11-22-2014, 05:23 PM
|
#1
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
ambient light from map light area
Has anyone drilled a hole in the maplight area and put in an LED for ambient lighting? I know a lot of the Hondas/Acuras had it, I think I've read the 5th gen does too. Have seen some talk about doing it but not much.
Would love to throw a very dim blue LED up there (will be swapping gauge/hvac lights out) to light up center console/gearshift area. Any thoughts?
__________________
2008 SE V6 4x4, Bilstein 5100's (1.75 in front), FJ springs, Cornfed 1" rear spacer, SCS Stealth 6, Toyo OC AT2 265/70/17, HID 4300k, Plasti-Dip front grill, Flowmaster 50 SUV
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-22-2014, 05:25 PM
|
#2
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 530
|
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 530
|
I would love to have one too, it helps a lot with finding/doing things in the dark without putting the lights on.
__________________
2005 4Runner V6 Limited 4WD Pacific Blue Metallic: Bilstein 5100 + Moog FJ Springs front, Superflex rear, OEM LED tails, Dinoc woodgrain conversion, Kenwood DDX371
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-22-2014, 05:52 PM
|
#3
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PNW
Posts: 169
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: PNW
Posts: 169
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lolrax
I would love to have one too, it helps a lot with finding/doing things in the dark without putting the lights on.
|
Ditto, and will watch this thread to see if can be done in a clean manner.
Loved the one my Acura sedan had.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-22-2014, 09:06 PM
|
#4
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by WI_4Runner
Ditto, and will watch this thread to see if can be done in a clean manner.
Loved the one my Acura sedan had.
|
Thinking it would be nice to find a beige, plastic LED holder that would allow the LED to be recessed a little bit. Drill a hole and fitting that in, assuming some kind of lip, and it would look clean.
Would prefer to not actually see the bright source of the light, but just the light hitting the gear shift.
Metal doesn't look horrible since it might match the reflector in the map lights (not sure if it would for ours). See the pics where the lights are off. This set-up looks a bit bright for me though (at the source). With the ones I've seen, you hardly know it's there (no glaring light up top). http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh....php?p=1058506
This is stealthiest way to do I imagine but I think probably too bright at source for me http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...-lighting.html
__________________
2008 SE V6 4x4, Bilstein 5100's (1.75 in front), FJ springs, Cornfed 1" rear spacer, SCS Stealth 6, Toyo OC AT2 265/70/17, HID 4300k, Plasti-Dip front grill, Flowmaster 50 SUV
Last edited by theliman; 11-22-2014 at 09:16 PM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-22-2014, 09:25 PM
|
#5
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
wish he had more/better pics of final product but this looks surprisingly good
HOW TO: Ambient Light "Macguyver Mod"
__________________
2008 SE V6 4x4, Bilstein 5100's (1.75 in front), FJ springs, Cornfed 1" rear spacer, SCS Stealth 6, Toyo OC AT2 265/70/17, HID 4300k, Plasti-Dip front grill, Flowmaster 50 SUV
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-22-2014, 10:18 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chester County, PA
Age: 48
Posts: 3,803
Real Name: Ed
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chester County, PA
Age: 48
Posts: 3,803
Real Name: Ed
|
or you can do the GX470 overhead console swap (more involved and more expensive). This way, you get 2 OEM ambiente LED light
link: GX470 Roof Console install
__________________
Current: 2005 V6 Limited 4x4. SOLD: 2000 HiLux Surf SSR-G, 1997 HiLux Surf SSR-X Limited
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-24-2014, 04:32 PM
|
#7
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 49
Real Name: Justin
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Aliso Viejo, CA
Posts: 49
Real Name: Justin
|
I couldn't find anything in a quick search, but I'd be willing to bet that you could pick up a couple of replacement LEDs for the Lexus to use in your T4R mod... They'd be just the right brightness and I think they're already the reddish/orange color.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes. I, too, would love to do something like this.
EDIT: Oops, I just re-read that you were looking for a blue LED... Oh well. Perhaps you could still interchange the Lexus LED mount/holder/wiring harness to make the mod easier?
__________________
2004 4Runner SR5 4x4 V6
Toytec 3" lift (Eibach/Superflex coils with Bilstein 5100s), BFG T/A KO 275/70R17, Spidertrax, 5x11x22 Magnaflow with resonator delete, and a rattling sunroof
Last edited by Cornelius; 11-24-2014 at 04:35 PM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-24-2014, 05:20 PM
|
#8
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cornelius
I couldn't find anything in a quick search, but I'd be willing to bet that you could pick up a couple of replacement LEDs for the Lexus to use in your T4R mod... They'd be just the right brightness and I think they're already the reddish/orange color.
Looking forward to seeing where this goes. I, too, would love to do something like this.
EDIT: Oops, I just re-read that you were looking for a blue LED... Oh well. Perhaps you could still interchange the Lexus LED mount/holder/wiring harness to make the mod easier?
|
Thinking I will avoid the lexus swap due to cost. I think am going to try the "macguyver" mod I linked to because it will allow me to have the light very recessed (who cares how bad things look "behind the scenes"?). The hole can have a nice beveled edge and look clean.
I would maybe add a film or something also somewhere in the recessed area to decrease output. Will update this thread as I work on it - may be a slow process. Still open to other thoughts/ideas.
__________________
2008 SE V6 4x4, Bilstein 5100's (1.75 in front), FJ springs, Cornfed 1" rear spacer, SCS Stealth 6, Toyo OC AT2 265/70/17, HID 4300k, Plasti-Dip front grill, Flowmaster 50 SUV
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-24-2014, 05:32 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Gainesville, Virginia
Age: 41
Posts: 1,057
Real Name: Matt
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Gainesville, Virginia
Age: 41
Posts: 1,057
Real Name: Matt
|
If you sand the top of the led with a more coarse paper, it should diffuse the light and probably decrease output at the same time. Can also put a higher resistor in line to achieve the light output you want. I picked up a spare rheostat a year ago to do an ambient light install like you're discussing (plus under each door handle) but it's still in the 'to do' category.
__________________
HokieRunner 2005 4Runner Sport Edition V8 4x4 Silver Build Thread
Radflo 2.5 F 700#/R 220# / Desert Racing Uniball UCA / 285/70/17 Duratrac on 17x8 Konig Six Shooter / RCI Full Skids / BAMF LCA Skid / Shrockworks 3 Hoop Bumper / Custom WhiteKnuckle Sliders / Custom WMW Roof rack / CVJ Reman'd Axles / 06+ Facelift / Custom sound system / AIP Bypass / LED Gauges,Dash,Interior / Wiring, aux. lighting, dual battery, custom cargo box in progress...
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
11-27-2014, 07:45 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,638
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,638
|
I'll do this in the next two weeks
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
12-01-2014, 06:01 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,638
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,638
|
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
08-09-2015, 03:59 PM
|
#12
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
Well over half a year later I finally got around to finishing my version of this.
I started by drilling a hole in the sunglass holder and then beveling it so there will be no angle at which any light would go back into the driver's eye.
I then cut different pieces of pen to be able to have the LED recessed. I cut out a piece of plastic milk gallon jug as a diffusing lens, which was also recessed. I also had to cut into the trim a little bit to allow to tube to fit - see pictures.
I wired the LED down to the fuse box and used an add-a-circuit/fuse to the taillight so that it goes on only when I turn the lights on.
This is the LED I used: https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...ight/639/1927/
Looks crappy behind the scenes but very clean where it matters!
Bevel:
First part of tubing had to be cut at an angle since there is a slope on that part of the piece:
Since the plastic from the map light tucks under part of the trim, I had to cut a spot for the recessed light:
In between the black and grey pen tubes is a piece of plastic milk jug. I used the "finer" portion rather than the courser bit, you'll know what I mean if you look closely at a container. I ended up having the wire go to the side instead of ahead. The LED fit perfectly into the round plastic piece, but I put tape over top of it anyway. The top piece is the outer portion of a Bic pen.
Final product:
I don't think a dark picture with a cell phone camera would do any good. I have tested it in some parking garages today - initially I had two separate plastic diffusers (based on how bright it was with one in my initial testing) but that was too dim. I think it is at a good brightness now - it didn't help much in the garage but there were still external sources of light, and when it's darker I want to make sure it's not distracting.
If I need it brighter I will cut the tube a little more so the LED is closer to the diffuser. I'm no physicist, but I think that will make it brighter.
I can't see a thing from my position as a driver, no distracting glare from above or anything. Will update if that changes based on more experience.
__________________
2008 SE V6 4x4, Bilstein 5100's (1.75 in front), FJ springs, Cornfed 1" rear spacer, SCS Stealth 6, Toyo OC AT2 265/70/17, HID 4300k, Plasti-Dip front grill, Flowmaster 50 SUV
Last edited by theliman; 08-10-2015 at 10:07 AM.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
08-10-2015, 09:32 AM
|
#14
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 297
|
Drove around last night, think it was a proper amount of light. If anything a hair too much, but I'll give it some time to see if it's distracting. I think it will be good, and I really only considered that it may be too much when I compared it to the ambient light in my girlfriend's pilot.
__________________
2008 SE V6 4x4, Bilstein 5100's (1.75 in front), FJ springs, Cornfed 1" rear spacer, SCS Stealth 6, Toyo OC AT2 265/70/17, HID 4300k, Plasti-Dip front grill, Flowmaster 50 SUV
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|