it all makes sense now haha thanks for clearing it all up and the fast response!

 

You're welcome =)

One of the best mods ever.
It's kinda weird getting into a car with no footwell lighting for me now lol

 

Alright,

First, this is possible with a MT, but it is the exact opposite of fun, tying into that dome light is about a nightmare.

Second, if you're running the back lights all the way to the back seat, do yourself a favor and use a clothes hanger to run your wires under the trim that separates the front and back doors.

Thanks for the awesome write up, plan on doing the puddle lights next, just didn't have time tonight.

Also did this in red, if you want pictures of red on a gray interior, just let me know.

 

I followed your write up word for word. I cant get power to my lights. Everything is tight and power seat works... not sure what im missing

 

How were you able to get the green connector out for the MT? I was just looking at mine and I'm pretty sure I can feel that green connector back there, but I don't have mirror I can get in there to confirm. Did you have to unplug anything else or just keep at it for a long time?

 

I kept at it for awhile, I had some liquid motivation/courage, it is the top most one and is literally right where guitarplayer put the circle, I really wasn't certain it was the right one until I got it out, if you get it out, make sure your splice connection is done really well before you put it back in, learned that one the hard way...

 

Thanks! Finally got it. For anyone else who's struggling with this, here's how I was able to get it disconnected without being able to get much of a grip due to the clutch pedal assembly.

1. Remove the bottom 10 mm bolt holding in the fusebox. Don't remove the top one as it looks like it would be really hard to get back in.

2. Push down the clip on the green 5-pin connector and try to apply some pressure back from the connector. With your left hand gently pull the opposite way on the little tab on the right side of the fuse box (toward the pedal). It would really help to be double jointed, but I was able to contort myself enough to reach it.

Of course can't guarantee this will work 100% of the time, but I was very happy it worked for me! Later tonight, I'm going to try to get both the puddle lights and footwell lights installed.

 

nice wright up man

 

I'll be doing this mod this weekend as long as the strips come in on time. I plan on using the original DIY except I want to have a switch to also turn the lights on at any time. I plan using a 3 way switch like the one I have attached. I'm going to put it between the splice of the green/red wire and the negative wires of the LED strips. I will use the switch to switch between the:

I-green/red wire which will allow the doorstills to just come with the dome light

II-an actual ground connection, which when selected will allow the lights to come on at any time

O-in the middle which would completely turn the lights off

does this sound about right?

 

Sound correct =)

 

For some reason, i can't get a full connection even after tapping into the green supervisor wire. I was wondering if you actually had to pull the plug out of the socket? Cause i just tapped into it while the plug was still attached. Thanks!

 

I left you a visitor message since you can't receive private messages yet.

You'll need to pull the connector to have enough room.

 

Hey thanks for replying so quick! Okay, after you pulled out the connector though, you have to plug it back in right? If so, then i gotta recheck my tap

 

Yes, always plug things back in

Use a multimeter if you have one to check if there's anything coming out of your tap.

 

Can I ask why you used the power lead from the dome light? I have the super computers sills and have them wired up to a power source just in front of the front doors on each side.

With installing these new ones I'll have it so that each sill only lights up when the particular door is open even though 1 inverter will power each side. I'll use a zener diode on the ground leads to the door to ensure that the ground contact doesn't register for both doors when one is open.

 

Glad you asked.

Door sills don't serve the same purpose as footwell LEDs.

When I make DIYs I seek the most efficient and OEM like way.
Tapping into one source - efficient.
OEM Like- no footwell leds only come on with one door, from what I know of.
Most cars with OEM footwells have them all come on with one door open.

Hope that explains it.

Now if I had illuminated door sills, I would wire it your way.
Different mods we're talking here, different purpose lol

 

That's the fun thing about modding though, you do it like you want it.
Personally I'd want my footwell to all light up independent of the door that is open. It's just an opinion. :-)

 

Another reason why I (and many) chose to tap them into the dome supervision wire is because they dim out after the doors are closed.

 

Argh! Sorry, I have both this thread open and the DIY for the acrylic illuminated door sills open in tabs right beside each other. Got messed up as to which thread I was reading.

Although for the foot wells something similar could be accomplished by using the same power points as the door sill install and combining the grounds from the doors together (with diodes) and could even have it switched still. All without having to go to the dome light for power. I could lay out the wiring if anyone is interested.

After looking at your wiring setup in the first post that would probably be easiest anyways. Similar setup but the way I was thinking would have a little bit of soldering required so yours is definitely more user friendly.

 

Figured something was up lol

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your door sills

 

Anyone have the pictures from the OP saved by any chance?

 

I see them just fine, what's the issue?

 

They weren't showing up on my computer but I see them just fine on my phone. Weird. Sorry for this waste of a thread bump!

 

I have my pictures hosted on photobucket, should be good
Imageshack is the host I'm worried about, they delete the pictures on there if you don't pay for membership.

I'm also quite active on here if you want pictures right from the source

 

is there any better info on how to get the 5 pin harness out? what a PITA that harness is!

 

Here's the method I use for cars I work on:

Unbolt the two bolts holding the fuse box. One top, one bottom. Top one is harder to see.

Move the fuse box until you can fit your left hand behind it.
Then with your right hand, from the front of the fuse box, depress the clip while your left hand pulls on the harness.

 

So I just tried wiring up the led using the parking light wire. Since my goal was to have the led cone on when I use the parking and low beam lights
So I hooked up the positive wire to the driver power seat slide and the negative to the parking light wire. But the results are the opposite of what I wanted. LEDs stay on when the lights are off reguardless of if the key is in the ignition and the lights go off when I flip on the parking or low beams

Which wire do I need to tap for the negative wire so the leds only stay on when the lights are turned on?

 

wired mine up and im pretty happy with the results.. just have the fronts setup for now, i might do the rear seats one day

 

Just finished this task using this guide. Thanks!

Holy hell, the plug for the dome wire is awkward af to get to with the quick splice, I almost put it too close to the plug, causing a space issue. But excellent finished product. Comes on and fades out ,easy peasy.

 

 

I just finished this on my 2nd gen.
I tapped into the harness nearest to the dome light for me, the add a fuse method didn't work for me since the fade option did not work. Tapped to the dome it does.
No pics yet, I'll wait until tonight.

 

Blurry

 

will be trying out on my car thanks for the guide!

 

I've been searching all over, I swear there used to be a DIY for this that involved using the cigarette lighter slot in the center console. I'd feel more comfortable doing it that way. Anyone have a link to that?

 

Hmm. So you'd be more comfy doing it the wrong way?

 

 

There is also a 4th option, turns on with dome and also turns on with parking lights. It involves (2) relays, one for positive and one for negative. So for these relays the 87A is on until the relay gets energized on 85 from parking lights and then the leds will now get power from parking lights. For the ground, the leds will get dome light ground so they will turn on with dome but as soon as the relay is energized on 85 again, the ground now comes from a standard ground. So when the parking lights are on, the leds no longer get power from the fuse or ground from the dome, but get it power from parking lights and standard ground. Alternatively you can wire 87 on the power relay to be from the battery if you're worried about load on parking light.

WIth the parking lights on the dome negative and the fuse will be isolated on the 87A, they no longer matter if the parking lights are on and the relays are energized. When parking lights go back off, the footwell lights will be off and only work if the dome light is triggered.

Relay Diagram Footwell, on with dome and on with parking

 

GP16 - thanks for the thorough write up. I have saved this thread for years, and just bought the stuff to do it, lol *However* I'm just now reading about the struggles the 6MT owners will have in reaching the 5-pin harness. Thanks to Dracura, CrazyEigths, Splew, Viet, and Sick TLS for adding their experience on how to get the connector out while dealing with the clutch pedal blocking access though. I'm still not sure about when the best option will be for me to get at it. Are there any other 6MT tips, or a summary of options, for getting at this connector?

I want the LEDs to come on when the door is opened and turn off when the door is closed (preferably dim with the dome lights)

Thanks,
James

 

Ok, so Id like to add capability to have these on a toggle, one side to come on and fade off to the dome supervisor , and an "on" .

I've installed the lights and hooked up to the DS wire. but want them on sometimes besides with the domes.

How do I use two souces?

 

It depends on how you have them wired. (I haven't read the install in a long time so don't remember it)
1. Do you have a constant ground to them with switched power (such as power coming from dome light)?
2. Do you have a constant power to them with switched ground (such as ground triggered from dome light)?

If number 1 above then you could do the following
1. You need a secondary power source. The accessory fuse (#32 7.5A I think) on the interior fuse panel is an option (by using an add a fuse) or you can tap into the power leads to the cigarette lighter sockets.
2. You need two 12v diodes of proper type (fast switching renner diodes I believe). Two diodes assumes that currently a single power lead powers all the LEDs that you want to do this with (if not then this will change things). These have to be placed in line from each main line coming from both power sources. This will prevent power from one source powering the components on the other source. (i.e. if you turn it on via switch, it won't turn on dome light, without the diodes the dome light would come on)
3. After diodes are put in line from each power source, then just connect both power leads (after the diode) to your LED power input line.

That is high level explanation assuming you know what I'm talking about in how to use diodes. If that stuff doesn't jive with the install instructions or if option 2 (switched ground) is done, then others can speak up as to correct process to do that.