Adding Footwell Lights

[Gallo]

Cool.
I don't like going to the yunks cause, sadly, most of the parts are stolen; so there's no more choice than going to the stealership.

I just figured out than vanity lights would fit better (they're narrower) as footwell lights.

I meant, where, in the car, did you fit the lights, and how did you fit them?

[Duffy]

I am comfortable going to my local yard. Prices are good.

Here are two pictures where I installed the lights. Cut a rectangular hole in the plastic dash cover panel for the driver's side light. I used a small Molex two pin connector so the panel can be completely removed.

Made an aluminum bracket/box to house the one for the passenger's side. I left a tab on the bracket to fit under the glove box mounting. Just loosen the screws, slide in and re-tighten. Hope this helps.

[Gallo]

Nice, i dig it!

[Fl_bug]

So those lights come on when you open your doors and the mirror is on the "door" position? Nice.

I'm having an idea. Is it possible to install like an LED light bar and have it do 2 functions. Come on when the doors open and turn on when the headlights are on.

Then again, just when the headlights are on would be more than good enough. Is this possible?

[Duffy]

Well, no. At least not now, but that is my plan to have them come on with the door. Running wires to the interior light switch in the mirror could be difficult. I am looking a other ways to do it. Presently I am using a switch on the dash now to turn them off and on. Not sure how I want to do it just now. When I get a solution, I will post here.

To answer your question, yes. Just wire a SPDT with center off, wired as the mirror switch. One position to ground (on) and the other to T23 pin 21 (auto off), with center position off (off). Do this on the ground side of the LEDs or lamps.

[yoga129]

Try to tap it on the door panel light. i just tap mine there. so when the door open the LED will turned on.

if you want to set the led light only turned on when the headlight on, tap it on the dimmer switch(next to the headlight switch.

hope it helps.

[Gallo]

Originally Posted by Duffy

Well, no. At least not now, but that is my plan to have them come on with the door. Running wires to the interior light switch in the mirror could be difficult. I am looking a other ways to do it. Presently I am using a switch on the dash now to turn them off and on. Not sure how I want to do it just now. When I get a solution, I will post here.

To answer your question, yes. Just wire a SPDT with center off, wired as the mirror switch. One position to ground (on) and the other to T23 pin 21 (auto off), with center position off (off). Do this on the ground side of the LEDs or lamps.

Why don't you try this:


With the first circuit L1 & L2 will turn on every time any door remain open.

The second circuit does the same thing, but it's also an autodimmer. U can Set the off time (with R2) to make it match with the courtesy lights.





Here is where u gotta tap. As your Beetle didn't come with puddle lights, u need to remove the panel to get to the wires.

[Duffy]

Gallo, these are two good solutions to the problem. Still undecided on method to employ. I have obtained a rear defogger switch which is better to use than the hazard switch. The front will change color rather than just getting a brighter red. I plan to change the amber LED, when on, with a white LED. This is still in the works too. Can't decide on a logo or symbol to put on the front of the switch. Thanks for the diagrams.

[Gallo]

Originally Posted by Duffy

Gallo, these are two good solutions to the problem. Still undecided on method to employ. I have obtained a rear defogger switch which is better to use than the hazard switch. The front will change color rather than just getting a brighter red. I plan to change the amber LED, when on, with a white LED. This is still in the works too.

Any time man!

I already tested the two circuits and work fine. The power transistor (IRF530A) needs a heat sink.

I didn't put them on the car because i'm planning on, besides the dimming effect, adding a slow glow effect (like some BMW, Volvo) for the footwell lights (and also for the whole courtesy lights); but i'm still working on it.

Originally Posted by Duffy

Can't decide on a logo or symbol to put on the front of the switch. Thanks for the diagrams.

How are you gonna do that, i mean, putting the logo on the switch; serigraphy?

[Duffy]

I have a friend that makes signs, etc., and he can cut just about any graphic on vinyl. I have used in the past a small bulb graphic and just apply it over the front of the switch. Looks nice. I will probably remove a little of the "heated window" graphic to eliminate shadows. Thanking about using this time the NBC outline. Top open, lights on.

[Gallo]

Originally Posted by Duffy

I have a friend that makes signs, etc., and he can cut just about any graphic on vinyl. I have used in the past a small bulb graphic and just apply it over the front of the switch. Looks nice. I will probably remove a little of the "heated window" graphic to eliminate shadows. Thanking about using this time the NBC outline. Top open, lights on.

I was thinking in vinyl too, i just wonder if the cutter might make such a small cuts. I'm planning on doing a switch too, but i thought in using the ESP switch.

[Duffy]

This guy's cutter will cut tiny graphics.

The ESP switch is a push-push type, does not latch. Where the hazard and rear window defog switch is a push on (latch) push off (release). However, with your electronics knowledge, you could design a latching circuit to use with the ESP switch which will be neat. Don't forget the possibility of using the spoiler switch under the dash, if'n you don't have a spoiler. There's already a hole for it too.

[Gallo]

Originally Posted by Duffy

This guy's cutter will cut tiny graphics.

The ESP switch is a push-push type, does not latch. Where the hazard and rear window defog switch is a push on (latch) push off (release). However, with your electronics knowledge, you could design a latching circuit to use with the ESP switch which will be neat. Don't forget the possibility of using the spoiler switch under the dash, if'n you don't have a spoiler. There's already a hole for it too.

The vinyl option sounds cool.

This is the image i want to be on the switch (tire pressure indicator).

[Gallo]

A tire pressure monitor system can be installed in cars with ESP.

[Duffy]

or one of these . . .

[j.loicx]

i have mine rigged to turn on with the headlights and i love em!

i just bought simple blue led pods from autozone and wired them to the little red mood light under the flasher/asr switchpanel above the cupholders. (with this they even dim with the dimmer switch!)

[Iona]

Originally Posted by j.loicx

i have mine rigged to turn on with the headlights and i love em!

i just bought simple blue led pods from autozone and wired them to the little red mood light under the flasher/asr switchpanel above the cupholders. (with this they even dim with the dimmer switch!)

Mind sharing how u actually did it? where exactly is the little red mood light tt u mention. did a check on my ride but cant seem to find tt.

[MiG]

Originally Posted by Iona

Mind sharing how u actually did it? where exactly is the little red mood light tt u mention. did a check on my ride but cant seem to find tt.

It's the little red light under the heater control box right above the cup holders.

Originally Posted by j.loicx

i have mine rigged to turn on with the headlights and i love em!

i just bought simple blue led pods from autozone and wired them to the little red mood light under the flasher/asr switchpanel above the cupholders. (with this they even dim with the dimmer switch!)

That's how I did mine too.








Works with the dimmer switch too

[58and03beetles]

i know this sounds a little crazy, but i think a neat way to wire this is off the running light wire from the headlight switch if you want them always on with the headlights. if not you could wire a switch for power into the spoiler hole then run this to a defroster switch you add which is red on and yellow off. , then from the defroster to a on-on spst relay. then run power from ones pole of the relay to a set of red puddle lights (mood lighting) and from the other pole of the relay to a set of white puddle lights (to help see stuff when needed). you could even trigger the whole circuit on using a latching relay activated off the high beam pull-flash to pass pole from the turnsignal switch.
so in this case youd click the light system on with the high beam pass function and then switch between red or white lights with the defroster switch. an extra wire from the conveniece module delayed dimmer could allow the white lights to auto dim with the dome light and with a diode in line, the puddle lights wouldnt kick on the dome when activated. crazyiness but it would provide controlled white and red mood lights, and add auto dim too

[Duffy]

I DID IT! After months of pondering this idea I finally have modified my interior underdash lights to come on as either door is opened. Really not to hard to do, just tight working areas. Added a SPDT rocker switch (on-off-on) in the hole for the spoiler switch. I have a rag top. Functions just like the mirror switch, On, Off or Door. In the Door mode, the Comfort Control Module controls the lights. I am assuming the CCM can handle the additional current of two 6418 bulbs or about 700ma. The same as if my car were a hard top. Could a hardtop handle the additional current? I do not know.

If anyone is interested in a How To, I'll attempt to draw up a diagram and a write up. I guess I could take it all apart again and take pictures too. Maybe.