Phase 1: Led interior mods
Well, I finally got started on swapping my interior lights, and added some lighting where I didn't have any before.
The Tacoma, like my 4Runner... had some details that were left out, during production. I felt like it could use some extra lighting, since the glove box and center console had none, which made things a little hard to see at night.
First thing I did was run some power and ground wires in the center console, so I can splice into them, and add my 5mm LED lights.
I ran power from the shift light, and grounded the entire project using the same ground already being utilized in that area. (a shot of the ground in the pic showing the vent LED location)
Then I ran one LED to the back of the center console to the rear vent area, and another to the inside of the console:
Here's a shot of the vent area at night:
Here's a shot of the center console:
Then I decided to run 2 LED's to the front cupholder area:
(Note the little black grommets... they are actually called LED holders... I got 50 of them for around a dollar on E-bay).
Here's a day shot of them installed:
I wanted them to be concealed, so I located them beneath the cupholder divider. The only problem with this, is the light output wasn't that great, so I modified the underside of the divider, so it would reflect the light a little more.
I used some mirror tape and cardboard to make the reflector:
Here's the finished product....
Next, I ran 2 more to the glove box area.... really ticked me off that a $30,000 + pickup truck didn't have a glove box light! lol!
First thing I did was drill out 2 holes for the LED's on both sides of the latch cut out and one for the contact switch.
And a night shot:
Next... I had 2 more LED's left from the pack I bought at Walmart... so I decided to add some foot well lights!
You'll notice I swapped the shifter light too.... I simply used one of the spare LED's I had left over from the 4Runner's LED swap... same 74 Wedge as the 4Runner.
Now.... what's next?? Well I want to swap out the gauge lights... but they are Surface mounted LED's, which means I need to either learn how to remove and re-solder 10 LED's! lol! I've already got them on order from
LEDs: DIY, Superflux, 12V Prewired LEDs, LED Kits and more , so just waiting for them to come in!
