It's been bugging me for a while now that the sunroof switches on our '8s aren't lighted, so I decided to do something about it. A red LED, a few simple tools, and some patience is all it takes to backlight your switches... sorta. When the job is done, there is enough to light to tell where the switches are, and which is which, but this is not like "properly" lighted switches. This mod is just a simple and cheap way to light then enough so you can use them at night without fumbling. It looks factory installed, and is not at all distracting.

So if you're interesting in doing this yourself, read on!

What you'll need to do this job:
Phillips head screwdriver
Drill and 1/4 inch drill bit
Wire strippers (or just a pocket knife, if you know how to strip wire with it :))
Some Epoxy glue (or similar "bonds to anything" stuff)
Some electrical tape
Some automotive-compatible LEDs, your choice of color (I went with red to match the rest of the dash lights). You can find the ones I used at Auto Zone, in the bulb section. They are made by "Pilot" and are labeled "L.E.D. Accent Lights" and come 3 to a pack.

Step 1: Remove the overhead console, as shown in this thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8242).

Step 2: Once the overhead console is out and where you can work on it, flip it upside down, then first unhook the wires leading into the small green circuit board between the map lights (they're tucked in under a little plastic clip), remove the 4 screws holding it in place, and remove the the small green circuit board completely. It will just lift out of the way if you slide it out from underneath the metal contact that was under the lower right hand screw that I'm indicating with the screwdriver. Pic shows what the circuit board looks like... ignore (for now) the extra wires, we'll get to that in a bit.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are 4 little blue rubber "cups" with metallic centers that fit into recesses on the back of the switches, 2 per switch. Under these are 4 tiny little white plastic posts, corresponding to the rubber cups. TAKE CARE AND DO NOT LOSE THESE PIECES!!! (Without them your sunroof will not operate!) They may be sticking to the bottom of the little green circuit board when you take it out. If so, gently pull them off the circuit board and put them back in place in the back side of the switches. The pic in step 3 (below) shows the right two rubber cups removed and the white plastic posts in the back of the switch, while the left two rubber cups are in place as they should be.

Step 3: Next the switches will lift out of the opening in the console. Leave it with the backside up, and the switches facing down. The underside looks basically like the pic below. Note which way is the "bottom" edge of the switches (would normally point toward the back of the car when in place in the console).

Step 4: Using the drill, cut/drill a "notch" on the back side of the switch housing, between the 2 switches. It needs to be large enough to allow the wiring from the LED to lay flat when the LED is sitting in the central hole as shown.

Step 5: Test fit the LED into the center opening of the switch, gently flattening it and the wires into the notch you just cut so that it lays flush with the back side of the switch. Once you've got it flat, put a drop or two of Epoxy glue where the wires run through the notch you just cut. Let the glue dry long enough that the LED will stay in place (about an hour unless you get fast-drying glue).

Step 6: Once the glue is mostly dry, put a narrow piece of electrical tape over the LED and wires, taking care not to overlap the little blue rubber cups.

Step 7: Put the switch back in place in the console, so that the wires from the LED come out pointing away from the sunglasses holder.

Step 8: Make sure all the four of the little white posts are in place under the blue cup things, and that all 4 of the blue cups are in place. Again, ignore the extra wires... you should only have two new wires, both of which come from the new LED you just put in.

Step 9: Put the small green circuit board back in place, taking care to slide it back under the metal loop/connector on the lower left corner. Put all 3 screws back in place EXCEPT for the one that goes through this loop/connector. Be careful to evenly torque them and do not overtighten, or you may crack the circuit board!

Step 10: Shorten (cut) the red LED wire so that only about 4-5 inches of it are coming out from under the circuit board. Now strip about 3/4 of an inch of the insulation from the end of it, and wrap it around the screw that goes into the remaining hole of the circuit board, which I am indicating with the screwdriver in the pic below. The loop/connector you are running the screw through to get into the circuit board is actually a +12 Volt connection for the sunroof, so it is switched with the ignition. You are using it to power your new LED. Again, be careful not to overtighten the screw.

Step 11: Finally, strip about 1 inch of insulation from the remaining LED wire, which should be black. Take the console assembly back into the car. Look up inside the hole where the console was in your car, and you'll see two bolts with 9MM heads. Remove one of the bolts, wrap the stripped portion of the black LED wire around it, and put it back in place. You just gave your LED a good ground. Sorry I didn't take a pic of this, but you'll figure it out.

Step 12: Put the console back in place opposite how you took it out, tucking the excess black LED wire in and out of the way as you put the console back. That's it guys and gals! You now have backlit sunroof switches that will operate whenever your ingnition key is in the "on" position.


Footnote: In case you're wondering, the extra wires I told you to ignore in the pics are actually for a pair of switched LED "maplights" that I installed at the same time. I got the idea from this thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12661), and put my own spin on it. If you're interested in how I did this, check out this thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17520) for instructions on how to do it. :D

thread are broken

I know dude, you didn't give me a chance to proof read and clean up the post. :) Fixed now.

Again, please post picture of how they look turned on!!

I tried, but the light is too subtle (and my camera too crappy, apparently) to capture what it looks like.

great idea

pls show pic how the lighted switch looks like, day and night.

rgds
Tobi

Originally posted by RX-8-Tobi
pls show pic how the lighted switch looks like, day and night.

rgds
Tobi During the day, the switches look exactly the same as before. At night, they have a very subtle red illumination from between and behind them. Again, my camera will not capture this very well, but you can just barely see it red glow between the switches in the pic below. Sorry, best I can do. Note also that this pic also shows my LED maplights, with the switch for them at the bottom center.

Wow, with all the bitching people have done about the lack of lighting for the sunroof switches, I am really surprised that this mod has not elicited more comments. Ah well, I'm happy with it. :D

I think you have done a great job and are very brave to be willing to tear into such a new vehicle. nice going Omi. believe me as soon as i get my 8 I will be looking up all of these posts.

No sunroof for me :D

Although I am planning on putting in some LED's as well. Since I got Acc power up there now after wiring my radar unit, it'll be cake.

Ok, I feel better now. :cool:

another illuminating contribution. :cool:

thanks man.

Great info!

Can you tell us how long you think it would take to do the entire install, both the map lights and switches?

I don't want to tear into anything and then realize I didn't leave enough time to complete the project. A sure way to lose all of the small pieces you discussed.

THX!

Originally posted by sun stroke
Great info!

Can you tell us how long you think it would take to do the entire install, both the map lights and switches?

I don't want to tear into anything and then realize I didn't leave enough time to complete the project. A sure way to lose all of the small pieces you discussed.

THX! Hmmm. Welp, I guess it took me about 4 hours all told, but then I was creating as I went and taking pics for these instructions, so I reckon it'd probably take most people 2- 3 hours at most.

By the way, I have made a coupe of additional mods to both the lighted sunroof switches (the thread you're in now) as well as the LED maplights, discussed in this thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17520).

For the sunroof switches, I both bent the LED down a bit so it "aims" it's light more down and between the switches, and I also made up a little reflector to help bounce any light going up into the "back" of the switch down where it'll show. The reflector just sits on top of the LED, and was made from aluminum foil about 1/2 inch square. These 2 simple changes about doubled the amount of light illuminating the sunrrof switched. Cool! :cool:

For the LED maplights, I have replaced the chrome micro-mini toggle switch I originally used with a much flatter, black one, painted gray to match the overhead console. Looks MUCH better. :D

Looks great! How thick would you say the plastic on the buttons is? I'm thinking about taking on your project and using a Dremel to "thin" the plastic behind the lettering in hopes that the light would shine through...

hey thats pretty sick

Originally posted by Qhris
Looks great! How thick would you say the plastic on the buttons is? I'm thinking about taking on your project and using a Dremel to "thin" the plastic behind the lettering in hopes that the light would shine through... Probably 1/16 inch or so. Problem is, the rocker switches are mounted in a switch "casing" and I don't know if there is any way to take them out. My mod actually shines the LED between the two switches (there's a through and through hole in the middle of the switch casing), and lights up around the thin strip of trim plastic of the console between the switches. If you figure out a way to backlight the switches themselves, I'd love to hear about it.

Gotcha! I will be starting into this project on Wednesday... I'll keep you posted.

Please do. I'll be happy to take my console back down if you come up with something better. :D

Omicron - I have yet to improve on your great work. In fact, I have decided to leave it alone all together for fear of destroying a part. I called the stealership in inquire about a replacement part just in case, and was told that the overhead console is priced at $270.00!!! Perhaps I will revisit this in the summer.

Well, I'm still tinkering with it. (Big surprise, huh? :D) While this is an improvement, it's still not as good as "proper" lighting for the switches. I'm going to take a look at it tomorrow, and see if I can figure out a way to have the light actually shine on the switches, rather than from behind them.

Thanks for the nice words. I'll post updates here as I work them out.

Thats Great. Thanks for the info

Omicron and Demanic...I hope you see my post sometime soon:

Omi did an awesome job with the light up switches...very unique

I was curious if someone could make a cast and copy of the switches but modify the mold so that there is room for an led within the switch or modify the existing switches by using a dremel with a finite tool to drill out the lettering of the switches...then light it up from behind or even put a thin sheet of fiberglass/or similar over the lettering...epoxy it in

I don't know...hopefully I will take it apart this weekend...look around and brainstorm

if I get stuck I'll definitely add the lighting and then go from there

I'll look forward to hearing what you work out. However, one word of caution: buy good LEDs. I must have bought a cheap one, as the one I had behind the switches burned out in relatively short order and shorted out the whole circuit! Sunroof and A/C were inoperable (kept blowing fuses) till I traced it to the led behind the switches and removed it. So, FYI.

i was just thinking that i need to light up those switches.. When it got dark and i want to close the top but could not see them ..

nice job :)

Nice mod once again for you long list ;)

Omi - I see the Passport Solo in the pic. I have the same one, but I do not place it that high up. Can it still see behind you??

Nice mod once again for you long list ;)

Omi - I see the Passport Solo in the pic. I have the same one, but I do not place it that high up. Can it still see behind you??Yes, but not quite as well as I'd like. Someday I may relocate it, but that's low on the priority list.

And thanks for the nice words. :D

idea..

how about using some Fiber Optics ?

maybe they dont back light the switchs but instead they front light it. if they can poke thorugh the sides of the switch mount they can point right at the switches.. The they will need to run back to your LED that is inside the switches for the light source..

just a thought. I really want to light mine up as well.

what is the switch between the maplights for?????

The factory switch Mike? That disables the map lights coming on. Or are you talking the small silver/chrome switch I installed all the way toward the windshield side of the overhead console? If so, that's for my LED maplights... there's another DIY thread about them...

hehe dont you have a nav system ? what the hell do you need a map light for hehe..

you mean mood lights :) jk :).......

and you dont like my Fiber Optic idea?

thanks
I did mean the stock swith
my girl was making fun of me cuz i didn't know what it did

idea..

how about using some Fiber Optics ?

maybe they dont back light the switchs but instead they front light it. if they can poke thorugh the sides of the switch mount they can point right at the switches.. The they will need to run back to your LED that is inside the switches for the light source..

just a thought. I really want to light mine up as well.Hmmm, good idea. Sorry I missed this post before. Got any idea of a good source?

hehe dont you have a nav system ? what the hell do you need a map light for hehe..

you mean mood lights :) jk :).......Nope, no Nav system. :(

Yeah, mod lights, thats it, MOOD lights! :D

No actually they're pretty useful. They provide enough light for me to see things in the cupholders, read CD cases, etc - but not so much light as they ruin my night vision.

thanks
I did mean the stock swith
my girl was making fun of me cuz i didn't know what it didLOL! 8250+ posts and you didn't know what the switch does? LOL! Maybe you should consider reading 8250+ posts! :D

hehehe... sorry Mike, couldn't resist!

i have a source for Fiber Optics. let me dig it up

i have a source for Fiber Optics. let me dig it upCool, I'll look forward to seeing it. That might be a really good solution... a really short little F.O. elbow illuminating just the sunroof switches.

If your leds are burning out, chances are you're just pushing too much current through them....try adding a resistor (from any local electronics store, 1/4 watt should be good) in series with the led - a value of about 1kohm is about right - that gives you approx. 12mA of current from the 12VDC supply....without it, you're just limited by the on resistance of the led - not much, so it won't last too long without a low impedance load on the rest of the circuit....

if you get a white or blue led instead of a red, you'll need to lower the resistor value - check out the specs for the led to see how much current it pulls....

just an electrical eng w/ an 8.... :-)

If your leds are burning out, chances are you're just pushing too much current through them....try adding a resistor (from any local electronics store, 1/4 watt should be good) in series with the led - a value of about 1kohm is about right - that gives you approx. 12mA of current from the 12VDC supply....without it, you're just limited by the on resistance of the led - not much, so it won't last too long without a low impedance load on the rest of the circuit....

if you get a white or blue led instead of a red, you'll need to lower the resistor value - check out the specs for the led to see how much current it pulls....

just an electrical eng w/ an 8.... :-)

electrical engineer eh? you are going to be very helpful around here

If your leds are burning out, chances are you're just pushing too much current through them....try adding a resistor (from any local electronics store, 1/4 watt should be good) in series with the led - a value of about 1kohm is about right - that gives you approx. 12mA of current from the 12VDC supply....without it, you're just limited by the on resistance of the led - not much, so it won't last too long without a low impedance load on the rest of the circuit....

if you get a white or blue led instead of a red, you'll need to lower the resistor value - check out the specs for the led to see how much current it pulls....

just an electrical eng w/ an 8.... :-)Good point, I'll look into this.

Has anyone tried this mod with a 1K Ohm resister in series with the LED?

Not that I'm doubting an EE, but I always feel better trying something that has been bench tested.

BTW, hats off to Omicron for such a simple but elegant solution to something that has erked me since the first night I drove my 8.

Well, thanks. :D

Hey! What happened to all the photo's?

old thread they 'disapeared' but I'll fix them look now they should be back :)

old thread they 'disapeared' but I'll fix them look now they should be back :)Yah - I fixed this soon as someone let me know they'd disappeared.

This was one hell of a bitch. But thanks again to Omnicron.

One thing that's missing is the tabs in the rear. Took me forever to find them because I didn't want to break the console and I wanted to see the tab.

The tab is right there where the light is. The trick is to use a 45 degree angle and push in pretty deep about 1 1/2 " into the console.

Then the rear of the console just drops out.

Also, I'm a guy who likes to make sure things work before I put them togeather.

I could only get the sunroof to close but not open.

After an hour and rework I found out the metal tabs connected to the plastic are connected inside the housing where they use it for a ground.

Make sure you push the console in hard for the tabs to contact then check for sunroof operation before assembly into the headliner.

Who would think metal connected to plastic would make a ground?

It's those hidden things........... :mdrmed:

I just did this modification. It was a little less light then i was expecting but it still does the trick, i was thinking maybe of putting 2 leds in the switch instead of just one. There are 3 holes to put an led.

Thanks for the instructions. it really wasn't hard at all to do this.

Glad you like it... and I like the 2 LED mod to the mod idea. :)

This really was an elegant solution to a nagging problem for me - props to Omicron. I attempted to use 2 red LEDs for added brightness but could NOT quite get them to fit in that middle cut out aperture in the switch housing. The light is rather subtle but still helpful. The mod I added was to place 2 additional red LEDs (wired the same way) in the console apertures above the map light bulbs which are perfectly sized for this. Sorry, no pics, but you can see the apertures in the post #8 pic in line with the yellow crayon marks on both sides. They shine additional subtle light through the bulbs and onto the map light reflectors which also helps finding the sunroof and map switches in the dark. Totally masked in daylight. FYI I used Alpena Hyper LEDs from Advanced Auto and I am pretty sure they have a resistor included in the wire - no shorts for 3 days anyway.