LED Swap from Green to Orange

[jdronzek]

Well. My car has that old style green LED interior. I wanna change that to the pontiac orange. Anyone have any idea if this is possible? All the displays and buttons, etc.

[harofreak00]

Not a mechanical issue, moving to Gen Chat.

You aren't going to find much help at a Bonneville forum for changing things on your Olds. Why don't you post up your question on a board that would have answers?

[RJolly87]

First off, what pontiac orange do you speak of? It was red if i remembered correctly.

Next, typically, it is not LED's that offer the backlighting, it is standard incandescent bulbs, and the color is determined by an overlay or painted coating on the back face of the panel. What I would recommend is for you to get a spare cluster, crack it open, and see what you find.

However I hate to say, usually if you have to ask how to change the color, you may lack the skills necessary for taking this project on.

[Black Pearl]

It is Pontiac Red, not orange. The bulbs and LEDs are white behind a layer of orange plastic which is behind the overlays. If you want pontiac red it comes free the purchase of any pontiac

[00Beast]

If you want pontiac red it comes free the purchase of any pontiac

[Merrillspontiac]

LOL at Black Pearl

[sqela]

If you want pontiac red it comes free the purchase of any pontiac

I guess red went out of style in 2009

[CMNTMXR57]

Most clusters if you pop them apart will have a PC194 bulb. Some may have a size or two smaller. But they're all clear bulbs. What makes the translucent display blue'ish/green in your Olds and "warm red" (which is what it's officially called guys) in a Pontiac, is the coloring on the backside of the gauge face.

So unless you can find someone who has made an Olds gauge face with it's backside converted to or made with "warm red" backing, you're S.O.L.

[CMNTMXR57]

It is Pontiac Red, not orange. The bulbs and LEDs are white behind a layer of orange plastic which is behind the overlays. If you want pontiac red it comes free the purchase of any pontiac

O RLY!?

My stock 2004 PONTIAC GTO's gauge cluster with 10% increased lighting intensity, shift light activated, and personalization of the D.I.C.


Here is what it is now. A 2005 conversion, intensity increased 10% over stock setting, converted to Pontiac Warm Red with orange needles, shift light turned on and converted to blue (the color of the car), HSV startup logo, and personalization of D.I.C. Picture taken when Chris White bench tested it.


Now, yes, we can split hairs that it's not a "real" 'Merican made Pontiac since it's made by Holden, but you may want to also check the backlighting on those new fangled G8's! Their gauges aren't true Pontiac "Warm Red" either! Only the backlighting on components in the center stack.

And to the OP, what I did is not doable on your cluster for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post. In the GTO is is actually the LED's that are the color drivers and not the backing on the gauge face.

[Black Pearl]

The G8 is a rebadged Holden, not a "true blue" Pontiac. Same song as the GTO. No need to split hairs

[CMNTMXR57]

Depends on what you classify as “true-blue” Pontiac I guess.

I’d argue that both of those Holden products are much more in line with Pontiac’s original formula of V8 powered (albeit a corporate GM Powertrain V8), rear wheel drive, performance coupes and sedans versus either yours’ or my Bonneville’s. You know, our Bonneville’s that are nothing more than a corporate GM rebadged sedan, driving the wrong set of wheels, on an economies of scale platform, that is powered by a stalwart GM powertrain corporate V6. But you’re right, that’s splitting hairs.

But if you REALLY want to split hairs, especially amongst the old school Pontiac folk, NEITHER the Holden cars, OR our Bonneville’s are “true-blue” Pontiac’s as they use corporate power. Not true Pontiac engines!

Despite all that, at the end of the day, Holden is another GM “subsidiary”, just like Chevy or Pontiac, which are North America “divisions”. The GTO, the Bonneville, and the G8 still have “Pontiac” and Pontiac’s signature “arrowheads” on them, sold by GM, through the Pontiac dealer network. The big kicker however, is that last I checked, Holden was still open for business! Can’t say the same for our beloved Pontiac! Considering GM found something good in their Aussie facility and are using it to R&D, and in some cases, build and distribute pretty much most of the next generation of GM platforms, including the G8, the new Camaro, amongst several others upcoming vehicles, I’d say that they’re doing something right down under!

The hair splitting continues…

[Black Pearl]

I'm going bald with all this splitting. Brand sharing has taken the character out of cars, period, even pre-97 pontiacs. When they split off w/ GMC they got alot back with the next redesign

[two bonnies]

Did you put new overlays on the GTO gauges as well or is it a cluster from a different year? I noticed the font shift in the numbers.

[Ol' Timer]

Depends on what you classify as “true-blue” Pontiac I guess.

The hair splitting continues…

Ya mean my red Vibe is not a true-blue Pontiac either?

I think my Pontiac has some "split ends"

[jdronzek]

Most clusters if you pop them apart will have a PC194 bulb. Some may have a size or two smaller. But they're all clear bulbs. What makes the translucent display blue'ish/green in your Olds and "warm red" (which is what it's officially called guys) in a Pontiac, is the coloring on the backside of the gauge face.

So unless you can find someone who has made an Olds gauge face with it's backside converted to or made with "warm red" backing, you're S.O.L.

Thank you. Everyone else just makes fun. My olds and a bonneville and pretty much the same to the guy who said that.

[00Beast]

Chassis and drivetrain wise they're very similar. The interiors are completely different. The clusters won't interchange, AFAIK.

[jdronzek]

yeah interior. oh well.

[ChilinMichael]

Get a cluster from a JY and rip it apart, can't hurt!