footwell neon question!

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:03 pm

people! i was wondering if any of you have wired up footwell neons to light up when you open your door, i can only manage to wire it up to light up when one of the door opens, i want it so regardless of which door you open they light up

any idea which wire i tap into?

Sparhawk · Post by **Sparhawk** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:17 pm

I just recently finished installing my footwell neons. I have it going thru a switch which swaps between beating to music, or coming on when the door opens. I had previously installed some LED's in my door that come on when you open either door, so I just tapped into those lines as they were nice and convenient. Ill track down where I patched into for the door LEDS, and get back to you shortly...

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:18 pm

thanks

Sparhawk · Post by **Sparhawk** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:50 pm

OK, found it, now to explain it. I need to d/l a softcopy of the electrical wiring diag (I have printed out the manuals and put them in some nice binders) to help show you the best place.

Bear with me a few minutes longer LOL

Sparhawk · Post by **Sparhawk** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:06 pm

OK, The Junction box is up behind the fusebox in the drivers foot well. You need to splice your earth for your neons (Door switches earth) into the wire shown in this pic :

Bit hard to see, but its pin 11 on connector B-48 into the Junction Box. It should be a green wire with an orange trace.

You'll need a permanent 12V for your Neon power. Should be able to find one of them around in that general area also. If you need a better explanation, just ask. If you have the wiring manual, its on page 4-64.

Hope that helps.

Liquidity · Post by **Liquidity** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:04 pm

An easier way, for most, is to tap off the boot light. Use a relay.

In most mitsu's, theres a plug under the drivers side dash. Two wires go from it up the a-pillar to the centre light. you can easily tap off this plug if you know where it is.

However thats a little bit of fussing around, and theres a LOT of other plugs and looms in that area. If your not quite that confident or cant find fto SPECIFIC information, i think you'll find the boot light will come on regardless of which door is opened. Even in mitsu's without fold-down seats.

Much easier to pick out the two wires leading back to the light fitting there. The only downside is having to run a wire from the boot, to a relay, then all the way to the front again ,but again....not too hard.

For constant power, find the "in cabin" fuse box, and find the beefy power lead running too it. Tap off it, make sure you use a fuse, and run the power line to the lights.

Also make sure you know how much power the lights are going to draw and choose an appropiate fuse for both that anticpated draw, and the maximum current handling capacity of the wire your using.

Oh, last but not least, i like leds over neons. neons break easily, and tend to be too bright in most circumstances. Also easier to hide.

Post by **Supplanter** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:10 pm

The button that controls the boot light is located in the latch on the boot. If you connect to this the neons will only come on with the boot open.

umm · Post by **umm** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:52 pm

just connect into the rear view mirror light power. Because those lights come on when either door is opened. the wires run up the drivers side pillar. Get a multimeter and put a pin in the wires to check which one powers the lights when the door is open. I think its the same green and orange wire that sparhawk it talking about...only further down the line and easier to find. Just take off the pillar cover and its right there.

Sparhawk · Post by **Sparhawk** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:07 am

I suggested near the J/B as he is mounting the Neons in the footwells anyway, so I thought It'd be more convenient. It might be a little more difficult to access, but in my case worked out quite well.

And it is the same wire I think. You can see the map lamps on the pic I posted, and a Green - Orange wire going to them from the J/B.

Blasphemy · Post by **Blasphemy** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:44 pm

There are quite a few more wires running up the a-pillar when you have a sunroof. I lost daylight before I found the right one.

I threw the multimeter on the orange green wire first but it was only providing 12v when the door was shut. I could put in another relay to get around it, but I want to get the right wire.

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:47 pm

wiring is annoying still havent gotten around to fixing mine

Blasphemy · Post by **Blasphemy** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:44 pm

Many hours later, I figured it out. The wires changed colour between the plug in the back of the mirror and the pillar. I tried to take some photos but I was so buggered from having my head under pressed against the break pedal that I couldn't hold the camera steady.

jonowong · Post by **jonowong** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 5:03 pm

hahaha

gazeek · Post by **gazeek** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:14 pm

Can anyone recommend some good quality lighting for footwells ? .. Im guessing no ordinary yumcha brand will do ? ..

And where to buy from ?

FtoSam · Post by **FtoSam** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:46 pm

look for cold cathodes... much thinner, brighter, better than neons.. often find them in computer case modifications... gamedude is a good place to source them.

Blasphemy · Post by **Blasphemy** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:07 pm

Cold cathodes also come on instantly, neons take a second to ignite.

gazeek · Post by **gazeek** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:22 pm

Yea i modded my PC with 4 12" cold cathodes ... was wondering if there was a specific brand people used for cars

Blasphemy · Post by **Blasphemy** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:47 pm

The cold cathodes I've got in came with molex connectors for a PC, I just chopped them off.

Liquidity · Post by **Liquidity** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:59 pm

led strips. Flexible, wont break, and a "purer" colour than cold cathodes. longer lifetime too.

cb · Post by cb » Tue May 27, 2008 5:37 pm

There are quite a few more wires running up the a-pillar when you have a sunroof. I lost daylight before I found the right one. Embarassed

I threw the multimeter on the orange green wire first but it was only providing 12v when the door was shut. I could put in another relay to get around it, but I want to get the right wire.

I did the same and thought wtf but what you have to do, I know it sounds weird is connect the earth wire on your neon to the orange green wire and connect the power to a constant power wire.

Instead of connecting it to the orange/green wire in the a-pillar I connected it near the drivers door and ran the wiring under the carpet its really easy to get to. Just take off your plastic panel lift up the carpet and you'll see wires taped up with black tape under the tape you'll find the green/orange wire.[/quote]