Custom rear seat usb chargers mod!

[Johns06yota]

Just a little mod I did today. Will be for a future video as well haha. I ended up adding dual usb chargers for each rear passenger. I wanted this to be oem looking by keeping it somewhat hidden but still easily accessible. The best spot I found was in the rear door panel within the pocket. I centered both and then used a dremel to cut out the holes for each charger port. My goal was to avoid having to run wires through the door grommet so I began looking for a 12 volt source in the door. What I settled on was the main power white wire for the positive and then the center green wire for the negative. All connections were soldered and the in line fuses were retained. I also made quick disconnects for both the keep things organized. Now both rear passengers can enjoy USB connectivity for their devices!

 

[Whiskey & Wrenches]

Clever placement, looks like you did a great job!

 

[Johns06yota]

Clever placement, looks like you did a great job!

Thanks!

 

[TenTwelve]

What would suck is if your passenger didn't unplug their device before opening the door and it went flying out onto the ground.

 

[Johns06yota]

What would suck is if your passenger didn't unplug their device before opening the door and it went flying out onto the ground.

Lmao hopefully that won't be an issue. I had seen another member put one charger outlet in the center console but it cut into the hvac line and I didn't want to do that. My other option I wanted to do was build these into the center arm rest but there were a couple issues with that. For one if there were three passengers back there then the outlets couldn't be used and for 2 after checking inside, there physically wasn't enough room unless I made major changes to the center tray.

 

[TenTwelve]

Lmao hopefully that won't be an issue. I had seen another member put one charger outlet in the center console but it cut into the hvac line and I didn't want to do that. My other option I wanted to do was build these into the center arm rest but there were a couple issues with that. For one if there were three passengers back there then the outlets couldn't be used and for 2 after checking inside, there physically wasn't enough room unless I made major changes to the center tray.

For me... If I had people in my back seat I wouldn't damn about their charging needs. lol As for now... 2 kids car seats.

 

[Jstpatrick]

Great idea and thank you. My kids really appreciate this one.

 

[Blue109]

For me... If I had people in my back seat I wouldn't damn about their charging needs. lol As for now... 2 kids car seats.

Until those kids tablets go dead in the middle of a road trip and now you have to listen to them complain for the next 3 hours

 

[Bluesky 07]

Nice job! And maybe you can answer a question for me?

I’m looking to finish a driver’s door mod where a small orange LED is installed to throw light on the window switches. Like you, I don’t want to run wire through the grommet. Ideally, I would like to identify a power source wire for my new bulb that will only come on with the headlights, but am fine with a constant source wire if necessary. Do you happen to know how I can identify a suitable wire in the bundle that feeds into the driver’s door switches?

Thanks.

 

[Terminator03]

Nice job! And maybe you can answer a question for me?

I’m looking to finish a driver’s door mod where a small orange LED is installed to throw light on the window switches. Like you, I don’t want to run wire through the grommet. Ideally, I would like to identify a power source wire for my new bulb that will only come on with the headlights, but am fine with a constant source wire if necessary. Do you happen to know how I can identify a suitable wire in the bundle that feeds into the driver’s door switches?

Thanks.

That sounds like a great mod! I hate that the switches aren’t illuminated, especially the door lock ones.

 

[eleven14]

Nice job! And maybe you can answer a question for me?

I’m looking to finish a driver’s door mod where a small orange LED is installed to throw light on the window switches. Like you, I don’t want to run wire through the grommet. Ideally, I would like to identify a power source wire for my new bulb that will only come on with the headlights, but am fine with a constant source wire if necessary. Do you happen to know how I can identify a suitable wire in the bundle that feeds into the driver’s door switches?

Thanks.

My 2008 limited has the driver's window switch (I believe) illuminated, activated with the headlights. So the wiring is potentially already there depending on model year/trim?

 

[Bluesky 07]

My 2008 limited has the driver's window switch (I believe) illuminated, activated with the headlights. So the wiring is potentially already there depending on model year/trim?

Yes, it’s there, but it’s in a huge bundle of wires and tracking down the right one is what I’m hoping [MENTION=210043]Johns06yota[/MENTION] can help with since he sounds very knowledgeable about the wiring.

[MENTION=209958]Terminator03[/MENTION], I installed the LED a couple of years ago based on a mod I found here. That thread mentioned a black wire but I haven’t been able to make that one work. One way or another, I’m determined to finish it next week while the door is disassembled for sound deadener installation. I’ll do a writeup on how it’s done.

This post from the mod thread shows the result.

 

[AuSeeker]

Yes, it’s there, but it’s in a huge bundle of wires and tracking down the right one is what I’m hoping [MENTION=210043]Johns06yota[/MENTION] can help with since he sounds very knowledgeable about the wiring.

[MENTION=209958]Terminator03[/MENTION], I installed the LED a couple of years ago based on a mod I found here. That thread mentioned a black wire but I haven’t been able to make that one work. One way or another, I’m determined to finish it next week while the door is disassembled for sound deadener installation. I’ll do a writeup on how it’s done.

This post from the mod thread shows the result.

It should be relatively easy to figure which wire it is using a good test light.

Turn on the light switch and find which wire is hot using the test light, then make sure it is not hot when you turn off the light switch, double check the wire remains not hot with the ignition on and you should be good to go.

I know that some wire colors in the wiring harnesses in some areas have changed on 4th Gens on later models so it's best to make sure you truly know which wire/color is the right one

 

[Bluesky 07]

It should be relatively easy to figure which wire it is using a good test light.

Turn on the light switch and find which wire is hot using the test light, then make sure it is not hot when you turn off the light switch, double check the wire remains not hot with the ignition on and you should be good to go.

I know that some wire colors in the wiring harnesses in some areas have changed on 4th Gens on later models so it's best to make sure you truly know which wire/color is the right one

It seems that way but the challenge is that there are many wires in a very tight bundle, such that you can’t get at all of them because some are surrounded by others.

To the OP, didn’t intend to threadjack or detract from your excellent work.

 

[Johns06yota]

Nice job! And maybe you can answer a question for me?

I’m looking to finish a driver’s door mod where a small orange LED is installed to throw light on the window switches. Like you, I don’t want to run wire through the grommet. Ideally, I would like to identify a power source wire for my new bulb that will only come on with the headlights, but am fine with a constant source wire if necessary. Do you happen to know how I can identify a suitable wire in the bundle that feeds into the driver’s door switches?

Thanks.

All of the power sources within the driver door are only constant power (at least in my case). Even the led within the switch itself. Now you may physically have the same wires as the limited but there is a high likelihood that circuits are missing somewhere else. For example when I installed heated seats on the factory circuit, the wire was physically there but there was no power running to it and a relay needed to be added in the engine bay fuse box. Realistically to do this you are going to need to run at least a power wire from the interior switch illumination circuit to the positive of an LED and the negative to an existing ground within the door. If the LED isn't designed for 12 volts you will need to run a 330 OHM resistor in series but make sure the leads don't touch or you will pop a circuit.

 

[Terminator03]

Yes, it’s there, but it’s in a huge bundle of wires and tracking down the right one is what I’m hoping [MENTION=210043]Johns06yota[/MENTION] can help with since he sounds very knowledgeable about the wiring.

[MENTION=209958]Terminator03[/MENTION], I installed the LED a couple of years ago based on a mod I found here. That thread mentioned a black wire but I haven’t been able to make that one work. One way or another, I’m determined to finish it next week while the door is disassembled for sound deadener installation. I’ll do a writeup on how it’s done.

This post from the mod thread shows the result.

Hard to tell from that pic, but is the LED drilled into the underside of the pull handle/arm rest?

 

[Bluesky 07]

Hard to tell from that pic, but is the LED drilled into the underside of the pull handle/arm rest?

Yes, here are pics from above...

and looking back toward the rear. Note the illuminated courtesy light at the rear bottom of the door for visual reference.

This is the original thread my inspiration came from. There may be others but this is the only one I've been able to find so far.

And an embarrassing realization...I may not have been checking for power wires with the correct tool. I got the right one and will be working on this later this week.

 

[TenTwelve]

Until those kids tablets go dead in the middle of a road trip and now you have to listen to them complain for the next 3 hours

Never going to road trip in my 4RUnner. 16 mpg is not conducive lol

 

[thirdelement]

this looks great. did you but this unit on amazon? have a link?

 

[Bluesky 07]

Hard to tell from that pic, but is the LED drilled into the underside of the pull handle/arm rest?

Finally sorted out the power and got my ambient window control light working. Not the greatest pic as it's in the garage with some other lights on but you get the idea.

Pic also looks more yellow than it really is.