F150online Forums - Interior LED swap build

Well here is the full write-up besides cluster and pictures. Coming soon though.

Supplies needed (With suggestion of where to buy everything, quantity, and what it’s for.):

1- 3mm LEDs (color of your choice) x 6-13 depending on amount of switches by cigarette lighter, amount of doors, and if you want to do the red blinking light* (for doors)
(Buy the 50 flat top 3mm LEDs with resistors.) (Link)
They ship very quickly and have the resistors you need included.
2- 1206 SMD LEDs (color of your choice) x 8* (for doors)
(Link)
3- PLCC-2 LEDs (color of your choice) x 20 for 4wd or 18 for 2wd* (for HVAC and headlight switch)
(Link)
*You will have to buy 2 sets of the 20 packs just in case you mess up or one does not work.
4- 212 LED x1 (for dome light)
(Link)
5- 194 LED x 2 (for map lights)
(Link)
(This includes two. *The 194 bulbs will also work for license plate lights.*)

Always buy extra in case one does not work or you mess up for the ones with an * next to their quantities.

Tools needed:
1- Lots of different size flathead screwdrivers
2- #1 or #2 Philips screwdrivers
3- T10 and T20 Torx screwdrivers
4- Small needlenose pliers
5- Small wire cutters
6- Soldering iron and solder
7- File
8- 7mm & 8mm socket and extension
9- 8mm wrench

Map and Dome lights:
Step 1:
Take off the front cover by opening the overhead compartment and pulling down; however, do not pull too hard as there is a wire attached. Pull at points circled. And then detach wire.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/139.jpg
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/140.jpg
Step 2:
Take off back cover by pulling at the point circle.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/138.jpg
Step 3:
Take out old light and insert new LEDs. (If they do not work flip them 180 degrees.)
Step 4:
Put everything back together.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/012.jpg
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/007.jpg
(Taken without flash.)

Door Switches beside driver’s side window switches:
(I would start with the switch used the least just in case you mess up and that way you can practice.)
Step 1:
Take off the armrest cover by pulling up in the corner. (It should pop right off.)
Step 2:
Disconnect the cables that are connected to the switches.
Step 3:
Take the switch out of the arm rest.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/144.jpg
Step 4:
Take the part you would normally touch off the switch by just pulling.
Step 5:
Separate the top and bottom of the switch. Pull the white part afterwards.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/147.jpg
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/151.jpg
Step 6:
Pry the circuit board off with a flat head screwdriver.
Step 7:
De-solder all the things on the board.
Step 8:
File the boards until there are no wires. Don’t worry about destroying the boards. (Should look like this when finished or be a yellowish color.)
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/a...er/leds033.jpg
Step 9:
Close the tabs with a pair of pliers. This is so you can put the circuit board back on later.
Step 10:
Put the circuit board back onto the tabs.
Step 11:
Wire up the LEDs using the following diagrams for window switches and unlock switches.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/a...cer/window.jpg
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/a...racer/lock.jpg
Step 12:
Make sure all LEDs are face up.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/a...acer/153-2.jpg
Step 13:
Go test the LEDs!!! Make sure they work.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/137.jpg
Step 14:
Reassemble the switches.

Driver’s side window switch:
Step 1:
Take off the armrest cover by pulling up in the corner. (It should pop right off, if not use a tiny screwdriver in the corner.)
Step 2:
Disconnect the cables that are connected to the switches.
Step 3:
Take the switch out of the arm rest.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/144.jpg
Step 4:
Take the part you would normally touch off the switch by just pulling.
Step 5:
Separate the top and bottom of the switch.
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/147.jpg
Step 6:
De-solder all of the LEDs. (Circled)
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/a...verswindow.jpg
Step 7:
*Test each LED after you solder it on for this step because all beside the driver’s window is wired in parallel, so when one is out both for that window go out. So if you do not test after each LED you will not be sure which LED is out if you do not solder correctly.*
Solder the LEDs back on using the following technique. Use the last picture for positive and negative sides of LEDs. (As seen in the last picture the driver’s window switch isn’t the same as the others so keep this in mind.) (Next picture will show polarity of the LEDs.)
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/008.jpg
*On my LEDs there was a green line on the negative side. And also there were two wires on the positive side. This was on mine and I am not sure about all LEDs so make sure to test yours.*
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af38/lsracer/018.jpg

Step 8:
Reassemble Switch.

Reverse sensor switch:
Step 1:
Take off bezel around the radio being careful of the cords behind it. You will have to disconnect the cords in order to fully remove the bezel. Make sure you get the airbag one as this one is the most delicate.
Step 2:
While compressing the tabs on the switch push out of the bezel.
Step 3:
Pull top portion of the switch off. This will expose 2 LEDs.
Step 4:
Cut the green LED’s wires close to the LED itself. This will make soldering the new one a lot easier.
Step 5:
Solder using the following for polarity. I put in a resistor, I’m not sure if this is necessary but I figured since the one I was putting blow when I attached it to a 9V battery and the one out of the truck did not I took the safer choice.
Step 6:
Go test the LED. Press the switch a lot and make sure it doesn’t affect the movement of the switch; I had to file part of my switch to get it to work perfectly.
Step 7:
Put the switch back into the bezel.

Headlamp switch:

Step 1:
Remove the side panel by inserting a finger or into the hole on the side and pulling.
Step 2:
Find clip on the headlight switch. And squeeze, I used a pair of pliers because it was freezing outside and were very difficult to compress.
Step 3:
Disconnect the headlight switch and the dimmer.
Step 4:
Remove the screws on the back of the headlight switch.
Step 5:
*I would go test after every LED, just in case.
De-solder and solder the circled LEDs. Follow picture for polarity.
Step 6:
If you have not been testing all along test.
Step 7:
Reassemble.

4WD Switch:
Step 1:
Take off bezel around the radio being careful of the cords behind it. You will have to disconnect the cords in order to fully remove the bezel. Make sure you get the airbag one as this one is the most delicate.
Step2:
Compress the tabs on the side of the switch, slide out.
Step 3:
Take the screw out of the back.
Step 4:
De-solder and solder the circled LEDs. Test after each.
Step 5:
Reassemble.

AC controls:
Step 1:
Take off bezel around the radio being careful of the cords behind it. You will have to disconnect the cords in order to fully remove the bezel. Make sure you get the airbag one as this one is the most delicate.
Step 2:
Use torx 20 screwdriver to separate the controls from the bezel.
Step 3:
Take the two pieces apart by compressing the tabs.

Step 4:
Use torx 10 screwdriver to unscrew the screws.
Step 5:
Pull the circuit board out of the front part of the AC controls.
Step6:
Take plastic piece at the bottom of the circuit board off.
Step 7:
De-solder LEDs one at a time and re-solder that one LED and go test after each LED. Repeat until finished. Use following diagrams for polarity and for which LEDs to redo. Use soldering technique from Driver’s side window switch portion of this tutorial.
Step 8:
Reassemble. Pat yourself on the back cause you have just finished the hard part unless you decide to do the more difficult cluster setup.