The factory Scion under-dash lighting is way overpriced, and not very bright. So I went to Fry's to find a better solution.

Materials needed:
Cold Cathode computer case lights $14.00 each includes switch (2 or 4 depending if you want to put them under the seats)
Wire about 10' long
Butt connectors (or wires can be soldered)
Female spade connectors
Split loom
Zip ties

Tools needed:
Philips screwdriver
12mm socket
Wire stripper/crimper


The install:
First go to Fry's and get some of these lights
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light1.jpg
next, zip tie the lights under the dash. There are some brakets, and a cable to tie them to.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light2.jpg
next, pop off the knock out where you want your switch (you can mount it anywhere you want, but I wanted mine here)
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light3.jpg
next, drill a hole in the knock out for the switch.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light4.jpg
I didnt have a large enough drillbit, so after drilling the 1/8" hole, then stepping up to 3/8", i emlarged it to the correct size with a dremel.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light5.jpg
next, remove the philips screw in the rear of the console, under the felt pad. Remove the console but pulling up at the front.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light8.jpg
next, locate the green wire that goes into the blue plug (this is not used on the cars with manual transmissions) Cut the wire close to the plug and strip the insulation. Crimp a butt connector on the green wire, and a section of wire to the other end. This is your power wire. Run the wire under the carpet to the switch. Crimp a female spade connector on the end of the wire, and attatch to the switch, You will have to remove the plastic cover below the dash, just in front of the console. There is a fastener on the right side of it, then it just pulls off.
attach a ring terminal to another wire and then secure the ring terminal to one of the bolts on the module just in front of the parking brake. This is your ground.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light12.jpg
Run the ground wire up to the dash like you did with the power wire.
On the lights that you tied under the dash, clip off the black and yellow wires about 4" from the black box. Do not cut off the black box! Strip the wires and attach the black wire to the ground you just ran from under the console. Attach another wire to the yellow wire coming from the light, attach the other end of that wire to the remaining terminal on the switch with another female spade connector.
Tuck the black box under the carpet under the dash.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light9.jpg
cover all of your wiring with split loom, and zip tie in place for a factory look.
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light7.jpg
You can now test your work
http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light11.jpg
Put the lower dash cover and the console back in. Clean up and go enjoy a frosty beverage. You are done!

great stuff randy...

did the button come with the cathode?

Randy,

Great job on another idiot proof documentation. This is very helpful information. Keep documenting your mods then you can compile it in a book called "Modding your Scion for dummies"

excellent post, randy. i have one little suggestion. if the light shines up at you when you are driving, through the steering column, then you can put a piece of electrical tape over the top and it will only shine down, not up at you.

hey... randy...

will the green wire work as the power supply for the A/T?

excellent post, randy. i have one little suggestion. if the light shines up at you when you are driving, through the steering column, then you can put a piece of electrical tape over the top and it will only shine down, not up at you.

i may do that. actually i wont, its in kristals car so it really doesnt bother me. :D

Randy >> So I see how you are. You ditched me and decided to go and make your own FAQs to get the credit all to yourself and steal my FAQ template!!. :evil:

Anyways, great install FAQ. Next you need to somehow get a Mini-disco ball to attach to the roof with lights shining on it.

i'll pass on the disco ball. the next mod will be the Lambo gas cap door.
mmmmmmuuuuuwwwwwaaaaaahhhhhhaaaaaaaa.

excellent post, randy. i have one little suggestion. if the light shines up at you when you are driving, through the steering column, then you can put a piece of electrical tape over the top and it will only shine down, not up at you.

i may do that. actually i wont, its in kristals car so it really doesnt bother me. :D

LMAO! Just wait till she sees your post.

Hey Randy,

can u post pix of the second cathode rod installation...just wondernig exactly how u connected the yellow to yellow and black to black wires...

if u don't have any pix..it's coo...

are the cold cathode that much brighter that the LCD tubes?

Hey Randy,

Thanx for the DIY instructions... i just installed my cold cathode rods...and they look great...

I have an A/T xB...so i was forced to split the power source (green wire)...but it works great. The whole installation took me about 1 hour... the most time consuming part was drilling the proper size hole for the switch...it looks more difficult than it is...i almost cut my finger off~

ne ways...just wanted to thank you...

next on my mod list...is to drop my car 2". I'll be contacting u for the install...thx again Randy.

heres the wiring diagram showing how simple it actually is
http://home.earthlink.net/~randode/diagram.jpg

Yo Randy!! Thx for the drop bro! Excellent guide! I'll be onto my light installation ASAP. =)

Yoo da man! 8)

nice FAQ - thank you for posting that!

One question: is the power source always on? or is it on only with the parking lights on? when the door opens?

nice FAQ - thank you for posting that!

One question: is the power source always on? or is it on only with the parking lights on? when the door opens?
if you tap intop the green wire, they will be on when the running lights or headlights are on. unless you switch them off. I have a plug and play version of this if you want to buy one allready done. All colors in stock.

are there any posted pics of a color besides blue in someones car?

okay i just saw the purple pics but are there any others?

okay i just saw the purple pics but are there any others?
i have green in mine, i grabbed some pics at sundays meet of some white and some blue. i will post them tomorrow.

yay!

im retarded. i forgot to grab my camera this morning. damnit!

Great DIY Post - I bought my coldcathodes at http://www.elwirecheap.com - they're only 11.99 for a pair of 12" Cold cathodes & they come in a variety of colors. They're in Los Angeles, so shipping was cheap, fast (they came the next day) and best of all, they didn't even charge tax!

http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light12.jpg

the green wire by the blue plug, for automatic, what does it supply voltage to? is it only for shifter illumination? i already manage to hook up 2 CC in the front, will i have any problem tapping another 2 for the back? i just don't want to overload the green wire.
so, anyone with automatic did it? since when?
thanks,
sid

http://www.compakintl.com/rw/light12.jpg

the green wire by the blue plug, for automatic, what does it supply voltage to? is it only for shifter illumination? i already manage to hook up 2 CC in the front, will i have any problem tapping another 2 for the back? i just don't want to overload the green wire.
so, anyone with automatic did it? since when?
thanks,
sid
the green wire is power to the lights in the automatic shifter. You wont overload it with 4 cathodes. Cathodes hardly draw anything.

thanks randode!
i guess i'll do another trip to fry's :D
can't get enough cathode!!!
sid

Great DIY Post - I bought my coldcathodes at http://www.elwirecheap.com - they're only 11.99 for a pair of 12" Cold cathodes & they come in a variety of colors. They're in Los Angeles, so shipping was cheap, fast (they came the next day) and best of all, they didn't even charge tax!

http://store1.yimg.com/I/glowingstuff_1772_1320614

is this the set you ordered?
another question...where did you connect them to? how did you do it? (i'm no electric-guy or anything) do you have an on/off switch? or did you run them to a different power source?

in the wiring diagram, what the heck are the black boxes??

in the wiring diagram, what the heck are the black boxes??
power inverters

so, there are four? i only have one :x

Hey randode...do you have pics of your "plug and Play" installation??? And how "plug and Play" is it really??

so, there are four? i only have one :x

I'm running 11 :lol:

I've got 8 of them, under each side of the dash; under the front of the seat bracket; the back of the seat bracket; and under the slider track on the inside.

It's actually not very difficult to pull power directly off of the battery, which is what I did.

I am not familiar with cold cathode, but i know of the drawbacks and advantages fo the alternatives. My question is: do they draw a lot of current? Do they have a noise, like neon?

I am not familiar with cold cathode, but i know of the drawbacks and advantages fo the alternatives. My question is: do they draw a lot of current? Do they have a noise, like neon?
No big current draw, no noise and no drawbacks :D . I have 10 in my car. 6 inside and 4 under the hood.

Very little power draw, completely silent.

To answer the earlier question, i've got red ones and i'll be taking pictures later.

i have the rs1 with the factory lights. can i tape into the wires that run to the switch for them? or will there be a problem running cc and led's from the same switch? not familiar with this light stuff sorry. any help would be great

i went to fry's too and got the cathodes too. i bought the ones that were 14.99 for 2 12" ones. i think that was a bad choice, as they cracked so quickly. if you want to get your lights to be one w/o turning on your car or even the putting the key in, go through the back of the center console.

If you want good cheap cathodes, go to svc.com. I got 5 two tube, dual inverter kits shipped for about $45. I'll be putting them in the car soon, and I'll try to get some pics when I do. I spent the afternoon today hooking up my amp :)

unlmtdndeavor, the first time I did mine I got the exact same things at Fry's and one broke the next day. I think the guy at the car wash touched it. The last few times I have ordered from svc.com as well and I get them in 2-3 days. Never had a problem with them.

I just did my brothers car with 6 under dash/seats, door handles, glove box, engine, and trunk. This saturday I'm getting underbody kits for both our cars but I have never installed them so it'll take awhile.

Door handles? Sounds interesting...

i think imma go return the ones i got. im kinda ____ed. the worst part is, i was storing one set in the compartment in the trunk. and cuz i unbolted my rear section, the heat was hitting right there, melted some of the styrofoam inside...and melted the box...there goes 15 dollars

which wire do you connect it to if you only want them to come on when a door is opened? :?:

Just buy Randy's kit. It's a lot easier. Took me three hours but I'm slow and very careful and double check everything and I stopped for sodas. 8)

Hate to beat a dead topic like this, but I was reading this over and ordered a couple sets of CCFL... and ill be installing them shortly. However, i have spoken with some friends and I have been informed that many cops dont like interior lighting of the magnitude that cold cathode seems to achieve... Can anyone verify that either cops frequently pull you over with them lit or not? Or are you simply turning them on for show and not while driving?

Hate to beat a dead topic like this, but I was reading this over and ordered a couple sets of CCFL... and ill be installing them shortly. However, i have spoken with some friends and I have been informed that many cops dont like interior lighting of the magnitude that cold cathode seems to achieve... Can anyone verify that either cops frequently pull you over with them lit or not? Or are you simply turning them on for show and not while driving?
i've never been stopped for it. if you do get stopped, tell them it came that way.