I'm thinking about doing the same. I don't understand why acura made it so faint.

I also noticed that it works different in certain cars. For example, in the Lexus IS, it is pretty bright, and on all the time.

However, in audis, it turns on when you're entering the car, then turns off when you start it. Strange

Either way, I'll try it later and order extra parts just incase i want it back to normal. Thanks!

btw, i didn't notice the TL had this until there was a day i was wearing white shoes.. Otherwise, you'd need to look pretty hard to see there's even light there.

 

Hmm this is a definite must...car looks way better and the mod has a practical use as well.

 

dont waist your money ordering the extra parts, your not going to want to go back....after the mod, the light is about the same as it was on my type s...the 4g tl is just way to dim, you dont even notice there is light down there...people would get in my type s all the time and notice the light on the floor and would say hey, thats pretty cool...

 

haha nice!

any before/after pics?

 

I've already taken some "exposure" pictures last night of when i did this mod. Unfortunately, when I post the pics up tonight, I think you'll all think the light is brighter than it actually is, but it's the camera exaggerating it. But I completely cut out all of the plastic and it looks fantastic without being too bright to distract you or make reflections in the windows at night.

 

ok, Im convinced. I will be doing this this evening. Just did my fog light mod and bored already.

 

agreed, its not too bright...just bright enough to light up the TL on the floor mat....

 

i just took one right now, it's midday but i'm the garage and i tweeked the contrast to try to best reproduce how it looks.

i've had it for a few days now and i don't think it's distracting at all. but.. I bet like me anyone here would be distracting themselves with it anyway

<a href="http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/tling6990/?action=view&current=L0134481.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa235/tling6990/L0134481.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

sorry wrong code

try to ignore the highlights, compare the brightness of the dash lights to the under-lights

 

Looks like i'll be doing that soon.

btw, are there lights under the front seats for the passenger footwells? I never checked :X

 

the lights you see in the pics are located under the dash...

 

The rear passengers............

 

Here are my pictures from doing the mod. Just keep in mind that overall, these make it look lighter than it actually was, but you can at least see the light spread.

 

no rear passenger footwell lights....

 

thx for answering my original question.......................................... ..

 

Just did the mod, took all of 10 min to do. I think the car should have come this way.

 

.

 

Just drill the plastic covers. Did it in 5 mins. I was surprised how easy it was to remove the panels specially the driver's side. Don't really need a before and after shot. I tried to take a before shot but there was nothing to take a picture of unless you look under and take a picture of the LED itself.

Easiest mod and actually quite a rewarding one. Thanks again!

 

holy brightness batman...is your dash and nav screen really that bright, or is it just the camera over exposing it....

also, you might consider having the service dept looking at your drivers seat...that bolster looks pretty bad, and they can and will replace it under warranty...

 

Guys, it seems like Acura has a habit of making the front underdash lighting too faint. The lighting is a good idea and a nice effect, but not executed too well. I took my Type S to a local stereo install shop and had them install 10 light LED's in both the front and rear footwell areas. The lighting comes on when the headlights come on (just like the OEM lights). Wow, what an improvement and a great look mod!

 

yea steven, but this mod is free, and takes less then 10 minutes and provides plenty of light...

 

Like I said, my camera really overexposed it a lot. The nav screen I had has the blue background for the map, but you can't even tell in the picture cuz it took in all of the light!

Anyway, you mentioned my seat bolster not being right and could be covered under warranty? I've never heard of that before, but am intrigued. Care to send me a PM if you have more info?

 

there was a bunch of folks in the 3g forum that had the seats redone under warranty that were showing like yours does...i would think the next time your have your car in for service you show it to them and let them know you are not pleased with that...they should recover it under warranty...

 

I traded in my TL for a ZDX and this mod works great on the ZDX too.

 

I've been looking for this thread. Couldn't find it and now it pops back up. Btw if I were to change out the bulb what bulb type are they?

 

Some people drilled them and some people mentioned buying the parts if you want to go back to original.
When I did mine all I did was took the entire cover of and painters taped the lights back in their place and put the covers in the glove compartment.
Don't think I'll put them back on, but it' easy in any case.

 

can anyone measure how big the holes you guys are drilling in MM?

 

Love it or hate it. I had these on my 06 TL, 08 RL and now on my 12 TL
These are blue LED strip. Not too bright or too dim. Just soft blue not too harsh that may cause any distraction

 

nice and bright!

 

not really sure you can change the bulb..

can anyone chime on this

 

^ I think you have to resolder the panel if you want to change the LED light. I think it's LED but can't confirm.....

 

Loooks like an LED but it looks like all onwe unit so it didn't appear as if the bulb could be changed?

 

Yea I just took a peek today. I was thinking about changing it to red. Probably can be done but I don't want to go through the hassle of getting a solder for red foot lights. I'm just gonna stick to drilling out the piece to make it more visible

 

i'm glad everyone is enjoying the mod. You can do it on ZDX as well. and prob all acuras with the stock oem light under the dash.

 

SWEET!!! i was gonna get under there when it gets warmer out to see what bulb it uses to see if i could replace it.. guess i just saved myself some money! haha

thanks op!!!

 

i remenber on my 2005 and 2007 tl, i could see them. but on my new 2012 tl, i was wondering if this feature was always here, because i was not able to seeit. thank you, i m going to look at it

 

So i did it on the driver side, great , thank you to OP

I would like to do it on the passenger side, but can't find how to take off the panel. I'm a chemist not a mecanic guy. So if someone could give me any hint or post some pictures thank you

 

Just get under there and you'll see. The are like three points where you need to pull on. It's not much harder than the driver side. Don't be scared to tug on yje panel a little harder. It will give way.

 

thank you, i have already been under. but when you say three points are they on the engine side or just under the hinge of the glove box. i mean is it like on the driver side the front could go down and the back of this panel is fastened at the back, not really fastened but there is like a pin at the back.

 

ok on one picture i understood how is it. do you need to insert a screwdriver or just pulling with my hands ?