Eran

iTrader: (1)

This is a thread for every single person who makes a thread about "how do I change my gauge cluster lighting to be JDM" or whatnot. I will answer some pretty basic questions and cover some pretty basic arguments.

<u>Table Of Contents</u>
I. Bulb Types
II. Glass Bulbs
III. LED Bulbs
IV. Painting/DIY
V. How-To's
VI. Links

==================

<u>Section 1: Bulb Types</u>
This is one of the most commonly asked questions I see: "What bulbs do I use?" Here are the bulbs you will use for any 92-00 dash lighting swap.



Also, for 99-00 Climate Controls and 96-98 Defrost Switches, you will use a Neo-Wedge twistout bulb. The 10mm ones sold at AutoLumination will not work in a Honda, they are too big. Here is a list of appropriate Neo-Wedge bulbs from Honda:




92-95 Will Use:
5 #24 bulbs (for gauge cluster)
1 #74 bulb (for gauge cluster)
2 #74 bulbs (for climate control)

96-98 Will Use:
4 #24 bulbs (for gauge cluster)
1 #194 bulb (for gauge cluster)
2 #74 bulbs *OPTIONAL* (for gauge cluster)
2 #74 bulbs (for climate control)
1 Neo-Wedge bulb (for defrost switch illumination)
1 Neo-Wedge bulb (for defrost switch on/off indication)

99-00 Will Use:
4 #24 bulbs (for gauge cluster)
1 #194 bulb (for gauge cluster)
2 #74 bulbs *OPTIONAL* (for gauge cluster)
4 Neo-Wedge bulbs (for climate control)

<FONT SIZE="1">*OPTIONAL* - You can use 2 #74 bulbs for the downward illumination. There's a blue transparent shield in the way, but it is removable. For colored gauges, I prefer no downward illumination, because it tends to wash out the colors</FONT>


<u>Section 2: Glass Bulbs - The Classic</u>
Using glass bulbs, in my opinion, gives a more "OEM" look to the interior lighting, with more muted colors instead of the more bold, over-saturated look of LED lighting. Glass bulbs are also significantly cheaper than LED bulbs. They also do not bear the heat limitations of certain LED bulbs. Individual LEDs, and older rebased LED bulbs have problems with shorting out when left in heated areas (under the dash/near the heater).

Here are some prices for all the bulbs you need (not counting Neo-Wedge bulbs) from AutoLumination.com

92-95:
74 Item #Incandescent (3) - $2.97
24 Item #Incandescent (5) - $4.95

Total:$7.92

96-00:
74 Item #Incandescent (2) - $1.98 *96-98 Climate Control Only*
24 Item #Incandescent (5) - $4.95
194 Item #Incandescent (1) - $0.99

Total:$7.92


<u>Section 3: LED Bulbs - The Controversy</u>
LED Bulbs have somewhat of a controversay behind them. Some say they're the only option, some say they're the worst option. Also, before some of the newer multi-led bulbs came out that were designed specifically for gauge clusters, there would lots of work involved in making your cluster look right. You would have to sand places, and wire in new LEDs, or else you would face hot and cold spots. AutoLumination sells bulbs called the "Tri-Power" and the "Four-Star" that are designed to project very wide, uniform fields of light. This is exactly what a guage cluster needs. Unfortunately, the cost is astronomical. However, if bright, almost neon-quality lighting is what you are looking for, then LEDs are the way to go.

#194 Four-Star


#24 Tri-Power


#74 Tri-Power


Here are some prices for all the bulbs you need (not counting Neo-Wedge bulbs) from AutoLumination.com

92-95:
74 Item #Tri-Power (3) - $11.97
24 Item #Tri-Power (5) - $34.95

Total:$46.92

96-00:
74 Item #Tri-Power (2) - $7.98 *96-98 Climate Control Only*
24 Item #Tri-Power (5) - $34.95
194 4-Star Item #4 LED (1) - $7.99

Total:$50.92


<u>Section 4: Painting Bulbs - For the DIY'er</u>
Now, I do not prefer this method, because I'm a perfectionist, and I like to do things in a more "permenant" fashion. This being said, painting your bulbs is by far the cheapest method to change your lighting, and you also have more color options to choose from. Most of the how-to's I have linked below cover what paint to use, and an appropriate method. There are mixed reviews on painting/using a sharpie on bulbs. Some say it's great, some say it lasts all of two months. Try these methods at your own risk. Also, there are some links provided below on how to change the color of defroster/foglight switches. These are very cost effective methods, and the results have been pretty stellar from what I've seen.


<u>Section 5: How-To's</u>

[FAQ] DIY How-To: Install Civic 92-95 Amber/Red Dash Lighting (56k no no) - BauleyCivic
How To: Change Stock Gauge Cluster Bulbs 96-00 Civics. - oc_civic
How To: DIY: Amber Defroster Switch EG - Chow
LED Cluster Lighting links - oc_civic
How To: DIY Guage Colour Change. - BBProductions
[DIY] Amber/Red 99-00 Climate Control/Cluster (apologies to 56k) - green-
Oem radio changen color w/ pix - RacingShoeBox

<u>Section 6: Links</u>

AutoLumination
Super Bright LEDs
LEDTronics


Modified by Eran at 10:16 PM 1/12/2007


Modified by Eran at 11:40 AM 2/28/2008

Eran

iTrader: (1)

Up top.

philosofy1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Up top.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well, well eran. i must admit, you are going to be a worthy member.
i am glad to have you here as a member! great write ups, and links!

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philosofy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

well, well eran. i must admit, you are going to be a worthy member.
i am glad to have you here as a member! great write ups, and links! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't know if I should be insulted or feel complimented

philosofy1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Don't know if I should be insulted or feel complimented </TD></TR></TABLE>

actually i am complimenting you, sorry if you thought otherwise. after the whole wax an polish situation, though i was wrong, i compared you to a certain member on here. though it was wrong, i thought you just another him.

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philosofy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

actually i am complimenting you, sorry if you thought otherwise. after the whole wax an polish situation, though i was wrong, i compared you to a certain member on here. though it was wrong, i thought you just another him. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Glad I proved myself otherwise. I can't fathom how someone can fill their head with so much misinformation that it has to spew out onto this forum

Thanks for the compliment

BlueIntegraBoy

iTrader: (5)

Nice post and informative. Will keep my stock bulbs, LED is too expensive.

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueIntegraBoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice post and informative. Will keep my stock bulbs, LED is too expensive.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Amen to that

Syndacate

Hey, nice writeup and all.

I &lt;3 ya and all, I don't mean to be an *******, but there's already a writeup exactly like this.

That's how I changed my bulbs. to ya though for helping.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueIntegraBoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice post and informative. Will keep my stock bulbs, LED is too expensive. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't read most of the writeup so I don't know which LEDs ur talking about but http://www.autolumination.com carries stock red bulbs in #24 and #74. That's where I bought mine, cost me like 10 bucks for 2 complete sets.

I believe it's 5 24's in the cluster and 2 74's in the climate control (on 92-95). The way to tell the difference is the 74's are thinner.

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Syndacate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, nice writeup and all.

I &lt;3 ya and all, I don't mean to be an *******, but there's already a writeup exactly like this.

That's how I changed my bulbs. to ya though for helping.

I didn't read most of the writeup so I don't know which LEDs ur talking about but http://www.autolumination.com carries stock red bulbs in #24 and #74. That's where I bought mine, cost me like 10 bucks for 2 complete sets.

I believe it's 5 24's in the cluster and 2 74's in the climate control (on 92-95). The way to tell the difference is the 74's are thinner.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

All this was covered in my original post. Why would you post if you didn't read?

Also, I'd like to see the thread that's exactly like this one. This isn't a how-to, it's a reference for 92-00 and all options available.

egmatt93

nice job eran.. been there since i joined HT. for a good guy

SikofFalln

Nice wright up.

13BT

great information man!

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SikofFalln &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice wright up. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 13BT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">great information man! </TD></TR></TABLE>

I try to help

Eran

iTrader: (1)

If anyone has any more helpful links, or would like to post their results with particular method, that would be greatly appreciated.

95ProjectEJ1

iTrader: (5)

This will definitely help me out. I might go for the LED's. I have 8 months of free rent, why not right? Thanks again Eran. I hope to one day better my Honda knowledge so that I can no longer be considered a noob and actually help people with questions like you and other people on here.

member EG

good stuff

JLEK

eran. reading the thread im still confuse on what i need to fully light my si cluster and 96-98 climate control with LED? do the make neowedge bulbs in LED too?

thanks,
J

Eran

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emperor9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">eran. reading the thread im still confuse on what i need to fully light my si cluster and 96-98 climate control with LED? do the make neowedge bulbs in LED too?

thanks,
J</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've never seen any neowedge bulbs in LED's. The only thing that would work is taking out the bulb in the stock neowedge and replacing it with a 1mm LED. Even then, the LED's need a resistor for them not to burn out, and you're hard pressed to find a self-resisting 1mm LED, let alone any 1mm LED that's not red or green.

I say this from personal experience, use colored glass bulbs. LED's just don't look right, and are often an inadequate source of light. They end up spotty, or the end up burning out due to the heat.

D15Bbigred

nice

OshkyCiv23

sweet!

Libertariat

Can't wait to do this stuff once I get my Si cluster.

1999mrsi

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ek forever guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can't wait to do this stuff once I get my Si cluster.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

AND GET SOME MORE STUFF FOR YOUR CLUSTER CHECK MY SIG!

shivic

subscribed

Ub3rDoRK

in the 99 civic climate controll, im trying to find the bulb sizes on auto illimunation website in the neo wedge. there is type A.B.C......does anyone know which one?