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Red LED centre console downlighter??

23K views 213 replies 37 participants last post by  saintetienne 
#1 ·
I had a rented Punto awhile back and it had one of these red LED's that shines down from the roof light and lights up the gear lever/handbrake area with a sort of eerie red glow. I see the light fitting in the roof is exactly the same on my facelift 147 but I don't have the red glowing effect. Should I have it and its just not working? If not how difficult is it to add??
 
#141 ·
My new donar light has arrived just need to chop it up now and drill some clean holes and I'm done ...after I've fitted my new leather gaiters and picked up my wheels ! Busy weekend again.
 
#142 · (Edited)
I just got one from the wreckers from a 166 for about 4 quid. Drop in replacement and I actually prefer the look of it (albeit bit 90s looking with a metal surround). Now to work out how to do the LEDs.

Given the availability of 12V LEDs, is there a good reason why I shouldn't use a single centered LED rather than 2. Could just power it off the lines on the existing unit and just have it going all the time, the life expectancy of them is so high I doubt it'd be an issue. The space for the microphone could potentially make it look a bit ugly - is there enough light passing through that I could just trim the inner lens, sit the LED above it and have the light going through the microphone grille holes?
 
#143 ·
I would say the light would be very weak and broken up, but give it ago you never know.
 
#150 ·
Take the light unit out and have a good tug on the wiring loom. I thought I didn't have the plug either but found it was there. The wires where headed off towards the windscreen which would make sense of the auto mirror idea. I just need to meter them out now to find the switched live and neutral.
 
#152 ·
I think i'm actually going to put the LED's in the sensor housing rather than the light. There is room where the microphone should be to house plenty of stuff, and if I put them facing towards the front edge I don't think you'll actually be able to see them either. Plus that should point the light towards the console rather than back towards my face. I've picked up one of each from a scrapper so i'll have an experiment before committing them to the car.
 
#153 · (Edited)
Been watching this thread for a while, just to see the outcomes people had, and did fancy the idea, so as I was in Maplins yesterday I bought a set of these Car Interior Micro LEDs : In-Car Styling : Maplin Electronics in red.
Only took about 2 hours to fit, and around 30 minutes of that was getting out the spider that was trapped between the 2 layers of plastic inside the light:confused:
So this is the leds fitted into the light housing.
View attachment 192178
I used a 6.5mm tile drill to make the holes as I didn't want a Hss drill grabbing the plastic and cracking it.
View attachment 192186
This is how they look from the front.
Now have a root around behind where the light was fitted and look for a plug with 3 wires, a white, black and yellow/black stripe.
View attachment 192194
If you have this use the yellow/black as your live and the black for earth and the led's will come on with your lights so they don't stay on all the time.
View attachment 192202
Job done.
Cheers to everyone who tried this before as picked up lots of useful onfo:thumbs:
 
#154 ·
:thumbs:Result I still have a gt light to drill out yet as I made a mess out my other, yet more unfinished mods.
 
#158 ·
Actually just been out to have a look as only did it today.
Can't really directly see the led's unless you lean back so thats ok,I deliberately didn't push them right into the shroud as I thought that may be an issue but need to angle them forward a bit as they are shining at the back of the gear lever and would like it a bit further forward, so will have a tinker around with them tomorrow.
 
#162 ·
That looks good :)
I put two red leds in the headlining in front of the light but they just werent powerful enough.
I bought some SMT leds on a little panel and they were like a red search light!!! :eek:
I dont think that the multi plug is up there!!! mine didnt have it, had to improvise for the rear view mirror too.
 
#164 · (Edited)
Ah back to this.
I actually did a mod to mine from last time so it now has 3 leds, the front one is directed slightly backwards but it gives a nice glow down the centre console and the back 2 shine on the armrest and gearstick.
I did find I had to rebate them a bit into the plastic otherwise they caught my eye when driving but pleased with them now.
I apologise for the rubbish picture it was taken while I was being driven home after a night out and I was a bit wobbly:eek:
 
#165 ·
Inspired by your efforts and provoked by a friend pointing out how good his Audi was because it has lights in the footwell, I installed three LEDs in the GT's passenger side footwell. I used a fusetap from the fusebox. The effect is subtle* but I am quite pleased.


*i.e. functionally useless
 
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