Red Console Lights All The Way!

Red Console Lights All The Way!

I followed AESC's instructions and painted the bulbs this afternoon. Honestly, I am not very satisfied with the result. Here is the photo. The red is kinda pink and doesn't blend well. I also made the clock red by putting a red vinyl inside, but it's dimmer than it was originally.


This is what I want to achieve, the inteior of Mazda 6. Any suggestion how I could improve the lights?

ok i dunno whats up with everything with this install. i first used a old blue sharpie i had and never had any problems with it comming off or changing colors. but i reciently changed to red and it is already turing pink. i have decided that the sharpie i first used which is about 5+ years old was awsome but the other newer ones suck and burn off. i am going back to white here soon but if you want red go to a hoby or craft store and get some iridecent glass paint in a dark red that should give you the color you want. cause at first my dash was a real cool red color now its more redish orange pinkish. sorry about the sharpie post as for some reason a lot of you have had problems with them and since i went to red i had the same. the glass paint is the only way to go. i have one bulb that has been painted with the blue paint for 4 months now and is still the same as the day i painted it if you do it get the darker version of the color. i have dark blue and dark red. looks awsome. my a/c, defrost and other switch are red and my control nobs are white. and my shifter is red. i like it so far but may change again.

Yeah, and do you know where I could get the replacement of the bulbs when I want another color? or is there any way that I can erase the sharpie paint? You mentioned Radioshack right? Is the bulb like plug and play or I need to replace both the bulb and base?

if you use a cleaner and rub it off it was hard with the blue but the red cam off real easy just used windex and a paper towel and rubbed it off. radio shack did not have the proper bulb i had to go to a special electrnics store and get some bulbs to try out but its easier to just clean the original bulbs. the paint is much harder to come off though.

I took a picture at night. Here it is.

Hey don't feel bad for saying to use a sharpie. Without your writeup, I wouldn't even have known how to get the trim off in the first place.

You have any good links on where to buy the bulbs?

I actually tried glass paint but it's not coming out as nice either and really wouldn't mind buying new bulbs.

Btw darren, you're pics came out really clean and your trim looks a LOT better than mine. :shock:

Darren, I think your pics look fine. I did mine in blue using paint instead of sharpie, think I even PM-ed AESC back when I did it. If you want bolder color you probably need to wire up some LED. I want to do that but haven't gotten around to it. What did you use for the clock? I want to tint my clock blue like the rest of my dash lights.

hey darren, how did you get the clock to be red, let me know cuz i'll do that too.

Thanks for your comment. I added a layer of red vinyl inside the clock, on top of the glass ( You will know after you open the clock). The red clock looks much dimmer now than green clock. You could try blue vinyl but I doubt it will work on green light thou.

well at least you got to use the locations of where the bulbs are. if you do a search i posted earlier of the specs on the bulbs but i dont have time to look for it now. i have messed around with various types of colors on my dash lights. i also used a larger bulb for the center knobs but the color did not change any. i was actually thinking of painting the dull white piece there with come chrome paint and see if that helps out or not. or maybe a brighter white. hopefully i figure out the right combo here soon and when i doo i will post my results.

AESC,

In the D.I.Y. section, you mentioned there are 8 bulbs right. I am not quite sure if it's necessary to paint bulb No. 6 and 7 to make the red. Aren't they red already at the first place?

well i painted them red and it shows up much better a nice dark red and for me as the lights still had that green thing on them anyway so at least take that off.

Cool, Thank you for the clarification. I wasn't sure about No.6 and 7 while I painted the bulbs so I didn't touch them. I'll take the green thingy (condom ) off next time.

How long will the Sharpie last????
I am not sure what colour of Sharpie to use the Aqua or the darker blue?

well my old sharpie worked for over 3 months no dulling but my newer ones once i changed to red are starting to fade after 1 month. but i am now recomeding the iridecent paint cuase unless you have an older sharpie laying around it wont hold up. maybe its a new ink but it just doesnt stay

Would I get this paint at a craft store of a lighting store?
How long does it take to dry?
If I can't find the paint I will just do the LED (Light emmitting Diode) conversion.


Sorry I don't mean to keep drilling questions. I am really pumped to change for the cheesie green to a nice blue!!

jo ann has it also pat catans craft store most craft stores will carry this type of paint

yeah as soon as i have time after my midterm i'm gonan put some super bright white LED's in there and see how it looks..