How to convert your cigarette light to LED.

[the-converter]

This is my version of converting the cigarette light to bright led.

This thread just to give an idea how to upgrade your cigarette light, is not a step by step instructions how to do it.

You will need to buy a T5 socket connector (less than $2) & any choice of your colour of T5 led.

Before you attempt this conversion, you should be familiar with the basic wiring techniques & how to remove your cigarette light.

I will skip through all the basic stuff as most of you already know.

Before conversion

After conversion

This is the factory cigarette bulb, I can't remove the bulb from the holder and also the bulb is smaller than T5.

Otherwise, I could just replaced the bulb with led

T5 Led socket connector with blue led, I will tap the wiring to the cigarette tray light because I already have the wires running to the compartment tray from the cigarette light.

Otherwise, you could just tap the wires to the factory cigarette light.

The end.

I hope this thread will give you some ideas how to upgrade your cigarette light.

[RollaRollin]

Looks great mate.

Did you do the rest of your dash in blue?

If so how did you do it?

I got Blue T5's off eBay but they are not very bright at all

[the-converter]

I always use this T5 wide angle led for the dash.

Much brighter than the normal led which cost a few dollars more.

I have not done the center clock & speedometer cluster yet.

Looks great mate.

Did you do the rest of your dash in blue?

If so how did you do it?

I got Blue T5's off eBay but they are not very bright at all

[RollaRollin]

I always use this T5 wide angle led for the dash.

Much brighter than the normal led which cost a few dollars more.

I have not done the center clock & speedometer cluster yet.

Looks great mate.

Did you do the rest of your dash in blue?

If so how did you do it?

I got Blue T5's off eBay but they are not very bright at all

Wide angle LED?!

I did not know they existed, you have just saved me a lot of time :)

I have done the clock

Its a bit hard to get right because the LED leaves a big blue circle where the light is and I still havent got it right yet ):

[the-converter]

I have done the clock

Its a bit hard to get right because the LED leaves a big blue circle where the light is and I still havent got it right yet ):

That's why I still haven't done it.

The length of the led is longer than a standard bulb and led lighting is usually more focus not like a standard bulb is wide spread.

Hence I believe that why we will see a big circle around the led.

I had tried putting new blue condom (i don't know what's actual name for this) on the bulb but the result no way near blue.

I also tried the wide angle led but because of longer length the led is too close to the clock screen which also causes the big circle.

Edited July 4, 2011 by the-converter

[Azazel]

This is my version of converting the cigarette light to bright led.

This thread just to give an idea how to upgrade your cigarette light, is not a step by step instructions how to do it.

The end.

I hope this thread will give you some ideas how to upgrade your cigarette light.

Nice one Mr Converter! Might give it a go.

[the-converter]

I have done the clock

Its a bit hard to get right because the LED leaves a big blue circle where the light is and I still havent got it right yet ):

I think I found the solution for the clock.

I just bought this led, just slightly longer than the standard bulb and I going to use black/grey insulation tape to cover the top of the led blocking the light directly projecting to the screen.

If you look at the led, the whole led is transparent which will allows the lighting spread across a wider area.

Hopefully this will get rid of the big circle.

Edited July 3, 2011 by the-converter

[RollaRollin]

I have done the clock

Its a bit hard to get right because the LED leaves a big blue circle where the light is and I still havent got it right yet ):

I think I found the solution for the clock.

I just bought this led, just slightly longer than the standard bulb and I going to use black/grey insulation tape to cover the top of the led blocking the light directly projecting to the screen.

If you look at the led, the whole led is transparent which will allows the lighting spread across a wider area.

Hopefully this will get rid of the big circle.

In that picture which one is it?

The one of the right or the 3 on the left?

[the-converter]

The 3 on the left.

I have done the clock

Its a bit hard to get right because the LED leaves a big blue circle where the light is and I still havent got it right yet ):

I think I found the solution for the clock.

I just bought this led, just slightly longer than the standard bulb and I going to use black/grey insulation tape to cover the top of the led blocking the light directly projecting to the screen.

If you look at the led, the whole led is transparent which will allows the lighting spread across a wider area.

Hopefully this will get rid of the big circle.

In that picture which one is it?

The one of the right or the 3 on the left?

[RollaRollin]

I have those T5 LED's mate. Well they are sort of the same, mine has a rounded top, yours has a flat top. Hmm might order some and see

With the duct tape thing you are talking about, yes it stops the circle

But then there is a big splotchy patch on the clock when the light is brighter all around it and honestly looks worse than the circle itself!

I think i have the solution

I brought just a regular T5 Blue LED

Got some masking tape and covered it up and put it back in the clock

While not perfect, its certainly an improvement on the big bright circle

Its a bit fiddly to get the masking tape right so I suggest stripping the clock right down or at least taking it out of the dash so your not constantly moving a dash around and just have a play around. You will get the desired results because the masking tape still lets most of the light through just somehow stops the circle for the most part

Don't use electrical/duct tape it just looks horrible

The T5 LED which I covered in a small amount of masking tape

The result which I'm pretty happy with

Can't wait for my Wide Angles to get here, might finally be able to finish my dash colour change after months of trying to get it right

Oh wait, now the cluster haha

Edited July 4, 2011 by RollaRollin

[the-converter]

Thanks for your contribution.

Looking good.

Will try your method when my led arrive.

Edited July 4, 2011 by the-converter

[RollaRollin]

Thanks for your contribution.

Looking good.

Will try your method when my led arrive.

Will go get a night photo in about 10 minutes

Stay tuned

[RollaRollin]

Masking tape is the answer mate!

The picture is crappy but its a phone camera so can't do much.

Looks near perfect, no huge bright dot or anything. Its just a little bit brighter in the centre, hardly noticeable

Looks great and suits my headunit's blue colours.

Heres an image anyway, but honestly mate, small bit of masking tape around the bulb is the way to go

Now just to wait for my wide angle LED's and do the cluster

PS can you please upload me a photo of the wide angles in action?

Edited July 4, 2011 by RollaRollin

[the-converter]

Here is the wide angle led in action.

I will change everything to blue leds to suit my HU once I receive the led for the clock.

[RollaRollin]

WOW

Love it!

I disconnected my cigarette lighter light, well took it out because I just could change the color of it.

I may change it, not sure, this guide will be good help though, so top job

And WOW also to the stock lighting

Green stock? ahh looks horrible

I also have a Mazda 3 and when you get in, everything from the speedo to the stereo is a perfect colour match in red

Oh well, hopefully the rolla will be all a uniform colour eventually

Are you gonna do the instrument cluster mod?

[the-converter]

Instrument cluster definitely will be my next mod after the clock.

At the moment, I'm still gathering all the information from the forum & youtube to do this mod.

I have done it on my previous Corolla AE101 Seca which is quite straight forward.

Are you ready to mod the cluster?

WOW

Love it!

I disconnected my cigarette lighter light, well took it out because I just could change the color of it.

I may change it, not sure, this guide will be good help though, so top job

And WOW also to the stock lighting

Green stock? ahh looks horrible

I also have a Mazda 3 and when you get in, everything from the speedo to the stereo is a perfect colour match in red

Oh well, hopefully the rolla will be all a uniform colour eventually

Are you gonna do the instrument cluster mod?

[RollaRollin]

I'm a bit nervous about it.

Kenshin X has a great write up though.

But those LED" look so darn small compared to even the 5c coin

I've taken the cluster out and attempted to put blue celephane in place but it didnt work haha

So will have to go the full route and use the solder

Not sure if I have the skill to do it though

Do you have the Levin cluster?

[the-converter]

I read Kenshin X write up as well.

No doubt it was a great write up from him.

I do not have the Levin cluster, do you?

My cluster is just a normal auto one.

Do you know the standard Corolla cluster use the same leds like Levin?

I'm hoping my cluster will be less complicated than Kenshin's one.

On my previous Corolla, the cluster leds are exactly the same like the clock led that I got now.

I'm a bit nervous about it.

Kenshin X has a great write up though.

But those LED" look so darn small compared to even the 5c coin

I've taken the cluster out and attempted to put blue celephane in place but it didnt work haha

So will have to go the full route and use the solder

Not sure if I have the skill to do it though

Do you have the Levin cluster?

[RollaRollin]

Okay.

I had a stock cluster in my car. This one, assuming you have the same

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toyota-Corolla-Dash-Cluster-/160558555119?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2562091fef#ht_500wt_878

But because that looks horrible at night and so bright in my eyes I brought one of these from the states. Much cheaper

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TOYOTA-COROLLA-2004-2006-CE-gauge-cluster-OEM-F11-22-/260297764946?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3c9af4b052#ht_1553wt_863

Now its a direct plug and play but 3 problems arose:

1) The fuel gauge was off due to different size in tanks

2) It wouldn't light up when I turned my lights on, different pins

3) The odometer was in miles

So what I did was, as you can see one cluster is black, one is white.

That is simply a piece of plastic, say a fascia

So I swapped the piece of plastic and kept my original cluster with the new fascia

Looks so much better at night.

They are called a Levin or Spotivo Cluster here in Australia but expect to pay at least double. I payed $100 delivered

But now knowing what I know, just email a few sellers in the US and ask for the black fascia bit. Wil cost you probably $20 because its about the size of a sheet of paper. I paid $60 in postage for a cluster i dont even use now.

When you take your cluster apart, i'm 99% certain it will need desoldering of the LED's

And not just take out and replace.

But honestly, get yourself a Sportivo or Levin cluster or one from the states, it will look so so so much better at night

[RollaRollin]

My cluster at night. Now just imagine it blue

[the-converter]

This is a brilliant idea.

I will consider this option.

Thanks.

Okay.

I had a stock cluster in my car. This one, assuming you have the same

http://www.ebay.com....ef#ht_500wt_878

But because that looks horrible at night and so bright in my eyes I brought one of these from the states. Much cheaper

http://www.ebay.com....2#ht_1553wt_863

Now its a direct plug and play but 3 problems arose:

1) The fuel gauge was off due to different size in tanks

2) It wouldn't light up when I turned my lights on, different pins

3) The odometer was in miles

So what I did was, as you can see one cluster is black, one is white.

That is simply a piece of plastic, say a fascia

So I swapped the piece of plastic and kept my original cluster with the new fascia

Looks so much better at night.

They are called a Levin or Spotivo Cluster here in Australia but expect to pay at least double. I payed $100 delivered

But now knowing what I know, just email a few sellers in the US and ask for the black fascia bit. Wil cost you probably $20 because its about the size of a sheet of paper. I paid $60 in postage for a cluster i dont even use now.

When you take your cluster apart, i'm 99% certain it will need desoldering of the LED's

And not just take out and replace.

But honestly, get yourself a Sportivo or Levin cluster or one from the states, it will look so so so much better at night

[the-converter]

Your HID headlamp is awesome.

What is the small screen showing 0 km/h?

My cluster at night. Now just imagine it blue

[RollaRollin]

Yea try not to get the full cluster.

Just ask for the little black fascia bit.

its about as big as a piece of paper so you will save heaps

And takes about 10 minutes to install

The little screen is called a HUD mate

Features on the BMW 5 series as like a 5k extra ontop of RRP but you can have it for free if you have an iDevice or Android :P

My thread on HUD

http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&section=findpost&pid=452705

An awesome HUD I'm thinking about buying

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heads-Up-Display-HUD-KM-Rpm-Speed-water-temp-gauge-/110708044366?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19c6b6b24e

BMW Extract

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/5series/sedan/2007/allfacts/ergonomics/hud.html

Your HID headlamp is awesome.

HID's set me back $35 delivered from eBay and I highly recommend them.

H7 4300k 35W HID's

Edited July 4, 2011 by RollaRollin

[corolla man]

I have those T5 LED's mate. Well they are sort of the same, mine has a rounded top, yours has a flat top. Hmm might order some and see

With the duct tape thing you are talking about, yes it stops the circle

But then there is a big splotchy patch on the clock when the light is brighter all around it and honestly looks worse than the circle itself!

I think i have the solution

I brought just a regular T5 Blue LED

Got some masking tape and covered it up and put it back in the clock

While not perfect, its certainly an improvement on the big bright circle

Its a bit fiddly to get the masking tape right so I suggest stripping the clock right down or at least taking it out of the dash so your not constantly moving a dash around and just have a play around. You will get the desired results because the masking tape still lets most of the light through just somehow stops the circle for the most part

Don't use electrical/duct tape it just looks horrible

The T5 LED which I covered in a small amount of masking tape

The result which I'm pretty happy with

Can't wait for my Wide Angles to get here, might finally be able to finish my dash colour change after months of trying to get it right

Oh wait, now the cluster haha

[corolla man]

I have those T5 LED's mate. Well they are sort of the same, mine has a rounded top, yours has a flat top. Hmm might order some and see

With the duct tape thing you are talking about, yes it stops the circle

But then there is a big splotchy patch on the clock when the light is brighter all around it and honestly looks worse than the circle itself!

I think i have the solution

I brought just a regular T5 Blue LED

Got some masking tape and covered it up and put it back in the clock

While not perfect, its certainly an improvement on the big bright circle

Its a bit fiddly to get the masking tape right so I suggest stripping the clock right down or at least taking it out of the dash so your not constantly moving a dash around and just have a play around. You will get the desired results because the masking tape still lets most of the light through just somehow stops the circle for the most part

Don't use electrical/duct tape it just looks horrible

The T5 LED which I covered in a small amount of masking tape

The result which I'm pretty happy with

Can't wait for my Wide Angles to get here, might finally be able to finish my dash colour change after months of trying to get it right

Oh wait, now the cluster haha