I'm planning to install puddle lights on my 2004 TSX and have been studying my Helm's to figure out how I'm going to wire the lights.

I want the lights to come on when the car is unlocked via FOB or a door is opened. Some people that have already done this mod identified the dome lights as fitting perfectly because they come on and fade out w/ the unlock command and turn on w/ the door

On pg 22-180 the wiring diagram looks like White/Blue is the line to tap. But I also want to put in a switch to a hot wire so I could turn on the lights as needed (photo shoot etc.). The diagram isn't clear on what the hot wire being used by the dome light is however?

And last question, I'm pretty new at wiring cars, what's the best way to run the wires from the left and right side of the car to the under fash fuse box?

 

Where did you plan to tap into the white/blue wire?
To run the wires from the right to the fuse box, I would just run them along the foot well area under the carpet. You could run them along the front of the ECU and up under the dash to the fuse box. You'll probably have to remove the R dust boot for this, but you might be able to just get away with sliding them underneath. For the left side run them under the panels along the doors sills. You just have to take off some of the panels on the door sill. They are held on by clips so you just pop them off. Check the Helm's for the clip locations.

 

are you planning on to do this like JDM style lights lights under the side skirts like hawiantsx has.

 

hey Xizor, maybe you can do a write-up for this.... I've been wanting to put puddle lights underneath the side mirrors (there's an existing hole which looks perfect for an LED), but still trying to find time for it. I also want to wire another set of brighter footwell lighting to go with it (I already have a set with blue LED's for ambient lighting that turn on with the interior lights).

Can you take a picture of the white/blue wire that you're taping into?

 

I just took a quick look at that page. If you want to mimic the dome light behavior, it looks like you need to tap the white/blue and also the green or green/red. The white/blue is the hot wire, the other two are ground, but connected by a transistor, allowing it to dim. To have the light stay on at all times, you need a switch that acts just like the ceiling light or map lights in the diagram. You'd need a two-way (or three-way if you want off), and connect it to ground to keep it on. No need to run anything from the fuse box.

 

that is the plan, mine are white however

I'll do a whole write up, got all the parts I need, now its just a matter of planning out installation and wiring and doing it

 

got it, thanks that's a huge help! i'm a newb at wiring and didn't realize what all the symbols meant. i didn't realize the dome light switch was switching grounds not power.

 

hey xizor when you are done definitly do a right up cause I would also like to do these. I wish they just made them ready to buy.

 

Ok, I'm trying to get these wired up this weekend. I've got the wires I need to tap down, but I'm not sure where exactly the green or green/red are located. white/blue for power comes from the fuse box, but the diagram 22-180 shows gr and gr/rd (ground) coming from a box w/ transistor. 22-188 shows gr and gr/rd are in the fuse box... but is that before or after the transistor?

 

Sounds neat, but I'm averse to drilling any holes underneath the car. I'll be interested to see the writeup, to see what has to be done! I've got some blue LEDs I was planning to put (maybe) under the dash -- I think that's doable without getting into too much trouble! But having the light outside sure does a better job of showing off.

 

Don't want to lead you in the wrong direction as I've not done this myself, but going back over the diagram, you should be able to tap everything at the fuse panel. The green wire in the diagram might be localized within the map light housing, it's not clear to me, but the gr/red wire is connected to the MICU, which is/is in the fuse panel. 22-189 lists a diagnostic test involving connection of the gr/red wire to ground which should result in the ceiling lights turning on, so my take is that tapping the gr/red wire as the ground for your lights should allow them to behave as the ceiling lighting. However, again, not having done it myself, I can't say for sure. Good luck.

 

Hope this helps X. I took the pic from this thread.
https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-video-electronics-navigation-22/sirius-sat-radio-install-287187/

 

Oh yeah, I think I saw that thread and forgot about it. I need to get some fuse taps like those....

As for what has power when, you should be able to test what works with a multimeter or test light.

 

thanks for the pic, but unfortunately I don't need constant power or accessory power. the power is from the door unlock/key fob and the ground is from the dome lights. i think spoon's confirmation that red/gr is in the fuse box makes me confident that I can tap the white/blue fuse and red/gr w/o too much trouble. tsx.fury and i will be wiring up the lights on Sat. hopefully

 

Oh okay. I gotcha

Good luck with that this weekend.

 

Spoon do you know how to reach the MICU? I believe its above the fuse box and instructions on 22-189 say to remove the lower kick panel, but I can't get 1 of the 4 clips out, arg!