so... I'm trying to install some LED light strips on the lower edge of the door as lights at night when you open the door. thinking about pulling power either from the door switch or an illumination wire or something. problem is, I dont know where to pull power from either of those.

anyone got any ideas?

 

Do you have the lit Mustang sill plates? If not, look into their after market wiring and see where they pull the power from.

 

bumping my own thread...

found a couple tidbits of info, maybe I can use.

http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=710&viewfil...bution-SJB.pdf
http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=710&viewfil...nformation.pdf

apparently there is an unused circuit labeled "puddle lamps" Now I just need a pin-out on connector C2280C on the Smart Junction Box (SJB).
anyone?

 

hmm interested in hearing more.... sounds cool if not too tacky

 

I'll post pics when I do it, just need to figure out where to get power. I may be able to pull power from the door switch connector if I'm lucky. I'll play with it tomorrow.

 

There was a thread around here with someone wanting to put LEDs in his car, and someone posted the wiring for the lighted door sill plates. That'd probably be your best bet for your idea also. The wire for the map lights should run up through the A-pillar. Just tap into that, so they'll turn on when the door's open. Be sure to post some pics when you're done...sounds like a cool idea.

 

Have flashing amber LEDs like a fire truck when the doors are open. LOL

A nice smaller led would look nice tho IMO

 

There's always the "Pony Projector" mirrors coming!

 

I'm adding a couple of LED puddle light strips myself in the spring anf I'm planning on tapping into the circuit for the 2 overhead map lights above the mirror.

 

I found something far easier. pin 6 and pin 5 on the door switch connector are +12v and -12v, respectively. I spliced my LED light strips into those pins in the harness. the door switch is electrically just a switch, no resistor or anything so it's full current, while the LED strips have a good bit of resistance/current to them. so, when you open the door, the door switch opens, and the lights come on. but when the door switch closes, the light goes off since the switch is an easier path for the electricity to travel, or something... idk, I'm not an electrical engineer.

pics of install:

 

I'm confused...what door switch did you tap into? And how did you splice in?...It looks like you just stripped and twisted the wires? I still would've gone with the map lights. But if it works for you, then go with it.

 

It appears he tapped into the door switch that resides in the latch assembly. Hopefully the splices are soldered and covered with shrink tubing.

I have seen so many of the newer cars have issues when extra lights are installed without relays. The wiring can be overloaded so easy plus so much is controlled by computers, it is easy to cause a problem several months down the road. Using the factory signal to trigger a relay is the way to go all the time. Then, run a dedicated wire for the power to the extra lights thru the relay. I also find many instructions do not hint at issues that can develop.

 

This. Every word. Twice. Because it's important. Cars are way sensitive these days, won't do to have a load it's not expecting.

But if it works for you, fine, don't. Won't be my issue.

 

I appreciate the concerns guys, thanks.

yes, the wires are staggered stripped points, soldered, and heat shrinked, even though in the camera-phone pics it doesnt really look that way.

as to the current load, these LED strips draw very little current, around .25 amps each, less power than the door lock requires. I'm not too worried about it to be honest.

 

So do you still get a door open message/chime when you open the door? Or have you confused it into thinking that the door is always closed?

 

everything else still works as normal, yeah. I'm gonna rewire it later point, once it warms up a bit more and I have some free time.