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How To

Ambient Door Lighting - DJLDog
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Disclaimer: By reading this, the reader accepts full responsibility in performing the following work at his or her own risk. B5one cannot assume responsibility for any damage, injury, dismemberment or death, as a result of you the reader, following our instructions. We supply this information freely, for those interested in knowing what is involved with such modifications. If you find you would like to perform a similar modification to your vehicle, we urge you to first seek the advice of a qualified mechanic prior to undertaking any of the work. Some work will require physical strength that may be beyond your ability to perform.

DIY Rating:   Moderate (3/5 Wrenches), includes need for soldering skills
Time:   3-4 hours (take your time)
People Needed:   1

Parts Needed:

  • 5mm Blue LED 5 Volt, 30mA, 300mcd, 430nm part number from RadioShack 276-311
  • 470-Ohm Resistors 1/4watt, 5% tolerance, part number from RadioShack 271-1317

Tools Needed:

  • Soldering iron
  • Solder
  • #20 torx bit (T20)
  • Philips screw driver
  • 2 flat head screw drivers
  • 15/64 drill but
  • 1/8 drill bit
  • Electrical tape

INSTRUCTIONS

    Removing the doors
  1. Remove the 2 torx screws from the bottom of the door.
  2. Now pry this part of the arm rest with a screw driver.
  3. Also pry the arm rest from this side
  4. Remove these 3 Philips screws
  5. Now pry the door open starting from the bottom up.
  6. Disconnect all conectors from the door panel.
  7. Disconect the wire for the handle by pulling it back and and unhooking it.
  8. The passenger doors have the screws on the handle itself. You might need two screw driver to remove this handle cover.
  9. Now remove the 2 philips screws. Repeat the process for the rear doors if you want to do the mod to the rears. The only difference between the front passenger and the rear doors is that the rear ones have just 1 torx screw at the bottom of the panel.

  10. Removing the handles from the panel
  11. Remove the philips screw (and the mirror switch if you are doing the driver side.)
  12. Driver side only
  13. Now using a screw driver unlock the tabs and press on the oposite side of the screw..

    R32 handle swap
    This is where you'd swap your handles if you want to do the R32 handles mod as well.

  14. Drilling the holes
    Now mark where you are going to drill the holes. It is important to drill the hole half inch alway from the outside part of it or you are not going to be able to mount the led when putting the door back together. Also put something inside the handle (between the top and bottom) to you don't hit the top of it with the drill. A little flat piece of metal or plastice should work.
  15. Ahh you have to drill the on hole on the bottom or you will get to see the LED and not just the glow of it. Make sure you are drilling the bottom of the handle not the top.
  16. Now drill the holes. Start with the smaller bit and use the 15/64 bit to finish the hole , be very carefull or you can screw up the handles. You can use an itermediary bit between the 1/8 and the 15/64 if you wish.

  17. Retrofitting the LEDs to the handle
  18. Now insert the LED housing (comes with the LED) into the hole it should snap on place pretty tight. it should look like this.

  19. Re-install the door handles into the door panel
  20. Cut the exces of wire for the LEDs the drivers door should be longer. 10 inches of wire for the passenger door. 17 inches for the drivers side.

  21. Soldering
  22. Now you go back to your car and using the soldering iron solder the LEDs to the wiring. For the driver's door (harness for the windows/door locks), make sure the wire for the LED is longer for this door. Wrap the two wires individually with electrical tape.
  23. Passenger's door


    Putting everything back together
  24. Now all you have to do is insert the LED from the bottom untill it locks in place.
  25. Re-assemble the door pay attention to all conectors and especially the cable (wire) that opens the door.
  26. If you don't screw up anything you will probably end up with something like this.


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