iceman
03-03-2008, 11:38 PM
I made this guide a few years ago.. don't think I ever posted it here so here it is. I can't do anything about some of the crappy pics now
Materials Needed
2 - 5 mm LED's of your choice
3 - 3 MM LED's of your choice
Flathead screwdriver
Needlenose pliers
Resistors for each LED - rating depends what LEDs you buy
Standard electrical install tools (wire cutters, strippers, crimpers, soldering iron, crimp connectors, etc...)
Dremel (optional)
2 Beers (no time for a whole 6 pack)
*I take no responsibility for your actions or anything you do to your car*
This is a pretty simple process - just replacing some incandescent bulbs w/ LEDs. If you find your LEDs are not providing a wide enough angle light, you can always use a dremel to flatten out the top of the LED to spread the light out more.
Drivers Window Panel
*Note - These pics are from a 4 door window panel. The 2 door is slightly similar but the theory and general process is the same. This thread has an alternate method described (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20462&highlight=window+and+circuit)
Remove driver's side trim panel that contains mirror, window, lock controls.
Separate window switch from trim panel, plastic tabs holding it on each side, it will look like this:
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34218&d=1222710344
---
There are 2 plastic tabs on the short side (see tophalf of pic), using a flathead screwdriver, separate the plastic cover so it looks like the bottom half pic.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34219&d=1222710344
--
Bend back the connectors exposing the circuit board below them (see pic). There are several locations where pins are twisted to hold down the circuit board (marked in red circles on pic). With needlenose pliers, straighten out the twisted pins so that they will be able to travel through the opening they stick out of.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34220&d=1222710344
---
Once all these pins are straightened out, the circuit board will lift right out. You will see an orange circle below that houses the light bulb (in a red circle). Using a flat head, rotate counterclockwise to get the bulb out.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34221&d=1222710344
Yank out the old bulb out of the orange housing, and replace it with a 5mm LED. Depending on the LEDs you purchased, you may have to dremel the base of the led just a tad for it to fit just like the old bulb - but it *will* fit perfectly. Wrap the LED leads around back of the orange piece and trim to length. Sand down tip of LED with dremel now if you wish. Make note of which is the positive lead on the LED (longer lead).
It is important that your LED is facing straight out of the orange holder - if it is at any sort of angle, the light will not hit the ligh pipes inside the window switch correctly and the light won't make it to the actual switches.
Here are some pics of the orange housing, yes out of focus but you get the point.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34222&d=1222710344
Reinstall the bulb back where it belongs. Don't worry if the orange piece does not twist all the way clockwise - it will still make contact.
Marked here is the side that your positive LED should be on.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34223&d=1222710344
Once that is back, reverse everything you did before and reinstall. Install proper resistor on GRAY wire going to window switch. There will most likely be TWO gray wires going to the same pin on the window switch harness. Make sure only 1 wire ends up going to the actual window switch after it leaves the resistor (see pic for clarification). The two gray wires should be joined pre-resistor. Tape/heatshrink/whatever your connections so they don't short.Also in this pic is the resistor in place for the driver's side lock button.
You can either solder (shown) or use butt connectors to get the resistor in line there.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34224&d=1222710344
Lock buttons
Separate the trim panel from the door. Take out the plug on the back of the switch to expose the light for this switch, it is the little red plastic piece hidden by the wire harness. Use a flathead screwdriver and turn the red piece counter clockwise to get the bulb out.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34225&d=1222710344
Yank out the stock bulb, replace with 3mm LED. Again, use a dremmel to trim the base of the LED to fit if you have to, and also to sand down the tip of the LED to spread the light out if you want.
Here's a pic of a 3mm LED in the red piece, almost completely installed. Make sure it is pointing straight up from the base of the red holder.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34226&d=1222710344
The positive LED lead needs to be on the left hand side of this pic.
(cb8.jpg)
Install resistors in line as shown on GRAY wire going to plug. ake sure only 1 wire ends up going to the actual window switch after it leaves the resistor (see pic for clarification). The two gray wires should be joined pre-resistor. Tape/heatshrink/whatever your connections so they don't short.Also in this pic is the resistor in place for the passenger side window button.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34227&d=1222710344
Passenger side window button
Almost identical to the lock buttons - see pics above for resistor installed in line and how to change the bulb to an LED. For the positive LED lead - look at the pic a few above about the orientation of the LED w/ the lock button - it is to the left, on the side with the retainer clip for the plug.
ETS Button
Remove center trim piece from dash.
Remove 3 bolts holding on ETS & hazard button from trim piece, and then take the ets button out of the plastic piece.
Pic of ETS button separated:
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34228&d=1222710380
Separate green piece from rest of switch as shown.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34229&d=1222710380
This will expose the stock bulb & Condom... rip it out / desolder.
--
Look inside the ETS button housing, there is a piece of plastic we will need to remove so that when you push your ETS button, you have no chance of hitting the solder connections you are about to make.. One the left is the before, on the right is after.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34230&d=1222710380
--
This housing will fit the resistor and LED inside, so there is no need to put the resistor on the gray dimmer wire going to the switch. Mount your 5MM led at the top of the "tube" where the stock bulb was. Sand down tip of LED if you want. Solder negative to pin where stock bulb was connected to (bottom pin below) and solder LED to resistor to top pin pictured below.
Make sure the LED is pointing straight out of the "tube."
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34231&d=1222710380
Reassemble ETS button, and that's it.
Update, some LED bulbs now available to do the lock/window switches
http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1003497#post1003497
Materials Needed
2 - 5 mm LED's of your choice
3 - 3 MM LED's of your choice
Flathead screwdriver
Needlenose pliers
Resistors for each LED - rating depends what LEDs you buy
Standard electrical install tools (wire cutters, strippers, crimpers, soldering iron, crimp connectors, etc...)
Dremel (optional)
2 Beers (no time for a whole 6 pack)
*I take no responsibility for your actions or anything you do to your car*
This is a pretty simple process - just replacing some incandescent bulbs w/ LEDs. If you find your LEDs are not providing a wide enough angle light, you can always use a dremel to flatten out the top of the LED to spread the light out more.
Drivers Window Panel
*Note - These pics are from a 4 door window panel. The 2 door is slightly similar but the theory and general process is the same. This thread has an alternate method described (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20462&highlight=window+and+circuit)
Remove driver's side trim panel that contains mirror, window, lock controls.
Separate window switch from trim panel, plastic tabs holding it on each side, it will look like this:
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34218&d=1222710344
---
There are 2 plastic tabs on the short side (see tophalf of pic), using a flathead screwdriver, separate the plastic cover so it looks like the bottom half pic.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34219&d=1222710344
--
Bend back the connectors exposing the circuit board below them (see pic). There are several locations where pins are twisted to hold down the circuit board (marked in red circles on pic). With needlenose pliers, straighten out the twisted pins so that they will be able to travel through the opening they stick out of.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34220&d=1222710344
---
Once all these pins are straightened out, the circuit board will lift right out. You will see an orange circle below that houses the light bulb (in a red circle). Using a flat head, rotate counterclockwise to get the bulb out.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34221&d=1222710344
Yank out the old bulb out of the orange housing, and replace it with a 5mm LED. Depending on the LEDs you purchased, you may have to dremel the base of the led just a tad for it to fit just like the old bulb - but it *will* fit perfectly. Wrap the LED leads around back of the orange piece and trim to length. Sand down tip of LED with dremel now if you wish. Make note of which is the positive lead on the LED (longer lead).
It is important that your LED is facing straight out of the orange holder - if it is at any sort of angle, the light will not hit the ligh pipes inside the window switch correctly and the light won't make it to the actual switches.
Here are some pics of the orange housing, yes out of focus but you get the point.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34222&d=1222710344
Reinstall the bulb back where it belongs. Don't worry if the orange piece does not twist all the way clockwise - it will still make contact.
Marked here is the side that your positive LED should be on.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34223&d=1222710344
Once that is back, reverse everything you did before and reinstall. Install proper resistor on GRAY wire going to window switch. There will most likely be TWO gray wires going to the same pin on the window switch harness. Make sure only 1 wire ends up going to the actual window switch after it leaves the resistor (see pic for clarification). The two gray wires should be joined pre-resistor. Tape/heatshrink/whatever your connections so they don't short.Also in this pic is the resistor in place for the driver's side lock button.
You can either solder (shown) or use butt connectors to get the resistor in line there.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34224&d=1222710344
Lock buttons
Separate the trim panel from the door. Take out the plug on the back of the switch to expose the light for this switch, it is the little red plastic piece hidden by the wire harness. Use a flathead screwdriver and turn the red piece counter clockwise to get the bulb out.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34225&d=1222710344
Yank out the stock bulb, replace with 3mm LED. Again, use a dremmel to trim the base of the LED to fit if you have to, and also to sand down the tip of the LED to spread the light out if you want.
Here's a pic of a 3mm LED in the red piece, almost completely installed. Make sure it is pointing straight up from the base of the red holder.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34226&d=1222710344
The positive LED lead needs to be on the left hand side of this pic.
(cb8.jpg)
Install resistors in line as shown on GRAY wire going to plug. ake sure only 1 wire ends up going to the actual window switch after it leaves the resistor (see pic for clarification). The two gray wires should be joined pre-resistor. Tape/heatshrink/whatever your connections so they don't short.Also in this pic is the resistor in place for the passenger side window button.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34227&d=1222710344
Passenger side window button
Almost identical to the lock buttons - see pics above for resistor installed in line and how to change the bulb to an LED. For the positive LED lead - look at the pic a few above about the orientation of the LED w/ the lock button - it is to the left, on the side with the retainer clip for the plug.
ETS Button
Remove center trim piece from dash.
Remove 3 bolts holding on ETS & hazard button from trim piece, and then take the ets button out of the plastic piece.
Pic of ETS button separated:
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34228&d=1222710380
Separate green piece from rest of switch as shown.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34229&d=1222710380
This will expose the stock bulb & Condom... rip it out / desolder.
--
Look inside the ETS button housing, there is a piece of plastic we will need to remove so that when you push your ETS button, you have no chance of hitting the solder connections you are about to make.. One the left is the before, on the right is after.
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34230&d=1222710380
--
This housing will fit the resistor and LED inside, so there is no need to put the resistor on the gray dimmer wire going to the switch. Mount your 5MM led at the top of the "tube" where the stock bulb was. Sand down tip of LED if you want. Solder negative to pin where stock bulb was connected to (bottom pin below) and solder LED to resistor to top pin pictured below.
Make sure the LED is pointing straight out of the "tube."
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34231&d=1222710380
Reassemble ETS button, and that's it.
Update, some LED bulbs now available to do the lock/window switches
http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1003497#post1003497