DIY: Fender Grill lights install hooked up to interior door lights
 

Removed the interior front door panel by follow these instructions
http://rx8.becomeanidiot.com/puddlelights.pdf

the instructions above shows how to install a puddle light as well as removing the interior of the door panel

once the interior panel is removed:)
Picture 1 :You will need to piggy-back two wires (red and black) of the interior door light, this will supply the power and signal for the Fender Grill light to turn on/off

Picture 2-Start twisting up the Piggy-backed wires round the main cable, heading back in the direction of the speaker

Picture 3-Keep twisting the red and black wires
no need to open the fuse box

Picture 4-Just a lil more twisting the black and red wires

Picture 5-Remove the rubber-protector slightly (this were the bunched cables duct through) and thread your black and red wires through
no need to open the fuse box

Continued.....

6-before you put the door cover back you may want to test the wires you pulled through that is reading 12volts

7-replace the door cover (no need to remove fuse box cover)

8-insulate the black and red wires with tape and thread wires through the slit just behind the wiring duct just behind door and fender

9-remove front wheel and the plastic screws indicated in picture

10-lift up the plastic guard and reach in to pop out the Fender grill with your fingers

Continued...

11-you should be able to see the you black and red cable you treaded through as well in the fender now,pull through the wires

Sorting out the LED Light mounts
12-i used this steel 90 degree bracket as my mounting for the LEDs (as used by guys for their light mounts)

13-cut to LED mount to length of the fender grill

14-i cut in to 3 sections to mount individually, i used these twisty ties to lock on the fender grill

15-im using these flexi LED strips (waterproof)-when bounded together they form the perfect size for each section of grill (double the brightness and effect)
(these lights will be wired up in parallel)

Continued...

16-Wrap/cover the steel mounts in aluminium foil for reflectiveness
Insert the LED modules between the mounts and grill
Tape the mount to grills for extra support
(looks like a bomb :shocking:)

Now the pop the fender grill CAREFULLY into the the fender,make sure the clips lock into the fender
Pull the LED wires through and and connect up to the black and red wires from Picture 11 (use lots for insulation tape) :yesnod: this would help prevent short circuiting

Open either front door and your light should eliminate
Pictures17-22 are my results (please forgive me...my car needs to lowered)

(will wire up drivers fender next weekend)

Continued....

More pics...

i chose white LED's
(something different to blue)

pretty cool...

id like to see a video of those hooked up to the turn signals...

Yeah, I'd like to get a set of amber LEDs and try hooking up fender grill lights to the blinkers.

From this you can install to indicator (alot easier than taking out the door panel :) )

but....having the license plate (registration plate) XCON) thats would be just one more thing the cops would stop me for...just to be a pain
So i when with hooking up to interior door lights rather that indicator

i like them hooked up to the door light. just an fyi, you can connect to the harness by the fuse block and not have to run it into the door to get the same effect. Use the same wires that people use for the footwell lights

thanks Laythor - i didnt know that i could have used the fuse box harness (would have been way easier than removing the door panel) :)

no problem :)

i've been thinking of doing this for awhile now since they could also be used as a way to tell the alarm has activated since that turns off the interior lights.

That's pretty awesome. How's it look during the day?

Doesnt look as nice during the day ,esp in bright sunlight - but best effect at night

blinker
 

Hey, for the user posting about fender lights hooked up to blinkers just go to this link i couldn't find the video on my computer must have deleted it.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1056051769680


Since I have hooked the lights up to the side-markers, and will be creating a switch for them as soon as I get back down to my car down in Georgia(currently in Washington). Funny thing is right after I installed them a cop came into the apartment complex serving some papers so I asked him about the legallity of it, in Georgia he said it's illegal but he wouldn't pull me over for them, I have been driving with them for a year with no problems, probably because of the amber color.

Thanks for the info. I plan to to see if I can use two sets of lights when I hook it up. Blue lights that come on with my blue interior lights and amber lights for the blinkers. I was also wondering how legal it was. I might try and risk as you have. I really doubt I'd get pulled over for it. Seems as though it would make your car safer.

I added the forth rotor light and changed all my tail lights to LEDS so people could see me better at night. If only I could find a LED sign to mount to the top on my back window so I can have a get off my ass switch.

Amber LEDs that come on with the blinkers are perfectly legal, they are called side repeaters and most countries require them (series II RX-8 has them). However the blue LEDs will not be legal as that color light is reserved for police and emergency vehicles and you may get pulled over for it. You may have better luck with white LEDs, and they still have a bluish tint to them.

Drive FASTER! ;)

So heres my plan ... why not red for night time use and yellow for blinker awesomeness

Red may be a bad idea as far as I know and the police officer I talked to, as far as he said my fender grill lights were considered under cariage lights which are illegal to drive with in most states, however I went with an amber color LED and have not had any problems for over a year now.

Red may be bad because it would be on the side of your car where as red lights signify the back end of a car, your best chance of not being harrassed is with a white or amber light for the sides as then it is just another side marker light

Keep in mind different states have different laws for car lighting, int he state of arizona you can drive with underglow in any color except blue, so I would check state laws as your first step

Very weird looking. Also on that one shot with the headlights pointing at the brick wall and the plant, it gives off the impression that there's a giant hole on the side of your fender that is causing the hid's to shine through. Doesn't look right in my opinion, but I suppose if you used these as turn indicators that would be kind of cool..

This is sexy a ten. My project for the weekend.

Another question... anyone tried this with maybe one long strip of LEDS? Also, price wise what did it run you for the LEDs? Where did you order them from? Or off the shelf?

i have tried the "single strip LED" approach but not as affected i found (given the angle of the vents too), therefore i doubled them - thanks :)

here's a module you can use to make one set of leds into park and turn.
use #1 ILL-01 “The Illuminator™ module” on this page
http://www.badlandsmotorcycleproduct...cts/BETCSM.htm

Looks amazing, anyone who done this get much hassle from the police? Am new in NZ and they seem strict on boy racers, this type of mod legal??