Much brighter than the factory set for sure.

 

I'd be happy to test a set of 97-01 climate control lights if needed.

 

Thanks, but I'm good on testing now. I've got over a dozen sets out at the moment. The biggest issue thus far is an overly bright white transmission light for the 97-01. Otherwise things seem decent.

I found someone with photo gear and skills to use it... that also has a clean XJ. Check these pics out!

 

The lights look good, some a bit bright, but I would like them for my 2000 XJ.

 

Uploading a video of install if anybody is interested. I'll post the link once it's uploaded.

 

akasnajo- I used to run a very popular HID Retrofitting & LED company for about 5 years. I have a lot of experience with doing this sort of thing. I really like how you're going about getting this up & going (remind me of how I did it). Here's a few tricks & things you can try which solved some of the problems you're trying to solve.

HVAC brightness - I gave up on using the p-n-p bulbs in the stock locations as they just weren't bright enough & weren't evenly distributed across the board. I started out soldering these myself but when I ordered like 50+ at a time the company from China started manufacturing these for me.


LED's in stock locations



My Solution

 

For the transmission shifter area being too bright... I'd use 1 or 2 layers of this Frosted / Translucent Vinyl to diffuse the light & tone down the harshness




Then if you want to change the Odometer or fine tune some custom colors, I'd use Colored Translucent Vinyl. Might be a good way to be a brighter red (white leds behind red film)






You can find this stuff easily all over ebay or aliexpress

 

I've dabbled in each direction. The diffusion film for the transmission bezel is just hard to install. I'll work on it some more this summer.

The XJ odometer gets dark fast using colored films. I was able to get purple and orange to work well.

The HVAC backlight will be improved this summer. I wasn't able to find a company to make the small quantities (100 sets at time) I need, so I just ordered the parts to build them myself.

Other than that and improving the quality of two of the lights I stock, I've accomplished everything I intend to for the XJ. The XJ parts made taking care of the main instruments and interiors of the ZJ, TJ, and WJ pretty easy. The WJ comes a small compromise - a load needs added to the system either as a resistor or a stock bulb needs left installed.

After this summer, I'll probably call it quits. I've learned a lot in the process, but to make a worthwhile profit I'd need to expand more than I can in my spare time operating out of my house with limited funds. Plus, I'm more interested in completing my electrical engineering degree.

 

Snajo,
I am interested in doing Red LED on the gauges and such on my XJ. Are you planning on getting a set for those or can you suggest which ones to order on my own? Thanks for what you have done so far, I love the LED sets you did for the interior lights!

Jason

 

Here's what I have in red:
84-96: Cluster, transmission/transfer case, rocker switches
97-01: Cluster, transmission/transfer case

*Notes: Clusters look good in red (as long as you have the cluster style shown - I can't speak for others as I only tested these). Trans bezels will be dim without modification (the film behind the transmission bezel and the print on the transfer case bezel block most red light). The 97-01 rocker switches work fine with red, but I don't stock the parts. Neither climate control panel will look good with red LEDs. It can be done with a custom made faceplate, but that's some advanced stuff that I don't know much about.

If you want to order the 84-96 set in red, just order a white set and add a note in that you want red. It'll come with a white LED for the climate control. For the 97-01, it's the same process and will ship with white rocker switch and climate control LEDs.

Hope that helps,
Jason

 

How did you get the "2H" to be red.
Mines green so the red doesn't go through it.

 

I took the panel apart a carefully scraped the green off the backside of the plastic. I scraped off a bit much in some places, so it doesnt look great when taking a close look during the day. To get a good red interior will take some effort and creativity.

 

There are lots of videos & how to's on the internet showing different ways to remove the stock film. I prefer chemical methods (nail polish is popular). Then you can use whatever color bulb you like or go with a white bulb & a colored film. The Odometer is the only one you can't really do this with. I've had good success putting blue film over the green though (this was on a previous vehicle)





Odometer & Stereo readout both used this technique

 

Here's my YouTube video.

 

Cool video. It looks like it took a while! This summer I'm planning to make some short videos showing the install for the more difficult items. I'm thinking -lights with loops on them, transmission bezel (removing filter, installing white diffuser panel), and 97-01 climate control / rocker lights.