Changing Instrumentation light colour on NB30P3

chatchat · Postby **chatchat** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:35 pm

thanks mx5boi.....I assume they are T10 size.

mx5boi · Postby **mx5boi** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:10 pm

RG.net · Postby **RG.net** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:26 pm

Hammer wrote:
MXHEVN wrote:

I do a lot of night driving, how do you find the blue lights at night? Are they too distracting? Plus is the uneven light intensity around the speedo and tacho, annoying?

Plus while we're at this topic, any advice when removing and putting back in? What to avoid etc. I'm thinking at also putting the extra light for the "Fog lights-on" warning.

I'm worried once I pull it apart, when I put it back, it won't be as snug and tight fitting as when it came on from the factory.

i love the lights, they are a bit uneven, but you can still notice everything, they dont hurt my eyes at all. what to avoid, make sure you check to see if they are all in properly and the right way before you put it all back together, i made that mistake and had to do it all over again, not that i mind but, it was all apart of the learning curve.

RG.net · Postby **RG.net** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:35 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:marcusus I thought that mxhevn was joking.. isn't he?

what do you think am i joking about?

Hammer · Postby **Hammer** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:35 am

These bulbs seems to be specifically designed for dashes as it spreads the light beam around, preventing \"hot spots\". Available from eBay

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:54 am

Okibi wrote:...and A/C with red ones...

how did you do that?
was it hard?

mx5boi · Postby **mx5boi** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:19 am

I still have not managed to even get the 'cowl' off the dashboard. I have pulled and tugged and yanked - Nothing.

I know there are four 'clips' that hold it in place that need to be released first. Plus another two right at the front base (one each side) which are 'unclipped' after you manage to 'yank' the cowl from the main dash but.......

Where are these four clips?
Are they attached to the cowl or the main dash?
Are they at the rear or the sides.. or both?
Am I supposed to pull 'Up' or 'Out'?

If I know where they are and how they attach and what they looked like it might help????

Every report has read \"Be careful not to break the four clips as you yank the cowl off\" - but I have tried with all the power that I have and I cannot get these elusive clips to release. It is driving me to distraction.

I will have another go tomorrow.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I am going to eventually end up with a cowl in one hand and four 'separated' clips lying on the floor.....

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:30 am

mx5boi wrote:I still have not managed to even get the 'cowl' off the dashboard. I have pulled and tugged and yanked - Nothing.

I know there are four 'clips' that hold it in place that need to be released first. Plus another two right at the front base (one each side) which are 'unclipped' after you manage to 'yank' the cowl from the main dash but.......

Where are these four clips?
Are they attached to the cowl or the main dash?
Are they at the rear or the sides.. or both?
Am I supposed to pull 'Up' or 'Out'?

If I know where they are and how they attach and what they looked like it might help????

Every report has read "Be careful not to break the four clips as you yank the cowl off" - but I have tried with all the power that I have and I cannot get these elusive clips to release. It is driving me to distraction.

I will have another go tomorrow.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I am going to eventually end up with a cowl in one hand and four 'separated' clips lying on the floor.....

i'd grab it from behind and pull it out.. worked for me.. somehow squeeze your fingers from where the back of the cowl touches the dash...

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:24 am

mx5boi wrote:Where are these four clips?
Are they attached to the cowl or the main dash?
Are they at the rear or the sides.. or both?
Am I supposed to pull 'Up' or 'Out'?

- If I remember correctly, on my NB8A, there were two clips below where the hood part finishes, where it basically meets the steering wheel surround. You need to feel underneath the dash to feel the clips. The other two were spaced evenly between these two. Or so I think (I did this a while back and am just going off memory).

- The 'hooks' are on the cowl, the latch points are on the dash.

- As mentioned, my memory's a bit hazy, but I'm fairly sure there's only clips at the front. The rear/side part of the hood thingy slides in first, with the clips at the front holding it down/in.

- I pulled up to get it out. I'm sure there was some jiggling the dash in an outward direction as well just in the hopes that it would help.

timetorelax · Postby **timetorelax** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:12 pm

Does anyone know the Wattage of the T10 light bulbs. I attempted to paint my dial lights red but they are very dim now. I popped into super cheap auto and notice two types of T10 bulbs 3W and 5W.

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:13 pm

I'll try and find out timetorelax as I'm gona attempt to change the colour on mine very soon

hopefully the watts is on the bulb

mx5boi · Postby **mx5boi** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:46 pm

The cowl separates from the main dashboard by coming 'forward' not 'up'

There are actually five clips holding it on, not 4. Plus the additional two located at the front

PLUS -There is a long 'locating' pin right at the top.

To remove the cowl pull it 'toward' the steering wheel - or 'away' from the windscreen (depending on your perspective) OR YOU WILL BREAK IT LIKE I DID.

Next job - see if I can break the centre console when I change those bulbs - but I have had enough heartache for one day.

And no hot-spots at all.

I am happy

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:53 pm

^^^
That's right... it's all coming back to me now...

With those clips along the bottom, you can basically make them release by putting your hand up underneath the dash and squeezing them out with fingers or screwdrivers or what have you. The top ones release quite easily, and just as well too, considering you can't reach the clips.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:10 pm

Insofar as design is concerned the instrument bulbs fitted as std OEM products and universally available and the right products. The led products shown could be anything grafted on to std base. You could be buying anything and the quality is likely to be second rate- who knows. There are few manufacturers who produce top quality products. I will guess the std MX5 instrument bulb is 1.2w but I do not have the bulb type- you would need to check the dealer. OEM's expect the dash lights to virtually never need replacement since it can cost a lot of money on many vehicles to get access to a very low cost item.

timetorelax · Postby **timetorelax** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:48 pm

timetorelax wrote:Does anyone know the Wattage of the T10 light bulbs. I attempted to paint my dial lights red but they are very dim now. I popped into super cheap auto and notice two types of T10 bulbs 3W and 5W.

Ok, I think the originals (NB8A) are 3W bulbs. I took my original red painted bulbs out and removed the paint. I couldn't see any markings on them. I then inserted two 5w bulbs and two original bulbs and there definitely was a huge difference in brightness.

So, my second attempt, I painted the new 5W bulbs red and voila - red dials as seen in the photo. (sorry for the crap photo but was too lazy to get my proper camera).