Upgraded Welcome Lights.

mmh · Nov 8, 2014

I'm currently working on enhancing most of the interior lighting in the car. I've already added better trunk lighting, and figured the next best set of lights to tackle would be the welcome lights (I don't know if they have an official name; the floor lights that come on when you open the doors.). The next step in this will be to replace the accent lighting in the doors.

Billah · Nov 15, 2014

What lights did you replace them with?

Hybris · Nov 16, 2014

Ohhh... Porno lightning! ;-)

benfrank3 · Nov 16, 2014

I love it! I think this is needed, the car feels so dark at night. Are you going to post a how to for us do-it-yourself ers?

mmh · Nov 16, 2014

Billah said:
What lights did you replace them with?

For the under the seat lights I went with Amazon.com: E-Goal Pink LED Strip light: Home Improvement those are what I'll also be putting in the doors. Right now I'm waiting for some plastic pry tools to be delivered so I can remove the door trim, I'm hoping to have sometime this week to work on it.
For the trunk, I went with "Warm White": Amazon.com: E-Goal 3528 Warm White Waterproof LED Strip light With E-Goal Logo Ribbon: Home Improvement

benfrank3 said:
Are you going to post a how to for us do-it-yourself ers?

I'm trying to take pictures as I go. Once it's all done, I plan on updating this thread with details.

I used the existing lighting connectors under the seat, and made my own plug on the light strips using these (Break-away 0.1 36-pin strip male header (10 pieces) ID: 392 - $4.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique fun DIY electronics and kits) so I wouldn't have to cut into the cars wiring at all. I'm trying to keep everything reversible. Here's a picture of how I put the lights together. Half of those point from under the seat towards the backseats, the other half point towards the front area.

PlanB · Nov 16, 2014

Hybris said:
Ohhh... Porno lightning! ;-)

HA!

Billah · Nov 16, 2014

Thanks! Can you post pics of your trunk lighting too?

4SUPER9 · Nov 16, 2014

These plug right into the foot well lights in just a few seconds. I put white panels in yesterday. These ones listed are in blue, I did not search around enough to find porno pink. :tongue:

benfrank3 · Nov 18, 2014

I like the idea of a plug and play option. Where exactly do these plug in? And where did you mount them? I'm pretty handy, if you could give me some direction I would appreciate it.

- - - Updated - - -

The door panels are super easy to remove. You won't need any pry bars. Remove the screw from inside the hand grab under the rubber, and the screw behind the door opening door handle on the inside.
i installed some nice logo puddle lights in no time.

TurboFroggy · Nov 18, 2014

PlanB said:
HA!

4SUPER9 · Nov 18, 2014

benfrank3 said:
I like the idea of a plug and play option. Where exactly do these plug in? And where did you mount them? I'm pretty handy, if you could give me some direction I would appreciate it.

See this thread here. Basically, just pop out the lights in the footwells using a flat-head screwdriver, unplug them (it's a simple squeeze and pull lock) then the pins that come on the new LEDs just plug right in.

Now, can anyone tell me how/where to tap into either the dome or ambient lights? I would like to run some LED's to the center console, and be able to control them through the touch screen.

benfrank3 · Nov 19, 2014

Can these foot well lights be made to stay on while driving? That would be my goal, the cabin is so dark.

4SUPER9 · Nov 19, 2014

benfrank3 said:
Can these foot well lights be made to stay on while driving? That would be my goal, the cabin is so dark.

That's my point. If we can find a way to tap into the ambient lights, then we can do this.

benfrank3 · Nov 21, 2014

Far as I can tell, they're in the doors. Finding the line in the wiring harness won't be easy.

invisik · Nov 21, 2014

Yes, I've added a light under the cubby that is connected to the ambient light circuit. I ended up taking the passenger door panel off and tapping into the wires going to the light in the arm rest. Then feed the wire back into the car and over to the cubby area. The only part I didn't like about my installation was I couldn't find a easy way to get the wire to go through the existing wire bundle, it's packed so tightly. I have it just going across between the door and the car towards the top. I wrapped some electrical tape around it to make it dark so it's not very visible.

Love the light in the middle though!

-m

4SUPER9 · Nov 21, 2014

invisik said:
Yes, I've added a light under the cubby that is connected to the ambient light circuit. I ended up taking the passenger door panel off and tapping into the wires going to the light in the arm rest. Then feed the wire back into the car and over to the cubby area. The only part I didn't like about my installation was I couldn't find a easy way to get the wire to go through the existing wire bundle, it's packed so tightly. I have it just going across between the door and the car towards the top. I wrapped some electrical tape around it to make it dark so it's not very visible.

Love the light in the middle though!

-m

Please, please elaborate!!!! Steps? Which wires????

benfrank3 · Nov 23, 2014

Yes that's one place to find it for sure. Like you said the problem with that method is hiding the wire and fishing it back into the cabin. It would be real good if one could find the ambient light in the center armrest? Maybe behind the usb light?

invisik · Nov 23, 2014

Where is an ambient light in the center arm rest area? That would be way easier then the door panel.

benfrank3 · Nov 24, 2014

I'm out of town right now but think the USB ports are illuminated with an ambient backlight?

4SUPER9 · Nov 24, 2014

benfrank3 said:
I'm out of town right now but think the USB ports are illuminated with an ambient backlight?

Yes, they are backlit, though live all the time and not controlled by the "Ambient" light switch on the touch screen.

Upgraded Welcome Lights.

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