I have read all the posts I could find on how to wire the footwell/interior night lights to alternative sources, but still was not able to find which wire coming out of the 54-pin connector (or elsewhere inside the cockpit) that you could connect the lights to be operated by the fog light toggle on the dash. Can someone tell me what's the right wire to hook the tap into for this?

 

fog light toggle on the dash. ? I know there is a fog light rotating switch on the steering column light stalk. What does that have to do with the footwell lights?

 

Interesting problem but not as easy as that.
You will likely have to pick a different switch.
Problem is the way it's wired makes it fairly useless as a footlight switch -

Power only goes to the relay from the headlights, then thru the fog relay, up to the switch, which grounds it to pull the relay in/on. Ergo, it is live on one side with the low beams, and grounded on the other.

If you want to pursue the fog/footlight option, you could run a wire from the front fusebox back inside, carrying foglight power. The fog relay connector has four terminals in a 'T' shape, out to bulbs is the 'LW' wire in the 'centre'. (I think LW means light blue & white.)

I'm lazy, just wired my FW lights to the Accessory circuit, on with the ignition.

S

 

So how are these footwell things supposed to work? Are they supposed to be on all the time? On with the dome light? Manual switch? What do the instructions say?

 

Thanks for the info Stealth. To be honest, I didn't have the lights installed before posting my initial question, so I wasn't sure how bright they would be while on. I did install them today the way it's described in the "Footwell Light Problem" thread with instructions by Zoom2X. So they are on only when the doors are opened, then dim out 8-10 seconds after the courtesy light..

I would really like them to be on ALL the time the headlights are on, so perhaps the appropriate question is how to wire them as such. Your option of having them on all the time the ignition is on isn't one I'd pursue...but thanks again for the reply.

To answer's Paul's question...if you install them as described in the instructions then come on only when a door is opened, and then go off in sync with the oval courtesy lights at the bottom of the driver and passenger side doors.

So does anyone know how to get these suckers to come on only with the headlights?

 

You could easily tap into the parking light wire under the dash, but you will need to use a low current relay since that wire does not supply much current. I would probably look into a solid state relay. I bought a set of neon's to put under the dash two months ago, just haven't put them in yet, this is how I plan to do it though. I'm also going to add a manual switch in case I want to override it and turn them off.

 

I created my own red floorwell lights using automotive LEDs. 2 per side, wire tied up in place under the dash. I pulled power for them from the ashtray light circuit, which is both easy to get to and the footwell lights only come on when at least the parking lights are on. I also added a manual "kill" switch for them on the driver's side kick panel.

 

neat idea, I am sure they look good. Did you also add lights to the back footwell?

 

I hooked up blue 6" neon in place of the crap footwell LEDs. As for the wireing connections I ran the negitive connetion to a bolt on the firewall. For the - neg wire any bolt that has a chassis mount will work just remove the paint around it first. The + pos wire connection that runs the prkng lights is Black w/ a red stripe. I verified this Tonight. I was going to add a off/on switch but haven't done it yet.


NOTE the Bolded changes above!

 

I think the LEDs have a few points for them: very low energy consumption, long life and pleasant, low light, but if you want brighter light the neons are cool, esp blue !

One question: where did you access the parking lite wire ? I mean where under the dashboard?

combining Omicron's switch with a parking lite power seems like the ideal option.

 

So, if you hook the wire to the parking lamps, how will this affect the relay terminal that comes with the footwell light kit. I had one of those annoying indiglow dashes on my S10 and the relay burnt out, so did the indiglo. I'm wondering if you tap into a positive lead that is switched (like the parking lights), wont the relay shut the footwell lights off after 8 seconds anyways! Or will they stay on and burn out the footwell relay?

I also bought the footwell lights through Mazda, with the same idea...them being on all the time at night. The picture in the little brochure made me think this (don't know why though). After spending the hundred bucks or so, and the 60 minutes installing them, I was rather disappointed. The lighting is perfect in intensity, and then, they go off. Oh well.

 

Kwescott ,
I was going to purchase the Mazda footwell lights, but after reading posts that they turn off 8-10 sec. why bother. I wanted ones that stayed on.

I'll post a pic Weds (tomorrow) of which wire is used and where it's located and a nite shot of the neon too. I intend on changing out the blue to red someday but I may put in a SPDT switch to switch between the blue/red color neon

Sorry for dragging my heels on this.

 

Ok boys and girls. Here what I promised.
Pic one is just to sho where the bundle of wire is located.
Pic two show the Black w/ RED stripe and a tap attached.
Pic three is what it looksa like at night.

*** NOTE***
The Pic shows it a little brighter than it really is.

 

So as of right now, the blue neon comes on as you switch your headlights on...is that correct. And then I would assume that they do not have a relay that shuts them off after 8 seconds. I'm wondering what would happen if I switched where my positive lead is currently hooked up to (courtesy lights) with the Mazda footwell light kit. I would assume they would stay on, but would eventually burn out the relay.

Blue looks nice though. I didn't realize, until I saw your pictures, that I have different pedals (I guess the dealer put on the billet pedals and dead pedal with the package I bought)......Also didn't realize that you could get to the wire bundle without having to take the trim plates off...the Mazda directions had you partially remove the door sill trim, as well as the footwell trim....may make it easier to try out the new red/black wire....in the future.

 

Yes, As soon as i turn on my parking lights the neon comes on. I don't know about the relay being feed from the parking light + pos wire. If the + pos lead is switched from the door open circut I would thisnk it would still shut off after 8-10 sec. Don't quote me because I've never seen the wiring layout for the mazda lights.

I have the stock blah pedals. Some day I'll upgrade. :D