I bought a 2010 Paprika Red Subaru Forester. I am also a electronics modder.
I love how the radio and A/C controls are all red, but the dang accent lights are blue. I find they clash, so I went about changing the Blue LEDs to Red.
The following is a guide on how you can do the same to whatever color you want.
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So the first mod involves ripping out the map light assembly and changing the PLCC LED in there to red.
I also changed the resistor to boost the LED brightness.
Edit: I have added some part numbers that should work for this mod. Please note I haven't tested these.
But at 13.5V the LED should run at 100mA using the resistor below.
LED: Digikey part number 475-3122-1-ND
Resistor: Digikey Part Number RHM680ICT-ND
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The next LED is a small LED that lights up the cubby hole in front of the shifter.
The build quality on this car is simply amazing. The accent LED sits in its own custom connector housing with a resistor and even a reverse protection diode. Not only that the LED isn't even soldered in place. It is welded!
I had to take a dremel with a carbide bit to remove the old LED.
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I replaced the blue LED with a super-bright 3mm Red LED.
I did the same for the rear-cup holder accent LED which used an identical connector.
Edit:
Here is a super bright RED led and resistor that should work for this mod:
516-3540-ND - Red 3mm LED
CF-12JT820RCT-ND - 820ohm resistor
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My camera can't capture the effect properly. These are the best I could capture.
The effect in real life is perfect however, none of the lights are distracting, but they are all now useful in helping to see around the car at night without needing the map lights.
I love how the radio and A/C controls are all red, but the dang accent lights are blue. I find they clash, so I went about changing the Blue LEDs to Red.
The following is a guide on how you can do the same to whatever color you want.
-------------
So the first mod involves ripping out the map light assembly and changing the PLCC LED in there to red.
I also changed the resistor to boost the LED brightness.
Edit: I have added some part numbers that should work for this mod. Please note I haven't tested these.
But at 13.5V the LED should run at 100mA using the resistor below.
LED: Digikey part number 475-3122-1-ND
Resistor: Digikey Part Number RHM680ICT-ND
-------------
The next LED is a small LED that lights up the cubby hole in front of the shifter.
The build quality on this car is simply amazing. The accent LED sits in its own custom connector housing with a resistor and even a reverse protection diode. Not only that the LED isn't even soldered in place. It is welded!
I had to take a dremel with a carbide bit to remove the old LED.
-------------
I replaced the blue LED with a super-bright 3mm Red LED.
I did the same for the rear-cup holder accent LED which used an identical connector.
Edit:
Here is a super bright RED led and resistor that should work for this mod:
516-3540-ND - Red 3mm LED
CF-12JT820RCT-ND - 820ohm resistor
-------------
My camera can't capture the effect properly. These are the best I could capture.
The effect in real life is perfect however, none of the lights are distracting, but they are all now useful in helping to see around the car at night without needing the map lights.