FirePR2002

I'm very interested in how you do this last part - doors to dome - keep us posted! Keep on keepin' on!

Topher707

IM DONE!!! all doors wired to dome and working!!! ill have pics in about a hour or 2.

Topher707

inside front doors and dome LEDS from tec-toyz












I will get around to a DIY sometime soon.

cyde7399

Looks damn good. Im really looking forward to the DIY. Got a few questions.

nerosurge

Great work, don't forget about the rest of us for a D.I.Y.

xyrcncp

Looks great! Definitely will be looking forward to your DIY.

FirePR2002

That's the sweetness! How did you wire the leds to the dome light?

fsttyms1

With wire

xyrcncp

lol

911tl

good ............

FirePR2002

HAHA - smart ass in every crowd! Let me rephrase the question then - where did you connect the leds to the dome light (behind the headliner, dash, a-pillar, etc.)

z3Ro

y didnt any1 just get the kit instead of doing it from scratch...the kit is only like $40...its less work n it looks way cleaner

cyde7399

I'm curious about the connection thing and how many LED's you used and where you put them on the handle. They seem really well hidden and like the light is dispersed well.

Topher707

FIRST OFF, I am not responsible for any damages to your car or yourself.
SECOND, I would recommend liquid tape or some sort of adhesive to cover all the wires. I left mine with electrical tape on them on for about 3 days, and it was raining... When I went back to them 3 days later they had rust on them.

heres what you do:
1-pop the dome light cover off
2-uncsrew dome light from headliner/roof
3-note the color of the two wires coming out of the dome light
4-pop the front right pillar off. (these wires run down this pillar)
Since I couldn’t find these wires behind the fuse box, heres what i did
5-tap into these wires mid pillar. You must first figure out which one is pos and which is neg. I did this by stripping them and connecting a LED w/ resistor to each wire until it lit up)
NOTE: these two wires only get power when you press the unlock button on your remote.
6-run the wires from the dome tap down to the passenger side fuse box (aprox. 2-3 feet)
you will be connecting the door LEDs to this wire.

FirePR2002

Appreciate it, man. Pimp avatar!

jstahnke10

iTrader: (1)

Thanks! just curious though, are there going to be resistors needed and any other equipment other than the LEDs and wire?

xyrcncp

I think he said you would need a resistor if you use 5 leds like he did, but not if you use 4 of the 3-4V leds. Then again, I might have read wrong.

jstahnke10

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I read something like that too. But if i'm going to start running these in a series up to the front passenger side, I may have a total of 12 to 15 on a circuit. Plus, I'm not extremely electrical savvy. I can do basics, but when it comes to resistors, capacitor and such... I get lost.

xyrcncp

Same here....

Topher707

I only used ONE led per door handle. I put a resistor on each LED, then sent all the wires to the front passenger door panel.

jstahnke10

iTrader: (1)

would this work if there are two or three LEDs? I guess i'm wondering why the resistor is needed too? thanks!

Topher707

I am no electrician or anything but... The resistor is needed because the power wires in the car are at about 12 volts, and the LED only uses a little bit of energy.. so when 12 volts hit the LED it blows... so you have to put a resistor on to reduce the amount of current.

Like I said above, im not a pro, but I think it would work if you put 1 resistor and 2 or 3 LEDS. You really dont need that many LEDs...

I am almost done with the DIY. I need some input tho... My leds are sort of free hanging under the door handle, and I need a way to mount them.... any advise?

I tried super glue on one of them, and it seems to work ok.... but maybe some type of clear adhesive… like glue??

fsttyms1

Did you drill a hole to mount them? If so then id just use some epoxy or silicone to hold them in place

Topher707

No, there is a slot inside the left hand side of the door handle... I slid the wires through there, then ran them into the door.

no holes...

Topher707

^^ The slot is on the left side of the door handles on the passenger side, and the slot is on the right side on the driver side.

ThreePointTwoTeeEl

iTrader: (1)

I think he meant did you drill a hole to put the LEDs through the door handle, I think. But again, NICE!!!

FirePR2002

Can you fashion a grommet of some sort on the inside of the door to hold them tight in the hole? Without a photo, I'm kinda at a loss.

S1CK TypeS

calichris in your opinion do you think one LED is enough or would u go back and put more? where did you buy the LEDs?

Topher707

I think one is fine... If I was to consider adding more, I would not have more than two. I got my LEDs from china.... like a year ago. just go on ebay, they have great prices

S1CK TypeS

what do u guys think about the LEDs sold at radio shack?

Topher707

over priced

BENDER08

i would only use 2 leds if i could go back and re do it lol. five is so bright i grinded them down and the light is even threw out the handle... but i still light up the road at night


about the resistor they are needed to to not fry the led since the car gives out 12v and the leds are 3-5v the resistor holds the load and wont blow out the leds

i did the drivers side leds on the bottom of the door 15 leds glued and all soldered in and i forgot the resistors bam all the leds blown do now i get to redo it all over again.

also i wired the dome light to the door fuse and i get everything to light up when i push the unlock and or open the doors

ThreePointTwoTeeEl

iTrader: (1)

the ones at radioshack are not bright, I think the brightest one we have are like 5000 MCDs and its way larger than 3mm and its not even white haha.

z3Ro

how many of u guys have done this mod so far?

cyde7399

CaliChris: i tinkered with this mod a little bit the other night i know what you mean about the slot in the door handle. I haven't secured them in any way yet, but i was thinking i would use a clear silicone. I dont want to use epoxy because i dont want it that permentant. The bulbs wedge in there pretty good and dont need much more just to keep them there (used a #74).

I haven't had a chance to see how it looks though. My friend was helping me out and we wanted to make sure that it still it up so he went to stick the wires in the courtesy light plug and he "saw smoke". now none of my interior lights work and the fuse is so good so i have hit a wall.

Topher707

lol... just wait for my diy.. i need to fix my rear door leds... they aren’t working at the moment... so when i fix them ill take more pics. Sorry i have been slow on the DIY, i have worked 5 days straight, and i have another 2 in front of me. if im luck, DIY will be done tomorrow.

Also, I think im going to use clear silicone also.

BENDER08

ill have a diy soon too we'll have a couple then to choose from... im done with the front doors now im going to wire up and do the back doors....

and i used the 5mm led and i dont remember the size drill bit but there stuck i didnt even need silicone or glue but put some contact cement on the safe side...

and after the door mod im going to put two leds in the dome light where the glasses holder is like the 3g tl's

t7n7

aren't u guys happy that i started this tread? :P .... like look where this went.. i'm soo happy... now all our 2nd gen'ers can look HOTTT with this mod and its all thanks to a few speedy ppl here who got the job done and is helpin the others move foward with the mod! can't wait for the DYI.. .... if the weather gets better.. i might attempt it next weekend....

jstahnke10

iTrader: (1)

Thanks everyone! This thread is awesome! I really can't wait until it warms up and I can do this on my car! ...and I really couldn't do it without all of you! Thanks

t7n7

.... seriously guys... this is one of the best exteriors mods for the price eh.... gOOD STUFF!!