i have a couple lighting ideas in need of input and installation tips.

i want to swap out the license plate lights for some LEDs. all my other lights are HIDs or LEDs and even my hi-beams are swapped out for silverstar ultras. i dont like and dont want the yellow halogens anymore! i know they are 194 bulbs. i want to install a strob kit that activates when i reverse. i think the combination of bright white LEDs with the flashing is better notification of my reversing. any suggestions for a strobe kit? and any ideas for how to tap the reverse wire and yet keeping the function of lighting up the license plate when the headlights are on?

second. i want to install a pathway lighting setup. four different LED strips or cathode tubes one under each door. when that respective door opens the light turns on. anyone else try this or have a hack to do this? alternatively, i came up with the idea of tapping into the "door sense" of the dome light. this way the strip/tubes light up when any door is open. i can apply this to the rear trunk too. any tips?

thanks much for the help!!
-mike

 

Backup strobe light is probably not legal. For the one door to open and turn on the light under it you would need to get more door pin switches to activate just that light otherwise tap into the stock door pins and every light would turn on when you open any door.

 

as far as the lighting you want todo when the door is open your going to have to locate the power wire that signals the interior light to come on to get that too work.

good luck

 

i think strobe may be the wrong word. i was just thinking of flashing at the same speed as the indicators.. if thats illegal then that idea goes in the trash... making new door pins sounds ridiculous so i think i will find the door pin and tap into that. hopefully there isnt any power draw limit on those switches.

 

new door pins are not hard and you may even be able to tap into the ones in there if you determine which is the positive and splice into that and use a different ground to create your circuit. (I think)

 

anyone use a flasher kit before? any good suggestions?

also, anyone swap out the license plate lights? suggestions?

thanks much, mike

 

I swapped my liscence plate lights with a 7 color changing led. Now, it changes colors uniformly for about 2 cycles thru the colors,, then one side starts to get ahead of the other .. Then it fades colors side to side for a while, then side to side the other direction, then finally back to uniform after about 6-10 minuts,,,, I think it's kind of trippy & haven been pullled over yet.. Got the bulb at Auto Zone for 10 bills@........ jh

 

that is trippy... i think i am going to drop the reversing flasher idea cause i realized that the wire running from the reversing light to the license plate lights will have to run a ridiculous length that i dont want to run.

i still need input on the pathway lighting though!

 

k im not wise at wiring like pros, but from my experience with wiring and doing installs. I say tap them into the same power source, perferably from the battery with a fuse. Then run each ground to it individual door switch. That should allow them to turn on when you open that door...

Just my .02 cents... Others feel in if i miss something. I think the door switches are ground type switches..

 

Mike, I plan on tapping the ones i found on LEDGLOW.com into either my unlocking of the car, or the door opening.. not sure, but i'm leaning to the door opening.. if i can figure out a way to tap them individually per each door, i'll gladly write it up for you, but i think i'm going to end up just doing it so when one door is opened, they all light up.

 

mike, i have LEDs mounted under all my doors that come in when the door is opened. They are wired to the dome light, i've never really thought about the fact that all the doors light up when one is open because if they are shut you wouldn't see them.
i dont know ish about wiring though but if my message or email SCVSCIONS he can answer any questions.

 

Depending on how Toyota set up the door pins this should work. If each door pin is isolated before going to the dome light circuit then it will work. If not it can still be done, you just have to cut a diode in each door pin line and make sure to hook the LEDs to the pin side of the diode.

 

you're safer wiring it to your dome light. it's what i did for my side skirt lighting so when i unlock my car the lights come on and they fade away when i lock it. just a tip, take your time and be patient. good luck!

 

This is the link to the Toyota Lighted Dorr Sill info. It will at least show you where to tap in for the lights to be triggered by the door. Not sure if this is one sided or if they all light up at once. Never checked them out on my RS6.

http://www.trdsparks.com/install/00016-79810inst.pdf

 

That's what I was planning to try for install of the LEDMOD puddle lights. I've been holding off on buying them because I was waiting for a DIY. If tapping into that door sill wire works then I'm gonna go for it.

 

from what i remember when installing my alarm when i bought my car 2 years ago, the door pins are all separate, so tap them in the door sill coming from the pinswitch, or pull the pinswitch and tap the wire there