Got sick of missing the cupholder spot on the way to work with my coffee.

Picked up up 3 of these:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062569

1.Remove front Radio Bezel (two screws in bottom)

2. Remove lower plastic trim piece below cupholders. (Just pull out)

3. Remove cupholder assembly. (4 screws that hold black "frame" piece into the area, then just pull out assembly.

4. Drill holes from bottom (9/32"). Drill the holes through both layers of plastic:


5. Enlarge the top hole big enough to fit a deep well 9mm socket through

6. Feed led wires through both holes

7. Drop lock washer and nut down the wire onto the threads, and tighten with the 9mm deep well socket (3/8" works too)


8. Wire the LEDs together:


9. Tape the wiring down so you don't get any rattling later:


10. Tie into Ign power somewhere. I learned later that there is a harness right here that is made for the cupholder light from the factory, but I did not know this at the time:


I just tied into the IGN power that I was using for the remote turn on for my amp

The pics dont do it justice. It looks really nice at night, but not too bright:

NOTE: there is a small amount of light that "leaks" through when the cupholder assembly is closed. you could put them on a switch if you want. the ammout that comes through is not enough to bother me, but check it before final install!

 

I bloody love it ! yeah I know EXACTLY what you mean missing the d*** cup holders haha, only happened once, the first time, where I thought I had the cup in there, let go and yup, drink everywhere. Now I just throw on the cap light before I put my drink down at night.

Thanks for this Awesome DIY.

 

looks good man nice job. How long did it take you??

 

It took way longet than expected of course. If you do this mod, check your LEDs BEFORE you install. I ended up returning 2 of them because they were about 1/2 the brightness of the other one. Make sure all 3 are same brightness. It took about 2 hours with the trips to Radio Shack. It took about 20 of tryin to thread that damn nut onto the led at first, then I hogged out the holes big enough for the socket and it was a breeze!

 

found tomorrow nights project! I just dont know how Im going to power them up! I think it looks awesome and not to hard to do and cheap! Im going to want the lights on at night I wounder if i can tie them into my head lights some how? and even my inside lights so when i get in my truck I have that extra light? any ideas? Great DIY though!

 

Best new add-on idea for the week. Super close documentations, very detailed.

 

I tied into the IGN power so they come on as soon as the key is turnned to the on position or back to the acc position. If your inside dome lights are on you can't really see the lights all that much, I would just tie into the IGN power somewhere or use the harness thats there.

 

where can I find this IGN power? and you said there was harness there?

 

check out pic #10 again. It is circled in red. The plug will be taped back in that rectangular hole a little, but still easy to get at. I did not use it, but just test the wires to see when they turn on, if they are "hot" when the key turns on, just tie right into that.....done deal

 

You could just hook them up to a switch also so you could turn them off if you want to.