Author Topic: Dash competed! (Indiglo Needle Mod) (Read 22799 times)

Rake · « **on:** Sep 23, 2004, 07:27PM »

Alrighty, I found a Oil/Fuel/Temp cluster at the wreckers (Corsair Ghia lacks the Oil Guage), and I've modded it all Red as some of you may have seen, but I've also made the needles White and done the Indiglo Needle mod with Red

Sorry for the dark shot, but thats what it looks like with white needles, very nice they are.

And WHOA!!, what a diffrence those LEDs make!!

I still have to fix a couple issues, the temp guage won't spring back to the bottom by itself, which I suspect is because it is touching the led (Tapping it makes it move), and the Oil Guage will only either be off or spring up as far as it can possibly go, however I suspect thats something else, not in the cluster, as someone else mentoned.

What you guys think?

vector · « **Reply #1 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 08:03PM »

very nice any pictures of how you got it together? and any tips on the placement of leds near the needles?
and howd you get the needles for the tach/speedo off ?mine wont come off there to stiff get some pics in the normal light if you could
thankyou

Rake · « **Reply #2 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 08:10PM »

I just pulled them off! Maybe a small screwdriver under and a twist in the worst of situations.

No pictures but I can try be descriptive with words, if your in sydney somewhere I could easily help anyone out.

As for LED Placement, just look at the clear plastic stuff. There are angled parts which reflect light in the right directions. Thats usually where they're best put. Examine the underside of the needles and such too, it's all pretty easy to figure out. Speedo and Tacho have 2 leds as they are longer and go around 240 degrees, and 1 for the oil/temp/fuel as they don't move as far and are shorter.

vector · « **Reply #3 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 08:15PM »

mine are evil and refuse to come off

thanks mate

calteoh · « **Reply #4 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 08:20PM »

it might just be the photo, but wow, they look searingly bright

Rake · « **Reply #5 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 08:34PM »

Yeah cameras dont take the photos of the dash overly well .. The colour is more blood-red and less pinkish, and although the needles are bright, they're not that overly bright. The best thing I can do is to go and show people! I'm bored and I'm pretty boasty about my efforts

Jtas · « **Reply #6 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 09:07PM »

Quote from: Rake on Sep 23, 2004, 07:27PM

the Oil Guage will only either be off or spring up as far as it can possibly go, however I suspect thats something else, not in the cluster, as someone else mentoned.

What you guys think?

That means the oil pressre sendor is not connected properly. The same happened to my car and it was because the wires connecting to the sendor had come loose.

bungs · « **Reply #7 on:** Sep 23, 2004, 11:15PM »

Dunno if i missed it, but what size leds did you use? looks nice, good work

Rake · « **Reply #8 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 12:51AM »

Quote from: TasR.X on Sep 23, 2004, 09:07PM

That means the oil pressre sendor is not connected properly. The same happened to my car and it was because the wires connecting to the sendor had come loose.

Hmm, might have to check it out, but from what people have said in my other thread (http://www.antrx.com/smf/index.php?topic=5170.0) I was under the impression that I had to replace the oil sender...

Quote from: bungs on Sep 23, 2004, 11:15PM

Dunno if i missed it, but what size leds did you use? looks nice, good work

90c from Jaycar buys you 5mm, 4,000mcd bright LEDs. Red LEDs of this kind require 2.9v (I think, from memory) and need ~500ohm resistors to work off 12v. Diffrent coloured LEDs use diffrent voltages so you'd need diffrent resistors, also depends how you power them (I did mine in parallel). I think I shouldv'e used 3mm LEDs though to simplify installation and reduce the preperation work involved.

Jtas · « **Reply #9 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 01:13AM »

Quote from: Rake on Sep 24, 2004, 12:51AM

Hmm, might have to check it out, but from what people have said in my other thread (http://www.antrx.com/smf/index.php?topic=5170.0) I was under the impression that I had to replace the oil sender...

ahh yeah sorry, i assumed you'd already done that

fast90trx · « **Reply #10 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 04:59AM »

dude!

looks really good! I wouldn't mind trying blue LED's.

evenflow_trx · « **Reply #11 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 08:47AM »

looks pretty good rake, cant really tell by the pic though. Good work m8.

Rake · « **Reply #12 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 10:41AM »

Quote from: fast90trx on Sep 24, 2004, 04:59AM

dude! looks really good! I wouldn't mind trying blue LED's.

Maybe this'll help you visuallise.

noss · « **Reply #13 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 11:10AM »

instructions are here:

http://www.antrx.com/smf/index.php?topic=4867.0

also vector, i've pulled my brother's n13 gauges apart and the needles are pretty tough to get off but with a bit of careful force they do come off.

Rake · « **Reply #14 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 11:23AM »

Also I'm going to need some help concerning the Oil Sender, could post here or in the other thread I made a little while ago (http://www.antrx.com/smf/index.php?topic=5170.0). I was told $67 for a genuine, new one. Pfft, stuff that! Inspecting the Ti and TRX at a wrecker nearby it had a metal, round thing whereas mine doesn't, maybe I can grab one of those from the wreck (How do I remove?), or is there a cheaper/better aftermarket one?

Jtas · « **Reply #15 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 12:33PM »

you should be able to get a non genuine one from repco/bursons etc.
it just screws out with a spanner.

heres is a pic of the sender so you know what and where it goes
(a bit blurry sorry)

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rake · « **Reply #16 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 12:52PM »

I went to Autopro and asked if they had any, they asked if they had one or two wires. Whilst not 100% certain, from what I had gathered it has two. Upon hearing this he said he had none and to go see Nissan for a genuine part, as they didn't have any..

Knowing which part/manufacturer to look for would be handy. Would they include any seals and such I would have to install at the same time? Otherwise I might just go nab one from the wrecker, because a Ti and TRX had them I believe, the metal circular ones whereas mine doesn't, it is smaller and Red, with a wire of some kind going in the end and another to the side of it.

In that picture, is that the bolt part I see at the bottom of the sensor? Would it be easiest to access from under the car?

Jtas · « **Reply #17 on:** Sep 24, 2004, 01:07PM »

yeah you undo it with a spanner on the nut at the base where it connects into the oil filter to block adapter. It's quite easy to get to from above, just reach down from the drivers side as if your going to remove the oil filter, and you should be able to feel the nut you need to turn in front of and up from the filter. It may be easier to do from underneath with the car on ramps or jack stands, but youd have to remove the oil filter to get to it properly.

If you can't find a non genuine sender and you don't want to spend too much on a genuine one just grab one from the wreckers, that way you'll know it's the right one.

I honestly can't remember what seals are on the sender as it was a while ago that i had mine off.

Rake · « **Reply #18 on:** Sep 25, 2004, 11:53AM »

Went to the wreckers (for the bazillionth time

) and found two. One seems kindof rusty, but the other with a bit of degreaser and elbow grease shined up really nice, so I think I'll try putting her in.

Rake · « **Reply #19 on:** Sep 25, 2004, 08:27PM »

Ok, anything about the Oil Guage please go here: http://www.antrx.com/smf/index.php?topic=5170.msg77091#msg77091

Tryin to keep things neat

, Basically I put the new sender in, but it still does the same thing, and I wanna get it fixed!

FLOGTARA · « **Reply #20 on:** Sep 27, 2004, 08:02PM »

That looks pretty good man. How bright are they. Do they blind you at all?

Rake · « **Reply #21 on:** Sep 27, 2004, 08:10PM »

Pretty bright, some people have been like "Whoa holy shit!" but I think they're fine

I powered them off the bulbs that light the guages, so the dimmer switch changes them somewhat also.

FLOGTARA · « **Reply #22 on:** Sep 27, 2004, 08:28PM »

Thats a good idea man. I did that with my tacho so i cud dim the tacho lights!

fast90trx · « **Reply #23 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 12:24PM »

thanx for the pic rake! I'll be having blue LEDs in my car this weekend!

I also have a little 6 inch fluro light which i wanna hook up somewhere. any ideas anyone?

Rake · « **Reply #24 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 12:27PM »

If you need a hand at all, I'm unemployed, school is out and with my computer nicked, I've nothing much to do, so just let me know.

As for a fluro.. What are you looking to do with it exactly?

calteoh · « **Reply #25 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 04:30PM »

i wouldnt mind neons under the dash and seats that turn on when i open the car doors. coz at the moment my interior light dosent work at all and i cant see shit at night, inside the car.

fast90trx · « **Reply #26 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 05:59PM »

I dont really know what im gonna do with it $:-\$ but im trying to come up with something creative. maybe i can use it instead of LEDs or put it in my grille or.........somthin.

Rake · « **Reply #27 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 06:10PM »

Footwells are good, but as for something a bit more creative .. Hmm .. I don't think it'd make a good LED replacement though for the guages

What colour are you thinking of doing? Could do heaps fo things for the guages, but you'd be limited when it comes to LEDs for the needles.

fast90trx · « **Reply #28 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 09:43PM »

i definately want blue LEDs in the gauge cluster. Thinking about putting the blue fluro in the footwell to give it that affect while your driving. it came with a dimmer control so you can make it as bright or as dim as you want. hmmmm

Rake · « **Reply #29 on:** Sep 28, 2004, 11:19PM »

I used 5mm LEDs but I'd strongly consider 3mm's as they would be much easier to work with, both with preperation and installation, and maybe work better for general use, I've had to screw around to fix some problems I've had.

http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZD0132

Thats a 3mm Blue 3,000mcd LED. I used a 4,000mcd bright one, some people say its too bright but I'm fine with it, so 3000mcd might be ideal and suit you better. Just have to pickup some resistors too, only about 40c your looking at (For around 8 ). I used 510ohm's, but as Blue LEDs use more voltage you'd need a resistor with slightly lower resistance. That, some wire, heatshrink or tape, and soldering tools

I just don't know if 3mm LEDs will light the needles as good as 5mm ones do.

Personally I'd only have lit footwells which come on with interior lighting. I enjoy being immersed in darkness at night, rather than sitting in a bright glowing thing of light. Thats why I don't like Reverse guages - theyre too distracting, having giant white circles in front of you. I hate driving at night with oncoming traffic also, it's just, toooo much light! I love my red dash though, it's more subtle