Hey everyone,
I have been putting up the posts for the head light switch light bulb and the cruise control pod lights. I have since got those changed out to LEDs (blue). Fantastic look, I love it. Now I have my Instrument cluster sitting on my dining room table and I was wondering how I can change the background bulbs to blue. Is it possible to just get new blue bulbs, or get blue covers for the existing bulbs or just switch them to the LEDs. There are more bulbs on the back of that instrument cluster than I was anticipating. If anyone has any insight as to what I can do, please let me know. When I get the inside of my truck finished I will be posting some pics for everyone to see. So far so good, but the biggest thing I need to change now is the instrument cluster lights. I don't mind looking at the christmas tree green and red, but I think it is time for a change. Plus when it is pitch black inside the truck, the blue looks really nice. I will keep doing some more research and some trial and error, if I come up with something myself I will post it for everyone else. Thanks again everyone!!!

Chris

 

Well, what year truck?? (the following for the dash light change ONLY is for a 2004+)

In 2004+ Ford added LEDS for annunciator fcts... Either way, the backs of the faces are painted with green paint.
NOTE: Clusters are $$$$$$$$. If you are not comfortable with taking it apart, DO NOT DO IT!!!! If you break something, you either will need to salvage a used one, or use the dealer!... You will need to take the cluster bezel and lens off, then carefully remove the needles. Take note: if the needles are Red plastic, you will have to either buy new needles that are clear from someone, or deal with red needles. The faces should be clipped on, remove them. Take a sharp flat razor and with the razor perpendicular to the face on the back, carefully scrape off the green paint. There should be a clear light 'pipe' piece of plastic which transmits the light from the bulb to the entire area of the cluster. Take wet/dry sandpaper of very fine grit and sand the surface the guage face sits on. You are wanting to eliminate 'hot spots' of light. That is why Ford used white paint mixed with green if you look closely. Once you are done scrapping off the paint, reassemble and test... Let me know if you need any more assistance...

 

Forgot to mention, but i am sure you know already, you must use resistors in series with any LEDS installed. You will otherwise fry them...

If you are trying to achieve all blue interior lights, the green tint is painted on everything.
-The HVAC controls, just remove the dials, and using a small screwdriver, stick it in the opening and push. The little light pipe will pop out. Using a razor again, scrape off the paint. You can either repaint or use blue LEDS.
-NOTE on the odometer, you must seperate the white back shell and the clear light pipe the you have. CAREFULLY pull these apart paying close attention to the pins for the ODOmeter. Once seperated, there are two 'legs' if you will on the bottom of the LCD display. Pull those and carefully remove the display. There will be a little green piece of plastic to tint the odo. Remove it and replace with the color of your choice translucent piece of plastice. Replace the odo and make sure all the pins are secured.
-For the CD player, it depends really on which you have. Post a pic if you can or tell me and i will tell you how to change its color....

If you need any help or are unsure of ANYTHING...STOP... the components you will be altering are very $$$$.

 

Thanks powerstroke for the input. I have just reinstalled my instrument cluster and I was able to change most things to blue. I had already done what you said about scraping the paint off the back of the faces. After I scrapped all the paint off ( i left the emergency stuff original) I then found a great way to make sure the blue comes through. I took a blue sharpie marker and colored the back and it looks great. I did notice once I had it plugged back in that the white bulbs in the back showed all the flaws in where I colored in the marker. I ran to the auto parts store and got a couple of replacement bulbs in blue and that made all the difference. I am going to have to make a return trip to pick up some more blue bulbs since I did not get enough. Trial and error I guess. I did get the headlight switch to work with the blue LEDs and it looks great. The cruise control pods are now blue also with LEDs. The on/off side doesnt work all the time, I think I may have a loose connection. I can wiggle it a little and it will come on. That will be an easy fix. As for the radio, I have the TREMOR edition with the factory installed Pioneer sound system. The radio face lights up all blue already so it is starting to look really nice in my truck with all the lights blue. Once I change the rest of the bulbs in the instrument cluster to blue and then do the A/C controls and my fog light switch I will be done. Oh yeah, the needles were a little tricky and I think putting them back on I might have one or two of them a little off, but it doesn't seem to be off all that much. Thanks for your help and advice and I hope my little description of what I did helps others out as well. Thanks again,

Chris

 

If you have an electric odo, you can press and hold the clear button for the trip meter while cycling the key to on until the gauges do a prove out. this will reset them back to default '0'. You can also unplug and plug back in the connectors on the back and they may prove out depending on which cluster you have. Another alternative is if the truck is an 04+ is to find the gray black connector on the back of the cluster and apply ground to pin 3, and hot voltage to 8, 10 and 12. This will force the needles to absolute 0, then put the needles back on.
Good luck and post pics!

 

Hey Powerstroke,
I dont have the electric odo. It is the analog style. So, I guess what I am saying is....do you know of another way to reset all the gauges or do I need to remove the needles and adjust them as close as I can. I do appreciate your input very much, The finished product is going to look great. Thanks again for your knowledge.

Chris