Lighting the key slot? - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

**jwight** · 04-27-2008, 06:49 PM

Several folks have noted they don't like not having a lighted key slot on their smarts. Seems like we have a lot of very inventive members here, always coming up with something new. How about putting your minds to this problem and working up a DIY for a key slot light - LED, maybe? Thanks!

Smart_in_Paradise · 04-28-2008, 10:19 AM

Great idea !!

I would love an LED lighting the key slot.

Big Panda · 04-28-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smart_in_Paradise

Great idea !!

I would love an LED lighting the key slot.

DITTO!!! that IS a 'great idea'.

i'm legally blind so i need all the help i can get when driving my smart, especially at NIGHT!

Evilution · 04-28-2008, 01:07 PM

I did it on the 450 so I don't see why not.
I'll look into it.

**jwight** · 04-28-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilution

I did it on the 450 so I don't see why not.
I'll look into it.

Thanks - you are a great American! Well, OK, you are a great Britain (couldn't resist.)

Evilution · 04-29-2008, 09:04 AM

The first thing you could look at doing is taking off the black plastic cap from the ignition and making a replacement from glow in the dark Fimo.

This would replicate what is in the 450.

**jwight** · 04-29-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilution

The first thing you could look at doing is taking off the black plastic cap from the ignition and making a replacement from glow in the dark Fimo.

This would replicate what is in the 450.

Fimo as in the modeling clay? Not sure how that would work but I like the glow in the dark idea; just need to find some thin material to place around the slot.

Evilution · 04-30-2008, 08:42 AM

I wouldn't class it as a clay, more like modeling plastic.
It works fine, I did make a different colour one for my old smart.

You can buy glow in the dark paint and just paint the key surround if you wanted.

evilbean42 · 04-30-2008, 09:27 AM

I run a small vinyl sign business out of my house to keep me busy on the weekends. I would be able to make glow in the dark vinyl stickers which would be pre-cut rings to fit perfectly around the key slot if there was enough interest. I haven't priced it out yet, but I assume they would only be a few dollars each and I could mail them in a normal envelope so there would be no shipping. The key slot doesn't bother me, so I wouldn't put one on my car, but if anyone is interested let me know, and I'll do a little more research and possibly production if I could make them cheap enough. That said I could make just about anything as a vinyl sticker, so let me know if you have any other cool ideas.

**jwight** · 04-30-2008, 10:12 AM

Evilbean, great idea. I've priced some of the sheets and the lowest I could find was $14 for 8 x 11; if you could do the rings for a couple of bucks that would be a real deal. My only reservation is that the glow stuff is always on, whether you're in the car or not. Any idea how fast it loses its glow properties?