doramatadora

With the MOT coming up, I set about to fix a short in one of the number plate lights on my 2003 MG TF 135, and of course ended up doing something completely different & unnecessary...

Here is how to change the colour of the clock and oil temperature backlight, from the original orange, quickly and without soldering new LEDs .

Materials:

• A sheet of coloured PVC photo filter gel (I used blue)
• Scissors
• Hole punch / hot needle / clean soldering iron

Method:
Remove the clock and oil temperature gauge from the back of the centre panel. You'll need trim tools / a flat-head screwdriver and a phillips-head screwdriver to do so.

Gently and carefully pry away the crimped round black metal thing that holds together the front and back of the clock / oil gauge. You can use a small flat-head screwdriver for this.

Use small fingers or needle nose pliers to disconnect the the circuit board from the rest of the instrument:


Cut a few approximate circles or hexagons from the coloured photo filter gel that are large enough to cover the back aperture of the dial. You can use a (2p) coin to guide you.


Poke two small 5mm apart and 5mm inside the bottom end of each circle. You can use a hole punch, a hot needle or a clean slim-tipped soldering iron:


Nudge the filter gel onto the back of the dial as follows, and, holding the dial against a light with the filter gel facing you, poke a slightly larger hole that aligns with the shaft that will go through the dial to hold the instrument hand(s):


You can stack the filter gel to intensify the colour change effect. I used two circles. To test the effect, shine your phone torch through the gel while looking at the front of the dial, and imagine it a little less bright.

I used clear double-sided sticky dots cut in half to secure the filter gel onto the back of the dial, but you don't have to.

Reassemble everything in reverse order.

Enjoy!