Hey ya'll. Finally got my xB last friday, and decided as a project to install some interior neon accent lights. So with my somewhat limited knowledge of auto electronics and the help from the tech section here, I figured pfft, I can do this.


Boy was I wrong.



here's the stuff

Here is most of the crap involved, and here are the steps I took until I stopped and came here for some advice.

1) removed center dash console and bottom strorage area to expose the cig lighter power and ground wires.
2) configured an on/off rocker switch (2 prong), one prong power, one prong ground
3) tapped the power and ground wires on cig lighter harness with a Motormite Quicksplice, allowing me to run a power and ground offshoot to the switch, from which I planned on running the power and ground for the lights
4) plugged the cig lighter back in to test if everything worked ok, which it didnt. Both the lighter and the stereo didnt work
5) panicked
6) checked the fuses, where I learned I blew the lighter fuse, which is apparently tied in with the stereo
7) replaced fuse, put everything back together, grabbed a beer and came here.

Would anyone of you mind clueing in a cluseless n00b as to what he did wrong?
Thanks in advance.

 

i would try to tap into something else. make sure their isnt a short in the neon wiring. enjoy your beer. im having one too

 

id just recheck the connections and wires. when i did my install, i used the "add-a-circuit" fuse from autozone, it lets you basically add a new accessory and gives you a wire to draw power from...if you can get the cig lighter idea to work, you should definately give that a try.

 

Hrm.., I may have to give that a shot, because I obviously screwed up somewhere, so I'll eliminate the "obvious" by trying new splice types.
Keep the ideas comming! You all kick ___ :-)

 

bahahahaha, I am such a dumbass.
The switch should only contain the power wires. That's what it's there for, the cut the circuit of power when applied to the off position. The grounds for the lights should be run somewhere else.

And there you have it ladies and gentleman. This is how you make an ___ out of yourself on the internet. :-)

 

well good you found out what happened. post pics when done :-D

 

Barring any more idiot moments, you can count on it. :-)

 

so how's it look?

 

Assuming you're talking about my pride, it's a bright shade of red.
When I get the lights hooked up tomorrow, I'll letcha know. :-)

 

Hey Chris,

Glad you were able to install your own lighting! Didn't I just reply to your email last night? You're pretty fast Now it's time for some pictures :D

 

update:

I successfully wired one of the 2 light kits (one of them was dead, found out after installing everything. Yes, I should have tested it first )

I did, however, take enough photos to put together a pictoral walkthrough of the entire process, which shouldnt take more than 30 minutes, problems excluded.

Stay tuned...