I have been seeing a lot of post about this lately and as I was about to do my own I figured I would do a diy. So here we go.
This DIY will show you how to hook up courtesy lights onto your doors so that when you open it, they shine onto the ground allowing you to see at night.
Materials:
-4X12v LEDs-(optional: 2 strip LEDs)
-24 gauge wire
-assorted tools: wire strippers, screw driver, pliers
-soldering kit
-about 4 hours
STEP 1: DECIDING WHERE TO PLACE LEDS
The first step is to find out where/how you are going to put your leds. Underneath the door you will find 3 holes, these are the drain holes for the door, and they are what we are going to use for the lights. I only used two holes, leaving the 3rd available for drainage, if your worried about water you could drill a few extra holes to compensate for the ones you are covering up. If you are using a strip light all you have to do is run the wires through the holes, since you will be sticking the strip along the bottom of the door. Though the strip led is easier and probably brighter, its not as secure, but I leave that up to you.
STEP 2: WIRING LEDS
Now that we know how/where we are putting the LEDs, its time to do some wiring. The LEDs I’m using are T10 wedge base bulbs, these are the LEDs I use for most projects because they are really bright, small, and have a nice housing already on them, they are also 1.95 shipped for 2. Here are the steps to wire them up.
This is how i make the wire twisted again, super fast!
STEP 3: PLACING LEDS
Gently peel the weather poof plastic back from the bottom exposing the big hole where the clear plastic was. Now if you have strip lights, you will just run wires through the holes that i’m putting the LEDs in. If your doing it my way, run the LEDs/wires from the speaker hole on the front of the door. This step is much easier if the window is up, don’t worry, your wires/LEDs will not hit the window.
STEP 4: SECURING LEDS
Those with strip lights need to clean clean clean the bottom where they are putting the strip. If you don’t clean it supper good then the adhesive will not stay for very long. Now for my way, I know its really ghetto, but I just used some hot glue, after throughly cleaning the area, and globed it on them. Its strong enough to keep them held in place and still can be removed latter on if need be, as a bonus it also makes all the LEDs water proof.
STEP 5: SPLICING INTO THE DOME LIGHT-DISCONNECT BATTERY
There is probably another way to tap into the dome light relay, but this way is the most straight forward and easy I think. Take off your dome light, and look at the two wires that run to it, remember those, I have a 98 and it was white/red stripe, and light green/red stripe, positive and negative respectively. Anyways then pull off your drivers side pillar and find a certain part on the wire, look at the pictures. Then splice your wires together, I used dolphin crimps, which are really cool, they claim that you don’t have to strip the wire, but I would rather not leave things to chance. Now just run your wire to your two sets of lights and your good to go!!!
This DIY will show you how to hook up courtesy lights onto your doors so that when you open it, they shine onto the ground allowing you to see at night.
Materials:
-4X12v LEDs-(optional: 2 strip LEDs)
-24 gauge wire
-assorted tools: wire strippers, screw driver, pliers
-soldering kit
-about 4 hours
STEP 1: DECIDING WHERE TO PLACE LEDS
The first step is to find out where/how you are going to put your leds. Underneath the door you will find 3 holes, these are the drain holes for the door, and they are what we are going to use for the lights. I only used two holes, leaving the 3rd available for drainage, if your worried about water you could drill a few extra holes to compensate for the ones you are covering up. If you are using a strip light all you have to do is run the wires through the holes, since you will be sticking the strip along the bottom of the door. Though the strip led is easier and probably brighter, its not as secure, but I leave that up to you.
STEP 2: WIRING LEDS
Now that we know how/where we are putting the LEDs, its time to do some wiring. The LEDs I’m using are T10 wedge base bulbs, these are the LEDs I use for most projects because they are really bright, small, and have a nice housing already on them, they are also 1.95 shipped for 2. Here are the steps to wire them up.
This is how i make the wire twisted again, super fast!
STEP 3: PLACING LEDS
Gently peel the weather poof plastic back from the bottom exposing the big hole where the clear plastic was. Now if you have strip lights, you will just run wires through the holes that i’m putting the LEDs in. If your doing it my way, run the LEDs/wires from the speaker hole on the front of the door. This step is much easier if the window is up, don’t worry, your wires/LEDs will not hit the window.
STEP 4: SECURING LEDS
Those with strip lights need to clean clean clean the bottom where they are putting the strip. If you don’t clean it supper good then the adhesive will not stay for very long. Now for my way, I know its really ghetto, but I just used some hot glue, after throughly cleaning the area, and globed it on them. Its strong enough to keep them held in place and still can be removed latter on if need be, as a bonus it also makes all the LEDs water proof.
STEP 5: SPLICING INTO THE DOME LIGHT-DISCONNECT BATTERY
There is probably another way to tap into the dome light relay, but this way is the most straight forward and easy I think. Take off your dome light, and look at the two wires that run to it, remember those, I have a 98 and it was white/red stripe, and light green/red stripe, positive and negative respectively. Anyways then pull off your drivers side pillar and find a certain part on the wire, look at the pictures. Then splice your wires together, I used dolphin crimps, which are really cool, they claim that you don’t have to strip the wire, but I would rather not leave things to chance. Now just run your wire to your two sets of lights and your good to go!!!
