Gauge Cluster Idea

Gauge Cluster Idea

Idea/Question really.
So, I was watching at startup the cluster lights come on, and realized that it would be really awesome to be able to modify the lighting -
I'm in an 05 LE (stick shift) So i have tachometer, and the gauge type in the manual is "C" I believe - don't have the manual with me as the car is in the shop.
Basically, white background on all the numbers, and the needles are black plastic with red illumination in the middle.

So my question...

Does anyone think it's possible to have those red illumination needles stay always bright, and have the white background be controlled by the dimmer, so you could have a nice bright red needle and have dim white light underneath. It looks really awesome for the split second it happens.

Thoughts? Wiring diagrams? Etc?

Thanks guys.

so what happen during startup? the needles light up and the gauges stay dim? I dont have your gen so I dont know what you mean.

Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what happens.
It's a split second thing before the gauges become lit, and the needles light first. Maybe there's a way to get in there, and wire it so that the needles avoid the dimmer? Does that sound reasonable to anyone?

im sure it can be done, the dimmer is basically a rheostat that limits the current going into the lights. If I see it firsthand I'll probably know what to do, problem is I never noticed a 9th gen during startup.

I think you just need to wire the needle light wire to the other power source that not connected to the dimmer controller.
I don't have 9th gen so I can't really help you to find the wires.

Hmm, guess I need a repair manual/wiring diagram.
Anyone got one? aha

my friend use to have indiglo gauges that lights up when it hits 8k rpm (adjustable) basically it's like a tach and also has an alarm kinda sound when reaching 8k rpm. maybe you could get those to save yourself the hassle. not sure if they made that kind of gauges in corollas though

college has been a while back but you would need to build a small circuit board, maybe something based on a capacitator hooked up to a relay... you disconnect the lights, charge the cap and discharge it on the lights....

or....you could just find the wire that goes to the needles, cut it, put a switch on it and connect it to a power source so that it can turn on whenever you want it... that would eliminate the relay and the dimmer for the needles

you need to change the gauge face to glow ones just go to http://caribbeancustomdesigns.com/s...products_id/275