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View Full Version : How to install interior red ambient lights?

m0rfious
07-23-2003, 01:34 PM
In the interior of my car i want to install a red ambient light that shines down onto my dash. most of you have probably seen it on bmw's and audis, and my friend just installed them on his jetta. what i want to do is install red LED's in the dome above the dash so it shines down on the dash whenever the car is driving. The two red dots on this picture is where the LEDs are located in the vw W8. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jwilson4771/forcb5/W8light/W8light-15.jpg

The outcome of the LED's is this red ambient shine on the dashboard:

http://ord.waxedfruit.com/clubb5/uping/w8_interior_light_ambience.jpg

The LEDs only shine when the car engine is on and the overhead light is off. Can anyone instruct me on how I would go about doing this?
m0rfious
07-23-2003, 01:43 PM
IMO it would look really good on this

http://www.celica.net/Gallery/7th_generation_Celica's/Interior/int01svg.jpg
SexyCelica
07-23-2003, 01:51 PM
Sounds like an interesting idea, I would think all you would have to do is drill a hole and install two LEDs and run the power from your headlights so when you turn them on the headlights the leds come on too, wouldn't it be hard to see at night with that red light shining though??
S|Lv3rBu||et
07-23-2003, 01:52 PM
If you want them to go on when the interior lights go off you'd have to setup some sort of relay to the interior light. Actually, some sort of reverse relay.... I havent played around with relays too much, but I'm sure someone on here can figure it out for ya.
m0rfious
07-23-2003, 01:57 PM
it actually doesnt obstruct your vision at all at night. it kind of adds a night vision into the car.
vatik
07-23-2003, 04:41 PM
shouldn't be very hard at all
i would get the recessed flush mount leds those would look so nice
vatik
07-23-2003, 05:52 PM
you could always put in on a switch... probably wouldn't take you an hour from start to finish
m0rfious
07-23-2003, 07:42 PM
i dont have any experience with mods or cars so im getting my friend with the jetta to help me out, could you give me a little more information?
m0rfious
07-24-2003, 10:13 AM
anyone have any ideas?
GTS_Ed
07-24-2003, 02:28 PM
Maybe you could put them in the mirror?? or is it too far forward? I can't remember.. anyways if its in a decent spot maybe you can drill 2 holes in it and put the leds in there. Otherwise try where our dome light is.. or just make you're own custom mount. Just make sure they're recessed or they'll probably get annoying at night being in your view.
m0rfious
07-24-2003, 03:40 PM
i was thinking about wiring them into the two fuse boxes on the side of each front seat in our car so i dont have to drill any holes, my friend says he has an idea so ill let you guys know how it goes.
evil eye
07-24-2003, 06:38 PM
but the fuse boxes are on the floor of the car. How would that reflect light on your dash? The drivers side one is by the pedals if I'm not mistaken.
m0rfious
07-25-2003, 04:11 PM
i went to advanced auto parts and found these adhesive leds by type s. it was a perfect solution for me but it only came in white or blue. does anyone know if type s has a web address?

also would it be possible to take out hte led's in the casing it provides and installing my own red led's?