My CCFL cathode tube installation in glove box and trunk. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***darksparkz*** · 07-20-2006, 11:25 PM

Finally decided to take pictures of my CCFL cathode tube setup in my trunk and glove box. I did the trunk tubes a few weeks before I did the glove box ones. The trunk ones were easier then the glove box ones, but both only took about 10-15 minutes each.

Here is the glove box one: Two 4" CCFL tubes, ordered from www.frozencpu.com for $17 shipped. I removed three screws at the top and one at the bottom. Then you have to use pressure to pull out the glove box because there are two clips that hold on to it. Once out, you can take out the glove box bulb, find a positive and negative end and hook up your tubes to it. Screw everything back in and super glue the tubes to be tigher and your set. I did blow a fuse on my instrument panel by putting the wires in backwards I think. I just simply used electric tape to make sure it stuck to the positive and negative connectors, I'm not that great at soldering yet.

Flash on:

Flash off:

Inside view:

View from behind drivers seat.

The lights are great, if you are in the passenger seat, you don't see the two light tubes, but if you are seated back in the rear seats, you can see the two tubes. It turns off when the glove box is closed.

Trunk lights, two 12" CCFL tubes, ordered from ebay though. Simple mod as well, find positive and negative ends for the light bulb in there and hook it up and glue them in. There already is a DIY for this on these forums.

Outside view:

View of one:

I wonder whats next?

luch2 · 07-21-2006, 02:39 AM

looks pretty sweet man...i'd do it..but i'd mess it up

***darksparkz*** · 07-21-2006, 10:33 AM

It's actually quite easy. Once you take out the stock sockets, you will see two wires connecting to the socket, one is positive and one is negative, just connect your positive/negative tube wires directly to it via electric tape or solder it, and your fine.

Webb26 · 07-21-2006, 11:09 AM

Looks great man...i love ccfl in the cars..makes it look way brighter and ten times easier to see at night. My only problem is that my car was recently rear ended so when i brought all my stuff to get done...and it was repaired...the rear ends electrical components were all out of wack. My trunk release did not work, trunk luggage compartment light was out..jsut oo many things electrically wrong... everythign was fixed though, except the ltrunk light. I am still trying to figure that one out.

keithy · 07-21-2006, 06:29 PM

good job man. I was planing on doing that as well.

***darksparkz*** · 07-22-2006, 12:27 AM

Webb, try using a multimeter and see if there's any power going through at all.

Thanks for the comment!

Lord_Anarchy · 07-22-2006, 04:10 AM

Yeah, I got just reg white CCFLs in the trunk (DIY-ed by RedPhoenix... I believe) I did want to put some CCFLs in the little area where the Camry logo is at on the Gen3 clear rear

And.. I blew the same fuse you did where my interior lights would NOT turn on. It was so weird to drive in an interior with no light but the headlights and tails working properly.

Simple 15 or 10 fuse and we were back in business

dna59 · 07-22-2006, 05:32 AM

Looking good, looking good.

Webb26 · 07-22-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darksparkz

Webb, try using a multimeter and see if there's any power going through at all.

Thanks for the comment!

Haha..thanks but that was already done, lol. Nothing is working. Fuses are not blown. wires are not switched. Only thing i can think of is that the people who repaired everythign did not reconnnect at some point in the car...and i guess its just hide and seek for now, lol.

leasaunce · 07-22-2006, 07:05 AM

VERY NICE!!! Very SMART!!!

U SHOULD've DONE A DIY!!! oh well GREAT WORK THOUGH!!

pudbrother · 07-22-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord_Anarchy

Yeah, I got just reg white CCFLs in the trunk (DIY-ed by RedPhoenix... I believe) I did want to put some CCFLs in the little area where the Camry logo is at on the Gen3 clear rear

And.. I blew the same fuse you did where my interior lights would NOT turn on. It was so weird to drive in an interior with no light but the headlights and tails working properly.

Simple 15 or 10 fuse and we were back in business

how legal is that. i mean for daily driving having the camry sign lit up?

Lord_Anarchy · 07-22-2006, 12:10 PM

I haven't even thought about the technical aspect but when you see ugly ass Mercury Cougars that have the ENTIRE front end lit up, why should RESPECTABLE lighting be fined? The old bills won't know it ain't stock because I don't plan to go crazy on it. I'll try to make it as stock as possible. There's a DIY (kinda) by RedPhoenix I believe... Atleast there is one for the trunk... He did do the one I'm talkin' about too though...

***darksparkz*** · 07-22-2006, 12:50 PM

That might make the light seem too focused, it'll look too much like a big tube of light. Maybe you might want to try to have aluminum reflectors to spread light more. Any pictures on that?

It's actually fairly easy, if your able to do the DIY trunk cathode setup, then this glove box one will only take 2-3 more minutes of removing 4 screws.

You need some super glue to make sure the tubes stay stuck on, and some wire management so the wires don't fall as well.

Lord_Anarchy · 07-22-2006, 12:52 PM

Damn it.. I can't find the thread of the guy who did do it to show you the pics of his at night..... I did find the original DIY thread for the CCFL in the trunk. That would be SnakeyeS and Brungold as the two users who made the DIY. So, sorry for getting their names mixed with RedPhoenix but they've all been awesome dudes.

How about that hideaway license plate for a Gen4.. that was a funny thread