Interior door handle light

[cabman]

I finally joined the club and bought a 2005 Vibe about a month ago. Only one thing bothered me about the Moonstone exterior and the black interior though. In the dark, I couldn’t find the interior door release handles. I figured that I’d get used to their location with time but what would a Vibe be without at least one modification?As you can see from the photos I installed a red RadioShack 276-270 12 volt LED above the handle in the door panel’s handle recess. I connected the LED to the wiring harness that supplies the electric window switches. The harness has an “ignition-on” wire (black) and a ground wire (white/black). Now, when it’s dark outside the door handle is very gently illuminated red. With a light installed in both doors it looks pretty cool too.

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[lovemyraffe]

First off, WELCOME!!! Second, I love the lighting on the doors. I've never thought of that one! You should post more pics. What color of beautiful Vibe did you get?

[vibe007]

Nice work I like the idea!!!That's a good start!!!Welcome in!!!

[cabman]

I have a couple more photos but couldn't figure out how to post them other than to have them hosted on another site. Be happy to email them to you if you want.

[WaveAction]

thats pretty cool, should get some night shots if you havent yetalso if you need a hosting site, http://www.photobucket.com, all you got to do is upload the pictures from your computer, onto their surver, and then copy&paste the [img] link off the site and paste it here, and you're set

[cabman]

Here's some more photos

[Kamikaze]

That is sweet! Do you have that wired to the rest of the interior lights, so it's only on at night? or do you have it on a switch that you can turn on/off?I just might have to do this!Nice Job!!

[cabman]

Although the little "auto" light on the driver's side window switch is illuminated, it doesn't come on when the headlights come on as I'd thought. It's always on, you just can't see that it's on in the daytime. The easiest thing then was to wire the new lights to the wires that come on with the ignition on the backside of the window switch (which the "auto" light also must be tied to). Turns out it isn't a problem to have the red lights on all the time as you can't see them in the daylight anyway. So, no, I don't have them switched. That would have required running an additional wire from the door to the chassis. Didn't want to do that. Good luck, it's an easy project.

[Kamikaze]

Thanks for the response.I'll probably just wire them up like you did, since they are LED's they don't use much energy, get hot, or burnout...I'm just a little scared to drill into the door panel, (mainly b/c there's no going back w/o replacing the whole thing)

[cabman]

There's nothing to it. Besides the hole is so small (13/64) and it's tucked up so high above the handle you'll never see the hole (or the installed light) for that matter. Go for it!

[Sublimewind]

Some lights for the cup holders would be a nice addition to... can never find them suckers in the dark...

[keithvibe]

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »Some lights for the cup holders would be a nice addition to... can never find them suckers in the dark... you meen like these?

[kunkstyle]

Don't suppose there's a how to thread on that one?

[keithvibe]

Quote, originally posted by kunkstyle »Don't suppose there's a how to thread on that one?It's a very easy mod.Remove the center console by unbolting the four 10mm bolts two in the front storage compartment and two down in the bottom of the center armrest.Drill holes for the leds that you bought. I got mine from pep-boys.I believe it was a 1/4inch hole needed to mount the lights. These just popped right in to place with the correct size hole drilled. Some bought other leds and silliconed them in place but I found this to be the easiest to do.I then took the negative wires collected all of them together and grounded them to one of the mounting bolts for the center console.I then gathered all the positive wires together and wired them up to a switch.I pulled power for the led's from the wiring harness that is there from the old power plug that used to be there in the 03-04 models. The 05-06 didn't come with the power outlet in the center console but could be easly added if you like buy using the power that is still there.Then it's as simple as reassembling everything.

[kunkstyle]

Thanks! My only problem now would be where to draw the power wire from. I added the 12v adapter in mine already, so I'm using that empty harness.

[Kamikaze]

If I don't get hung up on the x360 this weekend looks like this will be the weekend's project. I'll post pics if I decide to do it!

[kunkstyle]

Quote, originally posted by kunkstyle »Thanks! My only problem now would be where to draw the power wire from. I added the 12v adapter in mine already, so I'm using that empty harness.I guess I could always splice that one....

[keithvibe]

use one of these:The led's don't pull a large power load. You could easily run both.

[kunkstyle]

Assuming that's a quick connect splitter? or can you just fit 3 wires in there?

[Sublimewind]

That is a "vampire" clip, on one side you put the "donor" wire, on the other side you put the wire of whatever it is you are installing (just the tip of it) and then squeeze the metal part of the clip with pliers and fold over the cover and snap it in...done... connection made..

[kunkstyle]

Woot! Got them installed las night! Thanks keithvibe!

[keithvibe]

looks good... looks good...NP.. anytime

[darcmater]

so out of curiosity could the powere in the center console be wired up to say 2 little led light bars that set under each of the front seats to emit light at night to add a bit of uniqueness to the car, or would 2 of them draw to much power? In particular im refering to thsoe cheap little led bars you can find at the local parts store and such. nothign to fancy sicn ethye will be hidden under the seat.

[kevera]

Yeah,you should be fine.Maybe make something more permanent for aesthetic reasons.