02 - Light Frenzy

I got these Alpena 24 inch Flex LED strips from my local AutoZone. They are available in multiple colors including white, amber, red, and blue. Each 24 inch package contains two 12 inch strips. The strips have 3M foam adhesive mounting tape. The strips can be cut into 3-LED modules, so after cutting a 24 inch package yields twelve 3-LED modules, each 2 inches long.

I used the Alpena white LEDs to improve the lighting in the cargo area by adding two 3-LED modules at the top of the C-pillars. The LED modules get their power from the existing cargo light fixture and are controlled by the existing cargo light switch. I also replaced the incandescent bulb in the cargo light fixture with a 6-LED 31mm Festoon style lamp from eBay. (Later I discovered that 28mm would have fit better.)

I added two 3-LED puddle light modules, mounted externally on the underside of the left and right side mirror mounts. For power and ground, I tapped into the dome light wires that run inside the driver's A-piller. Thus the puddle lights activate in the same manner as the dome light (turns on with remote unlock, on with any door open, time delay fade out, etc).

You will see this connector box after you pull the driver's knee panel. The 3 wires to the dome light connect to the white 8-conductor plug in the center of the picture:

• the upper left wire is constant ground

• the middle right wire is constant power

• the lower left wire is fade-in/fade-out ground

Be careful! If you short out the dome light ECU it costs ~ $400 to replace.

I added one 3-LED module per footwell. The four footwell lights are mounted on panels for the driver and front passenger, and under the front seats for the rear passengers. Like the puddle lights, the footwell lights get their power and ground from the dome light circuit, so they fade on and off with the dome light.

I added one 3-LED module per door, mounted under the armrest of each door. The four door-mounted courtesy lights all get their power from the dome light, however the ground for each light is via the local door switch. Thus a given door mounted courtesy light will only illuminate when that door is open.

I also replaced the incandescent bulb in the dome light fixture with a 12-LED panel from eBay.

So if you're keeping track, so far that's 2 cargo, 2 puddle, 4 footwell, 4 courtesy =

12 modules x 3 = 36 white LEDs.

Also 1 x 6 festoon = 6 white LEDs.

And 1 x 12 panel = 12 white LEDs.

While I was at it, I added a small instrument panel bulb to illuminate the glovebox when the glovebox door is open. The glovebox light is controlled by a pin switch taken from an older Toyota and the switch is mounted in the left side of the frame of the glovebox door. Power is from the dome light, and ground is controlled by the local pin switch.

I missed not having an illuminted ignition key at night, so I mounted a shrouded green LED to my steering column cover. A 750 ohm resistor wired in series keeps the LED happy. Power and ground are via the dome light circuit.

To control my new lights, I added 2 items to the panel on the left of the steering wheel.

The upper switch is for power to all non-cargo white LED modules, the single green ignition key LED, and the glovebox light. This switch is nomally left On unless the doors will be open for a long time. Even then, the power drain is mininal.

The lower knob controls the brightness of all the blue LED modules.

About a year later (July 2012) I replaced the glovebox bulb with a 3-LED module. In this picture you can see it mounted to the white plastic strip (with the hole that previously held a light bulb). Also you can see how my pin switch is mounted.

I also added a 3-LED module in the overhead console, to come on with the dome light and shine light onto the dashboard.