DIY: Simple Inexpensive Trunk Light Enhancement
 

So, because it seems like only the janitor came to work the day they designed the trunk light, we're all stuck to the Daredevil (blind superhero, not Evil Knieval) method for finding things in the trunk when it's dark. It only takes a few rooting sessions to really get on your nerves. Those of us with the spare tire have it even worse - not only is the light weak, it's almost entirely obscured by the spare.

As such, I put together a simple and inexpensive DIY for enhancing your trunk light situation. I am not an electrician, so I wanted something simple, and it's only a trunk light so I didn't want to spend a fortune. A lot of what you need you probably already have.

Materials:
194 Bulb Base Connector With Wire Leads - $2.99
Oznium 12" Cold Cathode Kit (white) - $9.99
Two-sided tape
Wire strippers, cutters, etc.
Heat shrink tubing
Zip-ties

**I originally planned to use an LED strip, but I decided they were not only more expensive, but illuminated too direct a path and wouldn't be sufficient wide angle lighting**

The bulb for the trunk light is a 194 bulb, and I didn't want to have to splice any wires or do anything too fancy, so I figured the 194 bulb base with leads would be perfect - I could just hook it to the cathodes and plug it in.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/27.jpg

I also got some zip tie hangers (20 for $.99 from AutoLum) to help keep things organized - they have a sticky backing and work well.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/32.jpg

The cold cathodes do not plug straight in - instead they have to go through a transformer, which is included in the kit. It has a red (+) and black (-) lead into/out of it.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/33.jpg

Connect the bulb base leads to the transformer - red to red, black to black and yellow to nothing (it doesn't connect to anything inside the base, I just heat shrunk the end of the wire and put a layer of electricians tape around it to be safe). I used heat shrink tubing and then a thick layer of electrical tape on the connection, as obviously you don't want any contact points exposed.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/34.jpg

An inside view of the trunk shows the trunk light and cover - note that I had removed the spare tire already to give better access. Normally this light is all but blocked entirely by the spare.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/41.jpg

Plugging in the bulb base to make sure the lights work (they do!). And yes, I know my trunk is messy.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/42.jpg

Mount the cathode tubes using your two-sided tape. The leads on the cathodes are a little less than a foot long, but you'll have way more wire length than you need.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/43.jpg


Both cathodes mounted, with the transformer secured (two-sided tape) up behind the spare tire 'bumper' and the wires coiled up.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/45.jpg

Finished project - it's hard to tell how effective it is because it's not dark out obviously. I will get more pictures when it gets dark out.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/44.jpg

Here is a picture (no flash) after it got dark out. It's not exactly the surface of the sun, but it's certainly WAY better than it used to be!
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...RX8Club/24.jpg

Please feel free to offer any feedback on the DIY - it's my first attempt so hopefully it is thorough and useful.

Thanks and have fun being able to find things in your trunk!

EDIT: Added "After" picture.

I don't like using cold cathodes. The inverters tend to be cheap and can fail catastrophically.

If you're going to use them anyways, hide the cathodes. Nothing says rice like lighting systems that are visibly taped onto the car. Move them back so they're hidden under the rear deck and out of sight and I'd call this an A+ mod. the 194 bulb adapter is pure genius.

Yeah, it doesn't look the best with the lighting visible, but it's more of a functional upgrade rather than one that's supposed to look cool. I thought about mounting them further back, and I may give it a try, but I wanted to go for the best lighting first, then enhancing the look second. Plus, I didn't find any places behind that lip that looked like they'd accommodate the 12" lights.

But, if I do say so myself, the 194 bulb base with leads IS genius :wiggle:

You know if you got rid of that spare boat anchor in the trunk, I bet you'd be able to light the whole trunk with a single tube.

Don't I know it! I'd also be able to fit more than a packet of airline peanuts in there too. But I also know the moment I take the spare out, I'll get a flat. I've been SO CLOSE to removing the spare so many times, but I can just never pull the trigger on it.

I've got a can of slime from mazda and a plug kit.

If I get a flat I can't fix, then I don't make it to work. It'd suck, but not the end of the world.

If i had a kid, I'd keep a spare in the trunk.

I have a kid and don't have a spare. AAA is more the fast enough for me and if you really need them to come quickly just tell the operator "I don't feel safe where I am", turns your call into a "hot call" which requires the nearest driver to come to you.. even if that means dropping off a car they already have hooked up.

can you explain how the 194 bulb works. is that something you made or do they sell it allready. im trying to understand the first pic. thanks

Rev, Autolumination sells the 194 "bulb" I used. In fact, where I list the materials, I've actually linked to the page that has it. They're $2.99 + shipping. It is actually 2 pieces - the base with the female connector, and then a male connection with 3 18 gauge leads connected, which are about 6" long.

Those adapters are very cool, but you could just as easily use a wire tap for pennies.

Yeah, I considered using a wire tap, but it would be difficult to access the right wires to splice it looked like, and since the adapter is $3, I figured I'd just take the easy way out. It was realllllllly simple to do using the adapter, and it got the nasty filament light out of the way too.

do the cold cathodes just plug in to the transformer or do you have to wire it? i couldnt tell in the pictures

Sorry the picture isn't clear - the cathodes just simply plug into the transformer. The only wiring you have to do that isn't just plugging in is to connect the base leads to the transformer plug leads.

....or you could just replace the factory trunk bulb with a super bright LED ....

A super bright LED buried underneath the spare tire is still not going to effectively light the trunk, you must relocate the light to get good lighting, or remove the spare. And, the cover for the light is much too opaque and blocks too much light (though, it could be removed). Most LED lights do not offer a wide enough light pattern so they wouldn't effectively light the full trunk either.

In 1981 when LEDs were first being used.

My car didn't come with a spare. Didn't realize THAT many 8's did. Those without the spare, spend 5 bucks on a decent LED and remove the cover. More light than anyone could possibly need. Simple. Effective. Lasts forever.

I don't disagree that a LED would probably be fine for people without spares, but, if you have a spare, you really need to relocate the light source. You could mount LEDs elsewhere and it'd work too, but with the spare in the trunk, you just can't get enough light out from its stock position.

Oh ok thanks! My cathodes came yesterday my wiring job doesn't look at good as yours I didn't put a ton of effort to do the heatshrink I just used electrical tape my cars winning blue so I used blue which still makes it pretty bright in there at night! And I mounted and hid all the lights ans wires behind the lip! (I don't have a spare) and u can't see any of it without sticking your head in the trunk and looking up under the lip! Nice DIY extremely simple took
Me twenty minutes and less than twenty dollars!

I had a super bright led in there before I ended up with a spot of direct light on the floor or with the small clip in light cover a very white that barely lit the trunk this is better in my opinion and it's all hidden underneath the lip!

Thank you for your DIY.

Because you bought the wrong one. Plain and simple.

I totally need this!

This is a great solution. You should pm a moderator to get it moved to the DIY forum.

I'd re-wired for supplemental LED lamps when I got my 2004 (with spare tire) and posted a DIY. But that involved pulling away panels , and cutting into the car's wiring. The bulb adapter definitely IS a simpler and more elegant solution! And could be used with LEDs as well.

Hey Nubo, thanks! Maybe I can get a hold of one of the mods to put it in the DIY section.

I had looked at your DIY but figured I didn't have the patience, confidence, or experience to do it that way. I just wanted something as simple as possible, and I'd come across the adapter and cathodes when looking for other LEDs. I've been very happy with the results so far, though the little clips I bought to hold the wires in place haven't stuck as well as I hoped, so I may need to double up on them.

So, unfortunately, my trunk lights bit the dust today. I hit them pretty hard as I was putting a tire in my trunk, and I broke the tube inside the lights. I probably should have put them in a better location, back further in the trunk rather than on that lip, but ya live ya learn I suppose. I may look into some LED strips to wire up there to take their place, as they'll be less intrusive and hopefully more durable. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated.