Tips for Installing Spree's LED kit Options

[skull_kid]

Hey guys, these are a few tips that I thought would be useful for those of us installing Spree's LED kit.
I installed mine last weekend and I couldn't be happier with the results! I haven't done the climate control lights yet because I'm going to do that when I install my new head unit.

I don't think I can give out full instructions for installing the kit because that is intellectual property that is part of the kit you purchase. However for those of us that have purchased the kit, I think these tips will save you some trouble.

Please keep in mind I am speaking from the perspective of a 97+ USDM Celica GT, so some things may be slightly different for you.

Also, these tips may be obvious to some of you so please bare with the rest of us.

First off, do what Spree says and be patient! It's worth it in the end.

Testing the LEDs:
You can test the smaller LEDs with the 9v, but when testing the larger LEDs that go behind the speedometer, tachometer, and fuel gauge, they need 12v to be tested (which is the voltage in our cars), so a 9v battery won't do anymore. You would need to use a resistance meter that can test diodes. Therefore, don't be nervous if you find the larger LEDs don't respond to your 9v battery! If you don't have these tools, just do what I did and install them into the back of your dash anyway, then, without refitting the dash, just reattach the wire harness to the far left (it's the blue wire harness in my car), flip on your headlights with the key in the car, and you'll see which LEDs were installed correctly. The ones that aren't won't light up, so all you have to do is reverse the direction you put them into the bulb socket.

Installing the LEDs into the bulb sockets:
When installing the LEDs with their bases into the bulb sockets, you first need to fold the wires up on each side. I made the mistake of folding the wires up on each side directly on the left and directly on the right. THEY WILL NOT FIT INTO THE BULB SOCKETS THIS WAY. When you first open the kit, for each LED, one wire was folded up and one was extended straight. Notice how the one folded up isn't folded directly on the side of the base, rather, it's on the front and all the way to one side. So the two wires should be folded up, but kind of diagonal from each other, not directly on opposite sides. Once you fold them up correctly, the LEDs in their bases should fit perfectly in the bulb sockets.

Installing the large LEDs behind the dash without their bases:
Spree cautiously advised that by taking the LEDs out of their bases (the plastic that houses the polarized -/+ wires) and fitting them into the back of the dash with the entire wire exposed, you can get better light spread and less vibration or chances of the LEDs shaking loose. Speaking only for 97+ USDM Celicas, I noticed that the LEDs fit perfectly in the bulb sockets with their bases, with excellent light spread and it wasn't loose at all. You might achieve better results by doing it the other way, but I didn't see any reason to risk the polarized wires touching each other and shorting out the electrical system. In other words, for USDM Celicas, I feel like the gains would be minimal for the risk. But I haven't tried it the other way so I can't be sure. If someone wants to do it please let us know how it went!

I hope this guide helps some of you who made the excellent choice of getting Spree's LED kit. I'm planning more night trips just to bask in the beautiful glow of my dash.

If anyone would like me to post pictures, I'll dig them up for you.