SoCal Tacoma LED Cluster Swap

What kind of solder? and how many LEDs for the entire cluster for a 2012? I haven't taken my dash apart yet, I've changed bulbs on my older truck that is now gone when they went out but not on my tacoma. My friend owns a stereo shop so I learn some stuff there. I got some strip LED's in my footwell already. Kind of want to change them all out. I'm a green freak so gonna eventually change all to green and wanted to do some other stuff too... when you paint the needles do you just use anykind of paint? scrape the orange paint? not sure what's behind there so any info would be helpful...I looked through about half the posts on your thread and will finish looking thru it all to get more info, any posts on a 2012 or what the circuit board look like? anyway awesome work dude, wish I was in Cali. No one in Hawaii does this... maybe I'll be the first.
thanks man, Jason

 

I don't remember how many are in there in total...but
Background there's 8
Needles there's 5
But buy extras
There's someone out in Hawaii that does them...I can't remember his name tho

 

I just saw that post last night I think his name is Toku, I Pm'd him last night but seems pretty simple, I think I should be able to pull it off. Thanks for the info, I'll let you know how it goes once I'm able to get the dash apart. So anykine of solder should work or should I use an alloy with a lower melting temp?
Thanks, Jason

 

sounds good
solder used is 60/40 with a rosin core...always make sure to keep the iron clean and not leave it too long on the pad just long enough to melt the old solder and take the led off

 

will do...thanks for the advice, just ordered my LEDs, looking forward to doing this... I'll post some pics later. Thanks

 

No prob let me know if anything

 

the only thing keeping me from sending my cluster to you is the 3-4 days of not driving my truck. I imagine you have to have the cluster plugged in to drive right? Odometer and all?

Is there a temporary cluster I could put in while you swap mine? I have a 2012.

 

You can drive around without...you just won't know your speed fuel ex.

I have extra dashes for that reason but shipping already is alot coming and going back...

 

so does anyone have a video on how to get the guage cluster out? I scratched the clear plastic and need to replace it

 

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=225

 

thanks man

 

Thanks for all the tips SoCal!!!

 

nice work really love the look of these...wish there was someone near me could do this...I'm scared I'd f something up doing it myself

 

wow full green looks pretty good

you can always ship

 

Little hard to see the needles, might switch them to white or maybe blue... Would blue lights be better than white with the needles painted blue or is the white LEDs good enough?

 

really? white or blue would be easier to read...did you paint the needles green or just strip them and left them clear?

 

I did strip them and paint them green. I think white needles maybe easier to see. maybe silver or some chrome tape? Idk I ended up using some white bulbs for the speedo needles as I didn't have enough extra greens to do the two LEDs for the speedo needle... I ordered more green for some of the other ones so will get to it next week... thanks again, I feel a little more brave after doing these...

 

for sure, ill reply to your pm later tonight when i get near a computer...too long type out on my phone

 

shoots...

 

pmd replied, let me know if that info helps