nemo Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 So I wanted to set about making illuminated cup holders for the Legacy, and here is what I came up with. I made a few mistakes along the way which will make it easier for you guys. Remember, I'm doing this on an 08, so it might be a BIT different for you. I know the 05-07 have the heated seat control located elsewhere. Also, it's not my fault if you screw this up. It's pretty simple, just take your time. Tools: LEDs10mm Socket/Wrench/RachetWireHeatshrinkElectrical TapeQuick TapsDrillDrill Bit (sized for your LED/holder)Soldering Iron Okay, to start... get in the car, and take apart your armrest console. Don't know how? Open up your armrest. Clean it out. Pull up the carpet thing. Underneath you'll find two 10mm bolts. Take them out. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/3124208290_2c2fac920a_o.jpg Next, pull up your e-brake boot thing. There are a few clips which make it hard. Just pull, it'll come up. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3124208206_86f638fe1a_o.jpg Once that's off, you'll see a little white clip thing. There's one exposed and one hidden (like underneath SI-Drive knob). See pic: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/3124208266_b30bce7929_o.jpg I used a flathead screwdriver to pop it up. Be careful though... it looks like it could break. Once that's out, pull up on the entire console and the other one should pop out pretty easily. Lift it up, and you'll see this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3123381195_2f04eb8b62_o.jpg Disconnect the harness, take your console out of your car, and to wherever you want to work. I chose my kitchen table http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/3123381263_b022707a9c_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/3123381297_4a137b0004_o.jpg Flip it over, disconnect your SI-Drive harness, and your heated seat control harness. There are (4) four screws holding in your SI-Drive control. Unscrew and set aside. On the bottom of the cup holder there is another screw holding it in. Unscrew. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3123381321_dcf4d1ab00_o.jpg There are tabs along the sides of the cup holder holding it in. I had a piece of hard styrofoam stuck in there, pretty annoying to get out. Just be careful and maneuver the cup holder out. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3124208450_1e2c225064_o.jpg Layout your LEDs. This is one of my mistakes that you guys should learn from. I bought 4 of these from radio shack: http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160478w345.jpg Stupid me, I didn't take a picture. But they come pre-wired for 12V applications. However, the wire is only about 2" long. Which sucks for this application. So I had to extend the wires. If I had to do it again, I'd probably go on ebay and get some of these 12v pre-wired LEDs: http://thmb.inkfrog.com/thumbn/zdchao1981/10_mm_12v_white.JPG=600 Only difference the ones from ebay are rounded so they'll protrude quite a bit. You could dremel them down, but that's why I bought the flat ones.. cause they're flat. Up to you, your choice. It also depends on where you're placing the LEDs. Just whatever you do, make sure that anything downstream of the LED can fit through the hole you drill. Before you continue, test all your LEDs to make sure they work! You don't want to complete everything to to find out one was dead from the start. Be especially careful if you buy from eBay. Some of those come DoA. Next, pick out where you want your LEDs to be placed. I wasn't thinking and drilled one high. You want to keep them lower, though. Make sure your drill bit is the right size for your LED/Holder. These were 5mm (3/16") I think. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3123381425_5bcc8602bf_o.jpg Test fit: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/3124208538_dd56ac1b9b_o.jpg Nice and Flat: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3123381477_772c903fcc_o.jpg Pick out your other locations, drill, and fit: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3123381547_ef325e8b38_o.jpg Note: I wanted an LED on each side of the cup holders. Where the two sides joined together. If you look at the above image, on the right side, it was impossible to get a drill bit in there. So I marked the spot and took the cup holder apart. I don't have any pictures of this, sorry. But it's simple. There are 5 tabs (I believe). You just pop them out and it falls apart pretty much. Then I used a soldering iron to shape out the hole for my LED, and put it all back together. This is the layout I used: http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5167/65842898em8.jpg Moving on... Once you have your LEDs in and cup holder back together and all, you want to run the wires along the side of the cup holder. I ran it along the left side. I should have ran it along the right side. It would have been easier to tap into the harness later on. Neaten up the wires, shorten them up, and join them. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3124208652_df4aac5e83_o.jpg Put the male end of the quick-tap along your power and ground. Another one of my mistakes. I bought quick-taps for 22-18 AWG wire. Not thinking that I would twist four 22AWG wires together. I didn't want to go to Radio Shack to get some more so I just ghetto-rigged it. So plan accordingly: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/3124208790_1e9622463c_o.jpg Test: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3123381737_1b2f61c6cd_o.jpg This is where I need your guy's help. I tapped off the cigarette adapter for my ground, and the purple striped for my power. I *thought* that wire dimmed with the interior lights, but it doesn't. So if anyone knows let me know so I can fix this. Anyways, clip the female end of the quick-taps to the appropriate wires and connect. This is why I should have gone along the right side of the cup holder instead of the left. I would have been able to connect directly to the quick tap if I did. However I had to make a jumper to go across the bottom of the cup holder. You can't see it in this picture. I ran the power to the heated seat control line. I didn't think it was right so I ran it across. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3123381769_c7d5d99249_o.jpg Go test with your 12V source. If everything works, go in your car and plug into the harness. Turn the car on. See if it lights up: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/3123381793_e0a17fb70f_o.jpg If you don't vote Trump, out, you're a bigot who hates america. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 If it does... put everything back together. Pop the front in. Screw the bolts back in. Put the e-brake cover on. Turn your lights on: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3124198602_9e56a9bc7d_b.jpg Turn your lights on, they come on. Turn them off, they're gone. Now I just need some help getting them to dim with the rest of the interior lights. Mine really aren't very bright either way. Put some water bottles in: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3124208920_421307ef94_o.jpg Clean up. You're done. If anyone has any questions lemme know and I'll try to help out. If you don't vote Trump, out, you're a bigot who hates america. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubOperator Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Nice DIY. Thanks. 2005 LGT Wagon Limited 6 MT RBP Stage 2 - 244K 2007 B9 Tribeca Limited DGM - 243K SOLD - 2005 OB Limited 5 MT Silver - 245K SOLD - 2010 OB 6 MT Silver - 205K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbrjason Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Looks pretty sweet with the bottles in there too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lepich Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I like your baby swing! There are no bad people, just differeent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACKSUBIE206 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 that a pretty cool upgrade really clean lookin too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuked_oasys Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Nice job man. Definitely putting that on my to-do list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberwagon Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 sweeeeeeeet !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBad Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Nice work! I think I may do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportwagon Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerboa113 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Well that didnt take long.... looks good. Do you have a part number for the LED? "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Great stuff, nemo. BTW, I like your kitchen table. It looks like ours, what with the kiddo's stuff on it and all. <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 Thanks, guys I'm thinking of doing illuminated footwells as well, but I'm really torn between Rice or Not, lol. As for the LED's that I used, I used these: #276-270 @ radioshack. However as I said I'd recommend going on eBay and buying a pack of 12V pre-wired LEDs. Like from here You get like 20 for $8 as opposed to $2 each from radio shack. The 25cm tails that are pre-wired make all the difference. I probably spent half the the time wiring up the LEDs. And @TSi, LOL. I knew someone was going to make a comment about it when I was going through the pictures . My sister, brother-in-law, and niece are visiting for Christmas from Chicago. If you don't vote Trump, out, you're a bigot who hates america. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 ^ Hey, that's what our table looks like, year-round. Anna's got her Peanuts coloring book, magnetic acrobats, and Emma Bridgewater tea-set, plus an empty crayon box, occupying space on our table, right now! <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 Good luck with that! They're only here for a few weeks and there's already been too much crying. If you don't vote Trump, out, you're a bigot who hates america. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-WDC Spec B Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 nice i like this. ill prolly do this to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodstock Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 <3 nemo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EquinnoxX Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Pretty dope!! Subscribed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberwagon Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Thanks, guys I'm thinking of doing illuminated footwells as well, but I'm really torn between Rice or Not, lol. As for the LED's that I used, I used these: #276-270 @ radioshack. However as I said I'd recommend going on eBay and buying a pack of 12V pre-wired LEDs. Like from here You get like 20 for $8 as opposed to $2 each from radio shack. The 25cm tails that are pre-wired make all the difference. I probably spent half the the time wiring up the LEDs. And @TSi, LOL. I knew someone was going to make a comment about it when I was going through the pictures . My sister, brother-in-law, and niece are visiting for Christmas from Chicago. I think the footwells would be real nice not rice !! My buddy's Lexus has it and it looks great !!...... IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hassa Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 You've been "Pimped"!!! Sorry, couldn't resist - just looks like something they would do on Pimp My Ride . Hey you could also use the LEDs to light up a Zen waterfall or fishtank :lol:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 ^ I'm all-in for the waterfall! I really think that I'll do this for Winky, this spring ( too cold in the garage, now! ). I like the look, and I know that if I did the rear for Anna, she'd just go nuts. <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TYNY Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 nice DIY, wish i were braver to drill up the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 looks like a good project to undertake, great writeup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcTec34 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I think the footwells would be real nice not rice !! My buddy's Lexus has it and it looks great !!...... IMHO yeah, im thinking of just doing these to go on with the other lights only when you open up the doors, but not all the time My father's audi A8 also has the lighting in the doors below the handles and such, so I'm going to look into doing something along thos elines as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryq89 Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 woah thats sweet ....almost looks like ur drinkin cranberry nd vodka hahah sweet DIY thou =] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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