HOW TO - change interior clear bulbs to colour

[Cooler22]

1) all bulbs with 3 #'s on them can be replaced with a 194 bulb wich you can get in colours by putting the first letter of the colour you want behind the 194. The location of all these bulbs are 2 in the rearview mirror, 1 under the dash on the drivers side, 1 under the dash on the passengers side, 1 in the glove box, and 2 in the back lisence plate.

2) the long tube type bulb in the dome and in the trunk are 561 or a 212 again you can get these bulbs in colour by putting the letter of the colour you want behind the 561 or 212. (a 211-2 will also work in place of a 212)

3) the 2 dome lights are 194's with a modification

*I can not take all the credit for this info, so I would like to thank the person who helped me put it together. Thanx Gimli*

[Cooler22]

Finally figured out the two reading lamps.:thumbs:


To change the two reading lamps for the back passengers you will need:

1 pack of 194 bulbs (colour of your choosing)
1 pair of wire cutters
1 mini flat headed screw driver

First remove the lamps from the dome.

Now with the mini screw driver and looking at the bottom of the bulb you will see two pieces of metal push them up (don't push or pull them out).

Now using the screw driver again. Seperate the wires from the two pieces metal (be careful not to break the wire if you want to use the bulb again)

After the wires are off the metal and are straight the bulb may know be removed from the plastic cover.

Now take your coloured 194 and you will see that the wire is looped and folded along side the bulb. Straighten the wires and with the wire cutters cut the wire the does not go up to the filamint(sp?)

Now straighten the wires to their full length and place them down through the holes of the plastic cover.

Fold the wires back up towards the top of the bulb and you will see a guide along the out side of the piece of metal. Guide the wire up as far as it will go (there will be extra wire so you may choose to cut a little off before sending it up the guide).

Now push the two pieces of metal back down into place.

I can not be held responsable for anyone breaking or ruining any pieces during this proceedure!!

[moyn]

i was wondering how you guys got the rear mirror bulbs out? i've been trying for days now and can't get them. my fingers are too big to get in there and i can't think of any tools that could possible get them out. any trick or tips please let me know. also i've heard of "condoms" for the bulbs where i can get there and will the burn or melt if on too long?

[Cooler22]

Actually there is an easier way then the plyers. I broke a bulb Gimli's way, it made quiet the mess.:D

use a flat head screw driver and get it past the large part of the bulb, then gently twidt it towards you and it should just pop out.:thumbs:

[AznGA]

So these colored bulbs are available at local auto store?

[SmokinGT00]

Any modifications needed when using 194 LED bulbs in the dome light??

[Gimli]

No modificaiton per se but you need to take the little plastic base off the existing bulbs and put it in your new bulbs.

[moyn]

nothing needed. i just replaced them with 194 led's. they work fine. if you put them in and they don't light up, just turn them around and they will work. i have them in my car now and it was just like replacing a normal bulb. very easy.

[SmokinGT00]

Yeah, I was finally able to get the old bulbs out, that was a bit of a chore. Thanks guys.

[ND4SPDIII]

Originally posted by SmokinGT00
Yeah, I was finally able to get the old bulbs out, that was a bit of a chore. Thanks guys.

off topic: ur avatar is cool :thumbs:

[SmokinGT00]

Originally posted by ND4SPDIII
off topic: ur avatar is cool :thumbs:

thanks! :)

[tenspeed]

To change colors of the light, get some gel that they use for theatre lighting or any other colored translucent plastic. Remove lens, insert plastic, replace lens.

I've seen candy wrappers used before. Window tint should work too.

[moyn]

Originally posted by tenspeed
To change colors of the light, get some gel that they use for theatre lighting or any other colored translucent plastic. Remove lens, insert plastic, replace lens.

I've seen candy wrappers used before. Window tint should work too.


trust me everyone. nothing againist this way but you don't want to do it this way. considering how cheap LED's are and the fact they make them in the 194 bulbs for us which would make it a dirrect replacement, i would just do that. that is what i have. everyone comments on them, and how freakin bright they are. i can snap pics if you want. trust me. go 194 led's bulbs. they are sick you will not be disappointed

[SmokinGT00]

yup i now have some LED's in my map lights and my dome light, only 3 so far and they are def bright and worth the little bit of money

[n43210]

the long tube bulb in the dome light is that the 3910 LED Festoon bulb or 4211 LED Festoon bulb?

[jscarano13]

3910 J

[NYCgrandam37]

so the car comes with LEDs for interior lighting? correct me if im wrong, but dont we need to use resistors when putting LEDs in? no expert so i may very well be wrong, also, the second light from the middle, parking light, in the headlight assembly is an LED as well then i guess?

[NYCgrandam37]

forget it, i found the answers to my own questions.

[Azrael]

For anyone that knows about interiors of 92-95 GAs: Do you know how to open the rear reading lamp lenses? I've been picking at them now and then but haven't been able to figure out how to get the lenses off without breaking them. :confused:

[Pimpsupp247]

Does anyone have pics of red dome lights or other interior lights u replaced?? (preffered red lol) I have a 00 grand am gt....I'm not sure where to get the brightest red lights and sizes for my interior lights..

[SportsSocc]

ok so i was poking around the other day and was looking at changing the lights in my car to a color and was looking at the dome light and for the life of me couldn't figure out how to get the plastic cover off of it. I don't want to jst pry the thing off cause i don't want to break the thing. I don't see any spots where you can stick a screw driver or something and it pops off, i dunno... just help on this would be great! thanks

[moyn]

ok the dome light your talking about, i'm guessing is the one in the middle of the car and not the ones under the rearview mirror. just pop it off. it won't break, trust me. i thought the same thing. just put a screwdriver in along the side and try prying it out of there, if you got any more questions ask away, maybe i can snap some pics for you if your still confused

[Gooch]

Ok I am new to this, I know you guyus have been talking about changing all the interiors lights, but how do you change the color of the lights in the gauges to blue?

[n43210]

you dont actually change the bulbs. you can get new guages from pfyc.com, procarparts.com, customautoacccents.com.

[Gooch]

What gauges do I exactly get?

[n43210]

customautoaccents.com/products/9903grandamgt.html
www.pfyc.com/store/merchant.mv?Store_Code=PFYC&Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GAINT

didnt see any for the 2003 on the procarparts site. but do a search cause i dont think there is that much of a difference in previous years ans the 03

[Gooch]

Thanks for all your help. I am curious though on those gauges from pfyc. Do I have to change the bulbs to blue for those? if so does anyone know how to do this. i was looking at the pics for icemans car, and he has exactly what I am looking for.

thanks again for everyones help This site rocks.

Rob :metal:

[Gooch]

Alright disregard my last post, I just saw the link for custom accents, and I think that will do the trick. You guys are awesome!!!

[PontiacGT]

For anyone that knows about interiors of 92-95 GAs: Do you know how to open the rear reading lamp lenses? I've been picking at them now and then but haven't been able to figure out how to get the lenses off without breaking them.

Ya, im with this. I sat in the back of my car for like 20 min one day just *****futtin' around with them cuz I didn't want to break them.

[CK GAGT]

i need tips on taking off the covers to the rear view mirror map lights

[Rich]

pretty much what post 21 says, take a screwdriver and pop it out.

[MantaGreen97]

Ya, im with this. I sat in the back of my car for like 20 min one day just *****futtin' around with them cuz I didn't want to break them.

In the 96-98 (and possibly the 92-95s I dunno what the lights are like in them) with the combination reading/courtesy lamp and garment hanger thing, you have to pry at the bottom of the lens with a flat screwdriverand the lens should come out. Then pry at the rear side of the reflector/socket and you'll get the reflector out. Then you should be able to get at the bulb.

[CK GAGT]

i have got the covers off of my map lights on the raer view mirror but what is the next step, it doesnt seem like there is any room to get that bulb out

[El_Diablo]

where can i find LED replacements for automotive style lights?

[Rich]

www.superbrightleds.com

[El_Diablo]

thanks, any others? (i just like to know all possible options before i order anything ;))

[Rich]

thats all i know of. thats the link everyone throws around for this mod. ive bought from them and its good stuff, and shipped pretty quick IIRC.

[99GAGTX]

I put that self adhesive red film used for broken tail light repairs on the inside of the lenses for the map lights in the rearview mirror. That way I'm able to put superbright white LED bulbs. It puts out a lot more light, and if/when I get tired of having red lights, I can simply peel the film off. Also, if I need to use it as a functional map light for reading a map, I can simply pop the lens out then pop it back in when I'm done.

I changed all the interior lights that come on when the door opens to red lights, and I love the look. However I kept the dome light original, and just switched it off so it never comes on. When I need it to find a CD or something, I switch it on manually.

[chosen_one]

so can you get these lights at like an autozone? or where can you get it...? sorry if it says it but i must have missed it...

[Devo]

OK, i was on www.superbrightleds.com and umm, what bulbs are they for a GA. I was looking for 194, 516, and 212 but theres are all number differently?

[Rich]

whats numbered differently? the amount of leds per bulb?

[Devo]

Like i cant find the proper bulbs 194, 516, ect. I think im just looking in the wrong section

[Rich]

go to home page, click led bulbs and products, click 12v car bulbs, read what they got then click continue to car bulbs, then go from there. that should get you where you need to be.

[xero152]

actually, this is so ghetto its pretty funny but its works great. i did colored lighting the easy way. for the dome light, i popped it out of the roof and then popped out the clear plasic from the trim. on the inside of the clear plasic, there is kindof like a 'tray' and I took this plastic colored light filter called a 'gel' and cut it to the size of the inside of the clear plastic. I then set it in there and popped it all back into place. I used red-orange to match the gauges of my 99 GAGT. and used the same technique for putting blue gels in front of the under-dash lights which look great against the orange. and left the rearview mirror lights alone for some ambient light.

[Ga05se]

hey i was woundering withch bulbs u wher useing for the dome light cus i thought they didhave one like that cus it has the wire hooks on the end and i was hopeing ther was an eayser way to get the map lights out but that will work