LED Puddle Lights DIY - Kia Forte Forum : Sedan / Koup / Forte5 Forums

Linear · 02-24-2011, 09:59 PM

Alright guys (and girls). Here's my little DIY on LED "Puddle Lights". Shouldn't cost you more than $30.. Probably even cheaper if you've got some extra wire and connectors already.

Items required:

2x 120cm LED Strips - eBay (~$5/each)
22Ga wire - around 20-30ft (~$5). I bought this, but I probably only needed half as much.
22Ga Wire T-Tap-in Connectors (~$3 for 25, only need 2)
22Ga Wire Blade Connectors (~$3 for 25, only need 2)

First step, disconnect the fuse for your dome lights. Should be this yellow plastic pull in the very middle of the fuse panel. Just pull it.

Now unscrew the dome lights:

Disconnect the white connector and remove the dome light unit. Now pull back the electrical tape leading up to the connector so you can easily access the wires you need. The wires you're going to tap should be the Red and Yellow wires. Just snap the wire tap-ins on.

Now you're going to want to run 2 wires from here, over to the A-pillar. I pushed it under the sponge to hold it in place (as you can see above). I then tucked the wires under the plastic part of the pillar:

Run the wires under the rubber gromet. This part is the messiest part of the whole install. Maybe you guys can come up with a better way of doing this, but I didn't feel like removing door panels.. etc.

Now apply the strip to the bottom of the door:

Now connect the wires you've run to the LED strips (i just used electrical tape), and tuck them into the sponge door gromet:

Do the same to the other door. Once you've got both sides wired up, attach the blade connectors to the ends of the wires in the dome light area:

Now connect the blade connectors into the tap-ins:

Now replace your dome light, push the fuse back in... and voila!

The lights should only come on when the doors are opened.

Enjoy!

ForteSXFan21 · 02-24-2011, 10:24 PM

nice write up, I think I am going to use this idea for another project that I had in mind. Thanks.

a5ylum5150 · 02-25-2011, 03:29 AM

Dont they also come on when you turn on the map lights individually?

sje0123 · 02-25-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a5ylum5150

Dont they also come on when you turn on the map lights individually?

No. From what it looks like they are tapped into the load side of the door switch between it and the dome light. If he had tapped the red and black then yes it would be on when the dome light is ignited.

Linear · 02-25-2011, 07:02 AM

^^what he said.

Only when the door is open..

forte_nacho · 02-26-2011, 01:39 AM

sssssssssssswwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttneee ss

treybo · 02-26-2011, 01:46 AM

thats pretty awesome! im wanting to have those lights in the door handle so i can find it going to my car in the dark, just need to figure out how to run the wire to the door handle

Y&RFORTE · 03-03-2011, 12:04 AM

Great write up, i was finally able to put leds in the foot area

, here's a couple of pics. Thanks Again

justinadams · 03-03-2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y&RFORTE

Great write up, i was finally able to put leds in the foot area

, here's a couple of pics. Thanks Again

can i get you to take a pic of how you mounted your footwell led's. i've done mine twice but they still dont look right to me.

MrSlyboots · 03-05-2011, 02:57 PM

How long are the strips u put under the door?

and for the footwells, how long again for you? and i would love to see a pic of that as well

MrSlyboots · 03-05-2011, 03:08 PM

sorry one more question for the both of you. how many feet of wiring did it take?

littlejake · 03-05-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSlyboots

How long are the strips u put under the door?

and for the footwells, how long again for you? and i would love to see a pic of that as well

120cm = 48"

Y&RFORTE · 03-05-2011, 03:29 PM

it was pretty easy to mount the strip on the passenger side but difficult on the driver side because there's no place to mount them

so i had to put a piece of cardboard on the driver side to mount them.

davidroed · 03-05-2011, 05:55 PM

i wish i could find black light LED strips for my black koup, i think it would be a nice touch for this mod.

justinadams · 03-06-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y&RFORTE

it was pretty easy to mount the strip on the passenger side but difficult on the driver side because there's no place to mount them

so i had to put a piece of cardboard on the driver side to mount them.

nice. i understand problem with the driver side. that actually the problem i'm have. i'll try that. thanks.