My MX5: How to Replace the Instrument & Dashboard Lighting
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- A while back I upgraded all my dashboard and instrument lights to LEDs, which were a big improvement. However over time some of the LEDs stopped working or only worked intermittently. My task for today was to take everything apart again and get the lighting working, but in the process I could describe the process to help anyone else who wants to do the same thing.
The bulbs you need:
Instrument Cluster: 4 x Type 194 (T10) bulb (501)
HVAC (Centre console): 2 x Type 74 (T5) bulb (286)
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From all mods I have made to my miata, this one actually made my car 15 years younger. Absolutely fantastic manual.
Some additional info for the cars that are LHD - two cables for heater are at the same location as in the video despite the steering wheel location except for one: Recirculation. This one will be under the glove box in both, LHD and RHD.
BTW regarding to this manual I realized that I don't have the cable for recirculation (previous owner deleted it for some odd reason) and it was always on. Now, after I turned it off my windows are not that foggy anymore and my driving is far less dangerous. So in some perspective the author of the video potentially saved someone's life :D
Awesome! Glad you found it useful. I agree it's a great upgrade, I love being in in the cabin at night now, I'm always admiring the beautiful green glow. And a bonus win for you with un-fogging your windows!
Never thought about turning the blower motor on to get the string through. Pretty clever trick :)
Absolutely fantastic walkthrough. Thank you so much dude love the accent too 👍🏼
You sir, are a gentleman. Thank you so much for the detail instructions! One thing, is the LED in the ashtray the same model as the HVAC LEDs? Thanks again!
Thanks, glad you found it useful! Yes, the ashtray light is the same as the HVAC as far as I remember.
Nice trick with the string, better than tiny screwdrivers to pop off the rings
As always Rob. Clear and helpful. Thanks
It looks like you got green LEDs for the HVAC and ashtray, but how about the dashboard itself? Since the MX5 has a natural green tint across the face so was that what it looks like with white LEDs coming through the green face or green LEDs going through the green face?
Thanks for the great video detailing everything though, especially the exact bulb types. Those were always difficult to get a consensus online for. I'll be doing the same setup probably except maybe a white in the cupholder (replaces the ashtray) instead.
@@RetroQGaming I went with green LEDs for everything because I didn't want the slightly faded yellow-green tint that the filter behind the dashboard provides - I wanted a nice crisp green all round. The only downside is that the red parts of the clocks (e.g. rev limit) look grey in the green light.
Hell yeah thanks for listing what type of leds i will need to do it on my nb
No worries! It was annoying trying to find them all myself, so I thought it would be good to try and make life easier for anyone else trying to do it 😎
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the vid - handy to know what it takes before doing the job myself.
Ended up buying JASS branded/supplied leds. Found the large ones were perfect fit but the small types were rubbish and just didn't fit, just a heads up for others reading.
By the way - there's a long clip on the speedo cable that you just need to slightly open and the cable virtually falls off, no need to pull it off as you did :)
Cheers,
Pete
Thanks for that. I think on my car it seems the speedo cable was already a bit loose or had lost its clip, so a tug was enough, but good to know for future reference. Sadly the quality of these Chinese LEDs is pretty poor. Mine did fit ok, but I guess just luck of the draw depending on where they come from
Thank you! I too need to change dashboard lights. Very kind of you for the instruction.
Hey Rob, did you install that head unit? If so, what mounting kit did you use? I've been struggling to find one
Hey Hunter. I actually just used the frame that was already in there. As far as I know that's a standard Mazda part that came with the car. If yours is missing perhaps it might be worth sourcing a second hand one?
Sounds odd, I know, but a touch of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) will stay in place, rather than WD. it doesn’t dry out. (Think dialectic grease for an Electric car. Works better than armor all for old dash plastic as well
Good tip, thanks!
Hi Rob - this is for an NB, right? Are the LEDs dimmable? I find it important to be able to dim the instrument lighting. I have an NC. All the best from Switzerland, Rob
Hi Rob, sorry for the slow reply. My car is an NA but the NB dashboard is quite similar. There are some disassembly videos for NBs on TH-cam. Most dashboard LEDs should be ok with dimming, since they don't have any complicated electronics, just an LED and a resistor. My car doesn't have a dimmer switch, so they are on full all the time. Personally I don't mind it but they are quite bright compared to incandescent bulbs
Please can you post the link to these exact LEDs you installed in the video? Cheers :)
I'm afraid I cant find the exact listing anymore, since I bought these quite a while back. I got them on Ebay though, so if you copy and paste the bulb type in the video description, you should be able to find them pretty easily
@@RobGMyMX5Okay, thanks mate.
great vid mate
Thanks mate
Also may I ask.
Did you change every bulb to LED?
what bulb did you use for the ashtray? I cannot find it in your descprition. Thanks for the deatiled video though!
From what I recall it's the same bulb type as the HVAC lights
Hello
What LED bulbs did you buy please?
T5 or are they T10?
Thanks
Hello.
Good video .
I'll be changing mine to LEDs.
Did you push and pull to remove speedo or gently just pull?
Thanks.
On mine I just held the back of the instrument cluster on either side of the speedo and gave it a gentle tug. However I've since been told that actually there should be a tag which you can lift with your finger to allow the cable to come out. Mine doesn't have this so I guess it got broken earlier in the car's life
@@RobGMyMX5 Many thanks.
On my 1999 Nb There was no speedo to pull out.
All done thanks you your video.
Thank you.
@@predatorhunteranon8315 Ah yes, they have a digital connection rather than a physical cable :-)
Awesome video I have to try this
Is it possible to just get access to the back of the HVAC stuff without disconnecting the levers and taking out the glovebox? If not that's fair enough but I'm only after changing my T5 lights.
No, unfortunately not. The only way to access the bulb holders is from the back of the unit so everything has to come out unfortunately
where did you get your new roof fitted?
Howzit man, just wondering.where are you from?
South African born but have lived in the UK for about 18 years :)
where did u get the clock? and the trim or frame for that?
I bought the clock from a maritime website online (it's actually supposed to be for a yacht!) But I cant find the listing anymore now. I think I just searched for "14mm clock". I notice MX5 parts now do a cubby hole with a clock already installed: www.mx5parts.co.uk/radio-cubby-with-black-clock-mk1-p-1143.html
There are better products for cleaning electrical contacts than WD-40. Any product self-described as "contact cleaner" will do a better job.
I don't disagree at all. WD40 was what I had to hand st the time.
What radio is that??
It's a Blaupunkt Brisbane BT. Not the best head unit really, but it does the job and doesn't look too gaudy like some others do.
I changed my dash lights to white LEDs but it's still green, what da heck?
Ah yes, that's because there is a green film layer on the back of the clocks. It is removable I believe, but you'll need to open up the instrument cluster and remove the clock faces from the front. It's a bit of a mission, but can be done if you're patient. I considered it but given the hassle I decided to stick with green. Keeps it looking OEM as well
Bro your killing me WD 40 just sand it down