Install Interior lighting inside my Car with on/off switch

[Racingbees]

can any one help me with this or any idea how to wire some lighting inside my car.

I want to do this long time is to put some blue or purple lnterior lighting near the B-pillar both side area, but I don't know how to wire it and still doing some research. Cas what I want is when the door open, it will come on and when the door close than auto turn off, also it is able to have a switch to turn it on/off when I feel like.

I am planning to DIY any help will be great. Thanks

[austinSedz]

If your using LED You could tap into the regular interior lighting and run off that, then simply wire an inline switch to enable the ability to have them off at times. That way your running off the fuses for your normal interior lighting, the LEDs shouldn't overload the current and you get the switch you want. Pulling down the headliner and running all that wire is another issue.

[sudz]

i put in footwell lighting and wired it off accessory 12 volt line. I put in a 3 way rocker switch with a Light beside my dimmer (that cluster of 4 punchouts) I even wired it in a way to have On/Off/Dim. on the "dim" setting it just wires the light of the switch in series. I thought it was pretty ingenious. :-)

HTH!

[Hyperion]

Actually, almost exactly what he said.
Having a switch AND wired to the doors will be a lot more work.

Since you would like it on the B pillars, running it to the map lights overhead would be a simple enough feat because you don't have to run it all the way down the A pillars.

If you would like a switch, what you will need is a 3 way switch. Picture it as 1-0-2. Where 1 draws its power from a constant source, say your cigarette lighter, 0 means it's off, 2 draws its power from the map lights. You would normally have it in position 2, but could switch it to 1 while in the car.

[ChrisMcLean]

I did this with my first car and just tapped into the cigarette lighter wiring, was pretty simple to do it that way. As for the turning on when the doors open and stuff, I can't say I know but I imagine thats a whole new demon to face

[n00bMeiSter]

Actually, almost exactly what he said.
Having a switch AND wired to the doors will be a lot more work.

Since you would like it on the B pillars, running it to the map lights overhead would be a simple enough feat because you don't have to run it all the way down the A pillars.

If you would like a switch, what you will need is a 3 way switch. Picture it as 1-0-2. Where 1 draws its power from a constant source, say your cigarette lighter, 0 means it's off, 2 draws its power from the map lights. You would normally have it in position 2, but could switch it to 1 while in the car.

What he can do is go to a wrecker or even ask the dealer for the lighting switch that you find on the roof inside the cabin. The one that lets you change the interior lights to "Door - Off - On". Use that switch, and find the wiring diagram for the one that comes with the car and copy that.

[Racingbees]

Thanks for all the advice!
I was thinking of wiring to the dome light switch too. so it will use that switch and having the auto light when the door is open and off when door is close and also when I switch to on, will bright up the whole interior. any other suggestion? I actually wanted it to look like more OEM style and have a switch by its own at the driver panel area.

[Mitchell3]

I have led door sills that are tapped into the map lights. however i cant confirm if they actually do turn off when the doors close for obvious reasons lol. Its a simple enough thing to do.

[n00bMeiSter]

Thanks for all the advice!
I was thinking of wiring to the dome light switch too. so it will use that switch and having the auto light when the door is open and off when door is close and also when I switch to on, will bright up the whole interior. any other suggestion? I actually wanted it to look like more OEM style and have a switch by its own at the driver panel area.

I didn't say wire it to that switch, I said wire it up LIKE that switch. Go to the wreckers, find the dome light switch from a wrecked car (or call MoT and buy a new one) and then use that to make your circuit.
Basically, you need a switch with 3 settings. and then you need to find out how the dome light circuit works (specifically the turning off when the doors are closed part, that's what you need to mimic.)

[peterm15]

Basically, you need a switch with 3 settings. and then you need to find out how the dome light circuit works (specifically the turning off when the doors are closed part, that's what you need to mimic.)

That part has been discussed before somewhere on here it's a 3 wire system I think.

As noob said you need a 3 stage switch 0 is off 1 leads to door switch ( pcu) and 3 would be on ( maybe map light constant or Tap into the ashtray/ lighter light)

By far the easiest way to wire it IMO would be wire tapping the map light and using that as your switch, wether that can work or not is another question. As the headliner poses a problem.

[n00bMeiSter]

By far the easiest way to wire it IMO would be wire tapping the map light and using that as your switch, wether that can work or not is another question. As the headliner poses a problem.
And the fact that if he wants to have them on while driving, he'll have all his interior lights

[peterm15]

I missed that part.
I thought it was only when he dropped something on the floor he wants to be able to light up the floor. That's what I'm doing at least. ( toggle switch, pcu and another source of power) I've had the LEDs set up for months. Just haven't gotten around to install.

[n00bMeiSter]

I missed that part.
I thought it was only when he dropped something on the floor he wants to be able to light up the floor. That's what I'm doing at least. ( toggle switch, pcu and another source of power) I've had the LEDs set up for months. Just haven't gotten around to install.

Yeah, he's putting light strips on the B-pillars.

[peterm15]

I must have been reading a different thread and thought it was this one.

Well the pcu and other power source should suffice then.

[Racingbees]

Just finished install the light near the B-Pillar. end up I have to hire a alarm installer to wire it for me.

[n00bMeiSter]

Just finished install the light near the B-Pillar. end up I have to hire a alarm installer to wire it for me.

You could have asked one of us to help you with it, there's a crap ton of us in markham that could have helped for free.

[Hyperion]

Just finished install the light near the B-Pillar. end up I have to hire a alarm installer to wire it for me.

Picturessss (where you wired it and everything)
I hope this guy was flawless