DIY: Ambient lighting in door handles

[CarDriver]

I didn't read into this installation, but if you're talking about removing the interior door panels so you can access the insides, then it's very easy.

I happened to have a panel-popper tool, but found out that it was essentially no more beneficial that a wide flathead for this job. I cover my metal prying tools with my sunglass microfiber bag btw. Else you'll scratch the heck out of the paint when you pry.

This is what I did with my 09 EX auto sedan:
1) Tiny flathead and pry off the small 1''x1'' cover behind the interior rear door handle grab.
2)Use a phillips head to firmly push INTO the black plastic thing that you see being the cover. That plastic thing will just push forward and stay; it's ok.
3) With phillips, remove the screw that's there, too.
4)Use a flathead to pry off the black cover that covers the black window switches. Wear safety glasses, and make sure your flathead is covered with a microfiber sunglass baggie. Pry hard. Finally pry the rear of it. It has a visible notch to pry. It should come loose.
5)Now unscrew the 4 or so tiny silver screws that hold the black cover onto the door buttons.
6)There's also another larger phillips screw to remove. I think it's surrounded by a pink plastic thing. Remove the large screw.
7)Hmmm now push the door button module through the door into the 3D space of the door.
8)Now being prying the door with the covered wide flathead along the bottom edge of the door. You'll hear distinct loud pops. There's maybe 5 or 6 along the entire door.
9)Once you think you've undone all the white "clips", attempt to lift the door panel upwards and away from the car. Awesome.
10)Now on the opposide side of the interior door handlegrab, there are maybe 4 tiny squeezey things. Squeeze them, and now, from within the door's 3D space, give a nice wallop to the door handle. It will pop towards you easily, and now you can rotate the interior door handlegrab 90* and push it through back into the 3D space.
11)Finally, the door panel is free! Finish lifting it up and out and set it in a safe, soft area.

After you finish the first one in 25 minutes, the others will take you only like 10 minutes apiece to remove. gl.

[MyCivicsNameIsOliver]

Originally Posted by Avenger

I need a picture to know which wires to tap into.......I obviously did it wrong as my passenger side doesn't work, and my driver's side only turns on when I operate the window switch.

yeah, the same thing happened to my driver door. my passenger side works fine, but my driver door LED only works when i push the window down button... can anyone help me understand why?

[MyCivicsNameIsOliver]

Originally Posted by MyCivicsNameIsOliver

yeah, the same thing happened to my driver door. my passenger side works fine, but my driver door LED only works when i push the window down button... can anyone help me understand why?

hey AVENGER, i figured out what i did wrong. i tapped into the wrong green wire which made the LED only come on when i operated the window switch. if you open the door back up, just tap into the other green wire, hope this helps.

[mick3ymik3]

nice write up, where did u get the led's?

[amd4me]

Is there a way you could wire these so they dim with the cluster?

[eundaddy]

Originally Posted by amd4me

Is there a way you could wire these so they dim with the cluster?

yes, tap into the dome lights.

read the interior illumination threads to find out how. its not hard.

[shnuffy]

I hate winter. I need a garage damnit.

This is a great mod. I've completed the full-fledged Interior Illumination mod (hand-free, DPDT relay and rheostat). How hard is it to feed wires into the car from the door?

[matpav]

looks good man. I love the light. Im thinking of doing mine with red but im not sure how well it would show up

[smbdyshero]

Wattup, y'all.

I noticed this morning that, when I turn off the engine of my FA5 Si, the lights in the power window buttons and lock button stay on until I pull the door opener handle and then they shut off.

I absolutely love these ambient handle lights! But, I don't like the idea that they stay on 24/7, so does anyone know how we could tap into the section of wire that controls these button lights?

Also, I noticed in some wiring diagrams that the switch is placed on the ground leg of the circuit. Is this correct, or should the switch be on the hot leg?

Thanks for answering and remember, the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask!

[Dda87]

Originally Posted by hp98173

I got my door handles,front speakers and my cup holder wired up with blue LED's, i will have pics soon, just gotta get a camera to take them. all i have currently is one of the cup holder during the day, it doesnt do it justice tho.

image

DIY on cup holders? that looks sick!! plus like the handles I just have my map lights and stuff in blue and liek the whole blue theme

[chopstick505]

sweet mod

[ultracool]

pretty neat

[fleezyFlash]

nice mod. although i would like to only have the lights on when it was dark... so if i were to perform this mod i would def wire into the headlight switch..<----- wtf haha

[Number44will]

gracias

[dominikkk]

great diy

[twistedfreak]

very nice diy i did mine tonight and it turned out great

[Verocyn69]

Originally Posted by shnuffy

I hate winter. I need a garage damnit.

This is a great mod. I've completed the full-fledged Interior Illumination mod (hand-free, DPDT relay and rheostat). How hard is it to feed wires into the car from the door?

i hear ya there! it's really bad out here right now....also i didnt ever notice anyone answer the question on how long it took to kill the battery...i like this mod i'll probably start it tomorrow but just curious on the power drain..

[Civic_JM]

^^^ x2

[silverwire]

I got several questions...
1) so which is the complete list of the material to use??
2) 4 leds? what kind of leds and what kind of T connection, I live in Mexico and I don't know about T connectors
3) The T connection with the led is connected to the + and - of the window switch elevators??
Thanks for answering, I really want to do it

[Low_n_Slow]

a very nice touch