges. It was fairly simple to do and looks good.

[KnightFiyah]

How exactly did you do that? I'm kind of a noob if you couldn't tell lol.

So where could I purchase overlays and how did you install them?

Thanks again!

[slosurfer]

I think I bought it off of ebay and I followed a writeup from another site, but I'm pretty sure the person who wrote it is a member here too.

Here are some pics of it and I'll see what else I can dig up...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_4504.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_4621.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_4622.jpg

[KnightFiyah]

That looks sick. Thanks man, I appreciate it the help.

[partsman93274]

After seeing those kits on Ebay and finally viewing one installed I may just get them in red. Problem is that I will crash due to staring at how cool they look at night. Thx for the pics.

[L33T35T Tacoma]

http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/l33t35t_indiglo/l33t35t.htm

[KnightFiyah]

Woah, nice! Thanks L33T35T Tacoma!

Just 2 questions...

1) Why did your gauges turn from black to white? Entirely different cluster?

2) How was the double-sided tape used exactly? I didn't see anything regarding indigo LEDs or bulbs so Im wondering what caused
the actual color change to indigo.

Thanks!

[L33T35T Tacoma]

First off, I apologize for any immaturity portrayed in that write-up. I was a bit younger, and a bit more stupid then.

They are white gauge faces that are applied over the existing black OEM gauges. I just looked up the person who I purchased my gauges from and he seems to no longer be selling anything. Futher research found this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/90-91-92-93-94-95-TOYOTA-PICKUP-TRUCK-4WD-GLOW-GAUGES-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZYearQ3a1995Q7cModelQ3a4Run nerQQhashZitem3a660812b9QQitemZ250819908281QQptZMo torsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories), however, no images of the control unit are shown. The gauges do appear to be of the same design and quality though. That specific ebay seller has a 99.4% positive feedback on 13,xxx transactions, so it's safe to say you should be good with him.

Another gauge for sale. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1992-1995-Toyota-4Runner-Truck-white-gauges-92-95-89-95-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem58866f5c9fQQitemZ38021 2567199QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries) This seller has 98.8% positive feedback on 21k transactions. Again probably safe. This one is cheaper and has free shipping too.

I definitely enjoyed this mod, gave it a nice took. I did, however, find myself normally keeping them on a very dim setting in "green" mode, or turning them off entirely. They actually are very bright and may become very distracting.

Good luck!

[KnightFiyah]

Thanks for the help, but you missed the second portion of my question xD

Maybe my intuition will help..so you're saying that only white gauge faces will effectively show a change in the bulbs/LEDs on the back of the gauge/instrument cluster?

Because the only thing those faces will do is..well..change the gauges from black to white.

I appreciate your patience with me.

[troyboy162]

Young Jason is young :P Awesome write up!

http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/l33t35t_indiglo/18.jpg

[L33T35T Tacoma]

Thanks for the help, but you missed the second portion of my question xD

Maybe my intuition will help..so you're saying that only white gauge faces will effectively show a change in the bulbs/LEDs on the back of the gauge/instrument cluster?

Because the only thing those faces will do is..well..change the gauges from black to white.

I appreciate your patience with me.


Well, the current backlight wont show through the new gauges. The gauges are self-lit. The double stick tape is simply to hold the gauges in place over the existing gauges. Just make sure you don't pull the needles off, or you're in for a world of frustration.

I liked driving with the indigo lights off and the OEM lights on high. The needles are lit and they provided a bit of light to see the speed/tach speeds. This is how my Tacoma looks with white gauges.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1378/4061/3444530005_large.jpg

Another method was having the indigo lights on very low and shutting off the OEM lights completely, they provided nice dark dials against a low-lit background.

yes troy, I was 16 then I believe. Very young indeed.

[L33T35T Tacoma]

Here's Joey's writeup that I went off of when doing my install

http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/joey_indiglo/joey_indiglo.htm

Also, you didn't ask about a power source but I figured I'd include it anyway. The easiest way would probably be to run a line from the fusebox on either headlight fuse to the cab. It wont draw much power.

[slosurfer]

Yep, it was Jason and Joey's writeups that I followed when I did mine. Like Jason said, they are very bright, so I keep mine on the green setting and turned down very low and the OEM lights turned down too.

[KnightFiyah]

Oh...now I get it.

See my entire point was trying to change the green backlight to something else. I guess the majority of people just swap out the gauges for the color they want.

I just wanted to change the green to orange so Im sure it'd be just a simple bulb/LED swap... right?

[Robinhood4x4]

Hi Harrison, I got your email but I'm afraid I'm no help here. I've never touched my dash or lights.

[KnightFiyah]

No worries Robinhood. It's all good.

[Obi..]

There's a couple of writeups out there for swapping just the bulbs, let me see what I can come up with for you in a bit. Basically Jason's writeup as it covers most of it. As for needing to pull the cover for the steering column if you have a tilt column then just lower your steering wheel tilt all the way down then pulling the gauge panel out left side first you fish your hand back there carefully to undo the main plugs as well as either the electric speedo or regular speedo input off then twist the gauge panel slightly downwards and sideways pulling it out of the spot.

Once it's out you can easily see the spots for the lights you want to swap to led. Pop out the standard bulbs, plug in the LED's and reinstall. One key thing I've seen like many say is get a satin finish or wide angle focus bulb to prevent what's called a "hot spot" where the light doesn't fan out like it should.

*Yes, most people end up turning the light output down b/c led's show much brighter for the same given power. :D

The thread of Jason's has the basics, and here is the factory dash look w/ blue bulbs: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/58227-led-dash-lights-changing.html
**Some States/Counties Have a law existing that you must follow when it comes to warning light portions of your dash. In other words if you use red or orange and it clouds your ability to discern a trouble light (yeah, who misunderstands a red Check Engine Light) or where your engine's redline begins you may be ticketed if they catch it.

For example..no "discernable redline" on the hatchmarks, it simply got darker..meh, disputable and you'd only get nailed for it if caught DUI or speeding IMHO. Another item to note is it's nice to switch to some flat or satin clear overcoat on the top inside part of the gauge surround, it cuts down on the indicator reflections you see here and focuses the light better.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/97Limited/Interior003.jpg

[KnightFiyah]

Awesome Norcal, this is exactly what I was looking for. I really appreciate it man.

[Obi..]

All good, I just wish I could find the picture(s) I have from when we redid a customer's dash along with repainting the needles (oil pressure, temp, tach, speedo, battery and gas) all in some street indicator orange spray to have them show up better with the blue/white led's we'd used from www.superbrightleds.com (http://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle/1994/toyota/4runner/62/137).
It looks great over the indiglo's and even sweeter over the factory black background. :wrenchin:

For clarity here, take a look at Jason's pic* and see how the white just doesn't show well and how all the orange needles are dulled out..now fast forward to if he still had it today and/or compare them to how badly mine are faded out now and you'll see why. :D ~Over black the white's fine but still try to find the time and effort to redo the orange, simply block off the back portion with some blue painter's tape, spray some paint into the spray bottle's cap and use a torn matchstick to brush touch the paint on. :thumbup:
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/l33t35t_indiglo/20.jpg

*No insult Jason, besides, you have a better rig now anyways? :tongueout: Bet you miss the Runner though.

[L33T35T Tacoma]

I miss having 4 doors... but I may have a secret project up my sleeve...

[Obi..]

O/T LOL..I bet you don't miss this though..seen this, the factory partial engine assembly, minus a few parts, which is the replacement for the short blocks used for the HG recall on them..LOL, yeah, I'd just buy a 3.4 or complete used rig at that pricing..


11000 ENGINE ASSY, PARTIAL
19000‑65081 (3VZ-E) 1 $21,303.52

[Crinale]

I miss having 4 doors... but I may have a secret project up my sleeve...

semi secret ;)

[Obi..]

Spill it and open a thread b/c all my stuff's on hold til $'s rolling in again and bills get paid off.

[KnightFiyah]

I'm pretty close to buying the LEDs and was just looking for the exact LEDs.

In the guide it says 74s or 194s on a 97 4Runner, but I have a 93.

Is anyone familiar with the LEDs I need to fit behind my gauges + my HVAC?

[Obi..]

They're 74 and 194's for all 4Runners.

[KnightFiyah]

Awesome, thanks so much.