I need to install a small LED indicator light into our 2009 Dodge Ram, and am trying to figure out a nice way to mount it that blends in with the rest of the interior.

When looking at the center console, the bottom row of buttons (seat heater / seat cooler / steering heater / passenger seat heat and cool) has a bunch of blank spots. Are these purely decorative? Or can I buy a spare button (for example a spare steering wheel heater button) and use rubbing alcohol to remove the picture of the steering wheel, and then mount my choice of LED light behind the little rectangular LED window?

The button doesn't even need to be a functioning button (although if I can wire it into a relay that would be good too). But mostly I just need it to be a way to install an LED light that looks nice instead of a generic round LED light drilled into the dash somewhere.

I've never taken the center console apart, so hoping that someone who has done so will be able to tell me how those blank spots are put together.

Thanks!

 

Thanks for this post, I was wondering the same thing. I'd like to be able to use those empty slots! I hope we'll get some good replies.

-John

 

If the buttons aren't used, they should be fine to drill out and mount an LED in. Just need to take the panel off and look to see.

http://www.wkjeeps.com/sound/2009_Do...io_Removal.pdf

 

Yes, I get that I can drill the blank buttons myself and put an LED in them - but what I want to know is whether or not the blanks "pop out" and can be replaced with a real button. i.e. can I order a new steering wheel heating button from Dodge and insert it into a blank spot?

 

subscribed.

 

I saw somewhere that there is a circuit board behind the "buttons". It that is true you may run into a problem .

 

order one of those buttons and see if you can wire it and scrape the icon off the front of it, that would be cool =P then it would completely blend in.

 

I just checked the extra spots on my console and they seem to move independent of each other. There is a little play in the plastic part that would be the switch, so I would assume you can remove them once the console is off. I mean you would think they were not going to make a bunch of different console pieces. Just make one that can be arranged by whichever convenience package/accessories are installed in the trucks.

 

i think 2 screws

 

There is a circuit board behind the buttons. You might be able to figure out what wire the output of the button comes out of the assembly on and tap into it, but it is not going to be an easy task I don't think. It doesn't look like there is a simple 1 wire power in and one wire signal out for each button.

You could easily swap the blank button out with a factory button though, it would press like the others but I am not sure if you could get the signal out to do anything with it. The factory buttons are momentary contact and the computer figures out what to do when it sees the signal. They are not normal latching switches like a light switch in your house.