Interior Lighting help

[smthng]

Hey all... I'm about to start doing some interior lighting changes to my 04. Need a bit of help before I start breaking stuff though. I have a whole slew of question and will happilly take an answer to any of them if you happen to know one...

1 - Where's a good place to get a live accessory feed for adding interior lights (very low amp - LEDs)?

2 - How do you get the covers off the door panel lights, puddle light and interior reading lights? I already have some of the bulbs I want to use but don't want to go snapping my covers.

3 - What bulbs do the reading lamps and puddle lamps use?

4 - Is there an easy power tap in the back somewhere that I haven't found, or is it pretty much empty?

5 - If I decide to use the cargo light circuit (in the bed), is there any problem with the cargo light being on for extended periods? I like the switch and dash indicator for those and may use that as my main switch for any interior lights (I'll tie in a relay if I get the amperage too high).

Any help would be appreciated... especially removing the covers to the door lights. I hate having parts and not being able to use them because I don't know how to do something!

Thanks.

 

[RENORCR]

smthng,

Removing door panel lights, just did this myself. Small flat screwdriver, place at back of light. Where red reflector portion is. Pry outward. Be sure you are prying housing out, not the lenses, it's glued. You may hear some cracking sound, cause from glue used on door panels.

Map/Courtesy Lights - look for notch and pry out. Note: Center light - notch is on driver side, otherside is hinge - DON'T BREAK!

Puddle light- should be a notch. I don't have any, so can't help there.

Door Panels - 194
Front map - 194
Center - 578
Glove box - 194, if you have one. (Removed in 2004)
Foot well - 194, if you have one. (Removed in 2003)

Live feed - map lights most convienent.

If leaving lights on with vehicle off, they will turn off after 20 mins. It's part of the Battery Run- Down Safety feature.

I'm using Red & Blue LEDS from discountleds.com

 

[smthng]

Removing door panel lights... Be sure you are prying housing out, not the lenses, it's glued. You may hear some cracking sound, cause from glue used on door panels.

So, the whole housing comes out? Are there any clips or anything holding it in that I need to try to press in when prying? Can it go back in without glue, or will I have to have some on hand before I attempt this?

<snip>
Door Panels - 194
Front map - 194
Center - 578
Glove box - 194, if you have one. (Removed in 2004)
Foot well - 194, if you have one. (Removed in 2003)

Perfect.. thanks. Unfortunately, the local shop is out of blue 194s.

Live feed - map lights most convienent.

I actually just found a fuse box tap that will work great (and I can yank it out before taking it in to the dealer so I don't have to worry about any warantee issues). There's plenty of room for me to run a wire from the fuse box area, so I'm set there.

I'm using Red & Blue LEDS from discountled.com

Cool. I'm going with all blues (matches the rest of my Beastie). I have two sets of LED bars that are going up under the dash now that I have all the stuff I need (including wire loom... not risking any shorts with this baby). I've got another smaller pair that I'm going to see about putting in the rear seating area somewhere, but not real sure where yet.

I just replaced dead multimeter, so tomorrow I get to figure out if the LED bars actually run on 12v or if there's some kind of transformer or resistor in the cigarette plug I'm going to be snipping off. Once I get that done... in they go. I'll take pictures along the way in case anyone else is looking to do the same.