Celica Hobby - Gauges, Backlight - How To Change Color

9. Lift the cicuit board out of the unit. Note that as stated earlier, electronic circuits are easily damaged by static electricity, if you dont take precautions you may kill the board.

Dash Panel Circuit Board

Now its time to start replacing LEDs, if you are just doing the LCD then skip forward to point 12.

The technique for removing LEDs like these is simple. Using the soldering iron, heat the solder on one side of the LED, whilst the solder is melted use the jewellers screwdriver to lift the LED up at the same end. This should be done gently as (a) you might need the LED at a later date, (b) you don’t really want to damage that board.

Once this is done the other end of the LED solder can be heated, the LED can then be lifted off easily.

To Solder in the new Led, I found it easier to put a small blob of solder on one of the circuit board pads, then position the LED terminal on top of this and heat the solder, as soon as it is melted remove the soldering iron and then solder the other end of the LED.

This job is very fiddly and will require patience and a steady hand. If you haven’t used a soldering iron before, try practicing on something else first, soldering bits of wire together is good practice.

Once you have replaced one LED test the unit out by plugging the conectors back in and switching the ignition on, if it lights up all well and good. If not you have either put it on the wrong way round, they are polarised, or you have overheated it and fried the light.

10. Replace left hand side (speed) LEDs, there are four in total.

Left Side (speed) LEDs

11. Replace center (rev counter) LEDs, there are six in total.

Centre (rev counter) LEDs

If you are changing the colour of your LCD then carry on to step 12, otherwise skip to step 15.

12. To remove the LCD, you will need to release the four clips holding it to the board and push up gently. I found it easier to release the two clips on the outer edge and apply pressure to that end of the LCD unit, once it started to move the other two clips could then be released and the unit lifted out.

LCD unit mounting points

13. Replace the LEDs under the LCD area.

LCD panel LEDs

14. Test unit by plugging the two connectors back in and switching on the ignition, ensure that all LEDs light as expected, any faulty or missing ones will cause dark spots on the display.

15.Reassemble dash unit in reverse order. Note that when refitting LCD it is important that all the pins are correctly inserted, both in the right holes and fully in. Also ensure that all mounting points are clipped in, both on the main board and in the LCD carrier itself. Also make sure that your grubby finger marks are removed from the LCD screen.
All done.