Changing color of window switch LEDs

[ruahighlander]

Changing color of window switch LEDs

I am sure that many of you have noticed the green glow that the window switches give off at night when you’re headlights are on. If you are anything like me you cannot stand that ugly green, so I decided to change them to blue, you however, can use whatever color you wish.

Tools:
Small flathead screwdriver
Philips head screwdriver
Soldering iron (pencil type)
Solder
Seven (7) LEDs of you’re choosing

1. You can start with any door you wish, I started with the back so that if I messed up on the first one it wouldn’t be too noticeable. The switch panel can sometimes be a little difficult to get off. The easiest way that I have found is to stick a flathead under one edge and running it all the way around until the panel releases (be careful with the flathead it is easy to scratch your door panel doing this). Another way to get the switch panel off is to take off the entire door panel and remove the switch panel from the back of the door panel (much safer way of getting the switch panel off, but takes a little longer to get the door panel off).

2. Once you have it out you can start to get to the meat of the project. There are four small tabs that hold the circuit board and plug into the actual switch, simply take you’re flathead stick in between the two tabs and gently work one side out, then move to the other side.

3. Once you have the LED out of the switch housing you will notice a small plastic tab that covers one side of the leads. You will need to cut this plastic from around the lead, don’t worry if you accidentally cut the lead, since its coming out anyway.

before
http://www.radford.edu/~molson/before.JPG

4. Now you are ready to put in the new LED. Before going any further take note of which side is positive(+), if you’re not sure which side is which take a look at this tutorial from LSDiodes. http://lsdiodes.com/tutorial/. Then you can cut the old green LED out. Now take you’re new LED and trim the leads off so that the LED fits flush with the plastic piece under it. Solder the new LED in place after making sure that you have the correct placement for the positive(+) lead.

after
http://www.radford.edu/~molson/after.JPG

5. Steps two(2) through four(4) are how you would hook up all the passenger doors.

6. Follow step one for removing the drivers switch panel, or if you don’t want to risk scratching up the switch panel, take the entire door panel off and remove it from the back side.

7. The drivers switch panel comes apart much like the passenger panels, just on a larger scale.

http://www.radford.edu/~molson/disect.JPG


8. This is by far the hardest part of the DIY, mainly because you cannot simply cut the old LEDs off, you have to unsolder the old and remove them without damaging there holders. The easiest way to accomplish this is with patients and a very hot iron. Be sure to mark the positive side(+)

9. Once all of the old LEDs are out take your new LEDs and begin to shape the leads to fit there respective holders, then solder them in, again making sure you have the positive(+) side in the right position.

http://www.radford.edu/~molson/finished.JPG

10. Now put the panel back together, plug it back into the car and enjoy you’re new switch panels.

http://www.radford.edu/~molson/glow.JPG

[kenetic ken]

Hi
where did u get the LEDs ? and what size, make or model are they?

[JuMpMaN6235]

www.lsdiodes.com .... get 3mm for Window switches, 5mm for HVAC

[ruahighlander]

you can use 5mm for the windows also...I did.

[mrhoaf]

I used 3mm.... they look great.... I love this mod!

When I did this, the hardest part was taking the switch panels out... if you want to make sure the switch panels and door panels aren't scratched, I'd recommend pulling the door panels and removing the switch panels that way instead of prying them out.....

also make the LEDs are pointing straight up when you soldier them... if they're off, they won't light up the switch as nicely.....

[lmorgan5]

Just bought the stuff, I'm a kind of soldering newb, let's hope I don't destroy anything :D

[mrhoaf]

practice soldiering pieces of wire together first to get the hang of it... it's not too hard...

[KeWLKaT]

question to anyone who did this:

i did all panels except drivers'. i have a question... is it normal that 'LED1' is at a diff height than the other 3 identical ones? I forgot how it was placed before i removed it, and now its a bit off it seems. oh well, i guess ill see when i try :)

[ruahighlander]

I honestly don't remember but I wouldnt think so. Be sure that you didnt pull the little black "stand" up out of the board. Mine were a little loose after removing the old LEDs.

[johnblaze94]

Just did the install!! Looks awesome. I'm taking it one step further ands replacing most of the other interior dash lights with leds... dimmer switch, etc.

[Vampyrate]

this should be on the diy page

[paki]

it is bro.. http://www.elantraxd.com/DIY/window.php

9th link under Interior

[Vampyrate]

silence! i saw that like 2secs after i posted it

[kinscsi]

there a question i have has anyone try installing the bi-color leds. like say you don't touch the button and its white light. but when you push the button it turns red. http://www.lsdiodes.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=60 bi-color led

[robs02elantra]

that sounds pretty snazzy..I would definately get it in blue/white if they weren't sold out.

[ultramove69]

I just attempted this on the back pass door without the same success you've seen. I tried a white, blue, and UV LED but then realized that that the plastic that makes the switch has a really green tinge to it. The end result is a shade of blue/purple that doesn't even come close to matching the dash. It almost looks like a sick or mellow blue almost greenish.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[ilanpro]

I just attempted this on the back pass door without the same success you've seen. I tried a white, blue, and UV LED but then realized that that the plastic that makes the switch has a really green tinge to it. The end result is a shade of blue/purple that doesn't even come close to matching the dash. It almost looks like a sick or mellow blue almost greenish.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thats why I did mine in Red, to match the needles on the cluster

[Vampyrate]

what size led did you use? i used 3mm and found that it was all blue all around, just out of line abit... so i recommend going 5mm all around and making sure that you leave a little extra so it can get closer to the button and show more light.

[ilanpro]

http://www.nitrousworld.com/pictures/misc%20(6).jpg

[Vampyrate]

ilan, your interior never ceases to amaze me.

[ultramove69]

Damn the red looks really nice......I'm gonna do that.

Ok another Newbie question, I'd like to make the climate controls match the purple/blue of the dash.

My question is - Will I run into the same green tinge issue with the climate controls or is the plastic that light shines though clear? I have a 100 pack of UV LEDs but I think that purple is just too purple to match the gauges.

2004/GT

[Vampyrate]

there is a green film over it if that is what you mean... do a search and im sure you can find a way to get rid of it though

[RELAXD]

I have a question for ilanpro, how did u get those tweeters in the door panel like that. That looks tight as shiznit, also did you paint ur trim like that or did u order it from somewhere. If u painted it, what kind of paint did u use, it looks blingin dude.

[ilanpro]

I got those from dreamak4u and I painted the center to match the car

[Codenomics]

Another thing to add is that there are different brightnesses for LEDs. If you want UBER bright, use 2600mcd, bright as hell, but not alerting cops!

[NY2002ElantraGT]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/SurferJ4/ElantraGT%20Pics/0911061945.jpg

heres my red window switches. Compliments of Ilanpro!

anyone do the TCS and rear windsheild wiper fluid button? i wanna make those red, but havent taken them apart yet.

[Codenomics]

TCS? why dont i have one of those!?!

[Alucardabyss]

you don't have TCS?

[Codenomics]

NO!

oh yeah finished mine today
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/codenomics/forumstuff/SANY0357.jpg

[NY2002ElantraGT]

I thought TCS was a GT thing?

[Codenomics]

i think that it is.... one of the few GT differences

[zx2uner]

My gt doesn't have TCS, only those with ABS do.

[04GTboySC]

dang thats not right, yours actually works :( every door except for my driver side works :( i put the blue leds in the doors

[atlwteboy240]

why cant you just cut off the LED on the driver side and sauder the new ones onto the old leads? and also can you use LED off of a light bar that you can get from an auto parts store?

[NUT03]

This is by far the hardest part of the DIY, mainly because you cannot simply cut the old LEDs off, you have to unsolder the old and remove them without damaging there holders.why cant you just cut off the LED on the driver side and solder the new ones onto the old leads?Unfortunatelly,this had ocured to me too late in the game,right after I F****D it up,So is there a way to order new driver side circuit with switches and leds already on?

[BColeman]

Check eBay, I'm sure I've seen them on there before. But they are few and far between. It will be a conquest for you to find them on there, but worth it in the end. The seller was selling a ton of things at one point, and all $9.99.

[NUT03]

Thanx a lot,ebay here I come.................Ha! found some

[Munky]

I'm in the process of changing mine as we speak.

I will also include a video DIY on the driver's side switch...if not all of them.

Well, my webcam just didn't want to cooperate, but I did take a few pictures. I'll upload them when I get home.

Here's the end result:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b114/MunkyMofo/P9030261.jpg

[Pete03GLS]

just ordered a set of 7 FLAT head led's, for wide light distribution. and a couple different types of #74 bulbs for my gauge cluster.

will update my posts as soon as they come in and i gather enough balls to take apart my doors n have a hand at soldering. something ive never done b4.

any tips for a noob on soldering, and doing this whole swap thing?

[Vampyrate]

this thread makes me miss my elantra... anyone wanna trade a 99 grand am for a 5spd elantra hatch?

[CRAZIECRACKER]

if i choose to use 5mm, what voltage amperage led's should i be using/looking for?

[KeWLKaT]

just regular led's WITHOUT any resistors on them.

[CRAZIECRACKER]

but all of the leds i have are marked like this...

5mm, xx.x volts, xx ma, xxxx mcd

like the actual led's must have to be rated at volts and amperage? what voltage is going through the led's at what amperage? the mcd is the light power or w.e...but whats the actual amperage and voltage these led's should be???

[Schooner]

if i choose to use 5mm, what voltage amperage led's should i be using/looking for?

Here are th specs on the ones I just put in:

Specification :
- Emitting Color: Blue
- WL : 465-470
- Lens Type: Water clear
- Material: InGaN
- Luminous Intensity: 5,000+ mcd
- Viewing Angle: 20 ± 5 Degree
- Reverse Voltage: 5.0 V
- DC Forward Voltage: Typical: 3.2 V Max: 3.4 V
- DC Forward Current: 25mA

Don't worry about resistors... just swap the LEDs out... even if your LEDs come with resistors... I learned that the hard way.

I just did mine and had a quick question... I noticed that one of the switches turned out pure blue... and the others have a slight green tinge to them. I took one of the switch covers off and found that it looks like this:

http://www.schoonersplace.ca/Home/DSC00632_2.jpg

Do you guys think that dropping some bleach in there or something like that might remove the yellow/green colour from the plastic? Any other suggestions?

[Pete03GLS]

hmm... u can try it... but im almost positive the plastic is just made with that kind of color to it. :/ and it sucks!

[Schooner]

This might sound a little nuts... but I took a blue bag (recycling bag) and cut a small piece out at the seam. I then used one of my daugter's small hair elastics to stretch it out over the opening where the LED is under the switch cover (pic above). By filtering the light to take out some of the non-blue light rays, the over-all effect should be enough to counter-act the green tinge of the plastic. Since the LEDs I bought are between 5000 and 6000 mcd... I'm not worried about it dimming the light too much.

I'm too tired to bother testing it right now... but I am anxious to see if it will help tomorrow. I have a feeling that it will solve the problem.