Camry Reading Light Mod - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jjakubowski · 08-31-2005, 12:36 PM

I have a 2005 Camry SE, and I noticed that when you open the doors only the dome light comes on. Now I also have a 2004 Sienna Limited and when one of the front doors are opened the reading lights come on.

Here is my question, Does anyone know or have experince modifying the Camry reading lights to turn on with the dome light when the doors are opened?

I am also thinking about adding interior lights under the dash and under the seats to light up the floor. Any thoughts or ideas here?

In my Sienna I changed all interior lights out and replaced them with LED lights that give a brighter blue hue. Let me know if you are interested in information on the LEDs that I used, I just ordered the replacement LEDs for my Camry.

white3ch0c0late · 08-31-2005, 12:48 PM

Hehe, I've replaced all of mine with LEDs as well. If you want your map lights to turn on with the dome light when you open the door, all you have to do is splice the map light wires into the dome light wires. However, I THINK (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that you might be losing function of the maplights as far as using them once the doors are closed unless you turned on the dome light.

jjakubowski · 08-31-2005, 12:54 PM

That is what I was thinking but I do not want to mess with the functionality of the reading lihgts.

I would be interesed in the LEDs that you use, just to make sure I did not pay too much and that I am using the right ones.

white3ch0c0late · 08-31-2005, 01:00 PM

I got mine from www.superlumination.com The 194s in the license plate bulbs and map lights were the 4-LED ones. The dome light was the 6-LED 3175 bulb.

88 LE · 08-31-2005, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjakubowski

Here is my question, Does anyone know or have experince modifying the Camry reading lights to turn on with the dome light when the doors are opened?

You'd have to do some rewiring.

The dome light works off a negative trigger. In other words the negative is switched.

Rewire the reading lights into the dome light circuit.

Quote:

I am also thinking about adding interior lights under the dash and under the seats to light up the floor. Any thoughts or ideas here?

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t94355.html

http://toyotanation.com/forum/t93063.html

05CamryGuy · 08-31-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjakubowski

I am also thinking about adding interior lights under the dash and under the seats to light up the floor. Any thoughts or ideas here?

Is this what you're thinking of doing?

I placed LEDs on the bottom of each seat, two facing forward and two facing back. Also have white LEDs inside the center console box for illumination at night (so I can see what's in there when I open up the lid). The floor LEDs are powerd by the 12V source in the center arm rest, the console box LEDs are powered by the 12V source next to the seat heater.

Anshu · 08-31-2005, 08:29 PM

why do leds when you can do 12inch cathodes or neons?

05CamryGuy · 08-31-2005, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anshu

why do leds when you can do 12inch cathodes or neons?

LEDs take less power, less space so you can put them just about anywhere, cheaper (for me), and last just about the life of your car.

I am equally satisfied with the job done by a 1/4" LED in place of a 12" neon.

PBM · 08-31-2005, 10:51 PM

i am satisfied with the cathodes installed in my car.

i had white in there before and they were also bright and lit just as well but i decided to do a mostly cosmetic blue color since i rarely find a need to see anythinga round my feet in real color. cathodes are well worth the price i think. 30,000 hour lifespan and they don't draw much power either.

Anshu · 08-31-2005, 10:59 PM

yea they barely draw any power, are cheap and easy to install. pluss they give out tons of light which is wide focused which i think works better for the app. i like the led in the dash pocket tho

jjakubowski · 09-01-2005, 12:04 AM

Great ideas guys, keep them comming...

05CamryGuy, what about the dash lights? what did you do to make them blue, instead of the factory orange?

jjakubowski · 09-01-2005, 12:15 AM

Will this rewiring require any removal of the header panel? Are there any wires that can be tapped into behind the reading lights or are they routed behind the sun roof?

Thanks for your help...

Anshu · 09-01-2005, 12:18 AM

the wire for the door trigger is in the fuse panel. but if you were looking to make the reading lights function as a dome light you could prolly rig something up using a relay etc.

btw
CO represent

05CamryGuy · 09-01-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjakubowski

Great ideas guys, keep them comming...

05CamryGuy, what about the dash lights? what did you do to make them blue, instead of the factory orange?

By dash lights you mean the guages right? No, my dash lights are the way they came OEM. Mine are red on white optitron meters, I think the SE models have orange gauges - mine is XLE. I kinda like them, I'm in no hurry to replace those

thapranksta · 07-02-2006, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05CamryGuy

Is this what you're thinking of doing?

I placed LEDs on the bottom of each seat, two facing forward and two facing back. Also have white LEDs inside the center console box for illumination at night (so I can see what's in there when I open up the lid). The floor LEDs are powerd by the 12V source in the center arm rest, the console box LEDs are powered by the 12V source next to the seat heater.

Is there a limit on how many things you can power with the 12V sources? I read people talking like there are no risks involved and endless possibilities.