First of all the info needed to remove the center dash is in the Tech section in the repair manual 71- through 71-27
one source for LED's is at
http://www.theledlight.com/5mmcoloredleds.html or
http://www.autodirectsave.com/LED_lights_wired.asp

OK all you'll need is a phillips screw driver, either red or white reflective tape, the LEDs, wire connectors, a wire crimping tool, and the rocker switch {got @ Lowes it fits the OEM hole}, and a microfiber cloth
Since the removal is cover from the manual it is down to the fun stuff. One thing I should point out is getting the center off for the first time really needs a good yank, I grabed the left vent hole {not the air director} and pulled, once loose follow the directions in the manual "K"
1. wipe out the vent area
2. apply the reflective in small peices as the area is tight and long peices won't do the job very well.
3. As for power I ran a line from the battery POS splices a 10 amp fuse, ran the ire through the gromit in the fire wall it surounds the steering coloum. I used a screw driver to wedge a space for the wire to go an d had a friend pull the wire through. Another way you could do it is with a fuse tap. The fuses in the Scion are mini fuses.
Then I used 3M double stick tape to mount the LED on the lower center on the vent hole.
There is a screw in plain sight to use as a ground so ground to screw live power to switch and wire from scitch to LED. Ck to make sure it works and put the center dash back on.
It looks very good.
The manual should be all that you need to get the job done. I printed it out and have the pages in a binder.
If you break or mess it up it is your bad. This is what I did to get teh job done
Good luck

 

hey -
you have pics yet? I was thinking aobut doing this, or not , ,depending on what it looked like

Thanks !

 

ive done this wit red led's in my ac vents as well. an connected them all wit my cathodes. it gives the inside a good accent wit color. an it is a good to have freinds help wit this small mod.

 

I plan to drop teh dash ans get the two outside vents as well

 

sweet it looks better wit all 4 ac vents done. but if it was a 2 tone combonation would look even better. the only problem i had was wit the airbag but managed to find the socket to unscrew the one right above the glove box. but instead of using 3mm tape i went ahead an drilled the holes out put my led's in the back angled right. an used a sealent but the leds i got where just a lil big but the hole i drilled was perfect for the light to fit.

 

instead of removing the entire dash for the outside vents, just take of the speaker grill over the tweeters.. you can get to the vents easily from there.. i have green ones in mine..

 

yea but if u gotta have small hands an fingers to get in there an drill out some holes for the led's unless u just tape or use glue an stick them in there.

 

I'm going to put 2 leds per vent (different colors wired to flash for shows only) should I mount before or after the curves in the vents? unfortunately I have to take the top of the dash off again which I hate to do since its painted, I've got 100 red leds and 100 blue leds, and about 30 of the black 5mm led holders so I've got alot of work to do, also should I scuff up the leds so they are frosted so they disipate the light better?

 

go crazy man go crazy!

 

looks like I will be taking the center dash off again...lol

 

here is what mine is looking like:


and the old setup:

 

 

ive been out of the led game for a while, have you guys seen anything new out there as far as color combos or anything? im thinking of making a switch. My stuff now is custom painted orage but it might be time for a change.

 

Nice write up, great idea!

 

awesome Info here too. I have a feelin my wife is going to cut my internet conection soon. It woud be because of all these different forums and great ideas you all have giving me the motivation to do these on my lil box.

 

good write up...i'll be trying this this weekend

 

That looks really good. nice job!

 

There is an easier way to set up the LEDs inside the air vents. Here is how i did mine, just take into consideration that i have a RS1, so i just tapped into the exsisting wiring for the LED to run off of.

Remove the center cover, the one with the dials and center glove box.

Remove the speaker covers in both front corners. Use a small flat head screw driver and gently pry up from the front, they just pop in and out.

Now you have the tops of all 4 vents exposed. The vents are super thin plastic. Once i saw that, i just used my Butaine soddering iron and melted a hole in the tops of all 4 vents. The hole was the same diameter as the LEDs, so they fit right in. I then bent the wires and used electrical tape to hold the LED and the wires still. Route the wires and make your connections. Doing it this way you can have the LEDs installed in about the same time it would take you to remove the dash!

 

Where take energy for connection LED?

 

anywhere there is a 12V line. You would probably need to wire in a switch. If that is the case, then wire off the battery.