[DIY] Let's Add Some Class: Footwell LED Lighting
02-17-2012, 11:42 AM
#41
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02-17-2012, 12:54 PM
#42
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IM sure you could add some sort of capacitor inline or something. So when its on the CAP is charging and when you turn it off the L.E.D will drain the CAP giving it the dim effect, which is how factory does it. I could be wrong , but this was how I taught in lecture as well as in lab exercises when i was in school.
02-17-2012, 01:31 PM
#43
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thanks for the DIY, gp! 
i'm going to follow this...except i'm just going to tap into my already routed (+ and -) puddle light wires that travel up to my dome lights up top. i think i'll just tap into them near the bottom and solder the connections.
this way, they will perform like emilio320 is talking about.
i'm going to follow this...except i'm just going to tap into my already routed (+ and -) puddle light wires that travel up to my dome lights up top. i think i'll just tap into them near the bottom and solder the connections.
this way, they will perform like emilio320 is talking about.
02-17-2012, 05:44 PM
#45
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LOL
My car is in the garage every night, but everywhere seems to be wet from snow, or melting snow, so dirt gets tracked in too and everything is just dirty lol
That's true!
If you power them directly from the dome lights, they WILL be able to be turned on by the switch above.
It's a preference thing.
I didn't want my footwells to come on because if I'm driving and my passenger turns on the dome switch I'll get glare and be like FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!
No problem dude!
And yes they will be able to turn on with the switch if you tap them to those wires.
To be hoenst, if you did puddle lights, I think you can pull this mod off without a DIY lol
Not over-complicating at all =)
I was thinking about doing it that way but then I figured I didn't want to run wires all the way to the headliner and then to the domes.
My method all the wires are connected by the driver's fuse box.
No removing pillars or headliners.
Convenient!
My car is in the garage every night, but everywhere seems to be wet from snow, or melting snow, so dirt gets tracked in too and everything is just dirty lol
How about splicing the sunroof/dome power switch power in as a secondary power source with some kind of relay? That way the on and DIM off functionality from opening and closing the doors still remains but you can still power them on despite the doors being closed via the switch above?
If you power them directly from the dome lights, they WILL be able to be turned on by the switch above.
It's a preference thing.
I didn't want my footwells to come on because if I'm driving and my passenger turns on the dome switch I'll get glare and be like FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!
thanks for the DIY, gp!
i'm going to follow this...except i'm just going to tap into my already routed (+ and -) puddle light wires that travel up to my dome lights up top. i think i'll just tap into them near the bottom and solder the connections.
this way, they will perform like emilio320 is talking about.
i'm going to follow this...except i'm just going to tap into my already routed (+ and -) puddle light wires that travel up to my dome lights up top. i think i'll just tap into them near the bottom and solder the connections.
this way, they will perform like emilio320 is talking about.
And yes they will be able to turn on with the switch if you tap them to those wires.
To be hoenst, if you did puddle lights, I think you can pull this mod off without a DIY lol
I was thinking about doing it that way but then I figured I didn't want to run wires all the way to the headliner and then to the domes.
My method all the wires are connected by the driver's fuse box.
No removing pillars or headliners.
Convenient!
02-19-2012, 03:30 PM
#46
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I remounted my rears.
Something inside me told me that the mounting tape wasn't that strong to hold with the seat carpet, so I moved it up under the seat rear panel.
Now, since the strip sits higher, and closer to the rear seats, this concludes that MORE light is distributed!
Win-win situation!
Something inside me told me that the mounting tape wasn't that strong to hold with the seat carpet, so I moved it up under the seat rear panel.
Now, since the strip sits higher, and closer to the rear seats, this concludes that MORE light is distributed!
Win-win situation!
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Undying Dreams (01-18-2013)
02-19-2012, 05:54 PM
#48
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have you guys used double sided Velcro ???
sticks to the carpet like a damn magnet....none the less, great job repositioning it....
sticks to the carpet like a damn magnet....none the less, great job repositioning it....
02-19-2012, 06:18 PM
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The thing was it was so low I was afraid of people easily kicking it or moving it.
I'm really happy with the reposition now because it's brighter too!
02-19-2012, 07:14 PM
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Buddy, I wish I remembered you were remounting them. I've got mine at the top of the kickboard (underneath the rear seats). That way, no one will kick them from underneath the front seats.
02-19-2012, 07:42 PM
#51
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Do you have pictures of your rears?
It'd be nice to include them in the thread so people can get options on where to mount them! =)
I'll see if I can get some off vietxquangstah too since he mounted them the same way.
02-19-2012, 07:43 PM
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^^^ wish i had some interior pix 
SB, should have some....I know VIET did put it in his thread
SB, should have some....I know VIET did put it in his thread
02-19-2012, 07:45 PM
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02-19-2012, 07:50 PM
#54
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02-19-2012, 08:58 PM
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Thanks buddy, looks very subtle =)
They're not LED strips, right?
They're not LED strips, right?
02-23-2012, 10:55 AM
#56
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^^^^ GP no disrespect to hijack your thread, but for type S does anyone know if I can upgrade the existing bulb. If not can I get smd strips and "tap" into the footwell lights I already have? I have tried looking for a part # for that little bulb and trying to cross reference to a brighter bulb, but no such luck.
02-23-2012, 05:35 PM
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^^^^ GP no disrespect to hijack your thread, but for type S does anyone know if I can upgrade the existing bulb. If not can I get smd strips and "tap" into the footwell lights I already have? I have tried looking for a part # for that little bulb and trying to cross reference to a brighter bulb, but no such luck.
02-23-2012, 08:27 PM
#59
^^^^ GP no disrespect to hijack your thread, but for type S does anyone know if I can upgrade the existing bulb. If not can I get smd strips and "tap" into the footwell lights I already have? I have tried looking for a part # for that little bulb and trying to cross reference to a brighter bulb, but no such luck.
And yes, I'm sure you can buy LED strips and tap into those same foot well lights. I'm not sure if the dimming capability will still be there, but it might.
I think if you put ground to a known good ground, and splice the power wire into the same power wire that powers on the current footwell lighting in the 07-08 than your new LED strips should function just like your oem footwell lighting.
02-23-2012, 08:46 PM
#60
^^^that sounds about right.
FUnny, what you just described actually sounds like the way I ended up running mine. drilled small hole ,ran the led in it...pretty dim. But i wanted it to be ambient, not bright enough to see stuff.
FUnny, what you just described actually sounds like the way I ended up running mine. drilled small hole ,ran the led in it...pretty dim. But i wanted it to be ambient, not bright enough to see stuff.
02-23-2012, 10:03 PM
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I'm almost 100% sure that the existing footwell ambient lighting in the 07-08 base/type-s bulbs can not be replaced with a brighter bulb. I have a 08 and I've taken that bottom kick panel apart and looked at the bulb before, it's just 1 very small LED and the way it's built into the bottom of the kick panel, it would require for you to drill the hole bigger to fit another LED in it's place (i think).
And yes, I'm sure you can buy LED strips and tap into those same foot well lights. I'm not sure if the dimming capability will still be there, but it might.
I think if you put ground to a known good ground, and splice the power wire into the same power wire that powers on the current footwell lighting in the 07-08 than your new LED strips should function just like your oem footwell lighting.
And yes, I'm sure you can buy LED strips and tap into those same foot well lights. I'm not sure if the dimming capability will still be there, but it might.
I think if you put ground to a known good ground, and splice the power wire into the same power wire that powers on the current footwell lighting in the 07-08 than your new LED strips should function just like your oem footwell lighting.
thats what i did to my trunk LED strip....i taped it socket for the bulb and it works fine....i would assume this will be similar.....
02-23-2012, 10:54 PM
#62
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My inverter blew up with smoke when I tried wiring my cold cathodes to it.
02-23-2012, 11:00 PM
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^^^ i took the LED/bulb out of the socket and pulled the wire connected to it....then i soldered the LED strip's wire to the socket...
for sometime i had the LED and the LED strip running....but it got tooo blue in the trunk LOL, so ended up taking the bulb out and left the strip in there....
not sure about this: but does the cold cathodes consume a lot more power than the LED's maybe thats why you got the problem ???
for sometime i had the LED and the LED strip running....but it got tooo blue in the trunk LOL, so ended up taking the bulb out and left the strip in there....
not sure about this: but does the cold cathodes consume a lot more power than the LED's maybe thats why you got the problem ???
02-23-2012, 11:07 PM
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I just spliced into the trunk positive and negative and it blew up in smoke and it stank.
I've seen other people run CC trunk lights, so I'm just gonna try again when I get my inverters in. I'm gonna buy like 4 or 5 inverters. $4 each.
I've seen other people run CC trunk lights, so I'm just gonna try again when I get my inverters in. I'm gonna buy like 4 or 5 inverters. $4 each.
02-24-2012, 10:15 AM
#67
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^^^^ GP no disrespect to hijack your thread, but for type S does anyone know if I can upgrade the existing bulb. If not can I get smd strips and "tap" into the footwell lights I already have? I have tried looking for a part # for that little bulb and trying to cross reference to a brighter bulb, but no such luck.
02-24-2012, 10:39 AM
#68
Chapter Leader (Midwest Region)
I'm almost 100% sure that the existing footwell ambient lighting in the 07-08 base/type-s bulbs can not be replaced with a brighter bulb. I have a 08 and I've taken that bottom kick panel apart and looked at the bulb before, it's just 1 very small LED and the way it's built into the bottom of the kick panel, it would require for you to drill the hole bigger to fit another LED in it's place (i think).
And yes, I'm sure you can buy LED strips and tap into those same foot well lights. I'm not sure if the dimming capability will still be there, but it might.
I think if you put ground to a known good ground, and splice the power wire into the same power wire that powers on the current footwell lighting in the 07-08 than your new LED strips should function just like your oem footwell lighting.
And yes, I'm sure you can buy LED strips and tap into those same foot well lights. I'm not sure if the dimming capability will still be there, but it might.
I think if you put ground to a known good ground, and splice the power wire into the same power wire that powers on the current footwell lighting in the 07-08 than your new LED strips should function just like your oem footwell lighting.
so i just did this install last night, got lazy and decided "f#ck it" im just gonna follow the DIY i didn't see myself ever really needing to turn on the footwell lighting with the switch above, plus i can always add it later. Mccollins23 however brings up an interesting point, for us Type-S oweners it would be awesome if the RED built in footlighting was slightly brighter, because it gives this effect when you close the door at Night like the car is fading from bright white light to a Red light, but the damn White LED'S are soo0 bright that when it gets to the stock red, its kind of hard to notice its even on
Great minds think alike.
02-24-2012, 03:20 PM
#69
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05-19-2012, 04:54 PM
#75
Just a tip... It took me ten minutes to find that damn Green/Red Stripe wire tucked behind the fuse box... And since I was soldering the connections i decided that was a battle I was not winning. So I actually tapped into the green/red stripped in the A-Pillar... Just an idea especially if you're soldering the connections.
05-20-2012, 12:15 PM
#76
OK, got the driver side running beutifully went to add passenger side and now the domes/LEDs arent working and im getting 8V... even after removing the LEDs im getting 8V and NO domes on door open... anyone?
05-20-2012, 09:50 PM
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check to make sure you put the green connector back into the fuse box.
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05-21-2012, 08:01 PM
#78
The connector is "plugged in" but does not seem to be shorting to ground when it suppose to (door open). I can short the solder joint to ground and get the domes to come on.. I might have to take the fuse/relay box out to make sure I didnt F anything up, thats gonna be a PITA.... My left turnsignal isn't working when i use the key fob to unlock... weird.
07-11-2012, 02:32 AM
#79
5th Gear
Nice write up, was thinking about doing this mod...didn't know where to run the wires until now! Thanks for the insight, all of your DIY write ups have been very helpful!
