Liftgate lights on a 2012

[firesail]

After work I installed some LED liftgate lights. The accent lights
ALM-B-x6: ALM Black Accent Light Module from superbrightleds.com. I got the idea when I saw someone did it with their forester. The panels on the lift gate do come down in an order. The top by the break light is first, then the sides and last is the bottom. I was able to splice into the dome light and snake the wire through the rubber boot with the rest of the wires. I put one set of lights on the access doors for the tail lights and the other 2 just on the line of the insulation inside the panel. fairly simple install. Just took some time to figure the correct wires to power it. They turn on when the gate opens. I may tie them into the switch at some point. But now im happy with them. The final connection to power the lights is at the left access door. Ran the wire from the dome light around the windshield. They seem to be just as bright as my puddle lights. While I was working the dome light I also put in the 30LED UPCB series Universal PCB LED Lamp with Mating Bases. Ill be doing that to the center dome light as well. Might put red LED map lights in so its not as blinding at night.

[kmssgoten]

wow thats bright lol, might look into it

[fleuger99]

That looks cool and looks OEM. Nice job.

[Stoic Guardian]

i just thought of doing this to my 01 OB what did all that run, and how many sets?

[firesail]

Cost was about $50 for the lights. 4 lights on the lift gate and swapped out the cargo light for the LED. Very happy with it.

[snowjoe11]

Just tried this with my car last night. The install went without incident, but now the light (when switched to "door") stays on ALL THE TIME. Wondering if/where something went wrong.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by snowjoe11

Just tried this with my car last night. The install went without incident, but now the light (when switched to "door") stays on ALL THE TIME. Wondering if/where something went wrong.

Door switch interrupts the live power feed - sounds like you could have grounded a wire some place causing confusion with the switch at the door or possibly tapped the wrong wire?

Cardoc often is able to pull wire diagrams that would be the clearest way to sort out if you hooked into the wrong spot or possibly created a ground point some how that alters the door switch behavior.

[AO River]

Functional modification, do like. It's annoying when the cargo tray is lifted it blocks the rear dome light and you can't see anything.

[snowjoe11]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

Door switch interrupts the live power feed - sounds like you could have grounded a wire some place causing confusion with the switch at the door or possibly tapped the wrong wire?

Cardoc often is able to pull wire diagrams that would be the clearest way to sort out if you hooked into the wrong spot or possibly created a ground point some how that alters the door switch behavior.

Most likely its a grounding point, possible from running the wires or putting everything back together.

I recently switched the interior lights to LEDs. I tapped the new lights into the wire from the light socket to the LED that I have in the factory light housing. I even unplugged the new lights, and the problem still exists. Will be trying to trace this out when the weather warms up a little, and I get my patience back.

[SubieDoobieDoo]

Beautiful! Consider your idea stolen for my car. I have a medical condition known as "BFH," and when I lean into the car to load it, my melon pretty much causes an eclipse of the OEM light. This ought to be a great work-around!

I know LEDs have polarity; which wire in the factory harness did you use for hot? Can't quite tell from your photo on my screen. Thanks!