mk1 vts dials

[shaneio]

right been looking through the search and all old threads and cant find the answer lol,
juts want to know how many led bulbs i need to change my dial lights from white to blue, i got a white dial kit to fit and want to do the bulbs at the same time, i dont wanna change the warning lights just the back lights, so if any one can tell me will help alot so i can order them 2night, cheers

[jamieross]

mk1s werent leds iirc?

[mtpagey]

mk1s werent leds iirc?

correct :y:

sory shane but the mk1's had white bulbs and a green filter paper on top to light up the dash/dials. only way to change them is to fit plasma dials (which i have a set of for sale :P)

[jamieross]

correct :y:

sory shane but the mk1's had white bulbs and a green filter paper on top to light up the dash/dials. only way to change them is to fit plasma dials (which i have a set of for sale :P)

im getting better with all this saxo knowledge malarky :y:

[shaneio]

i know they dont have led in them they have the twist in 501 bulbs, now i want to change them bulbs to blue ones, but i need to know how many bulbs i need to swap over so i can buy the correct kit with the right amount of bulb, i know that mk2 have led's as standard and to replace them u have to solder in new ones, but the mk21 have twist in bulbs, so if any 1 can tell me how many bulbs i need will help alot, cheers

[andycd]

i know they dont have led in them they have the twist in 501 bulbs, now i want to change them bulbs to blue ones, but i need to know how many bulbs i need to swap over so i can buy the correct kit with the right amount of bulb, i know that mk2 have led's as standard and to replace them u have to solder in new ones, but the mk21 have twist in bulbs, so if any 1 can tell me how many bulbs i need will help alot, cheers

Hey mate im not too sure about vts/r but my wee 1.0 mk1 only had 4 bulbs for the speedo clock and fuel gauge. rest were all warnings. dunno if anyone else knows whether flatarch and vt's have different dial backlightings :ponder:
on the annoying green filter issue - i actually made my own dials, black and backlit red. light shines thru it much brighter too cos the originals blocked out much of the light, so LEDs werent needed for me. id get some pics up, but as im a newbie .... :S

[curt]

ooo i am intreeged get some pics up mate .. how did you do that ???

[curt]

http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109661 <<< thats how you get pics up if you dont already know :/

[andycd]

aaa cheers man. first heres my car :D :D

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Sax1.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Sax4.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Sax2.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Sax3.jpg

[andycd]

Please no haters on my steelies :) - no power-assist steering so cant up the size unfortunately :wall:

[andycd]

Here are the new black red-backlit dials. Sorry for bad lighting - actually have sun in Wales :O !!!

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/New_Dials1.jpg
(Not backlit)

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/New_Dials2.jpg
(Backlit)

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/New_Dials3.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/New_Dials4.jpg

[andycd]

i'll take pics of them in the dark tonight. unfortunately the pics above really dont do them justice

[andycd]

In the dark :y:
http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Dials_Dark6.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Dials_Dark5.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Dials_Dark4.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Dials_Dark3.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Dials_Dark2.jpg

[andycd]

http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab339/acdavies5/1999%20Mk1%20Saxo/Dials_Dark1.jpg

[andycd]

hmm they look far more red than pink in real life :wall:

[jeffchiz]

i think they look awesome any chance you could quickly write up a how to guide?? ive got a red car so id love to have red dials

[04jtb]

i think they look awesome any chance you could quickly write up a how to guide?? ive got a red car so id love to have red dials

Yeah a how-to guide would be brilliant :y:

[andycd]

right unfortunately i took very few pics of the project so i hope that my description of the process will be sufficient for you guys.

TAKING THE DIALS OUT - this is if (like me) you don't want to take the steering wheel off and risk setting off the airbag, though if you're confident enough, theres a guide on a thread here somewhere.

first you need to have a typical socket set and a couple of the small star-shaped screwdriver bits.

take off the black 'cowelling' i.e. the black covers that go over the wires just behind the steering wheel. there are two screws (one each side) on the underneath part. make sure these don't get damaged/cross-threaded etc because they can be a bugger to put back.

you'll then find three big-ass bolts on the underneath that secures the steering rack. remove these to allow you to manoevre the wheel about a bit. (DO NOT DRIVE WHILST THESE ARE REMOVED - you WILL crash!! :wall: )

you can then try and get the plastic surround out, which is just in front of the dials unit itself. there are two very small star screws on the top corners, and two slightly bigger on the bottom. THE BOTTOM TWO ARE VERY HARD TO GET OUT when you do this without removing the steering wheel. i used a bendy screwdriver, whilst manoevering the wheel about to get to them. the surround then simply clips out.

you can then remove the three screws (one on top, two on bottom) that attach the dials unit. detach the wires from the back, and with a bit of persuasion, the dials unit WILL fit through the steering wheel.


DISECTING THE DIALS
i found this thread which shows the mk2's, the mk1's arent too different, and are far easier in fact - because you dont have to solder, and dont have to remove the circuit board.

i just removed the original crappy dials by peeling them off. i then had new dials proffesionally printed with my-choice-of-colour filters. unfortunately this isnt possible to most :sad: if theres enough interest i could try and get a few more made, but it costed me a bit to get them done :S

put it back together and DONE!! :y:

[andycd]

heres the thread on disecting the mk2 dials : http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73370&highlight=plasma+dials

[andycd]

any feedback guys? :bored:

[Mr_P]

Please no haters on my steelies :) - no power-assist steering so cant up the size unfortunately :wall:

What are you? A man? or a Mouse?


And Congratulations on boosting your post count.

You can add more than one photo per post y'know.

[jeffchiz]

any feedback guys? :bored:

how much are we looking at for black dials with a red filter like yours? is that the only thing you changed, the dials? did you use the same bulbs?

[Darlz]

have you changed the bulbs or just the filter ? im confused

[k_singh91]

he changed the filter by the sound of it, the bulbs are white so the filter is all you need.

your dials look good great job from a noob and good effort with boosting your posts!

[andycd]

alright alright im only trying to help you guys!!
ye i didnt change the bulbs (i did try several times but the leds that arrived were the wrong spec so i upp'd the fuse but still no results) i fitted the new dials (with red filters integrated), and i found the bulbs were bright enough as standard. i might yet try leds again once my exams are finally over. :wacko: