TOTAL LED CONVERSION for S13 HVAC Unit

[cavalentineusmc]

Hey Guys this is the post said I would make!

Tools:
-Soldering Iron
-Small Tip Flat and Phillips head screwdriver
-Standard Phillips head screwdriver
-Needle nose pliers
-Patience (you will see why)

Materials:
- 1 or 2 194 Led 120 degrees
Here is the website to buy them from: https://www.superbrightleds.com/more.../attributes/30
- 9 5mm x 2mm Rectangular LEDs (order more just in case, they do not cost a lot)
These are a real pain in the but to finder. I went with red and got them here Stock #Stock #: LED06:
http://www.smcelectronics.com/lamps.htm
- Soldering Flux



1)Remove HVAC unit


2)Pry off Selector Knobs



3)Flip the HVAC unit over and remove the screw. Then remove the white or blue base bulbs shown in the third image in step 3. The should just twist out.




4)Gentle pull back the tab on the side of the unit


5)Annnd remove the back of the unit and the light diffuser (the big chuck of clear plastic) from the circuit board.


Steps 1-5 are pulled from this dude's post ---> http://forums.nicoclub.com/faq-write...t-t282768.html
If my instructions suck look to this this link for clarification.

6) Separate the blue and black inner switches from the face of the HVAC unit. Be gentle with this don't just put a whole can of man into it or you will break something. (After you do this, it is a good time to place some white lithium grease in the slider rails. This is where the face of the HVAC and the outside buttons meet.)


7)This is the fun part! Not really. First apply all the patience you have into the situation. Take the soldering iron and un-solder these points along the front of the board.


8)Once you have painstakingly and with care removed the black plastic LED housing then immediately replace each LED one at a time with your new 5mmx2mm LEDs. Do the same for the selector LEDs, they can be removed by taking pliers and gently removing them. WARNING!!!! Ensure that you replace them the right way. LEDs are polarize so they will only work one way in the circuit. Look at the filament of the bulb as you pull them out.

9)Re-solder the housing back to the board. If you didn't apply enough patience earlier your board will end up looking like this. Also remove the Jokes should be aimed at this picture---->


10)Take your 194 Led bulbs and pry the leads off to the side. Start to trim the bottom plastic off so the bulb will fit under the light diffuser. Once it fits solder in 1 or 2 (depending on how bright you want it, i only used one in the front hole) of the 194 LED bulbs where you removed the light bulbs in step 3. If you use the bulbs in the link i provided from Superbrightleds then you don't need to worry about which direct the bulb is installed. These are non polarized 12v rated LEDs, so there is no need to add resistors. Here is what it will look like from the top of the unit.


11) Put the thing back together! And Bam you get this!
better pic here ---> http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=619398

[EnnEssEnnKAT]

Nice write up, subscribed!

[Angelh510]

Thanks for the write up!
I am new to this, but will it work the same with HVAC unit from an S14?

[cavalentineusmc]

Originally Posted by Angelh510

Thanks for the write up!
I am new to this, but will it work the same with HVAC unit from an S14?

I don't see why not. You might need different size LEDs for the selector and indicator light but the 194 led bulb should work just fine for the back light


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[RickBlaine]

@Jarhead: Nice write-up, thank you! This will be one of my winter projects....only one of my original bulbs is working!

[cavalentineusmc]

@Rick - Thanks man! yeah that's where I was at before I did the change. It really makes the dash look more modern!


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[rawgarage]

Quick write up.... Legit

[cavalentineusmc]

Thanks guys hope it helps


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