T-10 Inverted LED lit gauge cluster

[PappaSmurf]

First you have to order the T-10 Inverted LEDs. I bought mine from keyrazyleds.com.

Once you obtain them then do the following to the "T" and there will be no mistakes and/or questions, (unless you are aleroracing). :lol:

First remove these two screws with a 7mm socket (all of the screws that need to be removed are with a 7mm socket):
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Firststep.jpg

Then unclip the trip-ometer thingy:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Second.jpg

Remove the following four screws:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Third.jpg

At this time, reach in with both hands and grab a hold of your gauge cluster, and pull it on towards you, and then unclip the following:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Fourth.jpg

After removing the clip you should have your cluster in your hands. Flip it on its front to where the back is facing you. Remove the black cover by unclipping the holders that are in place:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Fifth.jpg

Look for the FIVE big lights and twist them to where you are able to pull them out. They are located by the red arrows:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Sixth.jpg

You should then remove the original bulb and its "legs" if possible. I used a pocket knife and scraped the legs off the sides of the holder before trying to pull the bulb out. The bent legs are soldered in place. HINT HINT.

This is a shot of a T-10 inverted cone LED. Take the "legs" of the LED and straighten them out. DO NOT REMOVE them!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Seventh.jpg

This is what your LED should look like when you straightened your "legs." NO DIRTY THOUGHTS!!!!:lol:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Eighth.jpg

Put the straightened leg LED back through the original bulb holder and bend then "legs" as to look like the original bulb.
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Ninth.jpg

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and smoosh the "legs" down to the sides of the tabs to make the contact once installed on the electrical board.
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Tenth.jpg

Replace the bulbs into their holes on the electrical board and reconnect the BIG clip to the gauge cluster. DO NOT RE-INSTALL THE GAUGE CLUSTER!!! You are only doing this to make sure that the bulbs are working. I found it easier to do one bulb at a time. You might have a different method that works for you, Great. If one of the lights does not light up, simply remove it and turn it around (180 degrees) and then put it back in and see if it works. As with most LEDs, (and some people I wish I didn't know) these are what I refer to as Bi-polar. If they dont work one way, turn them around and they work perfectly. :p

Once you are satisfied now that all of your lights work, reinstall everything using the reverse method of taking things off.

Then sit back and enjoy the new glow of your gauge cluster with LEDs.
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p29/PappaSmurf25/2000%20alero/Voila.jpg

I would like to thank Cherryington as he was the most helpful (and doubtful of the T-10 LEDs) as to what to do and the Idea behind me modding my gauge cluster with NO HOTSPOTS!!!:yahoo:
-Smurf-

[cherrington17]

looks good. nice write up!

thanks for the contribution!

(btw... i'm skeptical of EVERYTHING at first. :lol: )

[PappaSmurf]

I know what you mean! I am the "I'll believe it when I see it" kind. Luckily the inverted bulbs look good in the gauge cluster. I will show you what I mean about the HOTSPOT in the shifter area at ASS 09.
-Smurf-

[C_EICK]

Superbrightleds.com has them too, thats where I got mine.:thumb:

[hok666]

Wow! the T-10s are huge... great job

[hok666]

oh and it looks like you used 5 t-10s?? is that correct?

[C_EICK]

yep there are 5 t10s/194s.

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

sweet, it's cheaper than getting reverse halo gages I might do this but in red.
Edit: I assume the shifter lights in your mod thread was simple to do true or false?

[PappaSmurf]

Abhellrazor,
TRUE, all you do is pry up on the shifter area until the left side (side closest to the drivers leg) is up enough for you to stick your hand in and twist the bulb out. Once the bulb is out, just replace the original bulb with the LED bulb and replace the whole thing. It is deffinitely easier than you think it is.
Seriously, go outside RIGHT NOW (take a small flat head screwdriver with you) and try prying up (slowly) on the shifter area, it'll pop right up and you'll see what I mean about the rest. If you want turn your lights on while doing this to help you find the original bulb.
-Smurf-

Edit:
The only thing that I really dont care for is that this mod will turn your needles the same as your numbers. It doesnt bother me too much because I love the look of blue LEDs. Hence all the lights on my car, LOL.
I am looking into maybe getting some of those purple or red glowing needle kits.
-Smurf-

[Nate's Alero]

Im just trying to figure this out,

how many 194 Bulbs In the entire car?

5 For the gauge cluster

2 for footwells

3 for dome light

2 for mirror accent lights

3 for PRND321 Shifter

so 15 total?

and will you get the fade out accent lighting with LED's as you do with traditonal bulbs

[cherrington17]

yes, they will fade out.

[Nate's Alero]

yes, they will fade out.

ok, then ima be the next yellow spotlight

[02AleroEco]

The leds f$^@&* my interior lights up. Now my dash lights dont work, the PNDR123 dont work. the lights on the HVAC dont work. fuse is fine. ive checked it all.

[Nate's Alero]

The leds f$^@&* my interior lights up. Now my dash lights dont work, the PNDR123 dont work. the lights on the HVAC dont work. fuse is fine. ive checked it all.

et 12V ones?

[cherrington17]

The leds f$^@&* my interior lights up. Now my dash lights dont work, the PNDR123 dont work. the lights on the HVAC dont work. fuse is fine. ive checked it all.


clearly.. you screwed something up. Leds can't ruin anything, on the account that its a diode. It allows electricity to flow one way. if its in the wrong way, you get no light. If its in the right way, you get light. If you put the wrong one in the wrong spot, it blows, and you don't get light outta that one spot.

YOU did something wrong. retrace your steps and figure it out. And which fuse did you check? theres one in the passanger side vent, and another under the hood.

[jrim]

Nice write up smurf :)

[PappaSmurf]

Nate,
Not so fast, There are no LEDs in the mirror accent lights or the dome light, Those bulbs are 291 type. I have a 3" LED strip in my dome light that looks as 3 individual bulbs, if that is what you are referring to.
Also, there is only 1 LED in the PRND321 Shifter.
Here is the location and total of 194 bulbs inside our cars.

2 in the footwell
5 in the gauge cluster
1 in the shifter area

for a total of 8 194 bulbs. If you are planning on doing the LED mod, i would suggest only getting the amount you need. Or buy a crap load and send the rest to Cherry, so he can out shine the sun. LOL
-Smurf-

[PappaSmurf]

Jrim,
Thanks.

[Atmosphere]

Great guide. Do you have any pictures in a darker setting?

Also, what does "fading out" mean?

[PappaSmurf]

Atmosphere,
Yes I have other pictures. Go to the apperance thread and check out the thread titled NEWBies mods.

Fading out means that the LEDs will act as your original bulbs do now and fade out (go from bright to dark) without just shutting off. In other words they get dimmer until they shut off.
-Smurf-

[AbHeLlRaZoR]

It is deffinitely easier than you think it is.
Seriously, go outside RIGHT NOW (take a small flat head screwdriver with you) and try prying up (slowly) on the shifter area, it'll pop right up and you'll see what I mean about the rest. If you want turn your lights on while doing this to help you find the original bulb.


I figured it out really fast the bulb is burnt out and needs to be replaced anyways.

[Nate's Alero]

Great guide. Do you have any pictures in a darker setting?

Also, what does "fading out" mean?

when you get in your alero, at night then start it, know when the bulbs fade out and not just shut off? thats what i was getting at

[Cliff8928]

when you get in your alero, at night then start it, know when the bulbs fade out and not just shut off? thats what i was getting at

It's commonly referred to as "Theatre dimming"

[Nate's Alero]

It's commonly referred to as "Theatre dimming"

hahah, still a nice feature, and i love that about the car

[PappaSmurf]

Yeah if only our cars would say "and we would like to take the time and welcome you to the show." HAHAHAHA
-Smurf-

[kevin1114]

Nice How-to!!
I was going to do it but never got around to it....
and i have hot spots! LOL

[AleroDrime]

smurf, this is a amazing write up, congratulations

my only ? is "why you gotta be an ass?"

[PappaSmurf]

To who? YOU????
It was a joke man, get over it or stay the hell off my threads! Nuff said!
-Smurf-

P.S.
Thanks for the compliment...ROTFLMAO

[PappaSmurf]

Kevin,
Did you use the Inverted cone bulbs or just the regular "domed" tip LEDs? If you used the regular ones, did you sand down the tips as per informed by cherrington?
-Smurf-

[heineck]

To who? YOU????
It was a joke man, get over it or stay the hell off my threads! Nuff said!
-Smurf-


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/SynAbominae/Simon_from_Frisky_Dingo_BOOSH_by_ta.jpg

[crackakam]

i got a alero with the little blue leds in it and its bright as heck

[Outdoors432]

Howd you get rid of the odometer? Is there anyway to just turn off the green numbering, but still have the actual numbers still appear there? I used to have an equinox and the lighting on the odometer burned out so it was somewhat like im talking about. Basically I just want to know how to turn of the backlight on the odometer if its possible.

[PappaSmurf]

Outdoors,
NO, you can not get rid of the greenish numbers. They are part of the electronic computer of the speedometer. I have the dark blue lights all over the speedometer all except for the greenish numbers you are talking of.
-Smurf-

[Nate's Alero]

its an LED display, no you cannot change it

[Outdoors432]

Then what'd you do to cover it up, clearly theres no greenish numbers in the pics you posted. Ive heard of people taking the film out of the blue side of 3D glasses and just putting that over top of it, did you do something to that effect. Im just trying to find the best method to make that somehow blend, I did the same thing with my cluster t10 LED's everything looks great, the odo just doesnt go with the color scheme tho.

[Toxin13]

^ There's no power to any of that, just to the LED back lighting.

[01OldsAleroGt]

now are the needles supposed to be different colors or will there need to be something else to make that happen ?

[cherrington17]

need a whole different mod to get that to work.

this version is very novice level.
changing the needle color is advanced, borderline expert level.

[Bigshot44]

i purchased these, just double checking if they will work.
http://www.keyrazyleds.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=5&category_id=1&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=30

[Ttop191]

exactly what you need, glad to see your getting into simple mods ;)

[robalero]

sticky???

[Bigshot44]

exactly what you need, glad to see your getting into simple mods ;)

Lol, I'd have to admit I was getting a little ahead of myself...
So I have decided first leds then wai. Once those are done ill go from there. Also do you think those greens are worth it or are they too close to stock? And Ill have an extra one, where could I put it?

[Ttop191]

they will be very similar to whiterider's


save the extra in case one blows out

[robalero]

yea just save it till one blows out, I wanna do red for mine but I keep thinking it will look too much like a sunfire or any pontiac....I guess I will just do it and see if I like if not im out $10 lol

[whiterider00]

let me know if you ever get the leds. i payed for them, and got a confirmation number and email, then 2 weeks later, no leds, and no responses to emails. disputing it thru paypal now.

[Bigshot44]

let me know if you ever get the leds. i payed for them, and got a confirmation number and email, then 2 weeks later, no leds, and no responses to emails. disputing it thru paypal now.

ok.
i hate having to make echecks they take so long...
first you purchase it send echeck takes 6-8 buisness days to transfer money from bank, then another day or so to send him the money, then he has to accept and ship which will be another 2 weeks..
and if he isnt legit then 3 weeks+ wasted time

[Bigshot44]

are these needed for dome?
http://www.keyrazyleds.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=76&category_id=4&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=30

if this guys legit im buying these too.
Anyone know where i can buy any of these leds offline if need be?

[whiterider00]

the one for the dome light is a 42 or 44 mm festoon bulb. that one would be way too small. look on ebay too for leds. probly b cheaper.

[robalero]

its a lot cheaper then buying that stuff locally I can say that for sure

[Bigshot44]

found a new place. only $4 free shipping ten bulbs
http://cgi.ebay.ca/10x-T10-194-W5W-Green-LED-Wedge-Inverted-Side-Bulbs-09-/270643825646?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &hash=item3f03a10bee

[robalero]

might have to follow up on that lol

[jhubbz]

Are people using blue or white leds for this? I put one white led in and it looked blue bc of the blue tinting. If I used blue leds, would it make it more vivid?

[whiterider00]

Are people using blue or white leds for this? I put one white led in and it looked blue bc of the blue tinting. If I used blue leds, would it make it more vivid?

green. whatever color you use (besides white apparently) will be bright enough to overcome the colored film on the gauges. the red areas in the gas gauge and tach even show up green, just slightly darker than the rest.

[cherrington17]

yes. blue shows up REALLY blue. I think nate posted a how to on taking apart the cluster and removing the tint...

its possible, its just a film.

[jhubbz]

Ok, I did this mod today with some blue led's and it looks awesome. I did get curious tho with some of the other bulbs under there. I snapped a few pics (sorry a couple are blurry) and the ones circled in red are the turn signal bulbs (also not pictured are cruise and high beam indicators). They look like 74 bulbs, but from Sylvania's bulb replacement guide, they are PC118's? I didn't try replacing them, but if someone wanted to shed some light (no pun intended) on this, it would be appreciated.

http://i52.tinypic.com/qxja6x.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/ephr48.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/4mjh1.jpg

The large one in the last pic is the inverted 194 for comparison.

[alero_bmxer]

i replaced the turn signal bulbs with blue LED's. dont remember the bulb type tho lol