LED install on SC300 Cluster experience.
#1
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
so as u know a lot of people are doing their own Do it yourself cluster repair. so i decided to give it a shot myself. i wanted the white look that lextech.org does but without the costs of labor. obviously i can't do needle repair. but i can fix my own lights. its just pulling out a bulb after all.
after 2 trial and errors i finally found something that can work at least for me so im going to share and add to the pile of other LED DIYs on this site.
so rather than do the LED strips that u can buy at Parts Stores.
so first i removed the stock bulbs.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/IMAG1250.jpg)
then i started wtih ebay and got these 74 SMD bulbs super white.
these were nice. but made hot spots and didn't disperse light evenly inside the ramps that reflect light inside like the only filiment type bulbs.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/IMAG1249.jpg)
so then in my ignorance. i decided i get a different brand that had th LED lower positioned inside the bulb so it may work better. the results were slgihtly better but not enough light coverage.
after 2 trial and errors i finally found something that can work at least for me so im going to share and add to the pile of other LED DIYs on this site.
so rather than do the LED strips that u can buy at Parts Stores.
so first i removed the stock bulbs.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/IMAG1250.jpg)
then i started wtih ebay and got these 74 SMD bulbs super white.
these were nice. but made hot spots and didn't disperse light evenly inside the ramps that reflect light inside like the only filiment type bulbs.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/IMAG1249.jpg)
so then in my ignorance. i decided i get a different brand that had th LED lower positioned inside the bulb so it may work better. the results were slgihtly better but not enough light coverage.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1236.jpg)
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2jaffaz (02-18-23)
#3
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so here is a pic of how these lights lit up the cluster.
here is a close up of one of them. these were more of a bluish white color.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1237.jpg)
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1235.jpg)
which the faceplate on. u can see the hot spots from these lights.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1234.jpg)
it was bright around 1 3 5 and 7 of the Tach and similarly on the Miles per Hours speedo.
here is a close up of one of them. these were more of a bluish white color.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1237.jpg)
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1235.jpg)
which the faceplate on. u can see the hot spots from these lights.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1234.jpg)
it was bright around 1 3 5 and 7 of the Tach and similarly on the Miles per Hours speedo.
#4
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
here is the final result.
here are the other bulbs i bought first.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1238.jpg)
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1239.jpg)
this is how it lit up without the faceplate. these lit up more like a flourescent white. the hot spots were not as bad and lit up more evenly. i used a cell phone camera so not the best quality.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1240.jpg)
and here is with the faceplate assembly on.
its a bit hard to disern the difference. but trust me. its better. i need to take better pics of the finished product.
here are the other bulbs i bought first.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1238.jpg)
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1239.jpg)
this is how it lit up without the faceplate. these lit up more like a flourescent white. the hot spots were not as bad and lit up more evenly. i used a cell phone camera so not the best quality.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1240.jpg)
and here is with the faceplate assembly on.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1241.jpg)
its a bit hard to disern the difference. but trust me. its better. i need to take better pics of the finished product.
#5
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You could probably do something with tape to try an diffuse the light a little more, they are very bright though. Maybe sanding the top of the bulb to diffuse the light would work? Just throwing some stuff out there, im sure someone has a solution.
#6
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
i got the bulbs from this site. SuperBrightLEDs.com and here is the link to the bulbs.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...2F74-xHP3.html
these bulbs have polarity. so u have to put them in the right way so the power flows positive to negative or they wont light up. thats why i had pics of the faceplate off so i can switch them around easier.
to me this is easier than soldering a strip of lights. its the same price anyway.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...2F74-xHP3.html
these bulbs have polarity. so u have to put them in the right way so the power flows positive to negative or they wont light up. thats why i had pics of the faceplate off so i can switch them around easier.
to me this is easier than soldering a strip of lights. its the same price anyway.
#7
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
now if i could only fix my needles. they all work. but i hate taking my cluster out. my finger tips hurt a lot after this little non horsepower upgrade.
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#13
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
here is the final result.
here are the other bulbs i bought first.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1238.jpg)
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1239.jpg)
this is how it lit up without the faceplate. these lit up more like a flourescent white. the hot spots were not as bad and lit up more evenly. i used a cell phone camera so not the best quality.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1240.jpg)
and here is with the faceplate assembly on.
its a bit hard to disern the difference. but trust me. its better. i need to take better pics of the finished product.
here are the other bulbs i bought first.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1238.jpg)
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1239.jpg)
this is how it lit up without the faceplate. these lit up more like a flourescent white. the hot spots were not as bad and lit up more evenly. i used a cell phone camera so not the best quality.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1240.jpg)
and here is with the faceplate assembly on.
![](http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/drwondereyes/SC300%201jz%20Lexus%20Project/IMAG1241.jpg)
its a bit hard to disern the difference. but trust me. its better. i need to take better pics of the finished product.