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BA Gear Selector LED Colour
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vertg0
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:07 pm    Post subject: BA Gear Selector LED Colour Reply with quote

Hi guys,

I've been thinking of changing the white glow underneath the P, R, N, D gear selector of my auto BA from the factory white to a blue color (in order to match the rest of the dash at night).

Has anyone done this before? Just wondering:

1) What are the steps involved in getting to the LEDs so that you can remove them (ie, how to get the gear selector off).

2) What type of blue LEDs should be used to replace them.

3) Does it look good? Have people done this already?

Thanks in advance.
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MilleniumFalcon
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the BA's have 1 globe, and the BF ZF has white leds.

Lukeyson should know what to replace the globe with perhaps, blue led wise hopefully icon_smile.gif

Also this is an interior mod not exterior.
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Lukeyson
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, I am definitely not the know-all for light conversions. All I've done is the trinket-tray light, and front/rear footwell lights, and these have either been just T5 or T10 globes.

When it comes to LED changes, the real king is auMatt. He's the guy that does the white-to-blue SMD LED conversions for ICC's, IC's, Dash Clocks and Illuminated Window Switches. He's got a supply of XR Blue SMD Leds and does his work at very reasonable prices. I'm not sure if he's done anything on the PRND selector though.

My main car is a manual, so immediately I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing what to change in the PRND selector.....



Lukeyson
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aumatt
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive had a quick look once at the gear selector, But was struggling in removing it to get to the light. But I wouldnt be putting a Blue Led in there , id do it in a bright white.

Matt
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vertg0
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

aumatt wrote:
Ive had a quick look once at the gear selector, But was struggling in removing it to get to the light. But I wouldnt be putting a Blue Led in there , id do it in a bright white.

Matt


G'day aumatt, thanks for your input.

Why do you say you wouldn't put blue in there? I would think it's a logical move to do that, as it would match the rest of the dash. Just curious.

As for getting to the globe, yes, it's a bit of a pain. In fact, the silver gear selector cannot be removed without taking off the entire top layer of your console. I have no idea why Ford did it that way. I tried getting to it yesterday and it was a very painful process, and in the end I gave up because there were screws and console parts all around me.
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aumatt
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it wouldnt look right with a Red N and Blue behind it.
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Lukeyson
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, maybe this is the time to try.

You'll be a bit of a pioneer. Take photo's along the way, and we'll help with what we can.


Lukeyson
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vertg0
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bump...

I tried getting to the globes under the gear selector last Friday and couldn't get to it. I had screws and dash parts all around me and didn't seem any closer in getting to it.

Has anyone managed to do this successfully, and if so, can you explain how? Cheers.
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fnp
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You might need to remove the center console all together.. and this means you need to remove the drivers seat so you can get the handbrake out.
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vertg0
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

fnp wrote:
You might need to remove the center console all together.. and this means you need to remove the drivers seat so you can get the handbrake out.


Geeeeez, are you serious?? All that just to change a light?

Can anyone confirm this, or has anyone actually done it? Sounds like an awful lot of f**king around. One of my mates changed the gear selector cover in his EL and it's a 5 minute job.
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smiley235
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

pm xpression, he'll be able to tell you straight out how to do it.
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brad17djr
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yep i work for ford and u do have to remove the drivers seat to get to the hand brake to take out the console to change the globe/LEDs it's a bit of fxxxing about i woulden't bother realy wiat till it starts bubbleing up around the surround like the rest of them do that we have to replace lol
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Lukeyson
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh yeah, and when you disconnect the seat, you have to disable the Airbag System by disconnecting the battery. Otherwise if you toy with the connector on the seats the airbags might go off (There are slider and maybe a weight sensor under the drivers seat).

But yes, I also can confirm that to get under the console, you have to undo the handbrake, which requires removing the drivers seat. It's not that bad really - just the battery, some trims, some connectors and 4 bolts to remove the seat.


Lukeyson
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smiley235
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

lol, this is starting to sound like an xt to xt-turbo conversion, be better to save up for a new car at this rate.
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Macca
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Be careful removing the plastic covers on the seat rails, the plastic is very brittle, don't rush taking them off.
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Lukeyson
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hehe. Yep, been there, done that too - snap one that is. The wonders of an accurately placed flatblade screwdriver....


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fnp
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Removing the center console is not as bad as it sounds.. once you've done it once it doesn't take all that long.
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vertg0
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PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2008 11:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had another go at this on the weekend, I got SO CLOSE to the PRND selector but just couldn't remove the top layer of the console in order to get to it.

I removed all the console lid screws, the rear vents, the cup holder, all the screws/bolts around the gear selector, and the tissuebox holder. The top layer of the console came off at about a 30degree angle, but the upper part (covering the PRND thing) just wouldn't budge.

There's a chap on Ebay called roadboss01 who sells chrome BA Gear selector covers, like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320225888586

I PM'd him about removing the PRND gear selector in order to change to the chrome one, and he informed me that you don't need to remove the driver's seat, handbrake or entire console in order to get to it. He mentioned that you just need to 'loosen' the console slightly in order to get to it. Unfortunately, he was unable to provide any further info. Anybody got any idea about this? Cheers.
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PostPosted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Macca wrote:
Be careful removing the plastic covers on the seat rails, the plastic is very brittle, don't rush taking them off.


Mine snapped becuase i lent the wrong way on it getting out of the car.. replaced it, then had to remove it to fiddle with the seat wires/electronics and snapped it again. Im leaving it broken this time... fkn tight a*** ford!
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vertg0
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PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2008 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well guys, I gave this another shot tonight... and guess what... SUCCESS!!!

Also, I didn't have to remove the handbrake or driver's seat. I just had to loosen the console slightly and pop the PRND selector out.

It is illuminated by a single T5 globe. I replaced it with blue, and it looks awesome at night and matches the footwells and dash.

Pictures attached.



IMG_3724.JPG
 Description:
The final product. PRND in blue with red shadow for the current gear.
 Filesize:  79.46 KB
 Viewed:  39 Time(s)

IMG_3724.JPG



IMG_3716.JPG
 Description:
PRND selector removed with the new blue globe in its globe holder.
 Filesize:  122.84 KB
 Viewed:  25 Time(s)

IMG_3716.JPG


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