Footwell Lights That Don’t Suck

Got my rear set today Sir.

Where's the install tutorial?

 

Received the two 4' extensions I ordered from VLEDS today. Garage temp is in the 30s today so I'm going to finish up the rear install tomorrow!

 

As soon as the rear aquas come in tomorrow I'll post detailed pics. Got a secret weapon on standby.

 

I'll be working it tomorrow.

 

Hey @kmorgan3 I have an idea for a new SKU. Interested?

 

The general goal of everything I build is to make it how people want, so yes — if you have an idea just let me know! And we haven’t forgotten all of the other suggestions (like switches, dual color, etc.). We’re wrapping up the 4Runner and will have bandwidth to explore alterations pretty soon.

 

OK, so you've installed the fronts and now you want to install the rears. Luckily for you, you've done all the hard work. This part is easy, at least if you want to do it this way where the lights are attached to the rear seats.

You will need:

• one rear footwell kit
• the 2 foot extension you didn't use for the front - or, an additional purchase of at least 2 feet
• one four foot extension (optional)
• trim tool, or other non-sharp pokey object
• thirty minutes, at most

Remove your front and rear passenger sills, and your passenger trim kick plate. Flip your rear seat forward, and remove the storage insert using the trim tool on the plastic screw-serts. You will need to undo the rubber holder for the lug wrench.

Use one of the eight foot extensions included in the rear footwell kit at the passenger front light. Secure, and run behind kickplate where your passenger door lock actuator connector is. Don't take up any slack by securing the wire at this time.

Pinch the white brackets in the sill area to allow for securing the wire down the passenger side, both front and rear. The extension wire can just be pushed under the b-pillar trim at the carpet.

You will then use either the two foot extension you had left over, or one you purchase separately of at least this length. Snake down inside the corner of the storage area, the head of the extension should just barely fit between the metal pieces. Fish out under the carpet at the sill plate. Your junction between this extension and the eight foot extension should be just at the end of the white plastic carpet anchor.

Now it's time to install the lights themselves. Use the included foam adhesive and apply the lights just to the inboard side of the outermost seat hinges. Play around with the positioning before you remove the adhesive back, you'll note how well it sits against the metal there and is tucked out of the way.

Use a four foot extension (or longer, the other eight foot one is fine, but you'll need to secure the extra length) between the two lights. When you put the storage compartment back in, this wire will sit below the front lip, and my recommendation is to tuck it behind the screw-serts when you put those back in. Test for proper illumination, and adhesion to the seat. Satisfied, you can secure any other loose wiring and put everything back together. I used black hot glue to secure the light pigtails behind the hinge. There is a gap between the hinge sides where this is a perfect spot for it.

Enjoy.

 

Excellent write up. Thank you, sir!

 

Not much for me to add here - great write up.

I was not able to find a route to get the wire through the area of the B Pillar - so I just hid the wire under the plastic trim and then ran it back into the channel and up to the front of the truck. I used 3M tape to secure my wires along the lip of the storage box - zip tied the extra wire since I was using 4' extensions.

I opted to place my lights (at least for now) at the top of the forward facing wall under the back seats. You'll also find that there are some nicely-placed slips in the carpeting along the top of the storage box where you can slip the wires through. You can see them in this picture.



I may eventually move the lights under the seats - but for now I like how they look, especially with the MESO Dual Color Dome.

 

Also did this. It’s very subtle, but if you know, you know.

 

X-files?

 

I want to believe.

 

Okay, how did you access that light and what bulb does it take? Couldn't figure it out, so put a piece of red clear tape over mine.

 

It's a connector with an LED built into it, I'm sure more skilled minds and hands than mine could swap it out, but that wasn't necessary for my case. I reached in through the head unit hole and swapped it out, and my hands/arms took a beating.

Tacoma part number is 81080-12100 with white illumination.
RAV4 part number is 81080-42040 with blue illumination.

Direct swap.

 

Uduhman!

 

Dude, I love this forum! Thx!

 

Been a few weeks installed, and even now, when I open my doors at night, I smile...a good Mod. Thank you !

 

Nice touch!

So that thing is surface mounted. If you really wanted to get a different color you could, you'd just need a hot air station to melt off the old one and then melt the solder for a new one:

 

With Meso Duals.