Changing Instrument Cluster Lighting Color?
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Changing Instrument Cluster Lighting Color?
Is this a simple bulb swap or more complicated (like requiring an overlay or hardwiring new lighting in)? Working with an '08 Screw. I'd like to change the lighting of the gauge cluster over to blue and also wouldn't mind it being a little brighter, but getting it over to blue is priority #1. Searches turned up nada for our year range. Thanks for any help.
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I have changed many a Ford to blue gauge lights. Unless something changed in 04, you should be able to replace with blue LEDs. Since the color is from a green film on the gauges, the blue will overpower. If you wanted to go red, you'd need to remove the green film.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: SE Georgia
a few guys have done it on another forum. it requires using led's as rcaddell mentioned
or you can buy gauge face overlays. it seems to be a huge PITA though.
if you find an easy way, please post it up. I'm running blue gauges for my S/C'er and it would be nice if the inst. cluster matched
or you can buy gauge face overlays. it seems to be a huge PITA though.
if you find an easy way, please post it up. I'm running blue gauges for my S/C'er and it would be nice if the inst. cluster matched
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 149
From: SE Georgia
that's the name. I was drawing a blank earlier when I mentioned overlays.
but yeah, if you do the LED's, please put up a DIY thread. I'd really love to get my inst. cluster to match the gauges....but then the radio won't match
I swear, every time you do a mod, something else has to get fixed
but yeah, if you do the LED's, please put up a DIY thread. I'd really love to get my inst. cluster to match the gauges....but then the radio won't match
I swear, every time you do a mod, something else has to get fixed
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Thats always the problem. Do the cluster, now the radio and headlight switch is out fo whack. My last car had blue cluster, blue gear selector and red led switches. But the headlight switch and stock radio was still green 
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I don't mind the little things like the headlight switch and the HVAC controls having green, but the radio and gauge cluster are the "big" interior lighting to my eyes. I swapped out my stock head unit to a Pioneer P8000BT cd/iPod/bluetooth unit and it's entirely blue lighting, so that's why I want to swap the instrument cluster lighting. I found the LED size (#74) and through the V-LED website found some 3-way LED bulbs to replace the cluster bulbs so hopefully they'll be more than powerful enough to overpower the green film (I already have the US Speedo Daytona white gauge face overlays). I also ordered the US Speedo needle kit for the gauge face which has silver hubs and blue needles, so between the lighting and the needles going blue I hope it ties in well enough with the Pioneer head unit to make it all look a little more seemless. The small amount of green left will be subtle enough to not be an issue I think.
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Josh, what trim is your truck? I want the needles, but they don't list any for the FX4
All my installs in the past I have used WLED-5 from superbrightleds.com or a similar site for the main lisghting (5 or 6 bulbs usually) and regular single LEDS for the idiot lights, etc.
All my installs in the past I have used WLED-5 from superbrightleds.com or a similar site for the main lisghting (5 or 6 bulbs usually) and regular single LEDS for the idiot lights, etc.
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I think the FX4 is the one line they specifically said they wouldn't work with. I have a XLT. I picked up 6 of the big boys for the main cluster lighting and 6 cheaper single LEDs for the idiot lights.
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