Ambient Lighting Ideas
 

Winter rolls around and I start looking for projects. I've got the exterior lighting package put together for the 3rd Gen and am going the LED route on all that.

Now I'm looking at interior accent/ambient light ideas. I've searched quite a bit and the threads I found are old and most of the pictures and links are broken.

I'm good with electronics and wiring/soldering so I could build my own setup but curious if anyone has used any kits out there that aren't junk. I found some strip kits on Amazon that got great reviews, change colors, are dimmable (important), and come with the control box and a remote and they're about the same price as me getting nice aluminum bolt LEDs, wiring, resistors, etc but I'm not sure how I feel about strip lights (chincy?).

Strip:
https://amzn.to/37DTQga

12V Single LED (I'm pretty sure this has proper lumens for ambient)
https://amzn.to/2SZJu6k

I'm still thinking over how I want it all to work. My Hellcat has two LEDs in the footwells. One that lights up when the doors open (bright) and another that glows just enough you can barely see your feet that stays on all the time. That would be a nice setup and as an added bonus have the brighter LED come on with the dome light as well. I think the dome light/door lights are reverse wired though so I'd have to think through that.

Anyone done something like this in a 3rd Gen?

I did the cup holders years ago and they've been great.

http://www.speedysgarage.net/sportru...s/IMG_0446.jpg

http://www.speedysgarage.net/sportru...s/IMG_0456.jpg

The only lighting I did in my 4runner was some LEDs in the cargo area. But for ambient interior lighting you would want red.

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I plan to do "cool" white. That's what the Hellcat has and it works well.

This isnt answering your question at all, but I like your idea of ambient lighting. I'd almost want to take an OEM-like approach at this, as in "if toyota were to do this":

My ideas-
-Footwell (floorboard) lighting, activated when the door is open. But also on a switch
-> Would be cool to set this up for the rear floorboards as well. Would actually be functional for a guy like me who hauls kids around and they throw Goldfish everywhere

- Cupholder is brilliant as youve done it
- Center console LED activated when the lid is opened
- Door panel Map pocket LEDs for the cool white ambient effect- not too "ricer-ish", but a matching touch to the cupholders


Beyond that, I am not sure where lighting would make sense?

When I get in to this it will certainly be like factory. I'm OCD about that kinda thing.

Putting them on a switch is an option, but you may have to have more then one LED for all that to work since the console lights that come on with the doors use a ground to activate instead of power on the switches I believe.

The door panels would also be pretty easy (in my case at least) since my window switches are illuminated when the parking lights (I think).

I'm mainly going to focus on the footwell lights for starters and will include the back seats.

I'm not gonna try to do it cheap and build LEDs for pennies. I'm looking at some nice ones in aluminum threaded housings like posted. $6-$9 each but you'll only need 4 or so so not overly expensive.

Hey @Speedy ,

First, loved your garage series and can't wait to see more on that :drummer: I watch your channel every week and was hoping you'd add some projects in for the 4Runner this year. I think the only thing I saw last year was the fix to the meth injection system.

Anyway, if you're interested in one way to do DIY path, I did a write-up (maybe you've seen this) on adding some foot well lights in the front and back as well as the cup holder. I went over how to tie it into the dimmer as well as adding a diode to the key light that stays on for a few seconds after closing the door. See below for wiring diagrams etc.

Foot Lighting Wiring

Thanks for following a long. More on the shop coming soon.

I rotate projects around usually with the seasons LOL. I drag race a lot when it's warm out so I fool with the Hellcat then. When winter comes around I get a bit stir crazy so I need something else to do and the 4Runner still has some stuff I'd like to get done, although the list is getting pretty short.

Thanks for the link to the thread, that gives me some good ideas.

Love the cupholder. I've been thinking about where I'd like to add some LEDs and that's now the top of my list.

I was thinking maybe some short Amber strips under the seats to light up the floor slightly but it would have to be dimmed quiet a bit. I use a lot of the strip light for various things and it can get seriously bright. (main use is for worklights in A/V equipment racks).


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@Speedy The cupholders look great! I'm looking to add lights there and also maybe an ambient from the the ceiling and prob another in the cubby behind the cup holder. What LEDs did you go with and did you tap into the cigarette lighter wire? I'm about to buy some green or multi-color set of 3mm flat tops, or maybe round

Edit: Just found the link to your homepage, brilliant site you've got.

I put these in all my vehicles, Red for my Runner.

I figure why recreate a wheel - these are awesome - 4 lights - one set of wires - plug to lighter or wire to a switch of your own (so you have Something to contribute), all kinds of light colors and change options.

Can't be built for less than this costs either...

Amazon.com: Govee Interior Lights for Car, App Control Smart Car Lights with DIY Mode and Music Mode, Waterproof LED Interior Lights with 2 Lines Design, RGB Under Dash Car LED Lights with Car Charger, DC 12V : Automotive

Thanks, be sure to check out the Project Sport Runner play list on Youtube. Might give you some ideas for projects. 3rd Gen 4Runner Project SportRunner - YouTube

You can use about any 5mm LED for ambient lighting. The thing I always focus on in making it look OEM and work like OEM (no switches or anything plugged in to the cig lighter).

You'll need some resistors to get the brightness right and that took some trial and error for me to get them dim enough to be "ambient".

The original cup holder lights were 5mm green LEDs from Radio Shack that I built a custom harness for with resistors to match brightness. However, I recently replaced them with some Oznium bolt LEDs in 6mm. WAY better, high quality, and much easier since they're pre-wired for 12V systems. I did have to add an add'l resistor to dim them, but that's easy. I tied in to the +12V wire that powers the ashtray light and grounded them to a bolt under the cup holders. Keep in mind to put connectors on them so they're serviceable.

Bolt LED: Amazon.com: Oznium Brightest Light Bolt - Flush Mount 12V LED Light for Bumper, Grille, Cars Interior, Dash, Ambient Lighting, Motorcycle w/Sleek Aluminum Housing & Screw Nut (6 mm Black, Cool White LED) : Automotive

These threads may be helpful as well:

Letting the OCD off it's chain a bit this week

Finished up the courtesy/ambient light project