Can I change the color of my dash lights?

LOL... I really dont either... I just didnt want to be rude to the OP (sheepdog). He is trying to get some answers.

 

First Gens are simple I did mine. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...color-their-cluster-lights-2.html#post1237441

 

Which of these bulbs should I use then? There are like 50 different types and I have no idea what the difference is. So if you guys know anything about which ones to use, please let me know.

http://www.ledlight.com/t10-194-automotive-led-lights.aspx

 

bump

 

none of those. just get a regular 168 incandescent colored bulb or a bulb condom to change the color.

 

Really? I thought it was better to go with LED. At least that's what I'm getting from all the guys posting on this thread.

 

really. LEDs will give you hotspots IMO..this is why i suggested colored bulbs or condoms. please tell my why LEDs would be better in this application?!

i swapped incandescent lights in my 98 (which i installed an 01 white faced cluster) and they look great...

 

I just figured the LEDs would be brighter. And what exatly do you mean by "hotspots"?

 

A hot spot would be where one spot is brighter than the rest. It will really depend on what LED you get if you have that or not. I really wouldn't worry about that too much unless you pick a single led, or a group of leds all facing the same direction.

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe I got ones similar to the first one on that page, with the one led going forward, and the 4 going outward. I dont think I went with the 2 leds on each side due to being worried about fitment. I feel mine are plenty bright as they are though. I believe I have them on 100% brightness in the pic, but they will adjust down as well.

This is what mine looks like with white leds.


Originally, I tried to put some cheap incandescent bulbs in and was very unhappy with the results. It may work ok with the orange condom on them, but with out it, it was more of a sickly yellowish-orange light (warm side of the light spectrum) - about the same as my headlight light you can see in the top corner in the pic above.

For taking it apart, no where does anyone ever say that you should remove the plastic steering cover behind the wheel, but it does make it quite a bit easier. Just turn the wheel one direction so you can get to the screw, then turn the wheel the other direction for the opposite screw. Dont forget the screw on the bottom as well.

Remember when putting it in that leds have poles and it is possible to put them in backwards, but they will not work.

 

Are these the "hot spots" you guys have been talking about?

 

^ yep, and by the 6 in the tach...

 

So in order to still use LEDs but not get these "hot spots", what kinda LEDs do I need to get?

 

What about these lights from Ebay? It's only 7 bucks for 10 of them...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10x-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

I did an LED swap as well and I found if you get the LED's that are 5ways like these


They will have the least hot spots.

I'm pleased with mine.

 

Oh. So these should work then???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4x-1...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27b39e756c

 

I don't see why not they will fit. The only thing is check the gauges before you put everything back if you have any dim spots flip the bulb housing they should work both ways I had to do this mine. if it don't light after just unplug the bulb from the housing and plug it in the other way it should light.

Good luck with the install.

 

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180314

Hope this helps

 

Awsome!!! Thanks for the heads up. I'm gonna go ahead and order these and do the mod. I'll be posting pics when it's done.

 

Great writeup but that's for a 2nd gen tacoma. I have a 1st gen. Thanks anyway though.

 

how hard is it to get the main cluster out?