Soldering-iron + LS Focus = ??

RICE MODS!












Pics were taken with a phone, the colour is a more deeper blue.

So far I have done all the power window switches, the driver power window and mirror module, gauge cluster and interior light. Up next is the light swich and after that the demister button.

Before pic as a comparison:

[FRA]

Abit of a light show happening there.
That does look nice.

[#Russ#Es#]

How much did that (roughly) cost you? (in materials anyway?)

Looks really good, I'm not bad with the soldering iron, but a little hesitant to rip the dash apart...

Need to take a good pic of my new interior light, it has 6 LED's on it (its from Jaycar, $19.95 from memory) and just slots straight into where the factory interior globe goes...and its DAMN bright!! Just need to do something about lighting in the rear...

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

How much did that (roughly) cost you? (in materials anyway?)

Looks really good, I'm not bad with the soldering iron, but a little hesitant to rip the dash apart...

Need to take a good pic of my new interior light, it has 6 LED's on it (its from Jaycar, $19.95 from memory) and just slots straight into where the factory interior globe goes...and its DAMN bright!! Just need to do something about lighting in the rear...

Hi Russ,

Pics don't do it justice, the light are really blue blue (think Nokia 8250)

The same interior light is around $3 at Dick Smith (where I got mine)

You'll need a fine tipped temp controlled soldering iron, micro toolset, torx security screwdriver set, multimeter, solder sucker, trim removal tools and its fairly difficult, you need to follow circuits on silicon, test resistors, common grounds etc... Then there are problems with the cluster and removing needles and realigning them when reinstalling, etc.

Materials, all you need is solder and LEDs (at least 50 of them, 3mm, at around $4 each for 4000mcd or $2 each for 1000mcd from Jaycar. I had access to 5000mcd).

I can save you the hassle, you can buy all the switches and I'll do your cluster. Or if you don't want blue (white, purple, orange, red, yellow etc) I can come over on a Saturday and do all the LEDs then. ;)

That goes for anyone else in the Sydney area.

[#Russ#Es#]

Geez thanks!! I might just have to take you up on that offer.

I think blue would look good in a Titanium grey Focus.

Oh, and can you still adjust the brightness of the instrument cluster??..I assume so...

Yeah, on dark back roads when there is no moon, I'll turn it down half way, due to glare (my eyes are really sensitive to glare, you'll see my sunvisors down if its a bright but cloudy day.)

When pulled out the cluster I almost cried when I saw the backlighting was soldered onto the board, and not on removable bulb holders like on the Falcons.

[xr8ute]

Go the ricemods!! Looks much better than the green...

[LUXO_8]

theat looks pretty awesome...wouldnt call that ricey at all....

good stuff

[Uni]

i might be taking you up on that offer..

payment in case(s) of beer?


Uni/.

[#Russ#Es#]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Yeah, on dark back roads when there is no moon, I'll turn it down half way, due to glare (my eyes are really sensitive to glare, you'll see my sunvisors down if its a bright but cloudy day.)

When pulled out the cluster I almost cried when I saw the backlighting was soldered onto the board, and not on removable bulb holders like on the Falcons.

Ouch!! Soldererd compared to the bulb holders would be a pain, but from the looks of things it is definitely worth playing with

I am seriously considering taking you up on the offer, but may not be for a couple months (could be less). I just bought a new camera and have to pay the thing off :

[pertuan]

I'm impressed. Now you just gotta change the other lights on the center console. lol

Thanks for the comments, the green reminded me of the commodore dash.

Centre consol is going to be a pain, to get access to all that you need to pull the radio.

Then theres the problem with doing the actual radio.

Probably won't go into it until next month.

[amlohac]

It looks damn cool dude, BUT and i really hate to bring this up, what if your dash goes and sh.its itself? Those things arent cheap and even if it wasnt as a direct result of your blue lighting mod im sure ford would blame the fact you even took it out of your car to do that. You have essentially voided your warranty.

But does look cool, if your like me youd be saying "warranty? and who cares?"

The only concerning bit of doing this mod is the instrument cluster.

Half way through modding circuit board I thought "I'm half way thorugh voiding my warranty". But there is not much that could go wrong with it.

The cluster is a very reliable part, but having said that if anyone wanted to do this mod I'd suggest get there car to at least 10000kms so that least any manufacturing fault that should have broken would have.

I'm used to working around circuit boards, used to do mobile phone repairs and mods, computer motherboards etc so I'm very familiar to this (the components on the board behind the gauge cluster, which is around 35 x 15cm, could fit on a 1.5 x 1.5cm section of board in a mobile phone!)

I'll try to get some good quality pics tomorrow night

[pertuan]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

used to do mobile phone repairs

Hey... so did I! haha

[Uni]

is it possible to have the trip computer screen blue backlit too, or is that built into the screen and impossible to remove?

Uni/.

EDIT: actually.. that might bugger with the contrast.. perhaps a less deep blue light would work better?

[jameseybuddy]

That is exactly what I want to do!! Sweet looking man!!

[jameseybuddy]

For those unlucky peoples, namely me, who are nowhere near Sydney and do not have the expertise to do this themselves, any advice? I can get the LED's, but I need them installed? You reckon that will be exy,(expensive)?

[pertuan]

I can see two options for you Jameseybuddy.

1. Buy BlackLS a couple of plane tickets to QLD ad have him do the job....
2. Approach your local TAFE people (students) and see if any of them might be willing.
3. Thats all I can think of. lol

[jameseybuddy]

I can see the problems with your suggestions:

1. If I had enough money to fly him here, I would just take the car down there

2. I do not have enough money to trust TAFE students with my brand new Zetec. I once was a TAFE student and I never met anyone there I would trust with thtis kind of job.

[HOT711]

Originally Posted by #Russ#Es#

How much did that (roughly) cost you? (in materials anyway?)

Looks really good, I'm not bad with the soldering iron, but a little hesitant to rip the dash apart...

Need to take a good pic of my new interior light, it has 6 LED's on it (its from Jaycar, $19.95 from memory) and just slots straight into where the factory interior globe goes...and its DAMN bright!! Just need to do something about lighting in the rear...

Daaang, that just looks so sweet :sm_headba - i want blue lights now! might be a stupid question but where are the factory interior globes? you talking about the dash back lights or just the standard interior light ... cos i am NOT good with a soldering iron, as in don't think I've even been within a kilometre of one LOL i would end up frying the ford LOL but I so want those lights and imagine it'd be so expensive to get it done somewhere! LMK bout the led's from Jaycar ...

[fairmont1998]

That looks great, a big improvement over the green

[Uni]

you hear that, Mr. Ford??

he said IT'S A BIG IMPROVEMENT ON THE GREEN ;)


Uni/.

[#Russ#Es#]

Originally Posted by zetec love

Daaang, that just looks so sweet :sm_headba - i want blue lights now! might be a stupid question but where are the factory interior globes? you talking about the dash back lights or just the standard interior light ... cos i am NOT good with a soldering iron, as in don't think I've even been within a kilometre of one LOL i would end up frying the ford LOL but I so want those lights and imagine it'd be so expensive to get it done somewhere! LMK bout the led's from Jaycar ...

Yeah, the blue lights do look fantastic!

BlackLS - I'm still up for it, might see your car on Sunday (AFD? If you're going?)

zetec love - In my Focus, I am referring to replacing the standard interior light (near the rear vision mirror). The one I put in mine is VERY bright, like daylight in the front of the car when you turn it on at night!

Zetec Love or "Rosi": ;) Dash lights are a pretty difficult thing, although I don't know if the Fiesta has PBC LED's soldered into the dash cluster circuit board (like the lights in a mobile phone), or if it has bulb holders that you can replace. If its the latter, it makes the job 10 times easier!

Russ: I'll play it by ear on the day whether I'm there, but I won't be entering.

[Zetec20]

BlackLS, I've got a spare focus cd player/stereo lying around if you mess yours up when you do the LEDs just so you know...

Thanks brah ;)

[#Russ#Es#]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Zetec Love or "Rosi": ;) Dash lights are a pretty difficult thing, although I don't know if the Fiesta has PBC LED's soldered into the dash cluster circuit board (like the lights in a mobile phone), or if it has bulb holders that you can replace. If its the latter, it makes the job 10 times easier!

Russ: I'll play it by ear on the day whether I'm there, but I won't be entering.

No worries, I'm planning on going but won't enter my car.

[photn]

yo black LS, any possibilities for doing those to a FEZ??

Originally Posted by photn

yo black LS, any possibilities for doing those to a FEZ??

Possibly, will get back to you mate ;)