ccoorreeyy
New member
Hey All, I finally got around to adding more light to the hatch of my 2013 TE. I looked all over t4r and elsewhere and couldn’t find an option for lighting up the trunk of my truck (other than [MENTION=54940]Snooperstyle[/MENTION]) so I just decided to figure out my own solution. I do not know if this mod will work on any other generations.
Here’s the final product and write up.
DISCLAIMER: What you do with your truck is your responsibility. I HAVE NOT tested the safety of mod nor do I know the long term implications it might have on the existing lighting/electrical system. I don’t take any responsibility for ANY problems this mod might make / cause to your vehicle. That being said, nothing has happened since the install and I ran the lights until the battery shut off the interior lights to conserve energy without any problems. Proceed at your own risk.
Tools/Items Needed:
1. LED Lighting Strip. I purchased mine from PepBoys for $40 bucks a strip (and I needed two because they were 20”). Super expensive, but I wanted to do it right away. You can also purchase 16 foot role of this stuff for only $25 on amazon. Here’s the link: Amazon.com : XKTTSUEERCRR 3528 SMD 16.4Ft 5 Meter Double Row 1200LEDs Cool White Waterproof Flexible LED Strip Lights 240LEDs/M 1200LEDs/Roll String Lights : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Here’s what I got:
2. Electrical crimper
3. Flathead screwdriver to pop out the existing lights.
4. Masking Tape
5. 3M double sided tape that’s as narrow as the light - the tape that comes on the light sucks.
6. Optional - If you haven’t already, it’s not a bad idea to switch all of your interior lighting to LED. Here’s a kit that I purchased which I installed on my rig prior to this mod. This will put less stress on existing electrical / wiring and makes everything brighter. Here’s the link - http://www.amazon.com/Classy-Autos-...93&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=4runner+led+interoir
Step by step process for the mod:
1. Open your tail gate and make clean the surface area between lights. Make sure all dirt / oil is cleaned off. Otherwise, tape will no stick.
2. Pop off the two existing lights and remove the cover. Be carful if you’re worried about scratching your tail gate.
3. Take the existing light out temporarily. Take the led strip and thread one wire through one little hole on the connection points where the existing light goes and then do the same thing with the other wire to the other little hole. Wrap the wires around at least once and replace the existing light. It should look like this when it’s done roughly.
Sorry for the bad photo but this gives you another angle.
4. Test. If it doesn’t work, switch the two connecting wires. I don’t know which is positive and which is negative. It didn’t work for me at first and then I switched the two wires and bam! LIGHT!
5. Do the exact same thing for the other light (if you’re wiring up the 20” lights like I did).
6. Pop the lights back into their place making sure to thread the wire for the LED strip out in a good spot.
6. Take your masking tape and run a strip from one light to the other so that you have a good reference point to be level (if you’re anal like me).
6. String both sets of light across using the 3M double sided tape and cut where the LED strip where needed/indicated where the two LED strips meet (again, if you’re using two strips like me).
7. Taking off the masking tape and marvel at your work. If you used two strips like I did, each switch will work as they normally do when you open the tail gate = light; when you close the tail gate = no light. Pure awesome and super simple.
8. Clean up your mess.
Cheers.
Here’s the final product and write up.
DISCLAIMER: What you do with your truck is your responsibility. I HAVE NOT tested the safety of mod nor do I know the long term implications it might have on the existing lighting/electrical system. I don’t take any responsibility for ANY problems this mod might make / cause to your vehicle. That being said, nothing has happened since the install and I ran the lights until the battery shut off the interior lights to conserve energy without any problems. Proceed at your own risk.
Tools/Items Needed:
1. LED Lighting Strip. I purchased mine from PepBoys for $40 bucks a strip (and I needed two because they were 20”). Super expensive, but I wanted to do it right away. You can also purchase 16 foot role of this stuff for only $25 on amazon. Here’s the link: Amazon.com : XKTTSUEERCRR 3528 SMD 16.4Ft 5 Meter Double Row 1200LEDs Cool White Waterproof Flexible LED Strip Lights 240LEDs/M 1200LEDs/Roll String Lights : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Here’s what I got:
2. Electrical crimper
3. Flathead screwdriver to pop out the existing lights.
4. Masking Tape
5. 3M double sided tape that’s as narrow as the light - the tape that comes on the light sucks.
6. Optional - If you haven’t already, it’s not a bad idea to switch all of your interior lighting to LED. Here’s a kit that I purchased which I installed on my rig prior to this mod. This will put less stress on existing electrical / wiring and makes everything brighter. Here’s the link - http://www.amazon.com/Classy-Autos-...93&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=4runner+led+interoir
Step by step process for the mod:
1. Open your tail gate and make clean the surface area between lights. Make sure all dirt / oil is cleaned off. Otherwise, tape will no stick.
2. Pop off the two existing lights and remove the cover. Be carful if you’re worried about scratching your tail gate.
3. Take the existing light out temporarily. Take the led strip and thread one wire through one little hole on the connection points where the existing light goes and then do the same thing with the other wire to the other little hole. Wrap the wires around at least once and replace the existing light. It should look like this when it’s done roughly.
Sorry for the bad photo but this gives you another angle.
4. Test. If it doesn’t work, switch the two connecting wires. I don’t know which is positive and which is negative. It didn’t work for me at first and then I switched the two wires and bam! LIGHT!
5. Do the exact same thing for the other light (if you’re wiring up the 20” lights like I did).
6. Pop the lights back into their place making sure to thread the wire for the LED strip out in a good spot.
6. Take your masking tape and run a strip from one light to the other so that you have a good reference point to be level (if you’re anal like me).
6. String both sets of light across using the 3M double sided tape and cut where the LED strip where needed/indicated where the two LED strips meet (again, if you’re using two strips like me).
7. Taking off the masking tape and marvel at your work. If you used two strips like I did, each switch will work as they normally do when you open the tail gate = light; when you close the tail gate = no light. Pure awesome and super simple.
8. Clean up your mess.
Cheers.
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