Omicron

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!

Omicron

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.

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Step 1: Remove the overhead console, as shown in this thread.

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.

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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).

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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, and put my own spin on it. If you're interested in how I did this, check out this thread for instructions on how to do it. :D

USCEric

thread are broken

Omicron

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

neit_jnf

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

Omicron

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

mikeb

great idea

RX-8-Tobi

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

rgds
Tobi

Omicron

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.

Omicron

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

Spinny 3ngls

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.

Genom

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.

Omicron

Ok, I feel better now.

wakeech

another illuminating contribution.

thanks man.

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!

Omicron

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.