LED Courtesy Lights Write up

[2007toyota4runners]

This is my first write up so go easy on me haha and also sorry about the picture size.
If you needs any help or more pictures feel free to ask i am on the forum way more than i should be lol
1)DONT FORGET TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL OF THE BATTERY

First thing is take off the dome light lens and pull the on/off switch off and take the two tabs that say lock off


There are two tabs the top right one should be pushed left and the bottom left one should be pushed to the right and then just pull on the dome light housing and it will come down


Now that you have the dome light down take a wire hanger and tape the wire you with you use and stick it into the dome light hole and aim it at the pillar with the handle you will get a lot of resistance but dont worry just push it through (you should take the trim off the pillar but im sure you guys know how to do that) there is a little gap between the headliner and roof that you will see the wire when it gets there then take pliers and pull it down THIS TAKES TIME


now that you have the wire through you can connect the wire to the dome light just puh the wires through the holes and they will come out on the other side


when the wires through just wrap them snug around the dome light


When you get the wire down the pillar take off the trim piece that is under the driver door in this picture


that is the plug that will be taking the wire outside pull it off and stick your finger through and you will see them on the inside under the carpet by that trim piece you pulled off by the driver door and pull the wire through


this is what it should look like when the wire is pulled through the hole is no more than i think 3" past where the carpet begins and now the inside is dome and you can put everything back together

 

[2007toyota4runners]

now just connect both LED's together and then connect the main power that you brought from the dome light and then connect another wire that will run to the other side of the car


take that other wire for the other side and run it through those holes in the chassis(i did that to get the wire higher up) and run it through the crossmember (i think thats what it called) this took me about 20-25 mins there are two tough spots but you should be ok


That is the crossmember you will be running it through


just do the same to the other side to get the wire higher


The rest is just hiding wires and electrical taping them to protect them
This is what you should end up with
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxe9nweay_0

 

[momo.75]

Good job on the write up!

 

[2007toyota4runners]

Good job on the write up!

Thanks momo

 

[810moto]

Good stuff man! What lights did u use?

 

[2007toyota4runners]

Good stuff man! What lights did u use?

Flexible Car Strip Bulb Light White Waterproof 24 LED N | eBay
they are VERY VERY good for the money

 

[emelianenkov]

Very clever! Doing this when I get the time!

 

[riceandpho]

wtf, electrical tape lol, wouldnt it be easier to tap in to the dome light wire by interior fuse box, then poke a tiny hole in the floor gromet, so u dont have wire rubbing against metal, i would go stop at a stereo shop and buy some wire loom and clean it up, make it more safer and less of a fire hazzard. but good try on your end.

 

[2007toyota4runners]

wtf, electrical tape lol, wouldnt it be easier to tap in to the dome light wire by interior fuse box, then poke a tiny hole in the floor gromet, so u dont have wire rubbing against metal, i would go stop at a stereo shop and buy some wire loom and clean it up, make it more safer and less of a fire hazzard. but good try on your end.

i looked at the engine bay fuse box and there were a couple of fuses that were labeled dome and i tried those with no luck but i cant remember if i looked at the interior fuse box but i may just have to fix the the rubber grommet part thanks for the advice

 

[riceandpho]

if u can, u can trace a red with green stripe.
http://www.top4runners.com/cgi-bin/image.pl?/ja/2007/maplightmod/mapn.jpg

 

[az98trd]

If you wheel your rig you might want to reconsider running wires below the frame rail. You may land on a rock or something of that nature, break the wires and cause a short...

 

[emelianenkov]

If you wheel your rig you might want to reconsider running wires below the frame rail. You may land on a rock or something of that nature, break the wires and cause a short...

I thought of doing that. Maybe mount on the side of the frame rail. Don't want any pinched wires

 

[MICA4R]

nice writeup... you'll be really happy when you swap out the interior bulbs with LED's. Come December when it gets dark at 4:30PM and you are looking for something in the back seat.

Trully miss Chicago! Best Summer city in America. I was going to guess you were from the northeast based on the rust on your rig.

Do you remember this:

No longer have those issues down here.
:cowboy:

 

[2007toyota4runners]

I totally agree with you Chicago is the Greatest city IMO and that was a crazy storm my runner really had some fun that day

 

[robhurlburt]

love it. would like to do it for my steps so i could have running board lights. there isn't a closer wire than the dome light though?

 

[emelianenkov]

love it. would like to do it for my steps so i could have running board lights. there isn't a closer wire than the dome light though?

I know the door courtesy lights turn on, but only when the door is opened. It looks to me that your dome light is the only choice unless you trace the wiring, but I would go for simplicity. It seems to be the easiest way!

 

[estobaughn]

When wiring these up like you did, do they turn on when you turn the dome light on or only when the door opens/doors unlocked?

 

[2007toyota4runners]

When wiring these up like you did, do they turn on when you turn the dome light on or only when the door opens/doors unlocked?

Anything the dome light does the LEDs will do exactly the same. Only disadvantage is you cant use the dome light when on the road for the po-po's will get ya because the LEDS turn on underneath

Update:They are still going strong but the Ebay LEDs are starting to change color so i might change those out but the wiring is still in great shape

 

[fedrlbiker]

There is another problem... you are tapping in at the bulb and not the wire harness so your step lights operate based on the light switch inside the car. That means 2 things:

1. If you turn the "door" switch off, the step lights don't work.

and more importantly

2. If you turn the light on while driving down the road, the step lights come on then too!

 

[Evan B]

...

and more importantly

2. If you turn the light on while driving down the road, the step lights come on then too!

That's what he said.