How To: Orange Radio and HVAC lights (cheap and easy, lots of pics)

[Papa_Duece]

Originally Posted by Fusion7

Hey I just done this today it looks great! Only one problem.......My radio **** out and mitsu replaced it well the replacement well it is a differnt LCD screen set up and I cant get to the two leds cause of a metal shiled.

Anyone figure out how to paint the builbs on the black board ones?

Mine is also the one with the black PCB. I was able to get to the bulbs you have to do a couple more steps. This ups the difficulty a bit.

You will need
1. Desoldering Braid
2. Soldering Iron
3. Needle nose pliers.

The metal shield covering the LCD is held on by two tabs that are bent over on back side of the PCB. The bad news is they decided to solder the damn things. You have to get rid of the solder so you can turn the tabs to be able to take the metal shield off. I used this by using desoldering braid to soak up the solder using the soldering iron. After you free up the two tabs there is also one more little stud you have to desolder to free up the metal shield.

After you get the metal shield off you have to pry the LCD away from the PCB. Just gently pry it toward connector. You have to do this so you canget the white plastic bulb shield out. When you take the white shield out there will be a little piece of semi-tranparent plastic between the white shield and LCD, don't lose that.

At this point you can paint the two bubls. Let is dry for a bit. When you replace the white plastic shield make sure you do not scrap he bulbs. Make sure the semi-trasnparent screen is put back, and bend the LCD back in place and put the metal shield back on.

After the shield is put on flip the PCB over and turn the two tabs to lock the shield in place. You probably do not have to resolder the shield, but I did. So go ahead and resolder the two tabs and the other stud you desoldered.

Now you can procced with the rest of the howto.

--Edit
Sorry I didn't take pictures I should have, and there is no way in hell I am taking that thing apart again. Unless I have to.

I also relocated my guage kit and painted them. Everything looks great but for some reason the vacum side of my boost guage is not a bright. Not really a probalby though. Also I noticed you no longer have a blue/red hot/cold on the AC . Now it is Hot/Hotter.

[jessmanEVO]

I also have a 05.. how do you get the audio and volume knob off without breaking it?

-Jesse

[jmu12]

I just used the red little bulb covers... works like a charm

[Evoryder]

my walmart doesn't carry the paint...discontinued. Anywhere else?

[Kaido]

Has anyone with the stock Mitsu gauge option (volt/temp/boost) changed the color of them to orange? They currently match the puke green center console.

[Evoryder]

used an orange sharpy.

[cupah20]

how did you do the clock?

just another question about the delta tangerine paint. is it heat resistant? just don't want the paint burning off or peeling off after a few months.

does anyone know of a heat resistive paint or marker that can be used???

[dtab]

The gauges can be done exactly the same way. Pop the rubber circle off the back of the voltage and temp gauges and you will see the back of the bulb. Just twist counter clock-wise and pull. The back of the boost bulb is already exposed.

[gjgfrombigd]

nice job evoryder. BTW, "you ride clean, but your gas tank is on E!"
-cheers

[Dosagex]

make sure you take off the blue rubber over the bulbs lol. =/

[SHhhhh]

Tangerine/Mandarine worked well, thanks!

[thestereogod]

Posting So I Can Find This Again

[NorCal Lancer]

may i ask how you take out the bulbs behind the HVAC? is there any secret technique? i try pulling them out but im too scared that it might break, plus its kind of hard to do that cuz the bulb is so tiny

[mrbkkt1]

Originally Posted by TimDC2x

Just did this last night, super easy, cheap and most importantly, looks gorgeous. Thanks OP!

Edit: 1 minor issue on mine though, my stock radio has less bulbs than the one posted in the how-to, and the LCD still shines white. Didnt want to risk cracking open the LCD display, so i left it as is. FYI, my radio is from an 05, and the printed circuit board was black.

Mine is an 05 SSL.... maybe that's why it's a little different.

[mrbkkt1]

Originally Posted by jessmanEVO

I also have a 05.. how do you get the audio and volume knob off without breaking it?

-Jesse

They pull straight off.