Interior Lighting suggestions?

[bigcritter]

Originally Posted by DavidV

OK, let me ask the question a different way. In which position should the switch set the light to turn on and off with the doors if it were functioning correctly - forward towards the windshield or back towards the cabin? On our car, neither forward nor back seems to change anything.

Thanks,
DavidV

Pressing the button on the end closest to you (interior side) puts it in AUTO mode, so that it (should) function automatically when the doors are opened. With AUTO headlights, it'll stay on for a little time once you close the door, and then it gradually fades to off (or goes off when you turn the key). If you hit the lock button on the key fob, such as when you get out, it goes off immediately and the headlights turn on. I can't say if everything works the same way on a car without the AUTO headlights or not, since mine has the AUTO lights! Hope this helps!

[dagwodzz]

Flickr Photo Download: IMG_2181

[gizimo]

if your really into taking your car apart you can install leds bought from advanced auto for i believe under $15.. not sure what babybenz paid.. but we pulled apart everything and drilled holes into the back panel above the cargo area and ran wires up along the cell and hooked them to the dome light. however he is realized there were some shortages with that so hes going to run them to a fuse and i believe put an on/off switch somewhere. dont ask me how to take everything off, i know theres some screws and hex bolts that need removed, i think most of the panels pop off except for the front one where the visors are, there are screws there and then screws i believe by the seat belts that need removed.. and for the spacing and such he used guide spots that were there... youd have to look for his post on that.. and wdhitch did it aswell. pm them about it.. just my 2cents

[gryphon]

Here's a link to a trunk lighting DIY tutorial on smart USA Insider. The tutorial has a large number of pictures and is very well written. Total cost of the install was about $20 and the lighting it provides is excellent. The LED lighting is virtually invisible to the casual observer until the LEDs are illuminated. This is a very long URL so you may have to cut and paste it into your browser to get it to work. Alternately, go to smartusainsider.com and type 'trunk light" into the search box.

HowTo: Ultimate Smart Trunk Light DIY (lots of pics) - smart USA insider

[gizimo]

Originally Posted by gryphon

Here's a link to a trunk lighting DIY tutorial on smart USA Insider. The tutorial has a large number of pictures and is very well written. Total cost of the install was about $20 and the lighting it provides is excellent. The LED lighting is virtually invisible to the casual observer until the LEDs are illuminated. This is a very long URL so you may have to cut and paste it into your browser to get it to work. Alternately, go to smartusainsider.com and type 'trunk light" into the search box.

HowTo: Ultimate Smart Trunk Light DIY (lots of pics) - smart USA insider

thats a lot like how babybenz and i did his... we used different leds and placed them differently

[smartskate]

I added a set of rear lights by tapping into the dome light bulb connector tabs.
ran wire thought the hole that the bulb fits into,this allows the rear light to fade out with the dome light and also turn on with remote or when opening rear hatch,
pretty simple

[gniwok]

Originally Posted by pabille

I had a post in Tech and Gadgets for this light. It's great with the swivel feature allowing you to direct light. Perfect for mounting above just inside the rear hatch. The thread owner and I were trying to figure out how to keep something like this mounted in the hot S. Cal. heat. Adhesives tend to fail inside a hot enclosed car. Velcro was a suggestion but that is stuck on with adhesives too.

Pabille, this light was exactly what I was going to suggest to those who wanted some lighting back there just to work on the engine or find their grocery bag handles in the dark. It's a press-to-turn-on light.

I got one of these at Walmart for about $5 and the LED's in it are EXCELLENTLY bright. Light up the whole car practically. I velcroed it on and take it right off when I need to.

Re: HEAT verses velcro sticky strips during the summertime. Here in Northern Cal, it can get up to about 115 F in the dead of Summer, so I used a couple of drops of Duco Cement (also at Walmart) on the sticky-backed velco strips, to aid in holding them to the plastic.

~Jas...