RA100923

You guys may have seen my previous thread where I bought an EX cluster for my DX Civic. I followed the helpful DIYs on this site and installed LEDs into it...just LED bulbs, not the LED strips like other users have done...and sure enough I had hot spots and it just wasn't lit properly.

Well...I figured out a way to do it, by just using basic LED bulbs you can get on eBay or Amazon, and a simple plug/play installation.

I ordered these #194 LED bulbs (EX cluster takes 1, DX cluster takes 2) from Amazon, pack of 4 for ~$5:

And a 20-pack of these type #74/T5 bulbs from eBay - EX Cluster takes about 4 of these in the back, 2 up front/top
#74 LED Bulbs

So everyone complains about hot spots when using just LED bulbs and not the strips, and they're right...but to fix that, all you have to do is remove the "tint strip" that's at the top of the cluster. That will allow the LEDs to shine right through...

Here is my cluster with the OEM bulbs + 1 #194 bulb...


Here is the DX cluster with the OEM bulbs + 2 #194 bulbs...


Here is my EX cluster with all the proper LED bulbs (#74s and #194s in place)


This is the piece you have to remove from the top of your cluster...a little bit of wiggling and prying and it comes right out; you can carefully remove it without ruining it if you want to replace it...


And here is my cluster with that piece of tint removed...








Pictures don't do it justice...the cluster is really bright, really white, and clearly LED-lit.

And I stuck (2) #74 bulbs in my A/C...sure there's hot spots, but I don't mind, I like the look of it...


And I swapped my cup holders for the 99-00 cup holders...




One more thing, the #194 LED bulbs also fit directly into the license plate lights!

And the A/C unit takes (2) of the #74 LEDs...

jbpnoman

Using a full 270 degree bulb also prevents this problem. The majority of people who complain about hot spots aren't using the proper bulb.

RA100923

The #194 LEDs I used have 5 SMD LEDs all around (360 degrees), and the smaller #74 LEDs I used aren't the projector type; they're very similar to the OEM incandescent bulbs.

What exactly do you recommend?

jbpnoman

I'm using this 194, this 74, and this DE3715 in my interior with no hotspot problems. 194 and 74 in deep blue, DE3715 in soft white.

I'll admit I haven't done anything with the center console bulbs, so I can't speak towards that.

RA100923

The #194 and dome light bulbs are exactly what I'm using. But your #74 is different. I'm going to look into it.

Would you post some pics of how your cluster looks using your LEDs?

jbpnoman

I have in the past, but it's been a long time. Let me see if I can dig them up.

RA100923

...thanks...

jbpnoman

Couldn't find the pictures, so I went the extra mile for you and started up my car. All shots taken with my shitacular Galaxy S1, no flash. My boost controller is currently disconnected. Running a Glowshift 2 pod cluster surround with (left to right) Glowshift boost gauge, ARK Designs boost controller, ARK Designs turbo timer, and Glowshift AFR wired to a LC-1 sensor. Yeah, the blue gets a little crazy.

Showing how well the festoon bulb works. Moved to a spot in the lot with no overhead lights.


Car off, key to ON(II)


Car running, seat belt hooked up and e brake dropped to get rid of the red lights

RA100923

Wow! You're right they do light up brighter. But that could be a function of the type #194 bulbs, because the DX cluster takes 2 of them, whereas the EX cluster only takes 1. Still, I want to try this with the bulbs you mentioned.

Here's my DX cluster with (2) #194 LEDs, the kind with 5 SMD LED bulbs:


And here's my EX cluster with the (1) #194 LED, but with all the necessary #74 LEDs (single SMD):


And these are the bulbs I used (#194 is the big one, #74 is the smaller one):

RA100923

Turns out, this weekend, that one of the #74 LED bulbs I ordered from eBay melted right into the brown housing...and smoke started coming out of my cluster!

Pulled over quickly and pulled that particular bulb out (with the housing) and all the other #74 LEDs. All the others were fine, just this particular one was defective, but pulled them all to be safe.

I might keep the (2) #74 bulbs at the top of the cluster, and replace all the regular bulbs into the rear of my cluster.

Definitely contacting the eBay seller regarding the LEDs! His page clearly markets them as being direct replacement for dashboard/cluster/gauge bulbs.

jbpnoman

PHAHEEM, your light dispersion seems...off. Top pic, the right side of your speedometer doesn't look a bright as the rest of the cluster, and on the bottom pic, the entire right side looks off.

And yeah, bulbs aren't something I would trust to an eBay company exactly because of what happened to you. I'm also picky about where I get my parts, though.

RA100923

You're right about the light dispersion - the #194 bulb I'm using (of which the EX cluster only allows ONE) is of the type that has (5) small SMD LEDs on each side of it, giving off plenty of light; whereas the rest of the cluster takes the smaller #74 bulbs, and those have a single-SMD LED which shoots light in a single direction.

The type #74 bulbs you use have 3-SMD LEDs, which lights up a wider and broader spectrum. That's what I should be using.

But after this fiasco, and seeing my entire cluster/interior lights fade to off and on, then seeing smoke, I'm just going back to regular bulbs until I find a more appropriate and reliable solution. Not worth burning my entire cluster/electrical for a bright dash board.

jbpnoman

Check out the links I posted. That's where I got my bulbs from. Great company.

RA100923

Yeah I'll give 'em a try. Thanks

mikekh10a

iTrader: (2)

does anyone have a pic of an em1 cluster with this mod done? or i guess an LED conversion in general?

Loyalhondahaver

Great post! Very clear and informative. +1 to you. Thanks.

G_FORCE

Pretty slick! Thanks for posting.

RA100923

teggyluva90

nice nice i may do that to my ex cluster. which how ironic my bro bnetkillzone here just posted on my build thread to add LEDS lol. will sick in my ex cluster because i know a trick how 2 make the redline light up in any 96-00 cluster wit a tach.

RA100923

How?

teggyluva90

PM me i'll show you and explain but 1st check my thread out in the last page you can see how my EX cluster looks with the redline lighting up with no LEDs, looks pretty good if i do say so to myself!. i can imagine a EM1/sir, or my fav 96-98 ukdm vti cluster with the tach lighting up would look dope!.

RA100923

Teggyluva90: Saw your thread...not feeling the lit up redline, but I dig your yellow needles! Nice work!

teggyluva90

alrighty then no biggy but thanks bruh!. i too love the needles i'm trying to make my ex cluster look close to the CTR so i'ma order the carbon fiber ctr bezel from honda but weksos.com has it for $60!.

guessohw

How many bulbs of each did you end up needing altogether to complete the project? I'm going to make my order today. Mine are too dim for my liking. Thanks

Joshka89

Hey how did you post pictures in-line so you could put text after them? Mine just end up as a huge attached block