philip_pc
08-01-2010, 08:42 PM
Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!
Aim: To install lights on the steps of the door
Required: 2 LED Strips, Electrical Tape, Some extra wiring for extension, Scissors and Common Sense =)
Steps: As Documented Below
Other comments I did this in my Civic FD1, unlike the accords and other hondas, the FD1 when the door is open there is no light on the actual door, so my attempt here is to add some sort of external light source to make entry into the car a bit more elegant and pleasing. Similar to the one below, but i wasnt familiar with taking the door trim off so i installed them on another location which still gave very nice light output.
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6919/door.jpg
These are the strips i used, got them from ebay, dirt cheap =) make sure you get the flat ones.
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5939/ezbq2814.jpg
Sorry i forgot to take pictures as i did this DIY, so i only have pictures of the end result, this be relatively simple though, very easy DIY
Step 1:
Starting at the drivers door, use a philips screwdriver (the one from the boot should do), undo the screw at the boot release.
Step 2
Pull firmly (and wiggle out of the way of the boot release) on the plastic part to expose the metal body of the car.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9735/doorstep.jpg
Step 3
Then pull firmly again on the rubber moulding and lift it to expose the edge of the car step.
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/375/rubbermoulding.jpg
Step 4
Then Get your LED strip and tape it to the side of the door step edge.
Step 5
Wiring part now (use electrical tape and possibly solder if you like to affix the connections). There should be a black push button thing on the drivers door jam towards the back end of the car, if you notice that when you push it down the interior light will dim, this is the button you are going to use to regulate when the LED strip turns on or off.
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4356/blackbutton.jpg
Step 6
Trace your way to the back of the black button, the side pillar should come off easily at this stage to allow for easier access. Remove the plug from the socket and tap the negative wire of the LED onto this wire, should be a green wire (extend your wire if its not long enough)
Step 7
Back to the positive side of the LED strip. Thread the wire (extend if needed) through the bonnet release panel towards the interior fuse box.
Step 8
Tap the wire into a fuse which provides constant power even when the ignition/key is not in (refer to your users manual for this). In the FD1 i used fuse 25, this is the door lock fuse.
Step 9
At this stage your LEDs should light up, test it out and see if you have wired it correctly by pressing the black button. If correctly wired, the LEDs should turn off when the button is pressed and light back up when released (simulating a closed and open door)
Step 10
Now just repeat the same process for the passengers door, when you get to the stage where you tape into the interior fuse, you might want to twist both the wires together, just makes it easier to work with.
The end result should look something like this
(Please excuse my bad wording and explanation in this DIY, if you are unsure or confused about any of these steps feel free post here and i will do my best to clarify the step). Please disregard the blue and red light on top, thats just my footwell lighting
Drivers Door
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5522/ledstripinstalledsidestu.jpg
Front Passenger Door
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
These lights are very beautiful at night and very bright, well worth the money. This DIY should take no longer then 1 hour to complete and is accomplished for less then 10 bux i would say. I bought 2 strips for 5 bux on ebay. Just a note, if you forget to close your door or leave your door not fully closed, these lights WILL stay on. So make sure you close your door properly, if tapped into the interior dome light source then it would be different, but i was not familiar with that circuit so i chose to use the door locks one instead.
Update 29/01/2010: I have received a few PM's asking how i fixed the strips to the car, i have attached some pictures here, hopefully it clears things up a bit more. By the way the double sided tape you get on the strips originally dont seem to be strong enough, i affixed some double sided tape to mine to just make it stick better =)
"Far Shot of Door"
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
"SMD Strip On"
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4530/ledstripinstalledsidestg.jpg
SMD Strip off, should be able to see clearly here
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
Aim: To install lights on the steps of the door
Required: 2 LED Strips, Electrical Tape, Some extra wiring for extension, Scissors and Common Sense =)
Steps: As Documented Below
Other comments I did this in my Civic FD1, unlike the accords and other hondas, the FD1 when the door is open there is no light on the actual door, so my attempt here is to add some sort of external light source to make entry into the car a bit more elegant and pleasing. Similar to the one below, but i wasnt familiar with taking the door trim off so i installed them on another location which still gave very nice light output.
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6919/door.jpg
These are the strips i used, got them from ebay, dirt cheap =) make sure you get the flat ones.
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5939/ezbq2814.jpg
Sorry i forgot to take pictures as i did this DIY, so i only have pictures of the end result, this be relatively simple though, very easy DIY
Step 1:
Starting at the drivers door, use a philips screwdriver (the one from the boot should do), undo the screw at the boot release.
Step 2
Pull firmly (and wiggle out of the way of the boot release) on the plastic part to expose the metal body of the car.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9735/doorstep.jpg
Step 3
Then pull firmly again on the rubber moulding and lift it to expose the edge of the car step.
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/375/rubbermoulding.jpg
Step 4
Then Get your LED strip and tape it to the side of the door step edge.
Step 5
Wiring part now (use electrical tape and possibly solder if you like to affix the connections). There should be a black push button thing on the drivers door jam towards the back end of the car, if you notice that when you push it down the interior light will dim, this is the button you are going to use to regulate when the LED strip turns on or off.
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4356/blackbutton.jpg
Step 6
Trace your way to the back of the black button, the side pillar should come off easily at this stage to allow for easier access. Remove the plug from the socket and tap the negative wire of the LED onto this wire, should be a green wire (extend your wire if its not long enough)
Step 7
Back to the positive side of the LED strip. Thread the wire (extend if needed) through the bonnet release panel towards the interior fuse box.
Step 8
Tap the wire into a fuse which provides constant power even when the ignition/key is not in (refer to your users manual for this). In the FD1 i used fuse 25, this is the door lock fuse.
Step 9
At this stage your LEDs should light up, test it out and see if you have wired it correctly by pressing the black button. If correctly wired, the LEDs should turn off when the button is pressed and light back up when released (simulating a closed and open door)
Step 10
Now just repeat the same process for the passengers door, when you get to the stage where you tape into the interior fuse, you might want to twist both the wires together, just makes it easier to work with.
The end result should look something like this
(Please excuse my bad wording and explanation in this DIY, if you are unsure or confused about any of these steps feel free post here and i will do my best to clarify the step). Please disregard the blue and red light on top, thats just my footwell lighting
Drivers Door
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5522/ledstripinstalledsidestu.jpg
Front Passenger Door
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
These lights are very beautiful at night and very bright, well worth the money. This DIY should take no longer then 1 hour to complete and is accomplished for less then 10 bux i would say. I bought 2 strips for 5 bux on ebay. Just a note, if you forget to close your door or leave your door not fully closed, these lights WILL stay on. So make sure you close your door properly, if tapped into the interior dome light source then it would be different, but i was not familiar with that circuit so i chose to use the door locks one instead.
Update 29/01/2010: I have received a few PM's asking how i fixed the strips to the car, i have attached some pictures here, hopefully it clears things up a bit more. By the way the double sided tape you get on the strips originally dont seem to be strong enough, i affixed some double sided tape to mine to just make it stick better =)
"Far Shot of Door"
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg
"SMD Strip On"
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4530/ledstripinstalledsidestg.jpg
SMD Strip off, should be able to see clearly here
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/9452/ledstripinstalledsidest.jpg