So I finally finished a project today that I have been wanting to do for a while now, floorboard lights. I used a spdt switch on the dash and tapped into the swith on the driver door. It works as is it should except it only works with the driver door wich tells me I tapped into the wrong wire. I need to find the correct wire to tap into to ground the lights when any door opens. Any insight as to where this wire is located would be apreciated. I would really like my 42 leds to turned on when any door opens just like the dome light.
Thanks ETRNL

 

I recently did this myself and I'm confused what a spdt switch is?? I thought long and hard on the install and the way the door works is ground not power. So after contemplating for hours I figured the only real non pain in the arse way to do it was unswitched and just when you open the doors. Give me some more info on where you tapped into and what switch you are using.

 

SPDT = single pole double throw.

the light switch in your bedroom is [usually] a SPST = single pole single throw.
ie one circuit off / on.

an SPDT is one circuit on / off / on like the dome light in your truck on with the doors open, off all the time, on with the doors closed.

 

An easy wire to use is the door switched ground for the dome light itself. I used this as the door trigger for my alarm system when i installed it, and it's easily accessed in the drivers side a pillar. Reference an alarm install site for the color - I'd help but posting from my phone...

 

My spdt switch either completes the circuit with the door switch ground wichita makes it turned on with the door or it completes the circuit with a secondary ground I ran so I can turned it on to see my floorboards (find my wallet, or a contact, open a beer... Ect)
So I have to run a wire from the dome light itself? Shouldnt there be one somewhere in the pillar?

 

^. You can also reference the wire color by looking at the ground directly at the dome light

 

Good thinking there. my confusion is that I am tapped into the switch on the drivers door but it only works with the drivers door...

 

Different circuity... That's why the head lights shut off or the door/key chimes only with the drivers door

 

This^^^ I ended up tapping into the drivers door by the fuse box so I didnt have to tap into both sides because I hate t-tapping in the first place. But now that I think about it I have a 91 and I'm sure my wiring might be a little simpler? anyway I was trying to get it off of a switch and my doors but using the ground as an on and a switch with power it would be a lot just for my floorboard lights.

I was trying to figure out how to get them to work off of the dome switch but the switch is in the dome not on the dash so it would have got even more complicated. So in the end to make it simple I just have lights when my door opens. Otherwise I think you would almost have to run it from the dome back to the floor lights.. ?

 

But those wires at the dome get there by running through the A pillar... thats an easy spot to tap in. Those same wires are even down in the foot well somewhere, but as far as easy access and clear work space goes, the A pillar was simple.

 

A pillar or door frame?

 

A pillar..... Where the oh ˟˟˟˟ handle is...

 

Cool thanks very much! I will take a look at it when I get a chance. I had my tires rotated and balanced yesterday to fix a steering wheel shake and I just had my brakes done today and the shake is even worse now then it was yesterday before I had it fixed! someone screwed something up...

 

The switching for the dome light is done inside the combination meter (Toyspeak for dash gauge unit). It gets three separate inputs (front left, front right, and a combined rear) and decides when to illuminate the dome. So there is no single trigger circuit at the doors. You have to catch it between the combination meter and the dome light itself. This is why the A-pillar tap works, but taps by the doors will fail. The color of this wire should be light green with a black stripe on an '02, and possibly other years.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/...emci/023il.pdf

 

Yup works perfectly now! Light green with black stripe.

 

LG/BL is the one to use.

 

Hey paddlenbike...
Like those superflux led foot well lights...

curious where did you mount all those caddie horns?
I'm really getting tired of the road runner horn toyota used... been wanting to step up to a nice classy LOUD caddie type set up...

thanks and sorry for the hyjack

 

Thanks, I only use superflux or Cree XR-E/XP-G in my projects. The 5mm LEDs are just too 'hotspotty' and blue in color.

I installed two of the caddy horns in the stock location and two directly next to the battery around the daytime running light relay. They are awesome!

[/hyjack off]

 

where did you mount the lights in the rear? I could not find a good spot for mine.

 

The LEDs are mounted in those plastic radioshack hobby boxes and basically zip-tied to the metal frame mount under the front seats pointing back. They've been there for, I dunno, 2-3 years now and haven't moved.