DIY add light to inside door handle

[overhaulengines]

hello, this was originally done by TonyNo here http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123757 i spoke with him just a bit ago and he said to post the DIY since i already had pic's and video, thank you TonyNo for this great idea.

ok, i used a red led from radio shack, this was easy for me as i have ordered the red leds to change the ABL on the doors and also going the do Red ABL along the dash. the red led has the resistor built in so it was easy as drill hole, mount and tap into abl wires right on the door. radio shack has them in red, orange and green, but not blue like we currently have:( in this case get with TonyNo as he has done the blue with the resistor. maybe he will chime in here and show how he did that and/or where he purchase them from. he also talked about putting together a "kit" for this.
also since i am connecting to the abl door light, they come on at night and go off in the day, or when ever ABL light are on. now if you dont have ABL light, TonyNo pointed out on his thread, he use the door window switch, i think he said its the yellow wire, check his post if you need to do this.

ok, there might be an easier way to get the blue leds, im sure there is, but if you look at the pics thats 2SSRS posted here http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115234 the 3rd and 4th pic, this is the blue OEM led with resistor, i think they are bout $13.00 from gmparts house, you could cut the wire about 3 inches, then take the led and resistor and install them in a led holder like the ones from radio shack here http://www.radioshack.com/family/ind...goryId=2032297 and there you go,
now if you find the light only cheaper, i know there out there somewhere, then you can purchase a resistor and do it yourself. so next question is how do you choose a resistor. go here (thx 2SSRS) http://ledcalculator.net/... ok i hope all of this helps

UPDATE TonyNo and 2SSRS posted some links on where to get the blue leds to match the originals. thank you guys

Originally Posted by TonyNo
I made mine from a turquoise LED from mouser.com (696-SSL-LX5093TC). I ordered two of everything that they had that was called blue-green or turquoise and this one was the winner.

here is another

Originally Posted by 2SSRS
I got them from Digi-key and there SSL-LX5093TC and i have 50 of them, TonyNo you know that there made by some one else.

ok here is video followed by pics.



ok i have the door panel off. there are plenty of DIY on how to do this. first 2 pics are the connectors, the led's are the same just different packaging. these have resistors built in. makes it easy. if we can get the part # of an blue led i can purchase an led holder from radio shack and show how to put that together with a resistor.


i have the door panel off, you will notice the plate is installed in the door pull hole, i did this so i could make sure that when i drilled the hole it would be centered, when i did the first on, i didnt have it there and when i put the plate after i installed the light, the plate covered part of the light and i had to elongate the hole to move the light, but no one can tell but me ok, now you also.


area to drill, do not have to be exact, plenty of room on the back side of the door panel, ok drill a pilot hole here, i used a 1/16 drill bit



here, i'm pointing to the 1/16 pilot hole i drilled.

now drill in the pilot hole, i bumped it up to what the led package said, which is 3/16, dont push to hard, have it under control so it just pop through

see drill hole

light installed

back side with light installed

remove the shielding from the door abl lights. connect with connector taps. you could also tap into the door window switch, i believe its the yellow wire and black wire. check his post

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Nicely done, Only thing you need to do is add 1 more in to the side box and down low.

[overhaulengines]

hello Ofer, how do you like that? are you pleased with it? when i had the door off, i was thinking of lighting the speaker grill, i'm going to give it shot later to see how it looks. long live the modding freaks lol

lupe

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

I did it a different way but came out the same, It looks so good at night, and i like your thinking for the speaker grill.

[GearHeadPeter]

Looks great Lupe. It is hard to keep up with you guys and all the modifications, but I am trying in my own unique way. I hope to see you all at Camaro FestII so we can check out each others rides. All hail the modding freaks.

[bee sting]

Looks great! I just sent TonyNo a pm asking how or if he was planning on selling the abl leds.has anyone else made or bought this color ? I want to match my AAC footwell and oem colors.

[Camaro4Life2011]

I was just thinking about the speaker grill as well overhaulengines. Great write up always enjoy reading your posts. Also much thanks to TonyNo and 2ssRS.

probably should change my name to camaromodding4life... hahah

[Camaro4Life2011]

for the speaker mod...i believe some of the kias have been manufactured with speaker grill lights might want to check that out.

[overhaulengines]

updated first post with this info

ok, there might be an easier way to get the blue leds, im sure there is, but if you look at the pics thats 2SSRS posted here http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115234 the 3rd and 4th pic, this is the blue OEM led with resistor, i think they are bout $13.00 from gmparts house, you could cut the wire about 3 inches, then take the led and resistor and install them in a led holder like the ones from radio shack here http://www.radioshack.com/family/ind...goryId=2032297 and there you go,
now if you find the light only cheaper, i know there out there somewhere, then you can purchase a resistor and do it yourself. so next question is how do you choose a resistor. i found this info with a quick google, go here http://www.ehow.com/how_5865769_choo...volt-leds.html ... ok i hope all of this helps

[LightningSS]

Nice. I'm tempeted to install a big red flashing light in the handle. After a year a half of driving my 2010 I still reach for the door handle at the location of my 98 Z28 which I had for 11 years. The locations are not that different, but muscle memory is tough to retrain... I do have to say I much prefer the handle in the 98 location. It's more natural to reach for.

98:


2010 (not my car):

[TonyNo]

Looks good Lupe!

[bee sting]

So Tony, did you make the abl leds or buys them com GM and make them work?

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Originally Posted by overhaulengines

updated first post with this info

ok, there might be an easier way to get the blue leds, im sure there is, but if you look at the pics thats 2SSRS posted here http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115234 the 3rd and 4th pic, this is the blue OEM led with resistor, i think they are bout $13.00 from gmparts house, you could cut the wire about 3 inches, then take the led and resistor and install them in a led holder like the ones from radio shack here http://www.radioshack.com/family/ind...goryId=2032297 and there you go,
now if you find the light only cheaper, i know there out there somewhere, then you can purchase a resistor and do it yourself. so next question is how do you choose a resistor. i found this info with a quick google, go here http://www.ehow.com/how_5865769_choo...volt-leds.html ... ok i hope all of this helps

If i may this one is better for finding the right resistor.
http://ledcalculator.net/

[TonyNo]

I made mine from a turquoise LED from mouser.com (696-SSL-LX5093TC). I ordered two of everything that they had that was called blue-green or turquoise and this one was the winner.