i'm not sure if this has already come up before. if it has, i haven't been able to find it yet. ....

i have an '06 xa and i was reading about the cold cathode installs that have been done on here, and obviously i want to install them on my car. in my center console (right in front of the hand brake) i have an "aux" input and the "ipod" input jacks. there is a space i can cut to add another switch there, and i noticed that there is another molex connector there...i'm not sure if this is for the optional interior led lighting or not. but i do know that it is for something, as i have noticed that my car had a lot of pre-run stuff already. so here are my questions.... [keep in mind there are 3 wires to this connector. (red/black, green/white and white black)]

1. is this connector for the led option?

2. if it is, can i just use it for the switch and run power to the cathodes off of it?

3. if it's not....what the heck is it for?

 

If you're referring to the connector I believe you are, it is not for the L.E.D. option. If you have an automatic transmission, it provides the illumination for the gear indicator. That being said, it does have 12VDC and ground supplied to it, so it can be used as a take off for your lighting project. The coolest thing (IMO) is that voltage is controlled by your headlight switch, i.e., voltage will only be supplied when your parking or headlights are on.

Mike

 

well, if you're right....that's awesome! but...mine is a 5 speed. thanks for the reply, and i hope you're right. i decided to just go down to the dealer to ask in the morning. ...i'll post the answer to my question up here tomorrow if anyone else wants to know.

 

according to the tech, yes you were right mike. the scions use the same harness for both the mt and at. one of them was for...the lock?...i think that's what he said. and the other one was for the light for the auto shifter. as far as prewire goes...they don't do that. i guess that would help keep costs down.

 

Be careful when installing CCFT power converter on that circuit. The dimming is not done by changing the voltage. It is done by PWM. So it is always 12 volts but it pulses to give less average voltage to the lightbulbs. Some power converters might not deal well with a PWM power.

 

Incase anyone was wondering PWM means Pulse Width Modulator/Modulated

 

hah...thanks....actually, i'm planning on just splicing it off of the lighter. he said that's what they use for power every time they install the interior leds. i need to go back and read that other thread. i have so many options. and when it comes to electronics i just know how to wire and connect.

 

You know something....

Look at this thread and the link in the second post....

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=99071

let me know if this helps you! i haven't done it yet but when I am done with my new "dome" light fixture, this is what i plan to splice into...
- sh00k

 

well, it seems that i've changed my mind back to using the blue connector then. i know it's the one that is for lighting up the auto tranny light. so it does supply power.....


hey peteski or SmokingTires....if you guys watch this thread...or anyone that knows about this.

does that blue connector apply to having the "PWM" issue?

if it does, then that might make sense on why it would cause the lights to be dimmer....(because it's tied into the same circuit that dims everything else on the dash)...i think.

thanks for the link midtown

 

well, i got it done! it's kinda slapped together right now because i didn't have a soldering gun in the office, nor did i have etape. so i just used some scotch tape for now haha.

i ended up using the white connector (i still don't know what it is)...unfortunately it only allows me to turn the lights on when the ignition is set to on. so, i'll try with the blue connector again. or maybe i'll just run it off the stupid lighter. it came out clean though. i set them up on the oem switch from oznium, and i put the switch right next to the factory ipod connection...well, enough is enough. if i write anymore i'll try to put it on a more relevant post like the cathode's for $10 thread.

late, and thanks to everyone for the help

 

ok, so just a quick question...
im buying some of those LED spotlight things and i want to hardwire them in... but i was looking for a power supply that would turn them on with the headlamps. so if i splice into the wire u guys are talking about, id pretty much be set?

 

^^ supposedly the blue connector in your center console is what powers the light for an auto tranny shifter. you might want to try looking at the thread midtown posted....

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=99071

it'll lead you to another thread (the second post)

other than that...i've got nothin' for you. i'm still a noob when it comes to this lighting business. this was my first lighting mod.

good luck!

 

Yeah, follow the threads posted by midtowndesi and emokid158. Even thought those tap into the PWM dimmed circuit, I don't think you'll blow up anything. If anything, the CCFL might start flashing or pulsating. In that case, you'll have to find another circuit.

And as you've found out, lighter circuit turns off when the ignition is off. If you want to have constant 12V supply, radio usually has that on one of the wires (for memory backup).

 

the led's worked great in the blue connector! it was an easy install. thanks for all the help