red instument lighting

[chris coracini <drone23@bellsouth.net>]

i got a few requests, so i'll post it...

the red filter that i used i got at discount auto.  it's the brake light
repair kit.  it comes with three 2in. X 6in. pieces of nice thick red
plastic stuff and paper "texture" stuff to make it look like brake
lights.  (you'll understand when you see it).  buy it, get the three
pieces of red plastic and chuck the rest.

instument panel:
take out your instument panel.  you'll have to remove the steering
wheel.  if you are just doing the lighting and not the clock, you don't
have to completely remove it, which involves CAREFULLY removing the
plastic stuck onto the back of the cluster with the etched circuit board
on it.  i say carfully because there are two or three terminals that are
plugged into the back of the cluster that must be unplugged or you may
rip the circuit board.  it's easier to work on it out of the car anyway,
so i recommend doing it this way.

once you have your cluster out, you'll need to break open the top where
the white part connects to the black cluster (yes, break it, it will
snap back in place, don't worry).  under this piece you will find a
piece of green filter.  remove this and cut out two pieces of red to fit
in where this piece was.  you'll have to overlap the red pieces in the
middle to make them fit.  once they are in place, snap it back on. 
that's it.

LED clock:
this is SUPER cool, i love it.  it was a bit scary, though, because it
involves taking the clock, and the cluster, apart.  but be brave, it's
worth it!

flip over the cluster.  i think you will have to remove the speedo and
the tach in order to remove the clock.  i had the whole thing apart, so
that's why i don't remember.  once you have the clock out, remove the
two (or three?) screws that hold the clock together.  now...  CARFULLY
pop off the LED screen, noting the alignment of the screen with those
two black and white strips that it attaches to.  it will have to be put
back in exactly the same place.  underneath the screen is another green
filter, just like the first one.  cut out a piece of red to the same
shape, and put it all back together again.  

ash tray:
this one is easy.  pull out the ashtray.  see the clear window that
light shines through?  cut out a piece of red and clear tape it to the
ash tray.  fini.

oil temp guage:
this involves taking apart a guage that isn't supposed to be taken
apart.  step one, remove guage.  then remove the clear face.  you can
work your way around slowly and pry it open.  it took me 15 minutes to
get it off.  once that's done, take the two tiny screws off off the face
and lift the face up a bit.  you don't have to completely remove the
face, or the needle.  get a piece of red and cut out a circle slightly
bigger that the inside of the guage.  cut a slit half way into the
circle and then cut out the inside of the circle so it can fit behind
the back of the face.  this is trial and error, pure and simple.  it's
crucial that you get the outside to fit perfectly flush with the inside
of the guage or white light will seep through.  once that's done, screw
the face on with the red filter behind it, and put the clear face back
on.

cigarette lighter:
this one is more trouble than it's worth, and unfortunatly it still has
a green ring around it.  it's only red on the inside when you pull out
the lighter.  pull out the lighter assembly (this is a BITCH, too...). 
there are two metal clips that hold it in place, don't lose them.  now,
look at the little light.  you'll have to cut out three tiny pieces of
red and make them fit into the little place where the light shines
through.  good luck on this one.  i used clear tape to hold them
together.

red interior light:
this is the easiest of all.  go to pep boys (discount, wahtever) and get
a red interior light bulb.  

holy schnikees, sorry for the length, but i tend to over explain
things.  good luck if you try this stuff, i'll gladly clear up any
confusion if it comes up...

chris
86 16V scirocco

--
Email problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org  To unsubscibe send
"unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to majordomo@scirocco.org