hey all, ive decided to change the bulbs in my cluster and hvac panel,
i , however, have no experience with led's..so i figured i would use normal bulbs,
a couple questions that would be awesome to get cleared up....
(cavalier..95)
in both the cluster and hvac panel the bulbs used ( 1995 remember) are # 194's? or #74's
how would i go about getting the old ones out...from the hvac panel would it be from the rear?..
.and the cluster just under the gauge face?....to get the old ones out of the cluster i would remove the needles ( do they just pull off?) and the face...no idea how to get this off....and then replace the bulbs, making sure not to touch the bulb?..or is that just for headlights?.....
how many lights in the hvac panel...i assume 3...but you all know what assuming does,
and how many bulbs in the cluster...( no tach)...is it five?
and last but not least, where and how would i go about purchasing these "specialty" bulbs because there obviously not a normal thing (again, im assuming here)....
and to find them in blue.....
anyways i know theres alot of questions in there, but i think it would look awesome, and if/when i do this ill take pics and maybe do a walkthrough or something...though i may need some help
1. HVAC has 2 #74 bulbs. Cluster has 4 #194 bulbs.
2. a) HVAC: from behind. Take off the dash top, and the HVAC bezel. The HVAC unit removes with two torx screws, or a 7mm socket. The bulbs are there, plain as day.
2. b) Cluster: Note needle positions at key points (idle and 70mph under operating temp and a full tank work well). See above steps, remove cluster from car. Remove clear plastic. Remove needles (pull, using a fork if you like). You basically need to disassemble the entire cluster to the circuit board. once you're down to that, twist the bulbs (you can touch them) and remove them. There is a link to instructions on replacing the bulb in the socket within the FAQ.
4. Answered this.
5. see 4
6. I believe superbrightleds has 194 and 74 type leds (which means they're 12v, and are styled in a bulb shape instead of having an anode/cathode setup).
7. see 6
Good luck! If you make a walkthrough, I'll help you out with it, and we chould add it to the FAQ too.
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Interior FAQ -
J-Body of Michigan -
okay so i found pretty well what im looking for...i think however on the superbrightleds page there is different 194 options, like single led up to 6 led, what would work best for an application such as a cluster
iKe,
Go take a look at the FAQ that Raptor mentioned. The 194 bulbs you're asking about will not simply plug & play. You'll need to some modification to the bulbs as well as some soldering.
or...
On superbrightleds.com you can select the 74 type bulbs which includes the twist-lock socket (which is similar to the setup in your stock cluster). I think they call them T1.5's or something like that. Anyways, they are designed specifically to be used in most instrument cluster setups.
FYI - I don't know of anyone who has these in a J-body yet, so I am not 100% positive that they will work. However they do look very much like the bulbs that came in our factory clusters.
"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." -- Steven Wright
u only need to 2 #74 bulbs without the twist lock for teh hvac panel, i just changed mine w/out a problem broke both bulbs to get themn out tho,
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what does this look like installed?
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i assume to 03 cavys have the same bulbs as does the 95?
in the newer cavaliers ... 03 and up i think ... I read you can't remove the needles...
i thought it was 2000 and up u cant or "shouldn't" remove needles..
HONDAS ARE LIKE TAMPONS…EVERY PU**Y NEEDS ONE!
Glad to see you back, Raptor.
Better ration out those posts!
I was going to buy you some Premium time, but I can't get Dave to reply to my emails lately...
Steve
http://www.bluecavcustoms.com
00+ have different bulbs than 99-.
00+ shouldn't remove needles unless you like breaking things and burning money. Save yourself the hassle and forward the money to me, heh.
Steve: no kidding. My premium expired last month on March 8th, at which point I'd already posted 59 times. Hah! I've got 82 left this month, so far. Next month I should be buying another year - depends on how many hours I get at work.
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Interior FAQ -
J-Body of Michigan -
Hey! I'm having a b!tch of a time trying to get the HVAC #74's out of their sockets. Is it really necessary to bust em out or does someone have a nifty tip that I can use?
"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." -- Steven Wright
Ok so I have an 03 cavy and you guys so absolutely do not remove the needles i my gauge? This mean I cannot change guages also?
I would use LEDs if i were you.
The colored lights tend to be weak in color... Blue look steal, Red looks pink, green look mint...
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alright..well i finished this up and i must say i am very impressed....
i went with the eurolite 194 bulbs in blue (they had 2led's in each 194 bulb....
Those blue lights look badass! I'd do that to my car, if I didn't already have nifty reverse glows installed
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