So I really liked the look of the interior illumination kit, but I didn't want it to be blue with most of the dash being red. I also didn't want to pay $130 for some LEDs, some wire, some plastic LED holders, and a light diffuser for the cup holder (which I might be will to pay for on it's own...)
So I decided to order some LEDs from superbrightleds.com and build my own kit. I ordered them with the resistor soldered on to make it easier on my self. Each one came with a simple LED holder, and I ordered 100' of black/red zip wire (like speaker wire, the two wires are connected).
Now I did cheat a little. My car has the door sill lights and puddle lights. So the wiring harness was already next to the dash in the passenger footwell. I just used my volt meter to see which pair of connectors changes with the dimmer switch and wired the LEDs to that.
I filed down the lens of the LEDs in the footwells to dim them slightly and diffuse the light more. The LED in the center cubby hole is a 360 degree LED, so it's already dimmer and diffused. I left the lenses on the LEDs for the cup holder since I wanted all the light on the diffuser ring.
As for the diffuser ring, I used a polycarbonate rod. I heated it in the oven at 200F (I think) until it was soft, and then I quickly smashed it into the diffuser ring area. I think I need to take it out and try to polish it, I'm not 100% happy with this part yet. I may also try some clear vinyl tubing.
Another thing I did while having the dash apart was the parking brake mod, so now the dang system won't lock me (or my passenger) out when I'm driving. I also used a SPDT (3 way) switch so I can use the reverse camera whenever I want. Using the SPDT switch allows me to keep the reverse lights off when I'm manually looking out the back. Probably the hardest part of the day's work was figuring out WHERE to put this switch... I ended up putting it on the side of the driver's footwell. This way I can replace this small trim piece if I ever need to sell the car (hope not) and the switch it hidden out of the way for everyone else. I did see some people use the interior fuse door for switches, and that was very tempting, but I didn't want to destroy the fuse diagram inside the door just in case. Where I mounted it was also near my main wiring harness, so it was very convenient. I wired it up so the indicator light on the switch is OFF when not in use, and dim when in use. Normally it would be bright when in normally open, and dim when actuated.
Last thing I did was add a pair of powered USB ports. This eliminates the need for an adapter clogging up my cigarette lighter hole. It allows for 2 USB devices to charge at the same time. Has a nice cover when not in use.
I also mounted my scangauge on the roof of the cubby hole. I used 3M allweather "dual lock" velcro. The "velcro" stands out a little bit, so I might think of a better way to mount it in the future. The scangauge cable comes out the "sticky hole".
Let me know what you think! If you have any questions ask away!
Red LEDs (used in footwells and cup holder)
Red LED used in cubby (need to solder on you own resistor to use the 12V power)
The switch I used If you aren't sure how to wire this up to keep your reverse lights off I can make a diagram or something.
Zip wire
So I decided to order some LEDs from superbrightleds.com and build my own kit. I ordered them with the resistor soldered on to make it easier on my self. Each one came with a simple LED holder, and I ordered 100' of black/red zip wire (like speaker wire, the two wires are connected).
Now I did cheat a little. My car has the door sill lights and puddle lights. So the wiring harness was already next to the dash in the passenger footwell. I just used my volt meter to see which pair of connectors changes with the dimmer switch and wired the LEDs to that.
I filed down the lens of the LEDs in the footwells to dim them slightly and diffuse the light more. The LED in the center cubby hole is a 360 degree LED, so it's already dimmer and diffused. I left the lenses on the LEDs for the cup holder since I wanted all the light on the diffuser ring.
As for the diffuser ring, I used a polycarbonate rod. I heated it in the oven at 200F (I think) until it was soft, and then I quickly smashed it into the diffuser ring area. I think I need to take it out and try to polish it, I'm not 100% happy with this part yet. I may also try some clear vinyl tubing.
Another thing I did while having the dash apart was the parking brake mod, so now the dang system won't lock me (or my passenger) out when I'm driving. I also used a SPDT (3 way) switch so I can use the reverse camera whenever I want. Using the SPDT switch allows me to keep the reverse lights off when I'm manually looking out the back. Probably the hardest part of the day's work was figuring out WHERE to put this switch... I ended up putting it on the side of the driver's footwell. This way I can replace this small trim piece if I ever need to sell the car (hope not) and the switch it hidden out of the way for everyone else. I did see some people use the interior fuse door for switches, and that was very tempting, but I didn't want to destroy the fuse diagram inside the door just in case. Where I mounted it was also near my main wiring harness, so it was very convenient. I wired it up so the indicator light on the switch is OFF when not in use, and dim when in use. Normally it would be bright when in normally open, and dim when actuated.
Last thing I did was add a pair of powered USB ports. This eliminates the need for an adapter clogging up my cigarette lighter hole. It allows for 2 USB devices to charge at the same time. Has a nice cover when not in use.
I also mounted my scangauge on the roof of the cubby hole. I used 3M allweather "dual lock" velcro. The "velcro" stands out a little bit, so I might think of a better way to mount it in the future. The scangauge cable comes out the "sticky hole".
Let me know what you think! If you have any questions ask away!
Red LEDs (used in footwells and cup holder)
Red LED used in cubby (need to solder on you own resistor to use the 12V power)
The switch I used If you aren't sure how to wire this up to keep your reverse lights off I can make a diagram or something.
Zip wire