Interior Semi-Tech General discussion of interior for the Ford Ranger.

LED dash/HVAC conversion

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  #1  
Old 11-29-2006
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LED dash/HVAC conversion

Here ya go guys. What y'all think? pics
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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they look good but seems like certain parts are brighter than others......that is the only reason iam iffy about doing mine
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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well i said in the description that they are more evenly distributed in person. it is just the camera. but it is completely dark behind the gear display. not sure if i missed a light or if it is just LEDs. so yea. i am still very satisfied. i only did it because a bulb went out and i would have to of fixed it anyway so why not try something new!?
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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dude chuck...i wanna come check this out...
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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i did mine like this six months ago..theres 2 lil brighter spots but i dont even notice it anymore.. they show bright in this pic but really there not...camera i guess? but i love it !

 
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Old 11-29-2006
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i think it looks pimptastic
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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I love mine. But...my gas guage moves around when I drive and my speedometer is about 5 too fast. I screwed with it for hours and still no luck really. Any advice?
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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ok, so i attempted to fix them tongiht. i filled up my truck and put it where it usually is at full. seemd to have worked. speedometer...i drove 20 through my dorm lot and just moved the needle while i was moving down to like 10. then i went drove past a stationary speed notifier sign along side the road and it said i was going 31/32 when i was at 35. so i guess it is close enough. if there is a better way to fix these problems, please let me know. dont wanna be going like 10 under on the interstate and get plowed by a semi or get a ticket. lol
 
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Old 11-29-2006
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i gotta do this, do you have a link to the leds you bought? or did you get them locally
 
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Old 11-30-2006
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Originally Posted by RAINMAKA
i gotta do this, do you have a link to the leds you bought? or did you get them locally
http://www.superbrightleds.com/



i have a white overlay that im going to put in, im also thinking about doing this behind it and not useing the backlight part of the overlay.
 
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Old 11-30-2006
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Originally Posted by RAINMAKA
i gotta do this, do you have a link to the leds you bought? or did you get them locally

I searched ebay for "Inverted cone blue LED" and found this vendor BestHong Kong. DO NOT BUY FROM TEHM!!!! paid 11 bucks total with shipping. Bought it on Oct 31. I didnt get them until 3 1/2 weeks later!!!! Customer Service is horrible at best. Go with this vendor instead, same LEDs

You need a total of 8 bulbs(2 HVAC and 6 gauge cluster. this is for my 2000). you can find on here how to do it all but i can go through it quickly.

remove all hardware for the HVAC and driver side dash/guage cluster. remove the clear housing, then carefully remove the needles. i kinda messed up a little so i would suggestmakring them with tape or finding a better way to put them on. i got mine fixed but im sure there could have been a better and much easier way to prevent the gauges from reading wrong. then scrape off the green paint. i did mine with a pocket knife and it took a total of like an hour. then tape or glue the gauge plastic back on. then at the back of the cluster twist off the bulb holders(should be black), put the LEDs in and put back in place. make sure the prongs on the black holders are touching both electrode-things on the back of the cluster. test the LEDs before you reassemble the dash. if all works, put everything back. HVAC...search for it on here. there are pics and all. this is how i did it and i am very satisfied.
 
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Old 12-05-2007
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Has anyone done this on a 2004+ truck? I have a 2004 Edge that I'd like to do this too, as well as a 2006 Evo MR.
 
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Old 12-05-2007
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Man that looks really good! Is this just basically replacing the bulbs with LEDs or more in depth?
 
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replace bulbs with 194 inverted cone LED's is the simple part. you have to pull the needles off and remove the back to scrape the green color off so the actual color shows through. unless you just want brighter green gauges..
 
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Old 12-06-2007
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Looks good. Did the same to mine.

I used white LED's and painted my cluster blue. I got lucky one day at the JY and found a Ranger with the blue filter for the HVAC so I still got the red in the heat control.







 
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Old 12-06-2007
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Originally Posted by redrebel66
Looks good. Did the same to mine.

I used white LED's and painted my cluster blue. I got lucky one day at the JY and found a Ranger with the blue filter for the HVAC so I still got the red in the heat control.








What year is your truck? Mine is a 2004 I want to do the same....
 
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Old 12-06-2007
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1998
 
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Old 12-18-2007
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Does anyone know if this is possible in a 2004?
 
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Old 12-18-2007
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Originally Posted by Jp7
Does anyone know if this is possible in a 2004?
Buy a cluster off ebay tach, no tach w/e. Rip it up and see.

I think someone has done it but I haven't seen a how to for it.
 
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Old 12-19-2007
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I have always wanted to do this too, but I would need to have a detailed description on how to take it all out. With my luck I would destroy the cluster getting it out.
 
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Old 12-19-2007
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Originally Posted by Jp7
Does anyone know if this is possible in a 2004?
only thing is we have the downfall of the digital odometer...just remember that
 
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Old 12-29-2007
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Burp... (bump)

Any updates?
 
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Old 12-29-2007
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same. nobody here has done it yet to a '04+ cluster. Possibly there's someone on RPS that's done it.

Get yerself a $30 cluster off ebay, and start experimenting.
 
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Old 12-30-2007
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ok wow tht is awsome.... any one want to hook me up with links to the right LEDs for the sport trac guages as well as the 03 ranger havc controls??
i do want blue to match the truck.... anyone local want to teach me how to do it??

shawna
 
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