Omicron

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.

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!

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

XDEEDUBBX

hey thats pretty sick

Omicron

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.

Omicron

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

Omicron

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.

2001F4S

Thats Great. Thanks for the info

truemagellen

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

Omicron

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.

thew

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

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

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??

Omicron

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

thew

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.

mikeb

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

Omicron

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...

thew

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

you mean mood lights jk .......

thew

and you dont like my Fiber Optic idea?

mikeb

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

Omicron

Hmmm, good idea. Sorry I missed this post before. Got any idea of a good source?

Omicron

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.

Omicron

LOL! 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!

thew

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

Omicron

Cool, 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.