05+ Climate control back light and face color change

That sounds like exactly the type of information I'm looking for. Do you have any pictures?

 

I ended up making these and bent the LED part up to shine more into the spider light tunnels/pipe. Your's sounds like it will put out more light out over these, which would have a better result.

 

So if you do this you do not have to paint anything correct?

 

There would be some painting involved if you took your controls out of a 2009 truck to get the whole climate controls to not be orange color. The orange/amber color on all climate control knobs and the little icons on the dials comes from the orange film and knob inserts not the light bulbs.
With the 05 to 11 years there is not a simple light bulb change out to covert the color. The indicator rectangles have LEDS behind them and can be changed to different colors and the coloring behind A/C and re-circulation symbols under those rectangles can be removed with acetone to be clear. This does not work for the dials.

 

No pictures sadly. The best pictures are on the first page of this post, although they don't show the light pipe very well.

Yes, my arrangement would give more light (and lights up areas otherwise not lit by the round topped LED's), but I do tell you it was slow going and somewhat labor intensive because I had to take EACH LED and position it just right so the light would shine down 1/3 of the light pipe (In a darkened environment). Glue it in place and start again with the second LED and so forth. Some grinding, re-shaping and polishing of the light pipe is necessary to get the LED's to lay flat onto the light pipe before gluing. Since the original bulbs were so small, there isn't a whole lot of room to work with. Again, I have not researched it, but you might find some LED's with greater than 120 degrees of light. I'm thinking a "proper" LED would have 180 degrees, but not sure if those even exist.

TB2

 

SUBBED! stuff comes in the mail on Friday...very excited for this...

 

I was planning on doing all of it except not switching out any bulbs. Think it'll look ok?

 

It won't look the "same" if your doing your dash LED's. For example, I used the "cool white" LED's everywhere else, and the original bulbs are more yellowish. After modifying my climate control "area", now it's more uniform.

I do have to admit it isn't a big change, simply because there isn't a whole lot to light up. I couldn't get the orange from the control symbols, but I did modify the light pipes along with the knobs themselves and the A/C recycle buttons. IF I could change the control symbols I would. Too risky for me though.
In the picture you can see that ALL of the lighted areas are uniform. This took time and patience the way I did it!



Take one step at a time. If you decide to go forward, BE PATIENT! You might like it just fine with the original bulbs and eliminate a lot of extra work. Only you can decide how much you want to put into it.

TB

 

Okay guys! The a/c and recirculator buttons both have their own bulbs. Here's the kicker Does anyone know what size bulb it is?!

 

How did you fill in the arrow selectors white?! I have the amber piece out but inside of how to fill it

 

Hot glue gun + scotch tape on the front. Then tape off and paint the front white after the glue cools and you pull the scotch tape.

 

To all those using acetone. Be very careful, the acetone will cause the vinyl on the a/c and recirculate button to peel off. Found that one out the hard way lol

 

I did mine last night. I have redone all the lighting in my truck without issues until I got to the last piece (climate control).
I put in Blue LED's for my AC and recirculate, but for some reason my AC light will not come on.

I will have to take a look at it again this weekend.

 

I have pM a few people with no awnser and am looking for alittle help I would like someone with experience to do this MOD for me I could overnight the unit back and forth and pay for your service anyone willing to help?

 

Sorry, I (personally) cannot take on any new projects.

 

Hey guys, for some reason now my A/C won't work properly. I can hear it running but nothing is coming out of the vents. Any ideas???

 

Hello, how did you get the digital clock number segment to be in white as shown in the picture? It's the set up I want. Beautiful white!

 

I can't speak for mit88, but can perhaps answer this somewhat. I have an 05, not sure about any other year. If you carefully remove and disassemble the clock, there is a piece of glass that has been tinted (painted?) orange or brown. You can use a magic eraser, (NOT steel wool, brillow...), and rub the coating off of the glass. Then it will be clear. Clock is outputting a bright blue/green display. I took a piece of blue (photo?) film and placed it between the clock and glass and now I have a beautiful blue LED display.

 

Thanks for the input. Your info. confirm my delima.