DIY: Trunklighting with an LED strip **EASY!!**

[13lade]

As most of us know, the incandescent bulb in the trunk is practically useless. So, I also put in a 5050 LED in place of the incandescent, which made it noticeably better, but did not get the entire trunk well lit.

So if you want HUGE amounts of light, here is an EXTREMELY easy and fast DIY to get a light strip in there.

Also, if you were ever looking for a simple DIY to learn soldering, this is one for you! I am a novice solder-er myself, but this is one DIY where soldering is FAR easier than trying to use T-taps.

Before Light strip:


After Light strip:


Materials needed:
1. Light strip (I used XenithXenon's strip and LED bulb, they really should make it a kit since they work so well for this)

2. Solder iron (I got mine from Radio shack with some solder and a few extras for less than $10)

3. Electrical tape/Masking tape/Zip ties: for holding the strip in place temporarily and securing the wiring.



STEP 1: Open the trunk and leave it open for around 5 minutes or so, until the trunk light turns off. It will do so automatically. ITs important to do this because its VERY easy to short-circuit the light due to the structure of the housing

STEP 2: Use screwdriver to pop out the light housing. There is a slot on the side to place your screwdriver. Disconnect it from the harness (push pin on red-wire side and slide out).

STEP 3: Cut the wire that came with your light strip. If your using XenithXenon's strip, the side of the wire WITHOUT the stripe goes to the side of the housing where the BLACK wire comes in from the harness. Solder the wire to the metal on each side as shown. Your other option is to put T-taps on the harness wiring, but this is a MUCH bigger PITA to do in my opinion.



STEP 4: Test your light in various places using the masking tape or electrical tape. Once you find a spot you like, secure with the 3M backing on the light strip. Make sure your wire will reach there before securing! If not you can always extend the wire with some extra. The pic below shows the difference with the incandescent bulb and the light strip.



STEP 5: Ziptie the wire to the harness and pass the wire up through and out one of the holes in the trunk near where you want to mount the strip. If the edge of metal looks rough, put some electrical tape around the edge and around the wire where it comes through. Ziptie wire where it seems appropriate to avoid any dangling wiring or possible points of friction.



STEP 6: Connect interface of wire to light strip. Light it up!

[ZZTOM]

Nice work, Looks great!!!!!!!

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

That's hot.

[Rob191288]

Looks good!!

[winston2ss]

Nice job.

[1badtie]

where did u get your trunk liner from and how much both look good

[Capthowdy]

Originally Posted by 2SSRS

That's hot.

is paris hilton here?........

[Stoned Hemi 6]

That's a good look.

[13lade]

Originally Posted by 1badtie

where did u get your trunk liner from and how much both look good

Thanks for the kind words guys....

The trunk liner came with the car i got used... i believe its a GM accessory part.

[Ivan @ Southwest Speed]

Very BA!!

(Short for Bad Ass!)

Nice work,
Ivan

[jagan323]

Wow thats a smart mod lol... i found my trunk light was very dim... this will be an awesome mod! Thanks!

[Phase V]

I got a light strip from AAC and hopefully I can get to doing it this weekend

[Phase V]

did the lights this morning and WoW! Love You AAC!!! I connected the wires to the mount like 13lade. way better than trying T-taps

[13lade]

Looks awesome man! I used the red xenithxenons led strip for my footwells a since I have the IOM interior also, and thought about doing the same for the trunk... Glad to see a pic of how good it looks!

Q for you PhaseV, are your Lloyds mats with the red logo or orange logo? I cant tell which would match best with the IOM leather/stitching?