Tutorial on changing instrument panel color.

[zoinks]

Oh and I edited post #3 with this info.

***EDIT***
I Saw a tutorial on Nasioc where a strip of sandpaper was used in place of the screwdrivers to get the green film off. I haven't tryed this method but it seemed to work well. I would only be worried about scraping off too much of the black and thus making 'hot spots'. I just thought that I would throw that out if the screwdrivers don't work for you.
***EDIT***

[bbpuppet]

amazing post. I know everyone apriciates your time put into this tutorial. I have one question though.. is there any way to do this with a 2005 WRX?

Anyone out there try this on an 05? I'm pretty confident about doing the cluster, but I tried to disassemble the HVAC controls and it is a HUGH pita! I've been looking for any info on this for awhile with no luck. Any info would be great!

[jxlex]

Thanks alot for this wonderful mod man! Have been trying to find it like crazy here!! Thanks a million!

[igotboost]

did this on my 02 with blue. it turned out awesome. my friend did it too and ended up damaging his speedo head so REALLY be careful with the needles as has been pointed out in this post multiple times. thanks for the post and especially the pics. those make it so much easier!

[bbpuppet]

did this on my 02 with blue. it turned out awesome. my friend did it too and ended up damaging his speedo head so REALLY be careful with the needles as has been pointed out in this post multiple times. thanks for the post and especially the pics. those make it so much easier!

Can you post pics? I started to do mine in blue, but it ended up looking more like teal. Did you use bulb covers OR change the bulbs completely?

[igotboost]

yeah, i'll try to get some pics up here soon. i used bulbs. the covers don't give you a solid blue like you said. i think i might end up getting some glow gauge faces though. my buddy custom makes them with different designs so i will probably take advantage. i'm also gonna try changing my boost gauge and monster tach to match. i'm thinking about just using a blue film for those with white bulbs. i heard that works pretty good. anyway, good luck.

[bbpuppet]

Nice! Pics would be cool. I really want to get rid of the cheap green look

[kessler89]

i know this may not be about the gauge cluster, but i'm tryin to find the bulb covers for the hvac and radio controls, can anyone that's done it help me out on where to find them?


thanks







ps bumpin this thread back from the dead

[don_her]

Hi!

I've been trying to get this stuff done on my 2006 WRX...

But i can't get the circuitboard and gauges apart!

On the manual it says to pull back claw a from f with pliers etc, but it still is stuck? Could someone please help me out here?

By the way, on the 06 model there is only the green film, the lights are clear, no covers either.

Regards,

Donny

[don_her]

Hi!

I've been trying to get this stuff done on my 2006 WRX...

But i can't get the circuitboard and gauges apart!

On the manual it says to pull back claw a from f with pliers etc, but it still is stuck? Could someone please help me out here?

By the way, on the 06 model there is only the green film, the lights are clear, no covers either.

Regards,

Donny

As topicstarter warned.. Be carefull with the instruments :'(

My gauges give strange readings now.. Anyway to solve this, or does anyone have an adress where i can get an STi cluster from??

[don_her]

WARNING: The needles are very delicate so be warned. Also don't remove the needles because if you do it will probably mess the gauges up.
i found out the hard way
After everything is scraped and wiped of debris then take a red sharpie and color the scraped areas. It’s best to color it twice to get better coverage.

What is a red sharpie??? A permanent marker or something?

[Robert46123]

What is a red sharpie??? A permanent marker or something?

Yes. Sharpie is a brand name for a permanent marker.

[RallyIt07]

Does the HVAC on the 06/07 have films with clear bulbs too?

[sexyrexy227]

Anyone out there try this on an 05? I'm pretty confident about doing the cluster, but I tried to disassemble the HVAC controls and it is a HUGH pita! I've been looking for any info on this for awhile with no luck. Any info would be great!

I have an 05 and I am in the process of changing the entire interior to red. I have completed the radio, fog light/wiper deicer buttons, and the gauge cluster. There is a film on the back of the cluster. It consists of three layers...1 plastic, 1 checkered black, and 1 green film. I sanded through the all the layers with thin strips fine grained sandpaper. I then cleaned up the remaining green film with nail-polish remover (contains low concentrate acetone) and Q-tips. I am satisfied with the result. I accidently popped off two of my needles in the process (Temp and Speedo). If you accidently pop off your needles they can be recalibrated by starting the car and setting the needles to the appropriate position. However, BE WARNED, in the case of the speedo and tach...They may work accurately but will not be as responsive to throttle inputs. This is why I will eventually replace the speedo unit seperately. In regards to the HVAC in an 05...it's a no-go with the traditional bulb condom or paint marker...The 05 knobs of the HVAC are green plastic. They DO NOT contain a green film. The color of the plastic does not allow for the OEM LEDs to shine through in the event you painted them. To change them to red you will have to soder in LED behind the knobs in addition to painting the OEM leds the color of your choice. There is a write-up on a STi forum somewhere online. A similar approach is used to change the color of all the window switches as well.

Off the top of my head, this is a simplified how-to to access the HVAC location where the OEM LEDs are on the 05s & the circuit board where the LEDS will be placed. DO EVERYTHING I SAY AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING BREAKING.

1) Pry off the interior trim covering the radio and HVAC by lifting the edge closest to the center console & e-brake. It will pop off with slight force.

2) Remove the screws to the left and right of the HVAC unit which hold it to the car.

3) Pull the HVAC unit out slightly thus exposing a hose and electrical connections. Remove the hose and connections by yanking them out. (The hose will come off with quite a bit of force. The electrical connections have a button on them which needs to be pushed as you yank them out.

4) With the HVAC fully removed, you can pull the control knobs off of the front exposing the OEM LEDs and circuit board...THIS STEP CAN BE DONE WITHOUT REMOVING THE ENTIRE UNIT FROM THE CAR. YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THE OTHER STEPS IF YOU JUST WANT TO SEE THE PLACEMENT OF THE LEDS.**MAKE SURE YOU PLACE THE KNOBS BACK ON SO THE YELLOW INDICATORS ON THE KNOB LINE UP IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE. YOULL KNOW IF YOU DID THIS CORRECTLY IF THE INDICATORS LIGHT UP WHEN YOU TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON.

5)To access the the ciruit board...pop up the clips holding the white plastic housing in the back of the HVAC.

6)Once the back of the HVAC is removed it will expose a green circuit board. You will have to access this area to soder in the LEDs used to illuminate the knob. I do not remember if there are screws or clips holding the board on so I will stop here.

GOODLUCK.

[RallyIt07]

Thanks