Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 13:41:22 -0400 From: saab_netnopsamAMyahoo.com (S. W. Falken) Subject: Blue interior lights
Yes, from the man that brought you "Disable your Daytime Running Lights and die", I now bring you "Ghetto up your Saab 9000". The interior of my Saab 9000 now glows ambient blue, rather like moonlight. Fantastic to ride in, nice looking from the exterior while driving. Illegal? Not where I live. Lights on INSIDE the car are not illegal (That doesn't mean flashing blue and reds inside won't land you in jail for the rest of your life). Why #1: I hate people seeing my business when I open the doors, but I hate disabling the interior lights completely for when I open the door as my passenger cannot see to get out or in and may potentially hurt themselves somehow (it's N. America in 1999, anything is possible). Why #2: I'd like cool lights inside my car, but Neon is TOO ghetto not to mention a possible electrical pain to wire. Why #3: I needed a project for the car where I would not spend a lot of money and feel that I have accomplished something meaningless. Instructions ------------ Disclaimer: You may void your warranty for doing anything other than driving your Saab, so certainly don't try this. Also, if you were to swallow the material used for this project, you might have a sore throat or possibly intestinal problems for days following. Furthermore, there is no reason to try this on your car. Find something more productive to do. Step 1: Go to your local video equipment store (not video store) and buy some Tinting Gels for studio lights. One sheet is fine. Buy it really dark in whichever color floats your boat. It will cut down on the brightness of your interior lights, but otherwise you may not notice the color. I HIGHLY suggest against using solid red and blue for legal reasons. Step 2: Pop out the reflector for the light behind the rearview mirror. Trace it with a piece of paper and cut out your template. Then put this on the gel sheet and cut out with an exacto knife. Be sure to cut it enough so that the lip of the reflector will clear back in the light housing. Now put the gel securely inside the reflector and replace it back in the car. That was easy! Step 3: Pop out the dome light housing, and find the three tabs that allow you to seperate the dome reflector from the housing. Take this inside, trace it, and cut out another piece of gel. X-acto out space for the tabs. Put the gel in the reflector and replace in the housing, then put the whole piece back in the roof. Success again! Step 4: Pull out the rear reading light. Squeeze the electric switch clip and slide it off (should come off easily). Remove the whole light and metal piece together using the two tabs and sliding to the side then lifting out. Bring the plastic housing with lens inside and simply cut a square of gel and put it in, covering the lens and extending farther so that the tape is not too close to the bulb. Now tape on all four sides to prevent light from escaping (this one is simpler because of the design of the reading lights). Do this for both lights. Pay attention to how you removed the bulb and its frame for when you replace it. Now put everything back the way you found it. Step 5: There is no step 5 because you're NOT doing your door lights because it's a potential safety hazard for many reasons that I won't get into here. Let's just say I'll slap you if you do it. Especially if you're the genious that puts blue in the white to acommodate the other half (red) and you get pulled over and a cop sees it. ----------------------- Congratulations! You changed the color and intensity of your interior lights for $5.00 and 15-20 minutes, and saved a lot on neon and wiring and time. (This is if you had actually done this which you didn't because I told you not to in the disclaimer). I hope someone benefits from this, which I have to say because I'm sure no one will. Wanted to share anyway. Take Care.
