G/I: Gauge Customization kit?
February-23rd-2005, 03:16 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 241
G/I: Gauge Customization kit?
As a result of messing with my gauge faceplate, I came up with a way to modify not just the lighting, but the actual icons and symbols on the gauge faces as well as the surrounding idiot light faceplate.
I posted a thread with some info on one of the other forums, check it out, and let me know if you are interested.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99075
Here is the first post from msprotege.com replicated here as of 14 apr 05:
PLEASE RE-READ THIS POST. PRICES STILL PENDING. I have updated some information in here. Feel free to ask questions. I thought it would be good to provide some more details. I want to give people flexibility as this is all about customization.
STANDARD DISCLAIMER:
Any modifications completed with my kits would be at your own risk. I will support you to the best of my abilities, but I cannot guarantee that you won't jack something up (legalese, that). There is a risk with pulling off your needles. It is very easy to break the metal pins that secure the needle to the "servo" or gauge mechanism behind the gauge faceplate. I will not be responsible for any damage you cause to your car or components. Some soldering will be required for certain LEDs, some are plug and play. I will do what soldering I can before I send the kits to you. There are some places where you are required to do the soldering (low fuel, door, battery LEDs, environmental panel)
The kits are currently for 3rd gens (because that's what mine is), but with information from 1st and 2nd gen, Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 owners, I could develop kits for those as well. Anyone want to help me out?
I am gauging interest in a kit that allows you to customize your gauges: lighting, colors, and possibly the gauges themselves. Also a complete vehicle lighting conversion to LEDs. Also an option to use EL sheeting instead of LEDs behind gauges, though this is a bit more expensive. All items would come with instructions and most necessary ingredients (not all tools, for instance). I will do what soldering I can before I send the kits to you. There are some places where you are required to do the soldering (low fuel, door, battery LEDs, environmental panel)
Any mix of the following kits could be purchased. Naming convention pulled from my military brain, sorry if it's complicated. These kits are based on stock models of the proteges.
All prices are before shipping. I will ship any method you desire, you cover the entire cost.
Potential kits w/options:
Instrument Cluster Kits
-Kit Cluster.Complete: Gauge cluster Complete kit, including all of the below kits
Gauge Face background lighting (tach, speedo, fuel/temp)
--Kit Cluster.1.LED: $30 Gauge face lighting only with LEDs. Cheap, but leaves some bright spots (see pics below)
--Kit Cluster.1.EL: $135 Gauge face lighting only with electrolumiscent sheeting (backlighting only, not entire face, yet). This would eliminate any bright spots.
Instrument Cluster indicator lighting (blinkers, cruise, warning lights, etc)
--Kit Cluster.2: $30 cluster indicators and idiot lighting only (no icons)
Instrument Cluster icons (the symbols illuminated). In progress.
--Kit Cluster.3A: all cluster icons with my pre-designed set
--Kit Cluster.3B: all cluster icons with YOUR pre-designed set
--Kit Cluster.3C: Change all cluster icons by giving me design suggestions, and I create them for you (by the hour)
----------* for Cluster.3 kits: only icons on the surrounding faceplate, not the icons embedded in the gauges (door, battery). See Cluster.4 kits.
Instrument Cluster complete gauge face redesign. Future plans.
--Kit Cluster.4A.[LED/EL]: gauge faceplate redesign (like Cluster.3A)
--Kit Cluster.4B.[LED/EL]: gauge faceplate redesign (like Cluster.3B)
--Kit Cluster.4C.[LED/EL]: gauge faceplate redesign (like Cluster.3C)
----------* for Cluster.4 kits: will modify the gauge embedded icons
Interior Lighting Kits
-Kit Interior.Complete: All lighting kits listed below
--Kit Interior.1: $20 Maps, Dome, Trunk, Key slot light (if you have one)
--Kit Interior.2: Environmental panel (some soldering might be required)
Exterior Lighting
-Kit Exterior.Complete: $140 All exterior lights changed to LEDs:
--All blinkers with resistor kits to avoid fast blink rate
--Rear: Tail, Side, Brake, Reverse
--License plate
--High mount brake light (if you have one, doesn't change wing mounted lights)
--modified rear blinker lights to fit non-standard Mazda socket
What would come with the kit:
-LEDs or EL sheet - to change the color of your lighting scheme, both general faceplate and the idiot light bulbs
-Icons - change the way your symbols and idiot lights look. I will also be making stock icons to replace ones that got screwed up. I will have some pre-made and you can send me your own that I can make for you (extra charge of course)
-Needles - changing the color, glow level
-Instructions - how to do all the various mods I can think of, which includes collating some of the ones here on the boards. Credit will go where credit is due.
-Links - to threads and webpages of people with associated mods with their permission
NOTES:
1. These would not be entire replacements for gauges or the faceplate, but simply how to modify them, with some necessary tools, and custom made items. The gauge redesign is only theory right now, so more details as I offer them.
2. This would require some modification (sanding) to the gauge faces, but nothing really noticeable from the front. I will post pics as I reach satisfactory results.
Examples:
You could change your stock CEL to this.
Or your stock CRUISE light to this.
Price:
Completely UNDETERMINED at this point. I have been too busy designing my own mods to pay attention to what the cost has been (don't let my wife read this). I will have preliminary prices by Sunday 6 Mar.
Background: I wanted to customize my lighting setup, so I pulled apart my gauges. This turned into looking at customizing my idiot light symbols, then my needles... etc. I believe I have come up with a reasonably safe method for doing all of this.
Questions?
First Pictures There is a still more work to be done. These pictures were taken with the black cover placed over the cluster but not snapped in, and the faceplate had a couple pieces of rolled scotch tape to hold it on, so it's not a perfect test. It was more to test the viability of my system. The icons are still a little fuzzy because the black around them is not yet complete. In any case, I am rather pleased for the first set of pictures. You can also get an idea of my first icon "theme" if you will. Hope they give you and idea of what these kits will be capable of.
NEW!
This is a vid from my digicam of the rear lighting in action, as was requested by someone. The left blinker is what happens with no resistor installed: which is a faster flash, and could cause burnt out bulb indications, though I am not sure if that is a problem with our cars. All lights are LEDs. I don't know what the two little red lights that are on the whole time are. It's like they are the side marker lights or something, but I don't know if those are supposed to be on all the time. They seem to go on when I turn the key, and off when I take the key out. Enjoy! (that's me moving around, btw) 11MB!
Right-click, save as...
This is the lighting sequence:
Pre-Viewing notes:
- blue LEDs for back lighting
- UV (purple) LEDs for icons (still determining if they can be used as UV is bad for the eyes if the UV is not filtered out)
- improper assembly of cluster (gaps showing where there shouldn't be
- my one broken needle is obviously missing
- the speedometer needle has been modified to allow backlight through (orange and blue make no light, opposites on color wheel), the other needles are unmodified
- the blinker is dim, because it was blinking
- enjoy!
Exterior Lighting pics. Mostly the final products:
-the high-mount light is not the final product, as I have a solution to the uneven lighting. the LED is the weird pattern one.
-for all lights, the original lighting is on the right, LEDs on the left
-the rear blinkers don't work yet. Appears to be a different kind of socket. investigating
These pics are of the LED brake lights in sunlight.
I posted a thread with some info on one of the other forums, check it out, and let me know if you are interested.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99075
Here is the first post from msprotege.com replicated here as of 14 apr 05:
PLEASE RE-READ THIS POST. PRICES STILL PENDING. I have updated some information in here. Feel free to ask questions. I thought it would be good to provide some more details. I want to give people flexibility as this is all about customization.
STANDARD DISCLAIMER:
Any modifications completed with my kits would be at your own risk. I will support you to the best of my abilities, but I cannot guarantee that you won't jack something up (legalese, that). There is a risk with pulling off your needles. It is very easy to break the metal pins that secure the needle to the "servo" or gauge mechanism behind the gauge faceplate. I will not be responsible for any damage you cause to your car or components. Some soldering will be required for certain LEDs, some are plug and play. I will do what soldering I can before I send the kits to you. There are some places where you are required to do the soldering (low fuel, door, battery LEDs, environmental panel)
The kits are currently for 3rd gens (because that's what mine is), but with information from 1st and 2nd gen, Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 owners, I could develop kits for those as well. Anyone want to help me out?
I am gauging interest in a kit that allows you to customize your gauges: lighting, colors, and possibly the gauges themselves. Also a complete vehicle lighting conversion to LEDs. Also an option to use EL sheeting instead of LEDs behind gauges, though this is a bit more expensive. All items would come with instructions and most necessary ingredients (not all tools, for instance). I will do what soldering I can before I send the kits to you. There are some places where you are required to do the soldering (low fuel, door, battery LEDs, environmental panel)
Any mix of the following kits could be purchased. Naming convention pulled from my military brain, sorry if it's complicated. These kits are based on stock models of the proteges.
All prices are before shipping. I will ship any method you desire, you cover the entire cost.
Potential kits w/options:
Instrument Cluster Kits
-Kit Cluster.Complete: Gauge cluster Complete kit, including all of the below kits
Gauge Face background lighting (tach, speedo, fuel/temp)
--Kit Cluster.1.LED: $30 Gauge face lighting only with LEDs. Cheap, but leaves some bright spots (see pics below)
--Kit Cluster.1.EL: $135 Gauge face lighting only with electrolumiscent sheeting (backlighting only, not entire face, yet). This would eliminate any bright spots.
Instrument Cluster indicator lighting (blinkers, cruise, warning lights, etc)
--Kit Cluster.2: $30 cluster indicators and idiot lighting only (no icons)
Instrument Cluster icons (the symbols illuminated). In progress.
--Kit Cluster.3A: all cluster icons with my pre-designed set
--Kit Cluster.3B: all cluster icons with YOUR pre-designed set
--Kit Cluster.3C: Change all cluster icons by giving me design suggestions, and I create them for you (by the hour)
----------* for Cluster.3 kits: only icons on the surrounding faceplate, not the icons embedded in the gauges (door, battery). See Cluster.4 kits.
Instrument Cluster complete gauge face redesign. Future plans.
--Kit Cluster.4A.[LED/EL]: gauge faceplate redesign (like Cluster.3A)
--Kit Cluster.4B.[LED/EL]: gauge faceplate redesign (like Cluster.3B)
--Kit Cluster.4C.[LED/EL]: gauge faceplate redesign (like Cluster.3C)
----------* for Cluster.4 kits: will modify the gauge embedded icons
Interior Lighting Kits
-Kit Interior.Complete: All lighting kits listed below
--Kit Interior.1: $20 Maps, Dome, Trunk, Key slot light (if you have one)
--Kit Interior.2: Environmental panel (some soldering might be required)
Exterior Lighting
-Kit Exterior.Complete: $140 All exterior lights changed to LEDs:
--All blinkers with resistor kits to avoid fast blink rate
--Rear: Tail, Side, Brake, Reverse
--License plate
--High mount brake light (if you have one, doesn't change wing mounted lights)
--modified rear blinker lights to fit non-standard Mazda socket
What would come with the kit:
-LEDs or EL sheet - to change the color of your lighting scheme, both general faceplate and the idiot light bulbs
-Icons - change the way your symbols and idiot lights look. I will also be making stock icons to replace ones that got screwed up. I will have some pre-made and you can send me your own that I can make for you (extra charge of course)
-Needles - changing the color, glow level
-Instructions - how to do all the various mods I can think of, which includes collating some of the ones here on the boards. Credit will go where credit is due.
-Links - to threads and webpages of people with associated mods with their permission
NOTES:
1. These would not be entire replacements for gauges or the faceplate, but simply how to modify them, with some necessary tools, and custom made items. The gauge redesign is only theory right now, so more details as I offer them.
2. This would require some modification (sanding) to the gauge faces, but nothing really noticeable from the front. I will post pics as I reach satisfactory results.
Examples:
You could change your stock CEL to this.
Or your stock CRUISE light to this.
Price:
Completely UNDETERMINED at this point. I have been too busy designing my own mods to pay attention to what the cost has been (don't let my wife read this). I will have preliminary prices by Sunday 6 Mar.
Background: I wanted to customize my lighting setup, so I pulled apart my gauges. This turned into looking at customizing my idiot light symbols, then my needles... etc. I believe I have come up with a reasonably safe method for doing all of this.
Questions?
First Pictures There is a still more work to be done. These pictures were taken with the black cover placed over the cluster but not snapped in, and the faceplate had a couple pieces of rolled scotch tape to hold it on, so it's not a perfect test. It was more to test the viability of my system. The icons are still a little fuzzy because the black around them is not yet complete. In any case, I am rather pleased for the first set of pictures. You can also get an idea of my first icon "theme" if you will. Hope they give you and idea of what these kits will be capable of.
NEW!
This is a vid from my digicam of the rear lighting in action, as was requested by someone. The left blinker is what happens with no resistor installed: which is a faster flash, and could cause burnt out bulb indications, though I am not sure if that is a problem with our cars. All lights are LEDs. I don't know what the two little red lights that are on the whole time are. It's like they are the side marker lights or something, but I don't know if those are supposed to be on all the time. They seem to go on when I turn the key, and off when I take the key out. Enjoy! (that's me moving around, btw) 11MB!
Right-click, save as...
This is the lighting sequence:
- reverse (twice)
- left blinker (no resistor)
- right blinker
- parking lights
- brakes (twice)
- parking lights off
- brakes
- hazards
Pre-Viewing notes:
- blue LEDs for back lighting
- UV (purple) LEDs for icons (still determining if they can be used as UV is bad for the eyes if the UV is not filtered out)
- improper assembly of cluster (gaps showing where there shouldn't be
- my one broken needle is obviously missing
- the speedometer needle has been modified to allow backlight through (orange and blue make no light, opposites on color wheel), the other needles are unmodified
- the blinker is dim, because it was blinking
- enjoy!
Exterior Lighting pics. Mostly the final products:
-the high-mount light is not the final product, as I have a solution to the uneven lighting. the LED is the weird pattern one.
-for all lights, the original lighting is on the right, LEDs on the left
-the rear blinkers don't work yet. Appears to be a different kind of socket. investigating
These pics are of the LED brake lights in sunlight.
Last edited by glyph_99es; April-14th-2005 at 05:25 PM.
March-7th-2005, 08:23 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 80
good job on the icons.... I'm going to leave my gauges alone for awhile, but i may be interested in the tail light package. I have tried a few different led options for my brake light/blinkers, but none of them were bright enough for me. How do these compare with the stock lights on a sunny day?
April-14th-2005, 10:22 AM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dearborn Michigan
Posts: 146
Originally Posted by glyph_99es
no idea on the strobe kit. I have daylight pics up, click the link in my sig.
April-14th-2005, 11:42 AM
#10
I can has autox now?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ASC, GA
Posts: 3,381
e-mail me some pictures, since i cant view bduncan@surfbest.net
April-15th-2005, 03:16 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dearborn Michigan
Posts: 146
Originally Posted by Jackelope
e-mail me some pictures, since i cant view bduncan@surfbest.net
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