GM Dorman HVAC LED swap

[@JimNichols]

Sir you are like the epitome of one step at a time in some logical procession to the fruition of the project person. Slow applause from the very appreciative peanut gallery.

[@jewllake]

You replaced my LED's with factory style on my 06 Yukon with the digital display back in 2018 and it still works great. You also did that painful climate control to my 2018 GMC Sierra.

[@jeffescortlx]

I'm happy to hear everything is still working great.

[@WJHandyDad]

I love that solder removal tool you have... I need to get one!

[@WJHandyDad]

that came out really nice, and I liked those last couple tips you gave at the end of the video... glad I watched the whole thing!

[@focusedelectronics]

Remember doing this back in the day. We used to swap everything out with LEDs, steering wheel, door locks, light switches, etc. Neat to see it again.

[@bennyfactor]

medium green leds with the blue-green vfd is kind of an odd choice but the customer is always right in matters of taste I guess. But the brightness change is a real upgrade, very cool

[@geraldfiorello6231]

Your work is Awesome

[@SDS-1]

Looks really good

[@autumnjeserich2689]

LEDs in the elctronics modules like this window switches, light switches, ect. are my favorite mods to do for people. It's such a simple mod but it makes such a difference. Nothing like a customer with a full dash of burnt out bulbs with maybe one or two working here and there to having a full illuminated dash

[@jeffescortlx]

Yep. And in some cases it can give the dashboard a bit of a more modern look.

[@autumnjeserich2689]

I'm the weirdo that likes the bright colors then after 3 months get sick of that color so I pull everything out again and change the leds for a different color. honestly don't know how some of these boards survived multiple run ins with a 5 dollar harbor freight soldering iron

[@jeffescortlx]

@@autumnjeserich2689 sounds like RGB mod is right up your alley.

[@rootvalley2]

looks so much better

[@rpsmith]

Another Great Video! Thanks, Jeff!

[@Noahdude420]

I’ve been waiting for one of your videos

[@bobbywarthan5173]

Looks great

[@annierenard5954]

very good video, thank you

[@Will.EastCoastGaugeRepair]

I usually cut the bent leads, then remove. Definitely makes it easier.

[@jeffescortlx]

I like to bend the leads straight with the solder melted. Otherwise the solder joint holds a bit of the bend.

[@daveyurkovich9459]

Very cool. What is that yellow pistol grip tool? Sorry I’m clueless. Lol

[@jeffescortlx]

Hakko FR-300

[@greenblazemike426]

Excellent video content. How do these green LED’s compare in color to the factory bulbs? I have this same OEM climate control unit (06 Sierra) that all but one light is burned out. Id like to LED swap it but i want the lights to at least be close to matching the lights in the radio and gauge cluster because i prefer the factory look. Any insight you can give is greatly appreciated

[@jeffescortlx]

To maintain the factory color temperature you'll want to stick to incandescent lamps. Green LEDs will noticeably not match.

[@kenfromsilverdale5675]

How do I contact you about getting some cluster repairs? There are no working links on your KZbin home page that I can find.

[@jeffescortlx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCViKGAgtiNl7c

[@kenfromsilverdale5675]

​@jeffescortlx Thank you Jeff!

[@louf7178]

Are there replacement SMD LEDs (red) for the 12V incandescent lamps? I was thinking of scabbing them off a donor speedo cluster (with resistor) but it would be a bit of work. (Seems like some LED groups are in series of 3. I couldn't figure out the circuit, and it seems they were also double power supplied) 2005 Pontiac GP

[@jeffescortlx]

If I remember going off of memory many of the Pontiac cars of that year range use through hole incandescent lamps. Would make mounting SMD LEDs a little bit more difficult. The majority of the GM clusters have surface mount incandescent lamps, that have two extra unused pads that can be used to hold an SMD resistor.

[@louf7178]

@@jeffescortlx Yes, they are thru-hole. And I did stop the attempt (for now).

[@emmettturner9452]

The display in my factory stereo (2000 Pontiac Montana) is sometimes vivid and clear, especially when starting my trip, but is usually impossible to even read the time. I can tell it’s power-related because I can see some segments get brighter or dimmer at the expense of other segments as I turn the volume up/down. I’m not sure if it’s LED or monochrome LCD since it’s black/red with both 7-segment and dot-matrix areas. Would you assume it’s just bad capacitors? The cassette player recently stopped accepting cassettes so I need to take it apart soon anyway (physical issue).

[@jeffescortlx]

The Pontiac radios from that generation use incandescent bulbs to back light the LCD screen, 3 of them. So if one half seems dimmer then the other you probably just have burned out bulbs.

[@emmettturner9452]

@@jeffescortlx Thanks for the input. The back light appears to be fine but the contrast goes haywire. It starts out affecting individual elements of the screen that get brighter or dimmer. Like, I might be able to read the time clear as day then 10 minutes later the 7-segment numbers look all jumbled as some segments are dim and others are bright. As I adjust the volume the bright segments might dim and the dim segments might brighten while the intentionally blank segments remain blank. 10 more minutes later and the whole thing is too faded to read anything. It’s all uniformly dim/faded. Start up the next morning and it’s all crystal-clear again. The whole display looks like it’s made with a similar red on black display as the gauge cluster’s Message Center only it has a mix of dot matrix (for text) and 7-seg (for numbers). The Olds Silhouette has the same cluster/stereo in blue while the Chevy Venture is the same but without the tachometer (all the same minivan though).

[@jeffescortlx]

@@emmettturner9452 I haven't ran into a problem quite like what you describe. I would start with reseating the LCD zebra strip.

[@haydenwilliams7202]

Great video! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while on my 2004 Silverado. I still have the OEM unit but am not sure what kind of LED to buy since it will be 12V. Should I be fine with any 12V led (you mentioned a wide angled 140 degree in the video). Is there a certain diameter of bulb you prefer?

[@jeffescortlx]

Standard 5 mm works pretty good. If you look around you can find them in 12 volts. But yes wide angle, flat top is highly recommended, not a dome top. US Speedo sells good quality 12 volt LEDs in many colors.

[@haydenwilliams7202]

@@jeffescortlx Thanks for your help, the information and link are very helpful. What is your opinion on the 'cube' style LED bulbs? Looks like there are a lot of upgrades using these, particularly on the instrument cluster.

[@jeffescortlx]

@@haydenwilliams7202 The US Speedo branded cubes are probably the best available in low quantities.

[@mikeelder6298]

I've got a 2007 Chevy truck that the bulbs are not all working. It has the slider design. Are those fixable? Do I have to purchase a new unit?

[@jeffescortlx]

It is not user serviceable, but it is repairable by an experienced person.

[@mikeelder6298]

@jeffescortlx I've got both a instrument panel and my climate control with lights out. I'd really like to get them repaired, but how to get it done and how much are holding me back.

[@mikeelder6298]

@jeffescortlx I've got both a instrument panel and my climate control with lights out. I'd really like to get them repaired, but how to get it done and how much are holding me back.

[@jeffescortlx]

​@@mikeelder6298I can be reached at [e-mail]

[@chevyfan82]

👍

[@zx8401ztv]

Ooow that does look nice :-D Strings of leds in tv back lighting are driven with a constant current so every led gets the same. Is that dorman not constant current then? Give the cat a stroke for me :-D

[@jeffescortlx]

I don't think they are all in series like a TV. The end voltage would be higher than automotive voltage and would require a power supply.

[@zx8401ztv]

@@jeffescortlx Just wondered :-D

[@gilbert7938]

I have a 02 Chevy Avalanche and the lights on my climate control are out.. Can you fix it?

[@jeffescortlx]

Yes

[@gilbert7938]

Send me the address I need too send it to?

[@jeffescortlx]

@@gilbert7938 contact information can be found here, there might be a technician close to you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCViKGAgtiNl7c

[@ONWOTE]

Hey, We are ONWOTE, a manufacturer of PoE and Wireless Security Camera Systems. Do you plan to install a security camera to protect the safety around you? Now, we are looking for partners to install and review our camera system, so any chance for us? I had emailed you the details of the sponsorship. Hope can get your reply and move forward!

[@hellhound-si5oz]

Why is it that really cheap keyboards that have back lighting have double shot injection molding on their buttons yet a carport that should be double shot injected like years past is just black paint over white plastic fingernails will take the paint right off

[@WilliamMartinez-to5qd]

Great job can I get your email. I would like to get a similar repair. Thank you

[@jeffescortlx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipCViKGAgtiNl7csi=WJlMv5eT25_5cb-X