led cluster help
 

anyone know how to split the back part of the cluster to access the light bulbs? it seems sealed almost.

You will need to remove the gauge needles, then lift off the gauge face.

You do not access the surface mounted LEDs from the back like you would a filament bulb on an older vehicle.

so they have to be soldiered in? hmm how do u remove needles without breaking the stem?

Yes, you will need to be proficient at soldering very small surface mounted components.

How do you remove the needles, indeed? I haven't tried my hand at this LED conversion myself, but I know that @Acree has and would probably have the most useful knowledge on this topic.

Could you pease scan your dials and share the scan with me? :)
Want to make a custom version of them. If you do the LED conversion right, you will get the first custom made dials ;)

scan my dials???

Needles just pop off. pull directly up, away from the gauge. Remember to mark it so you know the location of the needle for when you put it back.

The LED's are PLCC-2 LED's and are indeed soldered onto the main board of the dash cluster. Easy enough job just touchy i guess. I've done 3 so far.

cool. i had a bad exp with needles on my civic years ago, broke the stick off for my water temp lol

I'd like to see pictures/video of you popping off the needles. From what I've heard, you need to melt a piece of the needle from the shaft that holds it to the stepper motor before removal.

Needles have always been twist counterclockwise and pull up for me. No melting or breaking of anything. Haven't done an FRS yet though.

You will have to remove your dials anyway.
Why not put them on a PC scanner and make a clean scan ? :))

I bought an extra set off eBay to do this. DIY post

Just found out our clusters may have data stored in it so will have to redo on my original cluster.

cool i couldn't find a write up on this..