Running Boards - Painting / Lighting - DIY
- Thread starter Pennywise
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sharp4runr
New member
Nice job dude. There is nothing like the feeling of doing it yourself.
Noloc
New member
I'm all for painting the running boards as I did on mine (or rather I had the dealer do with minie). So I think it looks great. But, I think you should have painted the end caps and not the painted the center of the running boards that gives it that broken painted look on the step. I definitely like the idea of the lights and I may entertain doing something like that as well. Nice job.
Thanks for the nice remarks. I did paint the endcaps with that truck bed coating, but as mentioned in the origingal post, the topcoat defeats the whole "textured" feel. You could probably get away with just using a can of black paint and save a few bucks. I thought about painting them silver as well, but I think that the black sort of breaks things up a bit. I also liked the idea of creating the individual steps with the silver strips between them.
I figured that I have gained a ton of knowledge from this forum with everyone's pictures and instructions, that I figured I was due to give a little back. Hopefully my pictures will give all you guys an idea of what is involved and what the end result would look like.
Tom
I figured that I have gained a ton of knowledge from this forum with everyone's pictures and instructions, that I figured I was due to give a little back. Hopefully my pictures will give all you guys an idea of what is involved and what the end result would look like.
Tom
Gromulus
New member
Plastic Coating
I like the look! I have an '04 Titanium Limited with color matched running boards and roof rack. I really appreciate the lighted running boards. I like the look but am not happy with the OEM coating performance.
Even mild duty off-roading easily scrapes the paint off my running boards, right down to the black plastic. Perhaps Toyota made a smart move in going to black boards and racks for the '05 models. Maybe not as sharp in appearance, but more practical.
Keep us informed on how your coating job holds-out, particlularly in regards to adhesion.
As a coatings professional (and supplier to Toyota in the US). I am a little surprised on Japan's plastic coating adhesion results. Not sure excactly what they are using or the process. It may or may not even be our (corporate - supplied) coating.
I also wish Toyota used color-matched primers (as does Honda for most of their models). I like silver, for a variety of technical reasons - particularly because it doesn't show the dirt as much as other colors, but scratches and scrapes do show over the gray primer. If I had it do over again I might opt for my second favorite color - Galactic Gray. A more forgiving color over the gray primer.
Great job!
I like the look! I have an '04 Titanium Limited with color matched running boards and roof rack. I really appreciate the lighted running boards. I like the look but am not happy with the OEM coating performance.
Even mild duty off-roading easily scrapes the paint off my running boards, right down to the black plastic. Perhaps Toyota made a smart move in going to black boards and racks for the '05 models. Maybe not as sharp in appearance, but more practical.
Keep us informed on how your coating job holds-out, particlularly in regards to adhesion.
As a coatings professional (and supplier to Toyota in the US). I am a little surprised on Japan's plastic coating adhesion results. Not sure excactly what they are using or the process. It may or may not even be our (corporate - supplied) coating.
I also wish Toyota used color-matched primers (as does Honda for most of their models). I like silver, for a variety of technical reasons - particularly because it doesn't show the dirt as much as other colors, but scratches and scrapes do show over the gray primer. If I had it do over again I might opt for my second favorite color - Galactic Gray. A more forgiving color over the gray primer.
Great job!
greasefingers
New member
So are the running board lights wired so that they come on when the key FOB is pressed to unlock the doors or are they wired to the door switch?
I searched high and low to find a topcoat that would stand up to the abuse that the running boards will take. I am hoping that this topcoat will hold up and keep the paint on. I will have to keep you guys posted on this matter.
The lights are tied in with the lighted ignition ring inside, which I think is also tied to the dome lights. So when the doors are unlocked with the FOB they will come on and when they are locked they will go out. Also when the vehicle is started, they will all go out.
Now if you don't open a door after unlocking, they will gradually dim out after 15 seconds. They will come back on when you open a door and stay on when the door is open.
Tom
The lights are tied in with the lighted ignition ring inside, which I think is also tied to the dome lights. So when the doors are unlocked with the FOB they will come on and when they are locked they will go out. Also when the vehicle is started, they will all go out.
Now if you don't open a door after unlocking, they will gradually dim out after 15 seconds. They will come back on when you open a door and stay on when the door is open.
Tom
greasefingers
New member
Sweet
EdL04Sport
New member
Nice job!
Fro-Runner
New member
greasefingers said:
Yeah, I too want to know if you wired the lights to come on with the key fob just like the interior lighting when unlocking the doors at night. I am only interested in the light mod......don't care to try painting the running boards since I know the galatica gray paint would be hard/costly to find.
As mentioned in a previous post, the lights on the running board do come on when you hit the unock button and do go out when you hit the lock button. The will come on and stay on when any door is opened and they will stay on for about 15 seconds after a door is closed and go out.
Since they are connected to the lighted ring around the ignition switch, thy behave exactly as this lighted ring does.
Tom
Since they are connected to the lighted ring around the ignition switch, thy behave exactly as this lighted ring does.
Tom
I purchased the clear lenses off of ebay from a guy named chuanhing and they are referred to as Honda Civic side marker lights. I have since replaced the matrix style white led bulbs with custom led modules that I made specifically for these side marker housings. I will post pictures when I have a minute.
As for obtaining the power from the light ring, you will tap into the red wire (Pin 2) and red/green wire (Pin 6) on the ignition switch. I am not sure about the wires that you have near your running boards, but it isn't too dificult to run your own as I described in the DIY. If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Tom
As for obtaining the power from the light ring, you will tap into the red wire (Pin 2) and red/green wire (Pin 6) on the ignition switch. I am not sure about the wires that you have near your running boards, but it isn't too dificult to run your own as I described in the DIY. If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Tom
Fro-Runner
New member
Hitman said:
What was the color code for that Galatica Gray look-alike paint.........please!
