Eric N, on SmartInsider, posted a mod he did involving installing 4 LED emitters in the roof panel in the back of the smart, and tying them to the dome light in the front (just giving credit here). I just completed the same mod myself, though I didn't use the same LED's he did, nor did I opt to tie it to the door-open power line. Instead, I added an on/off switch mounted center-front of the ceiling panel (so it is invisible, but easily reached, from the back, and accessible from the seats), and tied it to the "always-on" power line feeding the dome light.
I'll say this - most of the job was easy, even removing the rear ceiling panel, the passenger-side trim panel, and the front ceiling panel, but the sun-roof shade beat me (it is no longer functional since the darned thing unraveled itself, and I don't know how to retension it).
However, here are some pics of the results:
and the switch:
For those interested in the "How-to" that Eric wrote up, you can find it on SmartInsider.com, search for the title "HowTo: Ultimate Smart Trunk Light DIY (lots of pics)"
One of the differences I put in - drilled holes in the vein-supports in the panels, to run the wires through (he cut channels, and admitted he would rather have drilled holes), and I went to the trouble of doing that all the way to the front (he tucked the wires in, instead). I also grounded in the back, so I only had to run the positive lead to the front, and I spliced into the power-feed wire (middle wire in the dome light plug) instead of attaching to the dome light, itself.
As some point, I may go back and add a second power line, and change the switch to a thrre-position, so that I can tie the lights to the door-opening, but I doubt it - I like being able to turn them on only when needed.
Linear Mode
