Dash Lighting

[nealo]

Hey all. I drive my KX-R Kluger in the dark a lot, therefore I have my lights on heaps and I didn't think the interior dash lights blended.

It seems that the Speedo are is new and cool, the LCD for the camera/info area is new and cool. BUT they just wacked a standard stereo of any colour and the same for the air con.

I forgot to take a before photo but I had my mobile so took a few along the way. I wanted to change to a white/ blue blend to match the white/blue of the info LCD and the white/red of the speedo.

Upon completing the aircon I pulled apart the stereo and unfortunatly there are 49 very small LED's that need to be changed. So the stereo is going to have wait till I decide wether to go aftermaket or do the LED's. I think I'll be going aftermarket so it will remain green for a little while.

Some photo's (sorry about quality but they're from my phone).

Remove this piece by just pulling and prying.

This is the aircon piece, it just pulls straight out after the first piece is removed.

This is the aircon controls when pulled apart. The LED's have a green rubbery type cover on them and when that's removed they are blue! How lucky is that? So I started by removing all these rubbery covers and making it all blue. I found it was too much so went ahead with replacing the 10 brightest LED's (in the photo below) with white ones.

And the result.

[Taka]

Impressive stuff.

Which LED did you use?

[Blackkluger]

wow. thats fantastic! Would it be the same with the S modeL? anyone can provide a before photo of a kxR?

[Taka]

I am misunderstanding you a bit.

I think there is tape because there is no button there like in KX-S or Grande where we have climate control. I guess that is why they are taped.

So you found your lights are blue afterwards so you don't need white LEDs or you have white LEDs anyway.

Why are ours green then? Because the board is green???? I doubt they have 2 types of boards for KX-R then KX-S and Grande.

[nealo]

Impressive stuff.

Which LED did you use?

These one's from Ebay.

I am misunderstanding you a bit.

I think there is tape because there is no button there like in KX-S or Grande where we have climate control. I guess that is why they are taped.

So you found your lights are blue afterwards so you don't need white LEDs or you have white LEDs anyway.

Why are ours green then? Because the board is green???? I doubt they have 2 types of boards for KX-R then KX-S and Grande.

The background lighting which is the 10 brightest LED's in the picture below are the one's that I replaced with white LED's from Ebay.

All the background LED's have a like I said a rubbery type green cover over each individual LED and when removed the light coming from the LED is blue. I can't explain how the green cover makes the light appear green but it does.

The slightly less bright green LED's and the one's not lit up are the indicating LED's for fan position aircon on etc.

[boleh]

I believe the original LEDs were intentionally masked green to match the audio button illuminations.

In this pic below, once u've changed the headunit that has white/blue illuminations then it'll be perfect -- 3.5" LCD with blue background, A/C with white LEDs, Headunit with White/Blue illuminations

[fish475]

The heater controls are a brighter richer green than my photos depict. They match the stereo. I upgraded the stereo upon the ordering if anyone picks the bluetooth buttons.

Edited September 29, 2008 by fish475

[nealo]

It's very hard to photograph but I finally got around to replacing the stereo. It's a JVC KD-BT11.

Reason's I replaced it.

1st - Not loud enough. O.k for CD and plugged in MP3 but radio was jusr plain quiet.

2nd - Built in bluetooth

3rd - Lighting

Edited December 7, 2008 by nealo

[Mikeyboy]

I went for a slightly different look. I think it suited my stereo better.

Note: In the photo,the reds and some of the blues look a bit pale. They aren't though, it's just hard to get a decent photo.

[wilsact]

Very nice guys.

How hard is to replace the leds with the different colour ones?

Step by step would be awesome.

Thanks

[Mikeyboy]

Very nice guys.

How hard is to replace the leds with the different colour ones?

Step by step would be awesome.

Thanks

It's not a job for the inexperienced.

It took me around 5 minutes to change the LEDs and clean and inspect the joints, but I have around 25 years experience in this field and the proper equipment. I could see the possibility of damaging the circuit board if you didn't know what you are doing.

There is also the possibility of using the wrong LEDs.

Don't try it unless you understand what you are doing.

[hardy]

Quite impressive....work

Edited April 15, 2009 by hardy

[Mr Kluger]

Hi Guys,Im trying to remove the trim panel below the stereo, so i can add a switch in the blank spot, ive got a grande mode which doesnt have the ciggy tray and as such is a little different and very hard to get off, any tips for removing the trim like where the clips are and how many?

Thanks in advance to any help... ;)

ps..

how about the trim panel near the snow button... im assuming its just pry and pull up but im scared of breaking something

Edited July 26, 2009 by Black Kluger Grande

[Kesawi]

Hi Guys,Im trying to remove the trim panel below the stereo, so i can add a switch in the blank spot, ive got a grande mode which doesnt have the ciggy tray and as such is a little different and very hard to get off, any tips for removing the trim like where the clips are and how many?

From memory there are about 3 clips along the top beneath the A/C controls and two on the bottom. Then on the wings either side which go to the glove box and steering column I think there are two top and bottom. I think I started by prying off the wings at the top with my fingers and just pulling hard until it came out at one of the clips, and then working around the edge of the panel until all clips were out. You just have to keep pulling and trust you're not going to break anything, which I found hard to do the first time.

Edited July 26, 2009 by Kesawi

[Mr Kluger]

Hi Guys,Im trying to remove the trim panel below the stereo, so i can add a switch in the blank spot, ive got a grande mode which doesnt have the ciggy tray and as such is a little different and very hard to get off, any tips for removing the trim like where the clips are and how many?

From memory there are about 3 clips along the top beneath the A/C controls and two on the bottom. Then on the wings either side which go to the glove box and steering column I think there are two top and bottom. I think I started by prying off the wings at the top with my fingers and just pulling hard until it came out at one of the clips, and then working around the edge of the panel until all clips were out. You just have to keep pulling and trust you're not going to break anything, which I found hard to do the first time.

Bravery... Trust... Confidence... Reassurance...

will give it a go... Thankyou...

Im still nervous though... will wait to weekend to do it slowly

[nealo]

Bravery... Trust... Confidence... Reassurance...

will give it a go... Thankyou...

Im still nervous though... will wait to weekend to do it slowly

Yeah I started on the glove box side and just did it with my fingers start at the bottom. It is very tough on the fingers but I didn't want to use tools and end up scratching something.

With the bit neear the snow button the whole middle section lifts up. Once again I started on the passenger side near the non lidded drink holders and just pulled up with my fingers.

Good luck.