Guage Cluster LED Swap. - The Ford Focus Forum

**Armanduhx3** · 10-27-2009, 07:44 PM

Im thinking about changing the LED's behind the guage.. Any Idea on how to do so? I tried searching, but none really were that helpful. Like what size bulbs? I know Oznium has some, but im not sure what size.. Ideas?

**SilverDuratecZX3** · 10-27-2009, 09:39 PM

What year is your Focus?

**Armanduhx3** · 10-29-2009, 07:28 AM

Whoops, i should of stated that.
2001 zx3

**slipster17** · 10-29-2009, 08:38 AM

http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html

Keep in mind that the green color you see when your gauges light up is not due to LED bulbs. All the bulbs in the cluster are white incandescent bulbs. The green color is a coating on the back of the gauge cluster.

That said, I'll double check what the sizes of my spares are when I get home but I believe that you'll need 3 #194 bulbs for behind the needles and a #74 to put behind the odometer.

The hardest part is really that you need to take apart the odometer and sand off the green finish on the little paper backing the glass screen has. The bulb behind that bit is actually white, the paper is what gives it the green tint.

If you are looking change the color the gauges light up, I'd recommend hitting up www.speedhut.com and seeing if you can built the custom one you are looking for.

Good luck!

**SilverDuratecZX3** · 10-29-2009, 08:39 AM

Cool. Your cluster has qty 3 of #194 bulbs in there. Now i have done a lot of experimentation with plug-in LED bulbs and I have been disappointed by all. They offer very spotty illumination, because of the placement of the bulbs in relation to the gauge face.

The best lighting that I have found is a ribbon of white LEDs, placed around the perimeter of the cluster. This gives a very even lighting effect.

You can get the strip at http://www.oznium.com/led-ribbon-roll. You would need about 3' of it.

But they do not offer it by the foot anymore, it appears. You also have a PM.

I hope this helps.

**Armanduhx3** · 10-29-2009, 03:54 PM

Thanks everyone

.
I have an idea of what I might want to do.
Keep the gauge cover the stock black one, sand of the green. Throw in a LED Stripe and walla.

Anyone change the indicator light colors?

**FZXRAcing** · Yesterday, 01:27 AM

Yeah the indicator lights on the stock gauge face are just semi-clear plastic film.

Best results I ever had changing those colors were to buy some overhead plastics (look at office-max for overhead projector sheets that are colored)

Then throw them through a laser printer and print the emblems you want on them, cut to size and scotch tape it onto your gauge face.

You can even get creative and have your brights indicator say something like "Blinder Beams". It will be small text but its fun!

PS- Use an xacto knife and peel up the edges of the indicator films that are on the stock gauge face.

10-27-2009, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Armanduhx3 "Shut Up man, get on my horse" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 1,691	Guage Cluster LED Swap. Im thinking about changing the LED's behind the guage.. Any Idea on how to do so? I tried searching, but none really were that helpful. Like what size bulbs? I know Oznium has some, but im not sure what size.. Ideas? __________________ aRmanda\|\|Tweet\|\|Building teh zx3\|\|Girls of FJ

10-27-2009, 09:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
SilverDuratecZX3 TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 175	Re: Guage Cluster LED Swap. What year is your Focus?

10-29-2009, 07:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
Armanduhx3 "Shut Up man, get on my horse" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 1,691	Re: Guage Cluster LED Swap. Whoops, i should of stated that. 2001 zx3 __________________ aRmanda\|\|Tweet\|\|Building teh zx3\|\|Girls of FJ

10-29-2009, 08:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
slipster17 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palmyra/ Carlisle, PA Posts: 2,577	Re: Guage Cluster LED Swap. http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html Keep in mind that the green color you see when your gauges light up is not due to LED bulbs. All the bulbs in the cluster are white incandescent bulbs. The green color is a coating on the back of the gauge cluster. That said, I'll double check what the sizes of my spares are when I get home but I believe that you'll need 3 #194 bulbs for behind the needles and a #74 to put behind the odometer. The hardest part is really that you need to take apart the odometer and sand off the green finish on the little paper backing the glass screen has. The bulb behind that bit is actually white, the paper is what gives it the green tint. If you are looking change the color the gauges light up, I'd recommend hitting up www.speedhut.com and seeing if you can built the custom one you are looking for. Good luck! __________________ _R E C A L L_ .,___,,_ /___l__\__ l(o)____(o)l <--2001 Egg Yolk Yellow Eurofied ZX3 see it on CarDomain - team edm - 160k+ miles

10-29-2009, 08:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
SilverDuratecZX3 TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 175	Re: Guage Cluster LED Swap. Cool. Your cluster has qty 3 of #194 bulbs in there. Now i have done a lot of experimentation with plug-in LED bulbs and I have been disappointed by all. They offer very spotty illumination, because of the placement of the bulbs in relation to the gauge face. The best lighting that I have found is a ribbon of white LEDs, placed around the perimeter of the cluster. This gives a very even lighting effect. You can get the strip at http://www.oznium.com/led-ribbon-roll. You would need about 3' of it. But they do not offer it by the foot anymore, it appears. You also have a PM. I hope this helps.

10-29-2009, 03:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Armanduhx3 "Shut Up man, get on my horse" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 1,691	Re: Guage Cluster LED Swap. Thanks everyone . I have an idea of what I might want to do. Keep the gauge cover the stock black one, sand of the green. Throw in a LED Stripe and walla. Anyone change the indicator light colors? __________________ aRmanda\|\|Tweet\|\|Building teh zx3\|\|Girls of FJ

Yesterday, 01:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
FZXRAcing Rookie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 27	Re: Guage Cluster LED Swap. Yeah the indicator lights on the stock gauge face are just semi-clear plastic film. Best results I ever had changing those colors were to buy some overhead plastics (look at office-max for overhead projector sheets that are colored) Then throw them through a laser printer and print the emblems you want on them, cut to size and scotch tape it onto your gauge face. You can even get creative and have your brights indicator say something like "Blinder Beams". It will be small text but its fun! PS- Use an xacto knife and peel up the edges of the indicator films that are on the stock gauge face.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode