| mobious |
I don't know about you guys but the amber colored gauges are getting old and to be honest it looks kinda boring. I was wondering if anybody would be interested in getting some custom gauge faces made for our cars(?). I found a site that will do a custom "tooling" of our cluster but in order to start development they want 10 people to "buy-in" to the deal before they start making the gauge faces. Nobody will be charged until the gauges are complete.
Here is the link check it out:
http://www.streetracerparts.com/ind...on=Custom&ID=22 |
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| SugarRushMurano |
I like the infiniti color better: black background orange dial...
Murano's color is a bit too "funky" :rolleyes:
I wish they can do it.... |
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| Kris |
Yes, they are also on a bright side. As Sugar i would prefer something like Infiniti.
If the price is right I am in..... |
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| mobious |
| They'll do anything you want them to colorwise. But they need atleast 10 people to commit to orders. That way the can cover the cost of getting a hold of cluster and building a template. |
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| EdMPT |
| That's funny I was thinking about this just the other day. I do not care for the gauges all that much either. Iliked the blue and black the Jetta had, but I was thinking with the Murano it might not look good beacuse the interior buttons are all orange also. So something like the infiniti would be perfect...I would buy a set... |
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| GripperDon |
| How difficult would it be to remove and install them? What about all the other amber / orange lights in the MO? |
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| jaycen29 |
| anybody have a pic of what the Infiniti gauges look like? |
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| Kris |
| Here they are. The pic is not the best one |
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| simplesb |
| I've been waiting for something like this. It would be great to get an idea on the price, but I'm in. |
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| mobious |
I'm waiting on an e-mail from the guy. He's checking around to see if a can locate an instrument cluster to start building a template....
quote:
How difficult would it be to remove and install them? What about all the other amber / orange lights in the MO?
Pretty easy.... I've done it before on my mustang. Our white gauge face is just a plasitic plate. You *carefully* slide the old one around the needles to get them off and the *carefully* slide the new one on around the needles. You have to turn the needles to fit through the holes. You can't pull back on the needle itself or you loose the calibration. All that said it takes about 30-45 minutes to get to the gauge face about 5 minutes to slip the old one off and put the new one on the put it back together. |
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| HuskyFan |
| I would like to be able to adjust the intrument cluster brightness independent of the other lighted switches for the doors, radio, heater, etc. I would prefer the lighted switches too be brighter and the instrument cluster to be dimmer. |
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| Kris |
quote:
Originally posted by HuskyFan
I would like to be able to adjust the instrument cluster brightness independent of the other lighted switches for the doors, radio, heater, etc. I would prefer the lighted switches too be brighter and the instrument cluster to be dimmer.
You nailed it! The problem is than when I dim the gauges I cannot see the switches etc. When the switches brightness is right the gauges are blindingly bright! |
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| Snow MO |
| I'm not a big fan of orange...I know I know, I own a sunlit copper MO, but I would be very interested in an Infiniti style gauge if the price was right. That way it matches the interior but the gauges wouldnt be so "In yo face!" |
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| GripperDon |
Since I sold my G35 to get the MO and one of the thing I said was I liked the Mo gages better I guess I didn't know what I had going for me. The gages on my G35 were out of step with the brightness on switches also.
One thing I am looking at right now is a brighter bulb for the shifter to improve that brightness relative to the others. If the lamps on the instrument cluster are easily removable maybe they could be dimmed.
I think everyone I have talked to want them dimmer and the shifter brighter so that would all track the dimmer better and relative brightness would be more reasonable.
This would eliminate the "Need" for separate dimmers, which might be harder.
I'll post the results of my activity, I am just finishing up installing the "add on woofer amp" and still waiting the shipment from Generator for the Nav Box and Modified No-Nag. |
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| Gonzo |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
You nailed it! The problem is than when I dim the gauges I cannot see the switches etc. When the switches brightness is right the gauges are blindingly bright!
Same here I jus want to dim the cluster lights a bit more to match better to the interior lights. I like the cluster lights dim but the remaining lights are too dim when I do that. I noticed a light above the accessory holder just in front of the shift.. but it useless when I dim the lights for the cluster.
Is there any easy way to reduce those lights? |
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| Eric L. |
If its like other Nissan guages, you will need to first remove the steering column covers, then the guage cluster will come out with a couple screws. There will be several tabs to hold the plastic fascia on, these are usually quite delicate. I notice the Murano's gas needle goes to E when the car is off, so you won't have to worry about keeping the needle where its at like other Nissans.
I had an aluminum bezel and chrome rings on my 97 Maxima guages (looked great). The adhesive for the chrome rings got kind of weak and I had to open the guage cluster frequently to reseat them.
I would be careful with the Murano's instrument cluster. Its a very expensive part. On my Maxima, it was only a $300 part, so if I broke it, I could always get another one. I don't have the exact price list with me, but my guess is that its $800-1000 if memory serves me correctly.
BTW, custom guage faces have been around for many many years now. They used to be the import modder rage, esp in the "indiglo era." To be honest, the wow factor for them fades after a while and you might get tired of them. The electrolumiscent ones require extra wiring for the cluster, making the mod in certain cases irreversible, so choose carefully. |
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| simplesb |
| I'm non-technical, but wouldn't messing with the steering column kind of risky? I mean to get to it wouldn't you have to remove the steering wheel and possible might run into airbag? |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by simplesb
I'm non-technical, but wouldn't messing with the steering column kind of risky? I mean to get to it wouldn't you have to remove the steering wheel and possible might run into airbag?
No the steering wheel does not come off, just the steering column plastic covers. It might not even need to on the Murano, I am just speaking from experience on my other Nissan, a Maxima. |
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| GripperDon |
| I like your pics of the Z up by the Dam. Sweet! :D |
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| dklanecky1 |
quote:
Originally posted by GripperDon
I like your pics of the Z up by the Dam. Sweet! :D
That was my birthday present to myself, a new 350Z convertible in that beautiful copper color for a couple of days in Vegas. Nice vehicle, but completely impractical as daily transportation. A great complement however to the Murano as far as a very nice pair of vehicles for the garage.
Maybe when my last one (son) gets into (and out of) college. |
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| special-k |
I might be willing to get onboard with this if, as others have said:
a) the price is reasonable
b) we can get them to look like the Infiniti gauges
I wouldn't really want to replace the MO gauges with something that's not black/orange... white and blue and purple and all that stuff might be cool, but it wouldn't match anything else in the interior. I'd like to keep it clean looking. |
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| GripperDon |
| I'M OUT TOO MUCH TROUBLE for me. |
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| simplesb |
| What ever happened with this? |
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| MO in TO |
I don't know whether I would ever be interested, but if someone needs a cluster to experiment with, here it is.........
Murano Cluster on EBay
If it works, you could maybe even make your Mo "new" again......... |
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| Gonzo |
| Gee that would be kind of cool... can you connect up some electricty and have it light up and move the needles? Good piece for the office. |
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| kingsize |
I'm in...please let me know if this group will make the mod and how we can get on board.
Great idea! |
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| jaak |
Hey Gymkid!
Think this could be revived with a "clone" of the new Murano faces?
There's enough people that hate the orange that it could be possible to get 10 people to commit and get new faces made.
Mine's a lease, so I can't go messin' with it.
Perhaps contacting the manufacturer, reviewing it, and then PMing all that seemed interested of having this, or have expressed disdain with the orange, would create critical mass.
Unless it's possible to just buy the new faces from Nissan. But I suspect it's an assembly. (Mucho $$$ I'm sure.) |
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| Eric L. |
| I think new guages would be cool, but having dealt with many of these kits on previous cars, even the highest quality ones will have some aspect that will make it "less than stock." It might be holes that do not line up perfectly with the speedometer peg or the needle rest, or uneven lighting. In the worst cases, they do not overlay perfectly and can interfere with the movement of the needles. As dull as the stock orange guages are, I *guarantee* that some of us who try aftermarket guage overlays will end up thinking about how great the stock guages were....because they were worry free. |
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| nissanlove |
you took the words out of my mouth eric. we put aftermarket guages on our old santa fe and they weren't the greatest investment we made. for one, i broke the rpm guage which was 160 bucks to replace(unwound the retention coal, i was younger and dumb back then) another this is that around the gauge needle you could see light coming out from behind the guage cluster and the company send us 2 different color guages so 3 were blue and the speed guage was orange on white. didn't want to ship it back because it took them almost 2 months to ship the product to us.you can see some pictures of it on this site.
guages on santa fe |
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| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by nissanlove
you took the words out of my mouth eric. we put aftermarket guages on our old santa fe and they weren't the greatest investment we made. for one, i broke the rpm guage which was 160 bucks to replace(unwound the retention coal, i was younger and dumb back then) another this is that around the gauge needle you could see light coming out from behind the guage cluster and the company send us 2 different color guages so 3 were blue and the speed guage was orange on white. didn't want to ship it back because it took them almost 2 months to ship the product to us.you can see some pictures of it on this site.
guages on santa fe
Yeah I think for a lot of people here, it is their first time modding a car. Not surprising, since the Murano isn't your usual Civic or Integra. That was why I just had to post the warning message that its not as easy plug and play as some other mods might be, such as the PAC adapter. However, I will add that without people experimenting with new products, there is zero chance they will ever be made, so I do encourage those who are willing to take a risk to try it out. |
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| rjardine |
| I like jaak's, but remember we will need two faces for the speedo - MPH and km/h |
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| jaak |
Fortunately for me... I love the orange! But I can understand other people wanting the new style if you hate the orange.
My guess is that Nissan would sell an assembly, so just buying the faces, while a perfect solution, probably isn't going to happen. Unless you can? |
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| biggun |
If I were interested in changing the orange cluster (which in the future I may), I am/would just wait until the new 2006 models are out.
I'm guessing the cluster will be on ebay with other parts from the 2006 in no time and most of them will be a plug and play install. Hopefully the cluster and the color screen. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by biggun
If I were interested in changing the orange cluster (which in the future I may), I am/would just wait until the new 2006 models are out.
I'm guessing the cluster will be on ebay with other parts from the 2006 in no time and most of them will be a plug and play install. Hopefully the cluster and the color screen.
I have been closely following this thread because I am not too thrilled with the current look of the gauge cluster. I love the rest of the Mo, but would have preferred a more classy looking panel. In my opinion it cheapens an otherwise slick-looking interior.
Once I saw the pics of the 2006 cluster I was hooked. The new cluster looks more modern and high-end. I only wish the new cluster was incorporated into the MO a year earlier. I agree with biggun that the 2006 cluster should be an easy retrofit into existing MOs.
Granted it will most likely cost more for the 2006 cluster, as compared to an after-market unit, but it will be a Nissan part that should be 100% compatible.
Now if only I can find a 2006 Mo owner in South Jersey who wants to swap his cluster for an orange 2005 display...:12:
-njjoe |
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| jaak |
Well, when you look at the service manual, you see an assembly...
Nissan probably buys it as such, from their OEM and likely sells it that way, but someone would have to actually check with a parts department.
Is it going to be cheap? Likely not.... How bad do you want it? |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by jaak
Well, when you look at the service manual, you see an assembly...
Nissan probably buys it as such, from their OEM and likely sells it that way, but someone would have to actually check with a parts department.
Is it going to be cheap? Likely not.... How bad do you want it?
World Parts Express lists a Instrument panel , Cluster and switches ,Cluster assy ,All for a 2005 Murano at $141.52. If the 2006 Instrument Panel is released at the same price it will be well worth it.
-njjoe |
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| TheGymKid |
quote:
Originally posted by jaak
Well, when you look at the service manual, you see an assembly...
Nissan probably buys it as such, from their OEM and likely sells it that way, but someone would have to actually check with a parts department.
Is it going to be cheap? Likely not.... How bad do you want it?
THANKS for the info Jaak and bringing the thread back to life. After our discussion and comments in this thread... i think I'm going to hit the local nissan service departments when the 2006 comes out. They have to be able to get the part incase a new Murano has a defective one. I'll find out how much they will charge for the whole piece or if I can get just the "unified meter control unit assembly" and switch it out. I would bet the whole part is interchangeable.
Thanks again for the info Jaak... it was a big help. I'll keep everyone updated after I make the trip to Nissan to find out.
If anyone is already going and wants to inquire.... cool ! |
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| hfelknor |
I buy a few accessories, but I am not much for "modding" a car.
BUT< if we can get the 06 cluster assy for $141.52 AND it is not a federal case to swap it out, then count me IN!
The current assy is alright, but the 06 looks MUCH nicer IMO.
Shoot, I'l go double that if the swap out is easy!
Homer |
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| HuskyFan |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
World Parts Express lists a Instrument panel , Cluster and switches ,Cluster assy ,All for a 2005 Murano at $141.52. If the 2006 Instrument Panel is released at the same price it will be well worth it.
-njjoe
World Parts Express lists 2004 Murano instrument cluster including speedometer, tach, fuel and temp gauge @ $518. |
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| jaak |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
World Parts Express lists a Instrument panel , Cluster and switches ,Cluster assy ,All for a 2005 Murano at $141.52. If the 2006 Instrument Panel is released at the same price it will be well worth it.
-njjoe
Wow! That's a good deal... "Hi, I'll have one of those, for a 2006, please..."
Hmmm... I was curious and looked it up on www.worldpartsexpress.com and it's telling me for the Cluster Assembly MRSP of $719.48 and $518.03 is their price. Which is more what I would have expected.
Do you have a link to the $141.52 price? |
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| Eric L. |
| I am going to assume the lower price for the 2005 model is either incorrect or Nissan changed the design of the guages (can anyone confirm by posting an illustration of the assembly from BOTH the 2003 and 2005 FSM?). Makes more sense it costs $500. |
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| Gonzo |
| Gee for $142 I'm in too..... I like the look of the 06 cluster panel. |
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| jaak |
quote:
Originally posted by biggun
Jaak, the link you provided has the cluster and switches listed at $141.52
See link below.
http://www.parts.com/partlocator/in...005&catalogid=2
Interesting,
When I drill down to it, I'm getting the same pricing as well.
That's not a bad thing!!! But it's strange as I did check it, like 5 times, trying to get the same price!
I'd say $140 is a good deal! |
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| Gonzo |
| Maybe its missing components of some type and it really isn't complete. That price just can't be accurate. |
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| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by HuskyFan
World Parts Express lists 2004 Murano instrument cluster including speedometer, tach, fuel and temp gauge @ $518.
I was the guy who originally posted the $141.52 price from World Parts. The price I referenced is for the instrument panel internals, not the entire instrument/switch pod that sits on the dash.
The $141 gets you what the Nissan Service Manual calls the Unified Meter Control Unit Assembly (Item #4 on page DI-26 in the Service Manual). It contains the 4 gauges, lighting and 2 electrical connectors.
If it is 100% compatible, it looks to be a relatively straight swap.
-njjoe |
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| njjoe |
That is odd that the prices vary so widely.
The 2006 face looks identical to the previous models with the exception of the graphics.
Hopefully the price for the 2006 display is in the same ballpark as the 2005 version.
-njjoe |
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| njjoe |
jaak,
There should not be a compatibility issue with the odometer data. I read somewhere on this forum that the odo data resides on the ECU, and not in the instrument assembly. Hopefully this is the case.
-njjoe |
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| jaak |
Yeah, that's what I suspect, as I didn't see anything in the Service Manual about any issues with that.
The new guages are likely the same ones just refaced. So a swap should be relatively painless. If we can figure out how much they really cost! |
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| Gonzo |
| Waiting to hear about this is killing me!!! $142...... please please please please. |
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| Gonzo |
| Any new information on this? |
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| Gonzo |
quote:
Originally posted by jace
*subscribes*
I don't understand? |
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| romeog007angelo |
| I AM INTERESTED AS WELL, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A PIC OF THE 2006 CLUSTER THAT THEY CAN POST?? THANXS SO MUCH AND HOPEFULLY THIS COMES TO LIFE SOOOONNN |
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| jace |
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo
I don't understand?
just wanted to subscribe to the thread so I get email notification of updates :cool:
Pic of the cluster for comparison...
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| Gonzo |
| I used to subsribe but stopped since it was getting out of hand. |
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| CoolMomo |
if i can swap to 06's face plates with bright white background lights..
mmmmMMMM~~ |
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| Gonzo |
quote:
Originally posted by TheGymKid
THANKS for the info Jaak and bringing the thread back to life. After our discussion and comments in this thread... i think I'm going to hit the local nissan service departments when the 2006 comes out. They have to be able to get the part incase a new Murano has a defective one. I'll find out how much they will charge for the whole piece or if I can get just the "unified meter control unit assembly" and switch it out. I would bet the whole part is interchangeable.
Thanks again for the info Jaak... it was a big help. I'll keep everyone updated after I make the trip to Nissan to find out.
If anyone is already going and wants to inquire.... cool !
While you are at it, see if you can get a price on the 06' tail lights/LEDs....
I would think that should be a quick swap too |
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| njjoe |
WOW!!! :eek:
I would be happy to pay $200, but not $500!! That's outrageous.
Hmmm, what if a rented a Murano from Enterprise and then swapped the guage clusters? Would anyone notice? ;)
-njjoe |
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| Kris |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
WOW!!! :eek:
I would be happy to pay $200, but not $500!! That's outrageous.
Hmmm, what if a rented a Murano from Enterprise and then swapped the guage clusters? Would anyone notice? ;)
-njjoe
I love your idea but.............:14:
I will try to get a resistor in series with the guages lights so I can still see the other palen "staff"........;) |
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| Gonzo |
| Post some pictures and instructions if you do install the resisters. That would help greatly "balance" the interior. |
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| protonz |
Well I guess I'll try making a new gauge face before dropping about $500 for a 2006 unit. Besides, I want to try a backlight color other than orange.
I have to pull the assembly apart to find out what size/quantity LEDs are used. I already did some exploring, and the door control panels use 2832 package surface-mount LEDs. Lumex makes these, and they make them in many other colors (including blue & white).
Anyone have experience making gauge faces? |
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| njjoe |
biggun-
That is very interesting. You could get very creative with that process.
However, I'm not too sure the paper guage face would hold up too well.
-njjoe |
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| biggun |
quote:
However, I'm not too sure the paper guage face would hold up too well.
I agree. I would recommend something more durable like mylar. |
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| Gonzo |
For $140 I would do it in a hart beat too. I agree the 2006 looks much nicer.....
Hmmm $140 + $155 x2 for LED tails.... |
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| protonz |
I agree, I'm not too keen on using paper. It seems the preferred method is some kind of CNC mill/router or a silk-screen process.
I found another possible way, however--I put in an order for back-lit film, which is used commercially for large backlit signs like you might see in the mall. It's made from a thick polyester material, and is translucent to evenly disperse light. With black ink, it will be opaque. The cool part is that it can be fed right through an inkjet printer.
I'll try this out, just as soon as I get those LED combo lamp assemblies installed... |
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| RickM46 |
Gentlemen,
I have some questions regarding the instrument pod.
Are the gauge lights LEDs or bulbs?
Has anyone attempted to remove it to get at the guage lights?
If so, what are the steps to doing that?
Thanks,
RickM46 |
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| Kris |
| they are bulbs.......at least in 2003 |
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| protonz |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
they are bulbs.......at least in 2003
Just to clarify, on my '05 it appears to be hybrid. The indicators (like seat belt, ABS, etc.) use LEDs, which are surface-mounted to a circuit board... but the illumination does use incadescent bulbs. There are a few other incadescent bulbs for turn signals & high beam indicator. |
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| protonz |
I received the kodak back-lit film, but haven't yet finished a design on the computer.
I made an attempt at disassembling the guage pod, only to find out that you will need some expertise on removing gauge needles in order to remove the gauge face placard.
I made some attempt to remove the needles, but they are stuck in there pretty solidly. I don't want to damage the assembly, so for now I just put it back together. I tried searching around for tips on the internet, but every page I found on the topic seemed to say that it is not easy, and does require a step afterwards to re-calibrate the needle positions.
:( |
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| RickM46 |
Protonz and Kris,
Thanks for the info on the bulbs vs LEDs on the instrument pod.
I am looking at decreasing the illumination a bit on the cruise control lights and the high beam indicator light - at night they are so bright that they are very distracting.
Anyway, I am hoping that I can find out the sequence of steps from the forum on how to get the pod off the dash and to find out how to get at the lights.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick M46
2006 Murano - Brilliant Silver, Black Touring Package. |
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