S-Sedan Dash/Radio LCD's

[Tankota]

Ok, so far I've got two little peeves with my Yaris. The major one is why oh why could they not match the color and lighting of the intergrated stereo LCD with the dash? (the power package one with the large LCD screen) The dash LCD has the nice high contrast bright white lighting, and the darn radio LCD is the fugly low contrast green lighting that's hard to read.. If they used the same LCD and lighting in the radio it would be 10 times easier to read, and make the car look 20 times better. :mad: How hard would that have been to do? The radio is custom built for the dash, just change the lighting on it even to match..

The other little one is that they could have made the area under the parking brake into a small tray simply by putting an edge on the drivers side, then you'd have a place to put small little things like change from the drive through for a bit.. :tongue:

[PSU Yaris]

i agree. my cell phone can fit under the park brake without sliding around, although i usually keep it in the cup holder by the steering wheel

[N9QGS]

Yes I agree I don't have a place for the phone either, I tried the handle of the door, it fell out onto the ground when I opened it on day one. Im thinking of trying those nonn slip dash mats to see if that works. Im impressed with my gas mileage that I don't let some of this quite bother me yet, Im trying to find the wiring under the dash that goes to the cigarette lighter I want to grab a 12 volt source to power my XM radio that is swcithed by my ignition anyone know..

[fnkngrv]

Ok, so far I've got two little peeves with my Yaris. The major one is why oh why could they not match the color and lighting of the intergrated stereo LCD with the dash? (the power package one with the large LCD screen) The dash LCD has the nice high contrast bright white lighting, and the darn radio LCD is the fugly low contrast green lighting that's hard to read.. If they used the same LCD and lighting in the radio it would be 10 times easier to read, and make the car look 20 times better. :mad:

I can totally agree with you on this. I mean the cool blue on the gauges is really pretty sharp I think, but why they have to use the retro 80's green on the display for the head unit:bs: This was a MAJOR lack of sight on Toyota's part and because life is the way it is there will not be a way to fix that one whort of butchering your console and placing in a different unit!

[vodkalush]

I'm looking into replacing the Green backlight leds with blue ones... I have to find the time to take apart the stero so I can see what type surface mount leds (unless its something comp. different...) so I can order the correct blue ones. I believe that it would be the same procedure that is used when replacing a cellphones screen backlight LCD's. I'll update as I look further into it.

[pxpaulx]

Ok, so far I've got two little peeves with my Yaris. The major one is why oh why could they not match the color and lighting of the intergrated stereo LCD with the dash? (the power package one with the large LCD screen) The dash LCD has the nice high contrast bright white lighting, and the darn radio LCD is the fugly low contrast green lighting that's hard to read.. If they used the same LCD and lighting in the radio it would be 10 times easier to read, and make the car look 20 times better. :mad: How hard would that have been to do? The radio is custom built for the dash, just change the lighting on it even to match..

The other little one is that they could have made the area under the parking brake into a small tray simply by putting an edge on the drivers side, then you'd have a place to put small little things like change from the drive through for a bit.. :tongue:

picked up our yaris last night, and that is the first thing i said to the wife! we have the convenience package and it is the same thing; nice white guage cluster, then the drab green-lit stereo. oh well, if thats the only thing i don't like, i'll be happy!

[daq421]

I confess, this bothered me as well... But given the cars overall excellence I've gotten over it..

Now if the steering wheel would telescope out, that would be cool.
-Peter

[xfatefailsx07]

Indeed it bothers me a little too.. but what can you do...if thats the only thing i don't like, i'll be happy!

[theFEVA]

ey vodkalush let us know when u find out about the lcd... i would love that same bright white lighting on the stereo... that green is terrible

[vodkalush]

After I finish my tail lights I'm going to tackel the the LCD coloring...


fyi I cant seem to get these damn tail lights off... I'm looking for the manual for it; does anyone know the trick to get these suckers off?

[vodkalush]

Ok, unless theres some secret I cant find, you cant very easily take apart your tail-lights so I'm scrapping the idea (i'll prob just tint them).*

Soooo... I took out my stereo; and inturn took it apart. Here is a pic of the head unit without its pretty face plate (see attached)

behind the LCD are atleast another 24-30 more leds.... so if you guys want me to create a DIY let me know.. or say nah because this is not going to be a very un-user friendly mod (an ass load of un-soldering and just as much*soldering - between 50-60 leds to remove and replace)

The cost of new led:*
blue ------ per led $0.29 (for 50-99; i'd get 65) total = $18.85
white ---- per led $0.55 (for 50-99; i'd get 65) total = $35.75

[ChinoCharles]

DIY it.

[twiceover]

Ok, unless theres some secret I cant find, you cant very easily take apart your tail-lights so I'm scrapping the idea (i'll prob just tint them).*

Soooo... I took out my stereo; and inturn took it apart. Here is a pic of the head unit without its pretty face plate (see attached)

behind the LCD are atleast another 24-30 more leds.... so if you guys want me to create a DIY let me know.. or say nah because this is not going to be a very un-user friendly mod (an ass load of un-soldering and just as much*soldering - between 50-60 leds to remove and replace)

The cost of new led:*
blue ------ per led $0.29 (for 50-99; i'd get 65) total = $18.85
white ---- per led $0.55 (for 50-99; i'd get 65) total = $35.75


I'd definately like a DIY. Are the LEDs for the LCD backlit available? Usually they use a surface mount type that can be hard to find. Sometimes they are only available via bulk, in which case, count me in.

I don't have my Yaris yet, but I can imagine the fugly green color already. I would like to change out for blue.

[vodkalush]

I'd definately like a DIY. Are the LEDs for the LCD backlit available? Usually they use a surface mount type that can be hard to find. Sometimes they are only available via bulk, in which case, count me in.

I don't have my Yaris yet, but I can imagine the fugly green color already. I would like to change out for blue.

I have found surface mount ones, but i want to be sure that they are the correct ones... before i link.

[RivasYaris S]

How much you charge for doing this complete with the dash color

[Violin]

I want to swap out the green LEDs for blue in the ventilation knobs on my LB. I started messing with them but was afraid to f them up.

[vodkalush]

I'm betting that they are the same type... when i finish with the stereo I'm gonna do the rest of dash colors (minus the speedo/tach)

[silvermeca]

Ok, so far I've got two little peeves with my Yaris. The major one is why oh why could they not match the color and lighting of the intergrated stereo LCD with the dash? (the power package one with the large LCD screen) The dash LCD has the nice high contrast bright white lighting, and the darn radio LCD is the fugly low contrast green lighting that's hard to read.. If they used the same LCD and lighting in the radio it would be 10 times easier to read, and make the car look 20 times better. :mad: How hard would that have been to do? The radio is custom built for the dash, just change the lighting on it even to match..

The other little one is that they could have made the area under the parking brake into a small tray simply by putting an edge on the drivers side, then you'd have a place to put small little things like change from the drive through for a bit.. :tongue:

About that space under the parking brakes, my Yaris came with the blue lights installed at your feet, and they actually put the light switch under the handbrake. I think there's a space there for another switch as well, perhaps the fog lamps...hence they didn't use that space for storage I think.

[silvermeca]

Ok, unless theres some secret I cant find, you cant very easily take apart your tail-lights so I'm scrapping the idea (i'll prob just tint them).*

Soooo... I took out my stereo; and inturn took it apart. Here is a pic of the head unit without its pretty face plate (see attached)

behind the LCD are atleast another 24-30 more leds.... so if you guys want me to create a DIY let me know.. or say nah because this is not going to be a very un-user friendly mod (an ass load of un-soldering and just as much*soldering - between 50-60 leds to remove and replace)

The cost of new led:*
blue ------ per led $0.29 (for 50-99; i'd get 65) total = $18.85
white ---- per led $0.55 (for 50-99; i'd get 65) total = $35.75

I would love to see the after shot once all the lights have been changed. Honestly though, although you have no problem changing the lights, the image of me trying to do all that soldering is a bit too intimidating. I might end up just changing out the entire deck. I heard we can use the Echo's installation kit and the face would fit the Yaris. Has anyone done this? If so, furnish the pics so we can see how it looks like.

[vodkalush]

I'm really trying to find a local reseller of elec. components before I go ahead and order 60+ leds (I want to test the blue leds as the backlight on the LCD; i;m not too sure how that will look... I know white will work)...

but well typing this I think I'll just order 5 of each color to test the LCD backlight portion of this mod... will post pics and then a DIY as I progress.*

Just finished my making my grounding kit and will be getting my amp soon, as well as my DF210's... so this mod (being the most difficult) will mix'd between them all. But I will update as progress is made.

[johnnyfive]

I would love to see the after shot once all the lights have been changed. Honestly though, although you have no problem changing the lights, the image of me trying to do all that soldering is a bit too intimidating. I might end up just changing out the entire deck. I heard we can use the Echo's installation kit and the face would fit the Yaris. Has anyone done this? If so, furnish the pics so we can see how it looks like.


there are kits for the yaris, you can search the forums here, and find part numbers, and other usefull information about the install kits ;)

[Ayka]

Vodka, are you planning on replacing the Green Backlights behind the Vent/AC/Temp Controls as well as the Shifter as well? Those are the ones Im really interested in, as I got the Convienence Package, and I just plan on replacing my Head Unit

[ChinoCharles]

I would love to see the after shot once all the lights have been changed. Honestly though, although you have no problem changing the lights, the image of me trying to do all that soldering is a bit too intimidating. I might end up just changing out the entire deck. I heard we can use the Echo's installation kit and the face would fit the Yaris. Has anyone done this? If so, furnish the pics so we can see how it looks like.

I used an Echo trim kit. There are pictures of this setup on the boards already. Just search for 'em.

[vodkalush]

Vodka, are you planning on replacing the Green Backlights behind the Vent/AC/Temp Controls as well as the Shifter as well? Those are the ones Im really interested in, as I got the Convienence Package, and I just plan on replacing my Head Unit

I'm planning on replacing all the green; so the HU, Heat/AC controls, gear lights. If got alotta stuff going on now, so this project has been put on the backburner so I can finish more functional based mods/upgrades before winter hits

[Violin]

If you could take some photos of the Heat/AC control LED swap and post a tutorial, I'll let you sleep with my wife.

[Ayka]

what do you think this would do to affect the Standard Toyota Warranty... I gotta pour over all that Paperwork >.<, Car is barely a week old =P

[vodkalush]

If you could take some photos of the Heat/AC control LED swap and post a tutorial, I'll let you sleep with my wife.

I'll PM as soon as I'm done :thumbup:

[paultyler_82]

what do you think this would do to affect the Standard Toyota Warranty... I gotta pour over all that Paperwork >.<, Car is barely a week old =P

I can guarantee that de-soldering and re-soldering new LEDS into place will almost certainly void the warantee for that part... but that's the thing, legally (as far as I'm aware) the only parts they can void on warrantee are parts that you modified.

Oh... and I would label this a intermediate to expert DIY, smd LEDs are a PITA!

[jeff_o]

i've seen how cellphone technicians replace LED backlights... i have to say this but you have to be skillfull on the de-soldering/soldering part. these guys are just amazing... the just tap the tip then take out the LED in less than a sec. then put the new one in like a sec as well.

[johnnyfive]

dosnt take long with such a tiny tiny amount of solder...better be quick or else ;)

[vodkalush]

yah, it should be pretty easy, its just that your gonna want to have either a chip extrator tool or smal pliers to remove the green led and place the new one.

I'm ordering the LEDs in 2weeks. I'll update with pics as progress is made

[paultyler_82]

Tweezers and a Soldering iron that has multiple power modes, set it on it's lowest setting, you don't want to fry something by overheating it.

[jeff_o]

it would be great if they invent an LED that you can plug and play... just like HELLA peanut bulbs.

[vodkalush]

Alright, just placed my order for 10 surface mount white leds (to make sure they will work correctly with the stereo). I will take some pics of the color swap and post a couple of pics, then after I order the rest of the LED's I'll put together a DIY.

heres a link to the ones I'm ordering:
White Surface Mount LEDs (http://www.eled.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=LEDs&category%5Fname=Blue+SMD+LED&product%5Fid=EP1608PBC%2DA)

[the_saint]

If you're afraid to DIY this guy does them for the Scions, a couple of Toyotas & some bikes.
http://www.ledmods.net/0406xb.html
Probably no reason he wouldn't do it for the Yaris as well.


...or maybe vodkalush could open up a side business. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/mlsaint78/SMILEYS/naughty.gif

[vodkalush]

I started another thread. but here are pics of the install of my test LED's (I got ones that where a tad too small; but they worked :thumbsup:

I just placed my final order for white and blue (replacing all non-white on gauge cluster with blue)

[Notthy[Yaris/S]07]

my radio its different look
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/562/dscn0249hn0.jpg