So I need a little help guys. I'm going to do a little experiment that I've wanted to try for awhile. It might be too ricey, which if I think it is I'll immediately take it off. I wanting to wire some red LED lights into my Cali Dream Hood's vents. Similar to the KITT lighting, but not moving. Just a little glow. I can get the LEDs but I have no clue how to wire this up. It seems like it would be pretty simple to find some power but I figure one of you could tell me the best place. Anybody?

 

Cool experiment and I'm looking forward to pics.


Just remember not to use them while driving as red lights on the front of any car other than an emergency vehicle are illegal. I'm, sure you already know this, but just wanted to make sure.

 

o really? def didn't know that... hmm maybe blue

 

It may be with blue as well. Anything that gives the appearance of an emergency vehicle, rather if its blue or red. I still want to see the outcome though!

 

Yeah red and or blue will get you pulled over, a ticket and be forced to disable them on the side of the road prior to being able to leave.

Please don't ask how I know

 

To just try it, mount the lights then just run the wires back to the battery and jam them into the terminals. If you like them and are going to keep them, you can always get a relay and switch and in-line fuse later down the road, but no worth going through the hassle if you won't keep them on.

Could also just wire them to the fogs or headlight harnesses, jam the wires in there so they have decent contact, then they'd only come on when one of those are on.

 

Well I have some blue LED's on the way. So I'm def going to try it. I'm also going to do the whole ambient lighting thing at the same time. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Thats a good idea Josh, just to try them. When I get this so called "kit" I ordered, I'll decide what I'll do next.

 

So I got the LEDs in today. Honestly I have no experience with LED pods or individually so I'm not sure how bright they're supposed to be. But these are pretty bright. Kit came with 8 indivdual LEDs, extra wire, and a switch. not bad I guess. Well I've spent all night trying to mount some of these in the interior before trying to tackle the vents tomorrow. After a lot of work I've concluded that 2 pods might be a LOT easier than trying to place these individually in the footwells. Now for the vents and other small places in the car like the cupholders, these may work just fine. I do have one main question though.

Following another threads instructions I tapped into the auto shifter wire (that was there by the way on my manual 06) which seemed to work great. However, I would actually prefer to have these lights along with the vent lights on there own direct power source. Is there any problem with getting my power from a line run directly to the battery so I can turn these on and off at will?

 

I'd suggest using an add-a-fuse circuit (got mine from AutoZone) through the passenger side kick panel fuse box. There's a diagram of the box in your owners manual of what each slot does, and several are unused. I used it for my stereo install, 12V constant source. You can then run the wire under the glove box and into the central console, and put a switch there to turn them on/off.

 

I know too! red or blue = a big NO NO!! good for indoor / outdoor car events ,but not while driving! lol

 

You could do the white LED's similar to the audi's??

 

This type of mod is a traffic ticket waiting to happen even though I believe your intentions are good.

Although it varies by state here are some guidelines in general on the use of the following colors by first responders and their combinations.

Red/Blue are generally used by law enforcement with some agencies just running blue only as a primary color.

Fire/EMS normally run red or red/white with some combination there of and many emergency vehicles run a flashing yellow on the rear of a light bar or on a inner or outer rotator.

Green in some jurisdicitons is used by emergency management agencies and white is just used by all first responders usually in wig wags or strobes.

Law enforcement takes a very dim view of people running anything that even looks like an emergency vehicle as it generates citizen complaints and is very dangerous to the motoring public. In arkansas for example just the fact that you exhibit an emergeny blue color is proof of a violation.

Try to find another color and make sure it is only used when showing your car when parked, not trying to get in your business at all and only a suggestion, law enforcement like everything else in life is a discretionary profession and some officers are stricter than others, but red or blue is like hanging a sign on your car that says stop me.

I would suggest, if you are set on doing this, your best bet as a low powered white LED that does not blink in any fashion, just my thoughts.....

 

I don't think it's all as big a deal as some on here seem to. He's talking about a few red accent lights, ie the factory side markers at the rear of the car, which are perfectly legal. If they're blinking or strobing or whatever, yeah I can see a problem, but I think he's just wanting to light up the interior of the scoop itself, not shine it out like a beacon or something.

Now having a red/white or blue/white combo or flash is different, but I don't think that's the intent here.

 

My Ex-girlfriend (we are still friends) had the little fake NOS blue lights on her windshield washer nozzels on her hood. The police pulled her over and made her pull the plug for the lights and told her if he ever see's the blue lights on ever again he would give her a ticket for illegal lights.

 

Living on the edge ...

I'd still do it if he wanted to, especially with a switch in the center console to disable them. If a cops around, switch em off.

Cops that are bugging people for tinted windows and little LEDs really need to remember that 'serve and protect' description of their job. That kind of harassment is neither of those.

 

I do agree with Glen that any LEDs hanging on the outside of the car would be a big no no. But like Josh said, I'm just trying to get a slight glow from the vents, not beam them out. Just a nice glow. By the way, I'm not even sure if I'll like this or not, it might be too ricey for me. I'll be wiring it up up tonight just to see what I think.

And I hate to even mention this on a mustang board, but here in ghetto *** Dallas I see ricers all the time with "underglow" in all sorts of colors. I've never heard any problems of people getting pulled over for those (even though they should cause it makes me throw up). But as a comparison I don't see much difference from a cop's stand point than what I'm trying to do.

And as far as the little blue washer nozzle LEDs, those are actually pointing straight out so I can see how that would be a problem. I see those everywhere here too.

I've almost got my entire interior done with red and blue so I'll be doin the hood tonight. I'll post some pics late tonight.

Thanks for all the response. I really like hearing what others think on the subject.

 

Hey keep us posted, I have the interior upgrade option on my Shelby and it is sweet with the interior glow in the front and rear seating sections and coke holders on the console that is adjustable with several different colors.

Don't misinterpret my comments, forum members have a responsibility to share knowledge and look out for each other when they can, the key words were " not trying to get in your business" & "descretionary authority". They run LEDs in the hood scoops of the Mustang GTs assigned to traffic in this city.

Be safe... GG

 

O no problem at all. Thats why I love this forum, always good info and opinions. The only thing better than this interior lighting in a GT is it in a Shelby

 

Really? I've never had a problem

 

any forward facing red or blue lights is considered to be illegal and in some states can get you a ticket for impersonating an official/emergency vehicle.