Here's a nice little guide to do on a rainy afternoon.
In this guide we show you how to change the illumination and marker colours in the Dash Switches.
Tools Needed:
Soldering iron and stand,
Solder,
Helping hand or crocodile clips.
Small flat bladed screwdrivers
470ohm resistors (Maplin.co.uk code: M470R)
Blue 3mm 5Volt LED's (Maplin.co.uk code: N31BY)
Red 3mm 12Volt LED's (Maplin.co.uk code WL32)
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Let there be light!
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Bit of Blue
Goooo Onnnn!
Applies to:
Heated Rear window switch
Heated Front window switch
Rear Fog Light switch
Front Fog Light switch
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First off remove the radio if not already out, this will depend on your radio
so please refer to your instructions for this.
Pull out the ash tray from the middle panel
Remove the heater control dial and knobs by pulling them
Now remove the two screws from the bottom (one under the cig lighter other
in the ask tray cut out)
Make sure you remove the screw that is securing the radio runner to the
front panel, this is inside the ashtray cut out on the top edge.
Get a flat screwdriver and remove the trim panel making sure that you
twist out the bulb for the illumination of the heater control.
With the panel removed you now have access to the switches, remove them by
prising them forward from behind or from the sides. Disconnect the multi-plugs
and go to your workstation.
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Now the fun part, taking the switches apart and not damaging them.
Gently pull the knob so you hear a slight click.
At the back of the switch on the bottom edge you will notice two
little clips or notches, these are what hold the base to the case.
Insert a small screwdriver into the space between the case and base
in line with the notches to release the two. Do this for all the notches
and pull the switch apart.
With the switch apart you may notice the square part of the internals has
stayed inside the case, if so don't worry, just unclip the knob bit and it
will come out. Make sure you don't loose the springs!
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Now with the switch completely apart you will notice the yellow LED and
the blue looking lamp. These are what you want to replace.
Firstly start with the yellow LED, de-solder it and remove completely.
Copy the design and orientation of the legs making sure they are the
correct way around + and -.
Either use a 12Volt LED like I have here or use a 5V LED with a 470ohm resistor,
if you do not use this you will burn the LED out.
Using a crocodile clip to hold one leg in place aids the soldering of the other leg.
When one leg is done then swap the clip and continue soldering on the other leg.
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Next is the blue looking lamp. You will need to cut this out as de-soldering is difficult.
As Blue LED's don't come in a 12volt variant you will have to use a resistor to resist or
reduce the voltage from 12volts to around 5volts otherwise you will have burnt LED's.
Bend the legs of the LED to position the LED in the centre of the section.
Solder the resistor to the positive pin on the switch; now solder the positive leg
of the LED to the resistor and the negative leg of the LED to the earth pin in the switch.
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Repeat this for the other switches, BUT you may notice that the Fog light switch
is different inside, see below, as the led is green and has a resistor built in.
not really a problem as a 12Volt LED will replace it, simply de-solder and
re-solder the new LED in place ensuring it is central.
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Reassemble the switches, ensuring that the red LED is fed up and round through
a hole in the square part of the switch internals. Push the square block back
onto the base ensuring that the springs are seated correctly.
Push the base and case back together ensuring they click. Now if you look
at the top you can see the new centralised LED's (with ledged removed)
Push the button/knob back on, it will only go one way so don't worry.
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Now that's it, all that needs to be done is to test them.
As you can see they look quite effective and different from the normal green ones,
You can use what ever colour LED's you want to perform this modification not
just blue and red.
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See also the guide for changing the colour of the electric window switches and
also the guide for adding illumination to the boot popper switch.
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Hope this guide is of some help.
Guide Written and © On 28 May 2005 by Andrew Whiteman (AW3K)
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