dan.worts

I was looking in my foot well today, above gas/brake pedals, brainstorming on how to install some blue ambient lighting down there. I snapped this picture, and did my best to make it clear:



My question is this: does anybody know if any of the wires I have pictured are connected into the headlights, and are thus okay to tap into? It's a huge mess of wires, and I have no clue how to tell which is which.

What size resistor should I use (I've read different answers on this -- yes, I have searched, and quite a lot at that)?

On the bright side though, it appears that it would not be too difficult at all to install two blue LED's, hooked up to a simple toggle switch (in case I wanted them off with the headlights still on) in driver and passenger side.

Also, what size wire is that in there? looks like roughly 20 or 22 awg, but I didn't get a good enough look.

One more thing - not sure if I should use a squeeze connector like this or just wire nuts like these

Thanks a million guys

VQP0WER

Why do you need them with headlamps? Why not just tap into a free or existing fuse location?

dan.worts

^ So they only come on with the headlights (at night). Would it make more sense to use a fuse?

VQP0WER

Well, you mentioned installing a toggle switch as well. It would be alot easier to just tap a fuse and use a simple toggle. By the way, the flashers, lights, etc, run through the wire harness at the lower left drivers side. Use the parking lamp wire if you need too. This way you can turn your LED's with the parking lamps only if you want. The parking lamp wire is red w/blue stripe that goes into your fuse block.

dan.worts

I will think about that. I want the factory-look/function kind of mod here, though. I want to tap a headlight if it is not a lot more difficult than just tapping a fuse.

Is the wire harness I have pictured the one with the parking lamp and such?

VQP0WER

I can't tell from you picture. But the harness for the parking lamps is to the left and slightly up from your left foot. I had to remove a bunch of electrical tape and crap to get to the actual wires. I'm trying to upload a pic...

dan.worts

Thank you so much

VQP0WER

Ok. The parking lamp wire is where that blue connector is. Obviously ignore the connector, my remote start uses that. It was a pain in the *** trying to take a pic of that area with my huge camera. Hopefully it helps, somewhat.

dan.worts

looks like it will be a huge help. I will take a look in my car when the sun comes out tomorrow

One more thing, I know you said which wire the positive was for the parking lamp, but which is the negative?

thanks again you are really helping me out here

VQP0WER

You can use any ground for the negative. I think I used a bolt that was in that area.

5 ltr. beater

what color bulb are you gonna use?

dan.worts

there are no wires going back to the negative terminal of the battery that I need to splice into as well? This goes against all of my basic electrical knowledge lol

5 ltr. beater, I am going to use blue led's to match the (somewhat) blue dash/gauges

edit: what size are the wires I'm tapping into/what size should I buy?

zero2sixtyZ

iTrader: (30)

Tap into the 12v outlet next to the ashtray. I have my footwell lighting tapped into that and controlled via switch.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

the entire metal body of the car is connected to the negative terminal of the battery, so you can connect the negative lead to any handy spot like VQPOWER said. Could someone tell me if dan.worts could connect the led's to the dash light wire circuit.

luvlexus101

iTrader: (6)

tapped heated steering wheel switch illumination wire for the fronts

dan.worts

I don't see the point in tapping into anything other than headlights or parking lights, because footwell lighting can really only be noticeable at night, correct? Dash lights could work too, or anything that comes on with the headlights. That is, unless you want courtesy lights down there, which I may do with white LED's at a later date.
VQPower, I will take a look in my car in about an hour

dan.worts

this is the best I could do in getting a picture -- I found the red wire with a blue stripe going into the fuse block; it was a separate wiring harness from the one I originally pictured.


It seems like, as long as there is enough slack in that hot wire for a tap (which there has to be), it could be a very simple job. I could build the entire circuit outside of the car, then I could just secure all the LED's in place and connect the female and male ends of the t tap. I don't even think I will need a resistor if I use pre wired 12 volt LED's like these

VQPower, what kind of connector do you have on there?

paint wiring diagram ftw

VQP0WER

They are called "T Connectors." Very simple and requires no cutting of the OEM wires. You simply squeeze the connector on with a pair of pliers and connect your lead wire with a normal connector like in my photo.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...mString=search

NismoAce

iTrader: (6)

I would suggest always using a relay whenever tapping into something. It may work fine but you run the risk of killing a fuse or killing a wire that is not rated for what you throw at it. Possibly diodes and other electrical equipment as well.

VQP0WER

For some simple LED's?

dan.worts

I don't think that a few LED's would even come close to blowing anything in a headlight's circuit. Their power draw is just so small, right?

VQPower, what gauge wire connecter did you use? 14 - 16 as you linked to? Cause I'm not sure what gauge wire to buy to use in my circuit.

VQP0WER

It will be the red connectors. I think like 20 gauge.

dan.worts

I think the advance auto parts by me has everything I need -- if I buy an LED kit, I won't need any resistors, will I?

pomps

those lights bother you at night? like glare

luvlexus101

iTrader: (6)

Not much but I can dim it with the dimmer, my gauges aren't hooked up to the dimmer circuit anymore so I can turn them all the way down low and be fine

dan.worts

If I use 18 gauge wire for my project here, will a connecter like this work with the two different size wires?
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...A|GRP2020A____

dan.worts

I did the mod, it came out great! Thanks so much to everyone who helped out!

VQP0WER

Awesome!

f.weezy.babii

pic?

dan.worts

I thought someone would ask. I will try to get one up tonight, but I can't make any promises on quality of the pic...

dan.worts

Cell phone picture is the best I could do, and it came out bad lol. You get the idea, though. I will try to get up a nice digital camera picture soon if anyone wants me to.



It looks brighter in some places than in others, for whatever reason, but it looks perfect in real life

still need to install a switch

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I've been following this thread hoping to read someone give advice on tapping into the courtesy lights, so this footwell lighting only comes on when the doors are open.

Love to see dan.worts' end-product pictures. (That cell phone photo is a total fail. Sorry, Dan.)

While waiting... does anyone have advice on that courtesy light idea? There's this thread here, but it never finished and specific info wasn't evident:

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ll-lights.html

dan.worts

Yea Rochester that thread about courtesy lighting is useless, haha. I will take a nice picture tomorrow night

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

WHY??????????????

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Why footwell lighting? IDK. Why not?

Thought I'd play with it, is all. If I don't like it, then I don't keep it. It's not ricey because it would just be fore the driver, lit when the door opens.

Besides, lots of cars come with footwell lighting stock. The 6th gen does, I believe.

dfownz

iTrader: (5)

Can you guys post pics of where you mounted the leds? I'm def gonna get into some led stuff.

Where do you guys buy these? (I'm assuming they're not the light bars from autozone)

dan.worts

I used "Alpena HyperLED's" from AdvanceAuto. 4 to a box, 2 for drivers side and 2 for passenger side. I just mounted them on the lip before the footwell opens up to all the wiring/the glove box.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

How long are the wires out of the box, please? Here's autozone's link.

Nevermind, found them listed at Walmart with a 1.0 meter spec. Hmm.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Page EL-97 in the 2003 FSM. This is the SECU with the wiring harnesses disconnected. For the courtesy lights, I need to tap into #32 for positive, and #43 for ground. (Thanks to knight_yyz.)



Haven't tried anything yet. Still gathering info and ideas.

jowo9

iTrader: (1)

Wise choice LEDs are. How can you not like LED work like mine??!
For your consideration:
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...-led-mods.html
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...-109-leds.html

There's something wrong with all you LED naysayers. LEDs look great and are cheap and fun to put in.