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How to change leds in dash cluster [Pic HEAVY]

JoshDoubleYou

Active Member
Apr 19, 2012
108
0
Kings Lynn, Norfolk
I was asked how to change the leds and make a guide to do it :) so here is something i scrapped together :) lots of pictures.

You will need flathead screwdriver and a t25 torx screwdriver, the correct leds a soldering iron with a small tip and solder with flux inside and ofcourse a steady hand which i did not have :)

here is the leds you will need-

these ones are for the centre warning lights and the needles - https://www.crazyleds.co.uk/PLCC-2-3528.html

these ones are for the guage backlights and the lcd screen - https://www.crazyleds.co.uk/PLCC-2-90-SIDELED.html

this is what we are aiming for if your doing the same colours as me. i havnt yet decided if im going to keep these colours yet.
DSC_5188_zps9c789f23.jpg

DSC_5186_zpsb12b37fb.jpg


ok so first this is to remove the plastive trim under the cluster it just pulls out.
DSC_5191_zps4ce2cfc9.jpg

DSC_5194_zps8e572da3.jpg

behind this trim is 2 screws that hold the cluster in remove them they are t25 torx screws.
DSC_5196_zps6305d26c.jpg

the dash then pulls forward, spin it to the right you will have to lower and extend your steering wheel.
DSC_5197_zps501162aa.jpg

behind the dash is 2 plugs blue and green, the first to remove is the blue plug.
DSC_5198_zpse05c6b7c.jpg

wedge a flathead screwdriver under the clip as shown then with your finger push striped wedge down and lift the purple tag which will also raid the plug.
DSC_5201_zps36bcfd71.jpg

DSC_5203_zpsb005214a.jpg

DSC_5204_zps29afe11d.jpg

to do the green plug pull the dash forward and rotate it upwards then to remove the plug is the same as the blue plug.
DSC_5205_zps2172f5a8.jpg

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Jingle jangle and the dash should now be out.
DSC_5210_zps00077cfb.jpg

now to take the dash part do it in a clean tidy place i used the kitchen table :)
there are tags around the dash lens cover, i used a screwdirver to lift the first tag then i used my finger for the rest.
DSC_5211_zps8015fdf6.jpg

DSC_5213_zpsccaf603f.jpg

DSC_5214_zps5a0b0d19.jpg

DSC_5216_zps606bae97.jpg

cluster should now look like this..
DSC_5218_zps0b724814.jpg

the black plastic on the cluster just pull off and you should be left with the insides that look like this
DSC_5221_zpsbf503615.jpg

removing the dials is next, took me a while to figure it out but its simple, grab it firmly (clean hands or you will muck up the facia plate) and twist it up and anti-clockwise dont be scared :)
DSC_5223_zps906ebc30.jpg

DSC_5227_zps5210bb86.jpg

then remove the facia plate and you will look like this
DSC_5231_zps84908009.jpg

turn it over and you will see 2 silver cages holding the lcd screens in twist the four tags so that the cages slide down and out (be carefully to not drop the lcd screens they somtimes fall out but dont need to come out)
DSC_5231_zps84908009.jpg

DSC_5234_zps5fa8bd79.jpg

DSC_5235_zps872aa87d.jpg

the circuit board and white housing will now split and look like this
DSC_5236_zpsb1872746.jpg

next up is the leds
DSC_5239_zps7aa91ca5.jpg

decide which ones are you going to replace. and with a soldering iron heat the solder that holds the led down to the circuit board, i surgest getting a friend who has used a soldering iron before with a steady hand. in the picture you will notice that the led has a corner cut out this shows the polarity of the led as they can only work one way, before you remove the current led take note of the corner cut so when you solder the new one on its in the right postion
DSC_5247_zpsa229f08d.jpg

to remove the led head up the solder holding it down on one side then tip it up to the left or right then heat the solder holding the other from underneith the led this works best i found.
DSC_5249_zps8376fe66.jpg

the leds for the lcd screens and the guage backlights are different as they are made to stand on there side, on my board i didnt know this until i split it apart but i still used the flat leds but it was alot fidlyer and took me a few tries, heres how mine came out. ignore the bottom its not as messy as it looks like it is.
DSC_5248_zpsd756bbff.jpg

once you have soldered all your leds back in clip the circuit board into the car and test them before you put it all back together as you may have some not correctly working.
once your happy put it all back together in the reverse order and your a happy bunny :)

heres my finished result, i changed the tcs light to uv so it doesnt blind me with uglyness, i changed the indicators to blue for fun and the ugly green sidelight to uv also the backlights which and lcd screens blue, i left the fuel and temp red because there is not a different led for the dial and backlight i like it though i will change it to white later on in the future hope this noob guide helps everyone interested :)
DSC_5188_zps9c789f23.jpg

Josh Waudby, Seat leon Fr 180 Auq
 
Last edited:

SLeon

Active Member
Jan 25, 2013
137
0
West Midlands
Brilliant, I might give this a bash



Also im pretty sure my lcd display is red, is this changeable?

Thanks
 
Last edited:

dday

old bowy
Mar 3, 2008
35
0
how bright are you dial lights as I fitted white also but they are not very bright about the
same as the picture at the top not like the one below.
 

dday

old bowy
Mar 3, 2008
35
0
just a thought I only replaced the the speedo and rev counter not needle that mite help
 

JoshDoubleYou

Active Member
Apr 19, 2012
108
0
Kings Lynn, Norfolk
the front bit is a black surround with a clear lense, the middle is the white bit with the gauges on the back is black which surrounds the plug connectors its all shown in the pictures :)
 

RaviR50

Active Member
Aug 15, 2012
2,756
6
Southampton
the front bit is a black surround with a clear lense, the middle is the white bit with the gauges on the back is black which surrounds the plug connectors its all shown in the pictures :)

sorry might have worded it wrong lol what i mean is that front part with the clear lense nd black surround does that bit split apart?? I want to wrap the area in front of the guages thats why lol
 
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