LED Ambient Footwell Lighting...
#1
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
LED Ambient Footwell Lighting...
Forget buying Ford's add-on ambient lighting package! Optix makes these LED light pods that fit perfectly in the little spaces under the dash where there factory and dealer installed units go. I picked mine up at Advance Auto Parts.
Since I have My Color, I use blue all of the time for my gauges and will likely not change the color to anything else, so I decided to use the blue Optix LED pods and wire them into my dash lamp circuit. The LED's will dim with the dimmer switch and operate with the dash lights when you turn on the parking/headlamp switch.They will operate when you unlock the car with the remote. When you turn the ignition key they will dim just like the dome lighting...
No sense paying the high bucks for Ford's dealer installed accessory unless you cannot live without lighted cup holders and the ability to change the colors if you want...
Two LED light pods cost me just less than $20. The flood the footwells with light very wellwhile maintaining the same brightness ratio as the gauge lights... The blue light matches the guages perfectly!
The LED pods are also available in at least red, green and white as stocking items in the store I bought them...
Since I have My Color, I use blue all of the time for my gauges and will likely not change the color to anything else, so I decided to use the blue Optix LED pods and wire them into my dash lamp circuit. The LED's will dim with the dimmer switch and operate with the dash lights when you turn on the parking/headlamp switch.They will operate when you unlock the car with the remote. When you turn the ignition key they will dim just like the dome lighting...
No sense paying the high bucks for Ford's dealer installed accessory unless you cannot live without lighted cup holders and the ability to change the colors if you want...
Two LED light pods cost me just less than $20. The flood the footwells with light very wellwhile maintaining the same brightness ratio as the gauge lights... The blue light matches the guages perfectly!
The LED pods are also available in at least red, green and white as stocking items in the store I bought them...
Last edited by watchdevil; 3/15/08 at 03:22 AM.
#4
Since the weather is going to be nice today i was thinking about adding footwell lights. I was going to use sidemarker lamps(which i saw in another thread) but now I'm condisering getting some white LEDs instead. I imagine they would be safer than the regular bulbs, wouldnt want anyone to get burned(including myself).
#5
Cobra Member
Join Date: February 2, 2005
Location: Aurora, IL
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm actually going to add footwell lamps using a few light housings I have on hand. They are the puddle lamps from the exterior mirrors of an Explorer. I haven't figured out how to secure them under the dash yet, but that shouldn't be too hard. I bought a few new sockets to go with them from Murray's.
I'll keep that Optix idea in mind, sounds like a pretty slick setup.
I'll keep that Optix idea in mind, sounds like a pretty slick setup.
Last edited by frdtch05gt; 3/15/08 at 11:29 AM.
#6
Mach 1 Member
Join Date: October 20, 2005
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 874
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i just did my trunk lighting so i have built up a little confidence. hehe. i have been wanting to give this mod a shot too.
which wires do you tap into? can you post some pics? thanks.
which wires do you tap into? can you post some pics? thanks.
#7
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
By the way I tested for voltage in the four pin wire plug under the dash which I assume is used to plug in the ambient lighting and there is no voltage there at all, no matter of the lights are on or the key is on.
I did try to take pictures of the footwells illuminated but it did not show up in the pictures. It seems impossible for the camera to pick up the blue light against the black interior. However there is plenty of light there and they match the color, brightness and intensity of the blue in the MyColor gauges perfectly. I have not posted pics at the moment because of the camera issue. When I get my next day off I will take pics during the day of the actual light pods installed.
#8
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
I actually prefer the LED's... They match the intensity of the gauge lamps which do not look like incadenscent light.
My footwell LED's are set to run all the time when the park/headlamps are on. You can add an on-off switch in the curcuit of you want to, but I like them on all the time the lamps are on.
I remember a frieind of mine bought a 2007 Honda Civic and had the genuine Honda ambient lighting installed. The ones I put on my car have the same light quality and effect for a whole lot less money. I believe the Honda ambient lighting was something like $250 installed. Ford charges a hefty amount as well for the kit with the only benefit is being able to change the color which I wont do at all.
My footwell LED's are set to run all the time when the park/headlamps are on. You can add an on-off switch in the curcuit of you want to, but I like them on all the time the lamps are on.
I remember a frieind of mine bought a 2007 Honda Civic and had the genuine Honda ambient lighting installed. The ones I put on my car have the same light quality and effect for a whole lot less money. I believe the Honda ambient lighting was something like $250 installed. Ford charges a hefty amount as well for the kit with the only benefit is being able to change the color which I wont do at all.
#9
Legacy TMS Member
Just wondering.
#10
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
If you look on the lower dash panels, right in the center on either side of the car is molded in mounting tabs to secure the factory ambient lighting fixture. Near those tabs in the wiring harness that runs along the underside of the dash panels are four pin wiring plugs that are unused. There is no voltage whatsoever to these plugs. I was going to use the wiring in the plugs of they had proper voltage to do so.
I took my entire console out so I could remove the automatic shift bezel there was absolutely no extra harnesses underneath the cupholders or in the console area. I knew to look for them but it appears they were not included in the build of my car. No big deal, I just tapped into the PRND321 light wire while I had the console apart.
I took my entire console out so I could remove the automatic shift bezel there was absolutely no extra harnesses underneath the cupholders or in the console area. I knew to look for them but it appears they were not included in the build of my car. No big deal, I just tapped into the PRND321 light wire while I had the console apart.
Last edited by watchdevil; 3/15/08 at 10:36 PM.
#11
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
Here are the installed pics!
NOTICE THE FACTORY TAB BRACKETS AND CUT OUTS ALREADY INSTALLED AT THE LOWER DASH!! This was not something I cut, added or modified. The pod lights stick right to the tabs and seem as if they were made the exact shape to accept them. Keep in mind ambient lighting was not an option on Mustangs before 2008 so the tabs may not be there on pre-08 models.
NOTICE THE FACTORY TAB BRACKETS AND CUT OUTS ALREADY INSTALLED AT THE LOWER DASH!! This was not something I cut, added or modified. The pod lights stick right to the tabs and seem as if they were made the exact shape to accept them. Keep in mind ambient lighting was not an option on Mustangs before 2008 so the tabs may not be there on pre-08 models.
Last edited by watchdevil; 3/21/08 at 11:48 PM.
#14
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
I have tried night shots and my camera will not pick up the blue lighting against the black interior. If you think about it thats why filmakers use a blue background to film special effects. However there is plenty of light there with the nekid eye.
#15
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
Oh yeah and in cas anyone didn't notice, Ford does a horrible job routing wiring so that it is not exposed. On my car, it runs above the carpet line in the passenger footwell and then they had the nerve to run it OUTSIDE of the carpet while making the 90 degree turn towards the console. They didn't even cover the wire completely with black tape or loom.
#17
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
Advance Auto Parts carries the lighting in stock in four colors: Blue, Green, Red and White. I am not sure if they come in other colors. I checked out Optx by StreetGlow's website and I could not find this paticular product listed. However they sell single LED's which come in other colors like orange, purple and yellow. I have no idea if the pods come in other colors too.
I posted earlier that I tapped into the PRND321 indicator light wiring in the console where the automatic shifter is located. That is the easiest location to get to. I am not sure if manual transmision cars have the wire there unused in the harness in he console. However if you remove the center stack trim place around the Audio and HVAC controls you can access night illumination wiring there.
I made another attempt to capture the LED pods lit up. It's really difficult but I did find a setting on my camera that takes pictures in "candlelight" or dark settings. They are kinda blurry but it was the best I can do. It's still hard to get the lighting to show against the all black interior. However they do look MUCH MUCH better in person.
I posted earlier that I tapped into the PRND321 indicator light wiring in the console where the automatic shifter is located. That is the easiest location to get to. I am not sure if manual transmision cars have the wire there unused in the harness in he console. However if you remove the center stack trim place around the Audio and HVAC controls you can access night illumination wiring there.
I made another attempt to capture the LED pods lit up. It's really difficult but I did find a setting on my camera that takes pictures in "candlelight" or dark settings. They are kinda blurry but it was the best I can do. It's still hard to get the lighting to show against the all black interior. However they do look MUCH MUCH better in person.
Last edited by watchdevil; 3/21/08 at 11:43 PM.
#18
Legacy TMS Member
cool! I have a manual trans so that wire is not available to splice into. At the bottom under the cup holder part I have some plug and it has about 4-5 wires. I don't know if it has power to that.
#20
Shelby GT350 Member
Thread Starter
If anyone has a manual transmission and cannot find a wire tucked away unused for automatic transmission vehicles, them simply go the extra steps and remove the trim plate around the stereo and climate controls. Only a few screws hold it on and it comes out. The removal follows the same procedure for installing the start switch in the 12V power port at the top of the centerstack. All the buttons arranged on either side of the power point have nighttime illumination and you will be able to tap into the wiring that supplies these switches illumination at night. Anyone needing a ground can tap into the ground for the 12V power outlet or ground to any screw at the lower edge of the dash on either side. The screws go through the metal frame that supports the dash.
Remember if anyone needs to remove the lower console or trim around teh stereo/HVAC controls you need to remove the vertical trim on either side of the sidestack. It snaps in. You remove them by pulling the panels straight towards the rear of the car, not sideways. No worries about breaking anything that snaps in. Everything snaps out of place easily with no effort and goes back in place securely just like it was originall installed.
Last edited by watchdevil; 3/22/08 at 09:44 PM.