After seeing what MightyP had done with his DRLs I thought I would try something similar with my tC and in the process of looking for similar lights to what he had I thought of using them as interior lighting for under the dash as well.

Instead of taking up one of the switches like the Scion kit does I decided I rather have the lights just come on and off when I open my doors or turn on the dome lights. Today I tapped into the dome lights and was able to get the lights to work when I opened the door and when I turned the dome lights on and off. So it's pretty easy to do and if requested I will post up a DIY when I'm done. The difficult part will be running the wire.

If I'm tapped directly into the dome lights I have to run wire from the roof, down the a-pillar and out of the bottom of the dash to where my lights will be. I'm more than willing to do this but before I started running wire and tearing apart my A-pillar (which I will now have to find a way to do, it doesn't just pop off, or so it appears) I was wondering if any one knew of another area to tap into that will have the same effect where I won't have to run so much wire from the dome lights down to the dash. I did some google searching and noticed that other cars have found a way to do this but nothing for our oh so brand new tCs.

I know I could go testing wires myself to see if there are other ones I could tap into but to do that would take just as much time as running the wire. So I figured I'd ask here and see if any one else already knew something. Otherwise I'll get started tonight =)

 

very interesting idea!

if its too much trouble just do a text DIY (no pictures)...
or pictures of ur hand point at which ever side needs to be pulled first + descriptive instructions

anyways...would tapping into the rear dome lights be any better?

 

Well in the 1st gen TCs I tapped into my fuse box(the one inside the car) and worked from there. Alot cleaner

 

So I was impatient, like always, and just decided to go ahead with it anyways. It was actually really easy to do. The hardest part was actually running the wire.

The photos are pretty bad quality but hopefully they'll give you an idea of what I did.

Instead of tapping into any wires I actually tapped directly into the bulb. I was going to tap into the wires but I broke one of my taps and already started to install and just wanted to get things done. From there I just ran the wire along the ceiling, down the A-pillar and under the dash. There's actually a very good point where the A-pillar meets the dash near the front of the windshield that will allow you to drop the wire down and feed directly under the dash. I then just connected to wires to the lights I had and double-sided taped them underneath the dash so they couldn't be seen unless you actually stuck your head under the dash and looked for them. That's really how easy it is. I'll upload a video when it gets darker out so you can see how it fades on and off with the dome light and doors.

 

Good stuff! I've been thinking about doing the same thing, just haven't gotten around to it. I am curious how you are pulling power from the light socket... Just seems like the wires wouldn't get a good connection.

P.S. I got my LEDs from Autozone for $30 I believe. Kind of expensive, but they fit in the grille perfectly.

 

Here's a link to a crappy quality video I did on my phone tonight just so you can see what it looks like and how it operates.
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9639/3sa.mp4

@MightyP I've only had it for the night but I drove a bit today and haven't had a problem with anything. The wires are secure in the housing and I taped them to the bulb so we'll see how it holds up.

These are the LEDs I bought: http://cgi.ebay.ca/Unversal-24-Red-LED-car-flexible-strip-neon-light-12-V-/170603414339?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b8c18343

 

I would never get anything from autozone that you can get from ebay or online. Its way too over priced

 

^ Agreed. But sometimes I pay for.immediate gratification.

 

same minute shipping would probly cost a couple hundred bucks so If you want it asap then store aint that overpriced haha

 

so does anyone know how to remove the whole dome light assembly?

 

I didn't actually remove the entire assembly. I just pushed up on the ceiling beside it a bit and there was plenty of room to work with. I'm pretty sure that's what you'll have to do to take it apart as well. I saw a few bolts in there that look like they need to be removed to pull out the housing.

 

You can pop it out easily its only 4 plastic nipples. As for wiring it to underside of bulb I strongly disagree with doing it that way. It's easier to put the wires on the contact points on the bulb carrier

 

^ I did it that way first and the heat from the bulb melted my wires

 

is there a certain amount you can put on the dome lights? because theres 5 spots i want to place led strips that would feed off the front dome. then 2 more strips that would feed off the rear dome. would that be too much?

 

First replace the stock bulbs with LEDs. Stock bulbs draw 820mA of current. LEDs will draw roughly 120mA. I don’t know what the fuse is rated for but obviously it’s way more than the stock bulbs are rated for. On average an LED strip draws up to 130mA. My 48 LED strip draws 100mA and another 30 LED strip draws 130mA. I can’t see any strip drawing more than 150mA-200mA. Unless its 5 feel long of course lol! SO…check the rating of the strips if its not available then use my estimates. If the LEDs are rated in watts then just divide the watts by 12 to get the amperes.

You’re probably will be fine even stocks but to be safe get the LEDs first.

Here:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...-x6.htm#photos

 

thanks man. and i already got the slim led plate things for my domes. if i did everything i wanted to do. for the front dome i would have a total of 4 1/2 feet of led strips. and the rear dome with a total of 2 feet. the rear should be fine. its the front that im worried about.

 

what kind are the LEDs?
Where did you get them?

 

http://http://www.oznium.com/led-ribbon

 

your 4.5 feet will draw roughly 600mA. Looks fine to me. You should also install a fuse there in case anyone of the strips gets damaged/shorted out.

 

Would it be possible to wire them to the open door sensors? Rather than going up to the domes?