TL sidekirts / Puddle Light DIY

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-23-2009, 12:39 PM
  #1  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
TL sidekirts / Puddle Light DIY

Hey guys,

So I'm finally getting around to doing these TL side skirts to permanent (right) way. I had just been getting bogged down with law shit, but I'm gonna bust these out right before I have to crawl under a rock to study for finals. So here's my DIY for TL side skirts, and also for installing puddle lights.

Just a little FYI...puddle lights are NOT underbody neon, street glow, etc. They are lights that turn on and off with your interior dome or courtesy lights in order to light the area around the door when entering and exiting at night.

There are universal puddle lights I found out there, but they looked more for sedans, had about 4 bubbles of LEDs for under each side of the car, and i've seen them on the TL's they looked pretty good, but I didn't want anything too "in your face" so i tracked down these late 90's range rover puddle lights, two for each side. And I'm putting them in the side skirts. They'll clip right into the skirts instead of gluing them underneath and having the wires exposed underneath.

So this might not be what you would do, or what you did, or what you think i should have done...but here we go!

Skirts



its tough to see, but thats the TL skirt layed over the CL side skirts. Earlier guys cut it in the middle, and then connected it. I however just trimmed one side of it, then reattached the end piece. It seemed more stable and less noticeable than cutting it in the middle.

Make sure you sand down the side skirts (both) in order to provide the most bonding surfaces possible.

Then just mix up some epoxy/resin and then just mix some fiber glass into it

Here's another picture, the bottom lines up well enough so you don't have to trim that piece



now..I got some knock off fiberglass TL skirts, so they didn't have all the stock mounting equipment inside of it. That actually helped a lot because I didn't have to cut it all out of there

I finally found a good use for my law books!



Puddle lights

Now you can mark the area for your puddle lights



now cut the TL skirt



the range rover snaps in like factory



now just cut the CL skirt too, so the puddle lamp can fit in all the way

Now it looks factory (minus all the dust, no paint, etc.)









more pics and instructions to come!
Old 03-23-2009, 01:48 PM
  #2  
Instructor
 
GRNMCHN03cl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: albuquerque, NM
Age: 39
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nice write up bro look forward to the end result
Old 03-23-2009, 03:37 PM
  #3  
Pro
 
02CLNOS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Maryland
Age: 41
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
looks good so far, hook that shit up!
Old 03-23-2009, 03:52 PM
  #4  
Is a chargin mah lazar in
 
Onese1f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Florida
Age: 36
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lmao! Are those Torts books?!
Old 03-23-2009, 05:31 PM
  #5  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hah the first two are con law and evidence i believe.
Old 03-23-2009, 07:57 PM
  #6  
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
 
civicdrivr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: VA
Age: 35
Posts: 36,236
Received 8,392 Likes on 4,937 Posts
Id love to see it at night. Are you going to have them hooked up to a switch or wired into the door lights?
Old 03-23-2009, 09:36 PM
  #7  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm going to wire them to the dome wires. That way when I hit the unlock on my key chain, or get out of my car they will be lit. should be cool lookin. and serve some purpose. more updates tomorrow
Old 03-24-2009, 01:07 AM
  #8  
DESI miern
 
NoLimitDeC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Age: 36
Posts: 988
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
are the puddle lights gonna be halogen or LEDs? great write up, even us TL guys can learn from this!

but just so you know.. UF Gators are most def. FTL, GA Dawgs are where its at!!
Old 03-24-2009, 12:23 PM
  #9  
User Awaiting Email Confirmation
iTrader: (5)
 
nf3d0149ab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 41
Posts: 7,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Appreciate the DIY write-up.

Can't wait to see the future updates.
Old 03-24-2009, 04:04 PM
  #10  
B A N N E D
 
jaysizzlecity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: southside jamaica queens 130ave
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow..........
Old 03-24-2009, 07:50 PM
  #11  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
update #2

Alright guys,

so on and off working, i've now got them all set, and I am just sanding and feathering them in at this point. I've got them pretty smooth, I'm working down in sand grit, currently at 300 grit after priming them, and they should be painted tomorrow.

Here are some pics showing the new side skirts (TL molded over CL) and primed/sanded





Old 03-24-2009, 09:46 PM
  #12  
User Awaiting Email Confirmation
iTrader: (5)
 
nf3d0149ab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 41
Posts: 7,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Old 03-26-2009, 01:31 PM
  #13  
Senior Moderator
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
iTrader: (6)
 
97BlackAckCL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ShitsBurgh
Age: 43
Posts: 92,204
Received 4,465 Likes on 3,059 Posts
Nice project, can't wait to see the finished product
Old 03-29-2009, 09:52 AM
  #14  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
updated #3

So the side skirts are finally done. The puddle light wiring is ready to go, I just haven't actually wired them in yet as you can see from these pictures:




I had to dremel a small cut into the side skirts to run the wires up, and once I figure out 100% how/where I want to wire these things I'll tuck them up and hide them better of course.

you can see the puddle lamps in this picture




they sit really nice and flush underneath the skirt and are only visible if you go up and look at a low angle at the car

and here's a picture of the sideskirts done



working on wiring today...
Old 03-29-2009, 10:21 AM
  #15  
Burning Brakes
iTrader: (4)
 
remikinz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Massapequa, NY
Age: 37
Posts: 1,134
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I want to do this so bad. im really interested in the wiring

*subscribed*
Old 03-29-2009, 12:01 PM
  #16  
User Awaiting Email Confirmation
iTrader: (5)
 
nf3d0149ab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 41
Posts: 7,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Nice update Evan!

Coming together.
Old 03-29-2009, 01:10 PM
  #17  
B A N N E D
 
jaysizzlecity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: southside jamaica queens 130ave
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah keep up the good work........
Old 03-29-2009, 03:12 PM
  #18  
sIx SpEeD
iTrader: (1)
 
badeh2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Atown, VA
Age: 36
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Good stuff!! So these sides are from ebay, the fiberglass ones? I thought fiberglass could not be cut and stuck back together?
Old 03-29-2009, 03:16 PM
  #19  
6spder
 
Alperovich's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: North Port, FL/Chicago, IL
Age: 38
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
night shots please, those look hawt!!
Old 03-29-2009, 03:45 PM
  #20  
Pro
 
slvrdrgn123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Age: 36
Posts: 502
Received 8 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by badeh2
Good stuff!! So these sides are from ebay, the fiberglass ones? I thought fiberglass could not be cut and stuck back together?
He didn't. He just trimmed off one end.
Old 03-29-2009, 04:12 PM
  #21  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by slvrdrgn123
He didn't. He just trimmed off one end.
yea...but i don't see why it couldn't? it cuts clean with the dremel...and you could just refiber glass it and mold it back together. cutting it in the middle and molding the two ends together seemed like too much of a hassle as opposed to trimming off a little bit of the end, then remolding the end piece onto the skirt.

thanks for the comments guys
Old 03-29-2009, 05:14 PM
  #22  
3.7L Nitrous Breathing CL
iTrader: (7)
 
richardparker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,658
Received 160 Likes on 140 Posts
Skirts look awesome,great job.How many hours you got in the install?
Old 03-31-2009, 01:08 AM
  #23  
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
 
Flipster23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 35,747
Received 2,334 Likes on 1,962 Posts
Old 04-05-2009, 05:48 PM
  #24  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Done!

Alright guys.....Puddle Lamps ARE DONE!!

I'll give a picture by picture ending write up...

First I braided the wire together with electrical tape just to make it look pretty and so it wasn't sagging all over the place under the dash...

(disregard the dirty car)



Made sure it was long enough to reach from the drivers side to the passengers side where the power will be



I hid the wires through the dash and the bottom dash pieces and took off the runner board



Boom. you can still see a LITTLE wire peaking out. but it's hardly noticeable.



Then i brought the wires up to the A pillar



Now you have to wire them into this wire

The BLACK/WHITE wire in the a pillar

The black/white is the GROUND for the dome light when the doors and open/locked, etc.

The Blue/white is the POWER for the dome light. it's always running. but DONT tap into this, because you'll blow a fuse (personal experience)

Instead, tap into a fuse that's always on regardless of the car's power being on. (I used the memory seat (slider))



Next I hid the wires to the passenger side skirt






GREAT SUCCESS! AMERICA NUMBER ONE!!



(Night pictures to follow...)
Old 04-05-2009, 06:24 PM
  #25  
User Awaiting Email Confirmation
iTrader: (5)
 
nf3d0149ab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 41
Posts: 7,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post


Right on man!
Old 04-06-2009, 12:27 PM
  #26  
Pro
 
02CLNOS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Maryland
Age: 41
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
grate job give us some night Pict's!
Old 04-06-2009, 03:06 PM
  #27  
Senior Moderator
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
iTrader: (6)
 
97BlackAckCL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ShitsBurgh
Age: 43
Posts: 92,204
Received 4,465 Likes on 3,059 Posts
Nice work, so you tapped off the relay that turns the dome on and off?
Old 04-06-2009, 07:55 PM
  #28  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NIGHT SHOTS!

I really suck at nighttime photos (really photos in general) but you get the idea.

I am going to put LEDs in them you can see the difference in the second shot, I had one LED bulb sitting around so i tried it out. And yea, they go on and off and fade in and out with the dome light. as the doors are locked, unlocked, opened/shut.




Last edited by evan03CL; 04-06-2009 at 07:55 PM. Reason: wrong link for the second picture
Old 04-06-2009, 09:12 PM
  #29  
dont be mad
 
TypeStylinOnU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: GTA, Sauga
Age: 39
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
sorry i dont get the point of those lights....looks like fast and furious underglow
Old 04-06-2009, 09:21 PM
  #30  
Wait...I just blacked out
Thread Starter
 
evan03CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gainesville Florida
Age: 39
Posts: 639
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by TypeStylinOnU
sorry i dont get the point of those lights....looks like fast and furious underglow
have you read the entire thread or just looked at the pictures? haha, refer to my first post on the thread which describes the purpose/function of these lights
Old 04-06-2009, 10:10 PM
  #31  
User Awaiting Email Confirmation
iTrader: (5)
 
nf3d0149ab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Francisco
Age: 41
Posts: 7,786
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Wow...
Old 04-06-2009, 10:17 PM
  #32  
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
 
Flipster23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 35,747
Received 2,334 Likes on 1,962 Posts
sick dude have to get mine done
Old 04-07-2009, 11:33 AM
  #33  
B A N N E D
 
jaysizzlecity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: southside jamaica queens 130ave
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yo that's hot.........
Old 04-07-2009, 01:20 PM
  #34  
Pro
 
02CLNOS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Maryland
Age: 41
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
awesome job dude, stick with the blue/white led's
Old 04-07-2009, 04:48 PM
  #35  
dont be mad
 
TypeStylinOnU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: GTA, Sauga
Age: 39
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by evan03CL
have you read the entire thread or just looked at the pictures? haha, refer to my first post on the thread which describes the purpose/function of these lights
lol i didnt read itb4, but i read it now...and i still dont get it? they guide you, so that your foot doesnt hit the side lol.

do they turn on with the keyless entry switch?
Old 04-11-2009, 12:10 AM
  #36  
Socal
 
BIGBOOMER77's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North Hollywood, CA
Age: 35
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by TypeStylinOnU
lol i didnt read itb4, but i read it now...and i still dont get it? they guide you, so that your foot doesnt hit the side lol.

do they turn on with the keyless entry switch?
PUDDLE light man PUDDLE.....
Old 04-11-2009, 09:47 PM
  #37  
dont be mad
 
TypeStylinOnU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: GTA, Sauga
Age: 39
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by BIGBOOMER77
PUDDLE light man PUDDLE.....
oh so if theres a puddle at the side of your car u can see it and step over it...wikid
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cycdaniel
1G TSX Performance Parts & Modifications
8
12-17-2019 10:58 AM
oyayjoe
Member Cars for Sale
3
01-01-2019 10:17 PM
BoricuaTL
Car Parts for Sale
138
04-08-2016 01:08 PM
oyayjoe
Member Cars for Sale
1
09-12-2015 04:40 PM
Nicho863
3G TL Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
1
09-02-2015 08:12 AM



Quick Reply: TL sidekirts / Puddle Light DIY



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:47 AM.