Footwell Lights That Don’t Suck

I'm not the mind of Stewie but I think his OG idea was grab off the A pillar and plan for drl's in the mirror turns? No real DRL signal in the a pillar so next best is ignition. The parking light is there for the puddle switch itself (switch illumination) and as an alternative to chassis ground which is kind of the least useful thing to have (v1 A pillar tap had ground, v2 has parking light since I think DSIM might have used ground for something in the domerock)? I dunno really.

I don't have full history here so totally guessing.

I don't know of any better way to grab dome neg than an A pillar T, hence why everything goes there. The rest of the signals are easily available elsewhere (I mean to swap all my parking light and PWM neg for switch illumination to pull from the cargo connector someday, though I will admit the ignition tap is nice for my switch-pros trigger to avoid an add-a-fuse.)

 

Makes sense, thanks. Sounds like I only need the two wires then (no switch or desire for one, just pods)

Any idea if I can grab both wires (dome negative most importantly) up at the upper console? I’m not scared to do a couple of hard splices into my V2 footwell t-harness up there (I’m competent enough to make them problem-free for the long haul).

 

Yeah, the 24 or 20 or whatever it is up at the overhead console works too, just a longer run down the pillar to get it anywhere you would likely want to use it.

I'm not sure what pin it is but I bet caribe has told me half a dozen times what each pin in that connector is used for I bet kyle knows it by heart too. If that's what bothers you, I can see how it might be cleaner up high.

I would probably just run the one wire from there since you can get parking light and pwm - from cargo, then you are just missing ignition and +12v which can be easily add-a-fuse'd or grabbed from all sorts of spots.

I definitely don't love adding load to the A pillar T but my '16 is pretty lean there and it's all been problem free to I'm lacking incentive to redo it.

 

Thanks and yep - trying to keep it simple while merging the three different lighting options. For the puddles, I'm guessing 2 pin extension wires will also be needed - think I'll be able to get the end(s) through the mirror housing and the boot?

 

If you use the long harnesses for the v5's and run through the boot they plug in directly and the rest is the OEM connector for turn and ground. So that harness through the mirror boot through the door panel, through the door boot to the kick panel. Then you would typically take the passenger side across the dash to the driver side. From there you marry up to a feed from the headlight providing drl and parking light.

The easier path is just tap the door wiring for parking light and ignition which gets you everything except the ability to disable drl on the mirrors with the stalk.

 

Yeah, I’ve had no problems but I just want to eliminate some clutter. When I did the puddles, I did the footwells at the same time so I used the footwell splitter, which the Meso hooks to one side of with its own splitter, then the individual puddle harnesses connect to each leg of the Meso splitter. I’m not a fan of the a-pillar T in general, although it hasn’t been a problem but mainly, I want to delete that, and the two splitters (esp the VLEDS one since I’m no longer using the footwells that way since they’re pulling from up above now).

also my Meso harnesses were just barely long enough to reach the splitter. I’m guessing I was not very efficient with my routing. I’ve had no problems there either but it would be nice for my custom wiring to add a bit of slack so I know those wires are not being tugged on, especially since those are rather important circuits.

no V5s here (similar opinion as you) so no need to support any of that. Literally just want to rewire the way the pods hookup and would like to pull that from my VLEDS harness at the upper console.

 

What you said first is what I'm doing with the v5 DRLs and your harnesses. I was referring to the extensions for the puddles which is what looks like is needed from Caribe's graphic in my original post #1376...

 

Gotchya. I did a long feed from the A pillar T to the driver kick so I could distribute from there to 4 other spots, one to my switchpros triggers, one to the puddle switch, one for switch illumination (which I don't think I'm using for anything) and one for domerock which I believe feeds my switchpros pink wire. Total stupid overkill on that and I even worry a tiny bit about current draw, but I had a bit more length to play with since my puddle harnesses only need to make it to the driver kick, not up into the a pillar.

Pretty easy to do a 4 pin JST extension if that helps, think you can maybe even buy those? I bet I have one somewhere.

I worry that a longer feed of dome neg down the pillar, even with large gauge wire, doesn't do us any favors on total load due to resistance.

 

You only need those if you're using the puddle system for the v5's and not using the v5 specific harnesses through the door boot. Which makes sense in only 2 circumstances:

1. You installed puddles long ago and don't want to open the door boots again (it's a big pain)
2. You insist on minimal wires through the door boot at all costs for some reason (this is a shakier one)

Otherwise just ignore that extra feed from the puddle system and wire up the v5's independently. Way better if you need to fix one or the other anyway and honestly I don't think those extra bits are long enough, whereas with the super long v5's you get just the right amount of slack and then cut or bundle in the kick where too much/little slack is way less of a concern than inside the door.

 

Oh, actually, caribe's post looks like different connectors? I'm guessing the new MESO puddles are a bit different? So maybe disregard 100% of the bs I just spouted, my bad. Stuff moves fast!

 

No problem...happy to get any info. Hoping maybe @caribe can confirm my interpretation of the graphic...

 

If you post a photo of your stuff it'll help us comment?

 

He originally directed that graphic @ me which I definitely appreciated but I think hooking them up that way would have my upper dome switch controlling the puddle pods too? Didn’t want it to work that way. That’s mostly why I’m trying to figure out how to rewire them so I can keep them functioning how they are but with nothing in the a-pillar other than wiring passing through, not tapped in there.

 

Understood, but not much to photo right now - On the driver side I've pulled a long v5 extension through the mirror and into the door (but not through the door boot yet), plus I have your v5 harness hooked up and pushed through the firewall into the kick panel. Ran out of time over the weekend, and I put the driver door back together. Then, that got me thinking that before I take on the passenger side DRL extension, I might want to get the puddles - which is why I asked about the accessories needed. I do appreciate the help...

 

Oh, you haven't yet purchased the puddles? And you have footwell already. That makes more sense. Then if Kyle has something for that to avoid two T's, cool. That's where I'm super out of the loop, not having any footwell anything

 

I apologize for asking a question that may have already been asked. I am very confused (in general), but also on this topic.

If the attached represents the 24pin connector on the overhead cabin light assembly, is there a pin here that can be a trigger that is not pulse width modulated (i.e. just changes state), when the car commands the interior cabin light on? Positive or Negative trigger, I don't care.

 

You can try cargo light

 

^

That's how mine are wired and do not have to run to the overhead console.

 

@kmorgan3 what do you mean by "try cargo light". I'm sorry I don't follow. Search for Cargo Light in the threads? Do you mean the ckt that controls the bed lighting? If so, hadn't thought of that.

@Tacospike where is the maintain trigger (positive or negative) that I can pick up? if not from the A-pillar, and not from the overhead cabin, or lamp on the back of the cab?

 

MOD - LED Bed Lighting Connected to Cargo Light / Bed Light Circuit | Tacoma World

Post #8

in the lower kick panel area. The function will be the same as the cargo light. ON /DOOR / OFF

Also, I am not running the dimming module, I got my kit before that was an option and not sure if that would apply.