Just a brief update on my own gauge cluster color swap.
Last year, I swapped out the standard bulbs for white ones. I have trouble seeing at night so the increased brightness over the factory incandescent bulbs was a huge improvement for me. There was a slight greenish tint to the light as a result of the factory gauge tinting. It wasn't ideal but I could live with it. I was just glad to have brighter gauges.
Well, this year, with coronavirus keeping everyone shut in - including myself - I decided to see if I could do something about that green tint. After checking out other forums and reading through this thread, I thought I'd try scraping the tint off. After testing a portion of the gauge face that is usually covered by the gauge bezel, I realized...
Yes, you CAN remove the tint.
I used a curved blade. I thought about sandpaper but I like the precision of the blade. It's a pain in the butt and I highly recommend you leave the transmission selection, "x1000r/min," and "mph km/h" sections alone as these areas do NOT tolerate removing the tint very well. I had to come back with a paint pen because light was poking through.
But anyway, it was tedious but it's done. I left the red needles and red portions of the gauges. I also left the tint on the PRND21 because, as I said, removing the tint from the inset portions of the gauges is not at all forgiving.
I also removed the tint from behind the odometer.
I'll try to post a photo later tonight but so far I'm very pleased. My next project will be the HVAC control lighting.
Last year, I swapped out the standard bulbs for white ones. I have trouble seeing at night so the increased brightness over the factory incandescent bulbs was a huge improvement for me. There was a slight greenish tint to the light as a result of the factory gauge tinting. It wasn't ideal but I could live with it. I was just glad to have brighter gauges.
Well, this year, with coronavirus keeping everyone shut in - including myself - I decided to see if I could do something about that green tint. After checking out other forums and reading through this thread, I thought I'd try scraping the tint off. After testing a portion of the gauge face that is usually covered by the gauge bezel, I realized...
Yes, you CAN remove the tint.
I used a curved blade. I thought about sandpaper but I like the precision of the blade. It's a pain in the butt and I highly recommend you leave the transmission selection, "x1000r/min," and "mph km/h" sections alone as these areas do NOT tolerate removing the tint very well. I had to come back with a paint pen because light was poking through.
But anyway, it was tedious but it's done. I left the red needles and red portions of the gauges. I also left the tint on the PRND21 because, as I said, removing the tint from the inset portions of the gauges is not at all forgiving.
I also removed the tint from behind the odometer.
I'll try to post a photo later tonight but so far I'm very pleased. My next project will be the HVAC control lighting.