jake1.11

Hope all is well with the family ponyboy...

I took my dash apart last night because i am doing some dinoc work that stangaholic posted the instructions for and figured maybe i would change the leds while i was at it...

Holy crap those leds are small. How on earth do you solder those things on? Is there a special soldering iron for this type of work?

I assume the solder connections are on the two sides right up against the circuit board...

I would like to do this mod but i am not sure my soldering skills are up to the test

Ponyboy405

Thank you for concerns, Things are still struggling, but I've found myself a new home and I'll be better than ever! I had a regular Soldering Iron, but theres a technique to heat up both sides, heating one side for a brief second, then the other. until its heated enough equally on both sides to slide right off. Be careful though. I messed up and heated the backing plate thing, (silver metal piece that the led sits on) and ripped it right off. Luckily I have a friend who knows how to make new ones.

Also make sure you remember when side the positive and negative is at. I screwed up there a couple times too.

asl9622

I never had soldered anything but a few wires but was able to do this. Takes patience and little practice. I had used another technique that I had read somewhere where you heat one side of led and GENTLY lift the heated side with tweezers and then do other side. I also recommend doing one at a time so you do not lose track of polarity like ponyboy said

asl9622

I finally found the link I used! Here is a great tutorial.
http://forums.themustangsource.com/f...itches-463262/

asl9622

OK the guide is one I used for rest of my car. I am trying to track down the one for gauges because they use different led. Let me keep searching

jake1.11

Cool...i am going to order the leds tonight. Im glad you said something about the instrument cluster...i figured they were the same. What about the door switches (window and lock), and the headlight switch?

Ponyboy405

Window switches were through hole led's. but i was able to mount the surface mount leds to the end of the prongs with no problem. Door switches were through hole too if i remember correctly. I haven't taken apart the headlight switch just yet. If you happen to take it apart let me know. thanks!