This is so neat particlewave! Do leds come in pink? How much do you charge to do this?

Thanks! :D

PS: why can't I send you a private message? I tried clicking on your username, but there is no link for messaging :confused:

I have an 02 and am really interested in doing this mod on it. What is the difference in the kit that it says it's for 97-00? What do I need to do to make the switch in an 02? Also, it seems whatever pics were originally posted of swapping out the LEDs have disappeared.

I don't believe you can. I have an '01 and was told the boards changed with the '01's and thus I could not do the mod.

Sorry about the pictures. I tried fixing the links, but the originals are gone.

Long story short: someone joined this forum with the sole intent of harassing me and gaining personal info. I didn't have time to sort through years of photobucket pics, so I deleted them all figuring that I'd go back and add the pictures that I wanted. Now I can't find the originals anywhere on my pc :(

I was a baaaad boy and got myself banned for a little while :(
Contact me via PM for custom installs.

No plug and play for gauge LEDs for '02, but I'll do a few custom jobs for those who ask nicely ;)
PM me for details.

I've done all of mine, except for the intermittent wiper dial and I get a lot of complements on it. If you have average skill with a soldering iron and a pair of tweezers, you can do the switches and climate control without too much hassle. I have an "early" 2000 gauge cluster, so I don't know what the '02's are like. Mine are just twist in bulbs which weren't too difficult, but the small LEDs needed the contacts bent a bit and they (unlike the stock bulbs) are polarized and so orientation was a trial and error thing. The LCD backlight LEDs are not polarized and no bending was necessary. I looked, but I didn't save my pictures either.

I'm not at all opposed to soldering it in myself. Soldered dozens of things on dozens of cars, and worked on motherboards in the past. Just curious what separates the 01 and up 986s from the early ones. Also, would love to know what the newest recommended LEDs are for doing the job. Seems fairly simple as long as you aren't afraid to solder.

Btw particlewave, your dash looks great. That's the exact look I want. Matches the new clarion head unit I put in a few weeks ago.

These are what I used, which are exact replacements, except for being blue. If you want a different color, make sure you pick the "super" version, which is brighter, and in the PLCC2 size.

PLCC2 Surface mount Top Led - Super Blue

That is exactly what I needed. Now the question comes, how many of them do I need?

23 for climate control
2 per switch
1 for wiper speed dial (if you have one)
7 or 9 for the headlight switch (7 if you want to leave the 2 green, 9 if you want to change all)

For the cig lighter, and ash tray you need to get creative with 3mm LEDs

They're low cost...get some spares ;)

I take that back. I tore into my headlight switch this morning and found that (at least on mine) they are 3mm LEDs, and not the PLCC2 SMD type.


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/11390310898.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/21390310916.jpg

And here is a picture of the inside of a climate control. I have a water damaged one on my parts shelf that I used to replace my LCD. I removed two LEDs on the lower right when I was practicing my removal technique.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/31390310990.jpg

Thank you. That's exactly what I was looking for. That doesn't look hard at all. Especially with a desoldering bulb.

Yes, they do come in pink and a variety of other colors.

I just finished my headlight switch, and cig lighter:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/41390399631.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/51390399666.jpg

I used 5mm LEDs for the headlight switch, and they fit just fine. Everything still snaps back together. I probably should have used some spaghetti tube for the positive lead on the cig lighter, but didn't think of it in time. I don't think I will have any problems with it touching anything where it is.

Ok, one more question. A friend of mine told me that the surface mount LEDs are most likely glued to the circuit board in some way. Are they? If they are, how hard were they to remove? As near as I can see from the pictures, they look to just be soldered onto the board and can be unsoldered.

Nope, just solder. I tin the iron with a small dab of solder so that heat will flow quickly into the soldered LED. Touch the iron to the end of the LED where it meets the board and after a second, "flick" the end of the LED upwards to pull it away from the board. Once it is sufficiently disconnected, repeat on the other end, and it should fall away, or stick to the iron. Since you won't be reusing them, it's not a big deal if they get destroyed in the process.

To attach the new LEDs, I prepare the board by removing as much solder as I can from one of the pads, and leaving a "bump" of solder on the other one. Hold the LED with tweezers in the right spot and, with a tinned iron, touch the same spot where the LED and board meet (on the "bump" end. When the solder starts to flow, make sure you push down on the LED so that it's flat against the board and hold it steady for a few seconds until the solder hardens. Then solder the other end with a tinned iron and a small poke of solder from your spool. The reason I leave a bump on one side and no solder on the other is that if both were flat, I would need 3 hands to hold the LED, hold the iron, and hold the solder. If I have bumps at both ends, the LED will never sit flat, or I would need 3 hands again.

Perfect. That's exactly what I needed. Now as soon as it isn't 10 degrees out, I'll dig in. Trying to decide on blue or white. I'm thinking about doing a combo of both. Blue for the back of the LCD readouts, and white for everything else ie the numbers on the gauges.

Not the greatest photos I've ever taken, but you get the idea.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/61390403906.jpg


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/71390403923.jpg

And I also did the wiper dial:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/81390404104.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/91390404118.jpg

I got a little too aggressive when I was removing the amber LED and broke the tip off of one of the pins that goes to the dial, and the other pin off completely. I made a replacement pin out of a resistor lead, so I will have to see how it works. Hopefully I won't have to buy a new one.

Thanks! That helps A LOT.

My car doesn't have a variable speed wiper, so that should make it easier. I'll probably heat shrink the positive side of the LED on the lighter if I change it out. I'm seriously considering putting in the non smoker console that gets rid of the ashtray, and if I do, I've been looking for a clean way to integrate an LED into the new cubby it provides. Haven't come up with anything I'm happy with yet.

Also, from what I've read, the 01 and up gauge cluster is all SMD LEDs and no plug and play like earlier. Won't know until I dig in. No big deal, just more soldering.

My new head unit I installed has a blue back light. So I'm thinking blue back lit LCDs on the temp control, digital speedo, and odometer will look good. White for the switches and analog portion of the gauges. Not sure if I'll do white, or blue in the door handles and the little dome light.

I believe the ash tray light is similar or maybe exactly the same as the cigarette lighter bulb, but I am also thinking about something other than an ashtray there and maybe not the cubby either.

I have read the same thing about the 01+ gauges, but I have never seen one in person, so I'm not sure if they are the same PLCC2 LEDs, or something else. On my '00, the the main dials are bigger bulbs than the handful of other bulbs that illuminate the edges, warning lights, etc., so there may be two different sizes of LEDs. I changed all of the backlight bulbs, but none of the warning light, cruise control, etc lights.

Regarding removal of surface mount components: I find it easiest to use a straight pin or needle wedged under the smd while hitting it with the iron. This way, it pops up as soon as the solder is melted.

I'm considering offering a retrofit with a core exchange. The core exchange kit would include these parts with the backlight color of your choice. You could also just send me these parts for a retrofit.

Any interest?

I'd be interested. How much are you thinking of charging?

I'm not exactly sure yet :confused:
LEDs and shipping alone will cost about $30...probably $125-$150 for the retrofit. I'm still on the fence about the core exchange idea. The problem with it is that cosmetic quality would vary and I may get stuck with parts that I can't use, not to mention that climate control units aren't cheap and most may not be comfortable with the core charge.

Shipping your parts to me is probably the best option, though some may not be able to go the 5-10 business days without these items, specifically the climate control unit and window switches. My turn around would be 0-1 days, but shipping takes time.

I'm open to ideas. ;)

I might be interested
 

New Porsche owner here, 2003 Boxster S. Would you entertain me bringing the car by for the day? I can't seem to PM you (user error probably ). Send me a pm and let me know.

That would be an awfully long drive from Austin! :D

I have family half way to you. I could leave Friday nite and be at your place by mid morning Sat. Depending on how long you need I could head back Sat nite or make the whole trip back Sun. I could pay for supplies in advance so you wouldn't be out anything.

We might be able to work something out. I'll send you a pm.

Last chance for this mod as a complete kit. I wish I could go lower, but with the cost of LEDs, materials and labor, I'm already short changing myself. This will be the first and last set I do if I can't get the minimum of $150 for parts and labor ;)

http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-parts-sale-wanted/51986-blue-led-backlit-interior-climate-control-unit-switches-headlight-trim-cig-ligh.html

Particlewave, I am very interested in having the LEDs replaced. My car is red though, so Blue wouldn't look too good. I have family in KC and could stop by sometime or send you the parts. I'm thinking white or red. I'll pay $160 since the stock orange is so unbelievably disgusting. Maybe could work out having you install double din receiver and my garage switch at the same time for extra. I'm just not too confident with the soldering.

Just read this thread of yours Particlewave, and wishing the offer was still on the table. The orange is just not cutting it...:ah::ah::ah:

Randy - the whole core exchange idea just didn't hold water. :)
I've done a few conversions for people, though. It just requires you to pull all the items you want converted and shipping them to me. Being centrally located (KC area), shipping is fairly quick (about 3 days each way to either coast).

If you daily drive your car, this is basically impossible, but if you can go a week or so without, I can help you out. ;)

The only thing that I won't touch are the earlier clusters (like mine in the picture). Their LCDs are just far too sensitive to be shipped. I've bought three clusters in an attempt to replace my damaged LCD. All were fine before being shipped to me (as verified by pictures before being shipped), but arrived with 1 or more damaged LCDs.
The good news is that those older style style clusters are easy for you to do as you can just purchase a kit and swap the bulbs. Everything else requires soldering.

unfortunately I do daily the boxster. I don't want white or blue as the color of the cluster either, which is what SportCarLEDs.com only has to offer. So I'll continue the hunt for some red ones. As far as the center console goes, I guess I'll just have to do some research and practice some soldering :o Thanks for the attempt to help me on this though Particlewave, very much appreciated :cheers:

Can you let me know what LEDs (specifically)?
 

Your setup is AMAZING! Can you let me exactly what LED's you used, so I can replicate this? I'm not that handy, but am eager to take a pass at this.

Thanks! ;)

The links are on page 2, but I gues I can re-post them :p
Bulbs for for '97-'01 clusters;
SportsCarLEDs.com - LEDs Replacements for the Porsche ® 996 Boxster 993 964 911 928 968 944

For the climate control and switches;
I recommend these LEDs.

The link you guys provided for the LEDs died. I'm finally to the point where I'm just going to order them and do it. I'm looking at them on eBay. What voltage do I need? I don't want to order the wrong ones.

Hi guys this is my first post on this forum. I want to change the bulbs for blue leds. Is there a place where i can buy the whole lot for all the interior ? speedo, climate control and switches?

http://www.sportscarleds.com