running board lights diy

[bushcraftbasics]

i have searched and searched and cannot find a DIFINITIVE answer to the problem regarding the wiring for a new installation of running board lights on my 2003 SR5 V8...i have picked up some led's and am tired of running in circles trying to figure this out...heres what ive gathered thus far:

tap into the ignition switch light,
use pin 2 (red?) and pin 6 (red and green?) from the harness...

from the wiring diagrams i have found there does not appear to be a red/green (-) in this harness, but there is one for the horn in the steering column somewhere?

IDK but i am getting a little frustrated...if someone would be willing to direct me to the correct info, i will do a propper write-up on this mod...

heres what i would like to know:

how to count the pins, do i count simply from left to right, and if so, which side is the front/back?

also, do the wire colors matter? do i use pins 2 & 6 regardless of wire color?

i wanted to clear this up before my truck is in pieces in my driveway...

thanks in advance

bush

 

[oljedi11950]

I believe our esteemed moderator MOMO.75 did this recently ? Might check his build thread ?

 

[bushcraftbasics]

thanks oljedi...ill take a look-see...let you guys know what i find out

 

[bushcraftbasics]

looks like i have to be the one to blaze the trail...i'll cut into this project, do a trial-and-error and figure it out myself...i will post a step-by-step when i finish...

 

[Evan B]

If the tough part is figuring out the pins you could just not do it that way. You could run your own power wire and use a relay wired to any one of the interior lights to control it.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

If the tough part is figuring out the pins you could just not do it that way. You could run your own power wire and use a relay wired to any one of the interior lights to control it.

Yeah, no one says that you have to tap off the ignition ring, I thought about doing this a while back, and figured I would tap into the light wires before they entered the doors, that way you don't have to run as far either

 

[bushcraftbasics]

the reason for tapping into the ignition ring light is to maintain the factory-like funtion...ie: auto power on with key-fob unlock, auto power off with key-fob lock, automatic shut off upon engine start, auto on when engine is turned off and with the 30 second fade-out like the dome lights...i dont know of any other place to tie-in and maintain these functions

 

[Evan B]

the reason for tapping into the ignition ring light is to maintain the factory-like funtion...ie: auto power on with key-fob unlock, auto power off with key-fob lock, automatic shut off upon engine start, auto on when engine is turned off and with the 30 second fade-out like the dome lights...i dont know of any other place to tie-in and maintain these functions

See the bolded text. The dome lights (or any other interior light) could provide what you need. There's no reason to go back to a factory distribution block. Just make sure you're connections are secure and insulated.

 

[bushcraftbasics]

See the bolded text. The dome lights (or any other interior light) could provide what you need. There's no reason to go back to a factory distribution block. Just make sure you're connections are secure and insulated.

...but then wouldnt the running board lights come on if i manually turned on the dome lights via the switch?

 

[Evan B]

...but then wouldnt the running board lights come on if i manually turned on the dome lights via the switch?

Oh, I thought you wanted them to function like the dome lights.

 

[bushcraftbasics]

Oh, I thought you wanted them to function like the dome lights.

i do...but only in the "courtesy light" aspect...i dont want my running board lights coming on everytime one of the kids turns on a dome light to find something and I dont want them to only come on when i open the door like the door-lights either...i want them to come on and off with the use of the key fob, and "fade out" with the dome lights after 30 seconds af inactivity...basically i want them to work like the factory ones do

 

[Evan B]

i do...but only in the "courtesy light" aspect...i dont want my running board lights coming on everytime one of the kids turns on a dome light to find something and I dont want them to only come on when i open the door like the door-lights either...i want them to come on and off with the use of the key fob, and "fade out" with the dome lights after 30 seconds af inactivity...basically i want them to work like the factory ones do

My bad. Good luck with it.

 

[bushcraftbasics]

My bad. Good luck with it.

thanks...i'll let everyone know what i find out

 

[jsmith21]

Any success with this? I have a SR-5 with the unlit running boards, and haven't found where the wire to connect to would be? Im trying to add some led type rock lights and have them work like the factory running board lights.

 

[kevinpt]

Any success with this? I have a SR-5 with the unlit running boards, and haven't found where the wire to connect to would be? Im trying to add some led type rock lights and have them work like the factory running board lights.

i know with limited's the wires come out of the wiring harness at the front doors and go under the seats. im not sure if the wires are there or not but they would be as shown

 

[CRFofiddyF]

Power source

Hi guys,
Anybody tapped into the puddle lights? I have a 2014 sr5 and i am very interested in ths mod. Hopefully someone already did it that way.

Edit: never mind, the puddle lights only come up when hitting unlock on the remote. Im can mcgyver things but i dnt know if i can get ballzy enough to do this