Interior lighting issue - Help!

[OtownM37X]

Gents,

When I bought my 2011 M37x 2 years ago, it had what the dealer described as an 'interior lighting accent kit' in it. There were lights in the front and rear foot wells, and both front door jambs had illuminated kick plates. Sometime about a year ago I noticed those lights were no longer working. The other basic interior lights (ceiling, map, etc.) work fine. When I took the car to my dealer to get it looked at (not the dealer I bought the car from which is 500km from me), they at first tried to tell me I didn't actually have illuminated kick plates, then told me they couldn't see anything wrong with the system so recommended I replace the whole thing for around $1000!!!! I figured I could live without it so I didn't bother pursuing it any further. Now I want my cool lights back. Does anyone know what the issue could be? I don't know much about electrical systems so wouldn't even know where to look for a fuse, etc. I'll be taking it somewhere else obviously, but I'd like to at least go in armed with some suggestions about what the issue could be.

Apologies if there's a thread on this issue already. I did a search but couldn't find anything.

Thanks!
OtownM37X

[Ilya]

Do your lights come on when the door is opened, etc.?

[OtownM37X]

Yes, the regular interior lights work when the door is opened. But the footwell lights, the illuminated kick plates - I assume everything associated with the interior accent package - do not. They did, but at some point they stopped working. I didn't even notice at first since the rest of the interior lights were working...

[Ilya]

Your issue sounds like the the issue I had, but inverted (some of my lights worked, but not my overhead interior lights)...turned out to be a melted harness, BCM issue, etc. etc. which the dealer replaced under warranty (took like a week) and cost a few thousand. My issue was caused by somehow shorting those pieces while trying to install LED bulbs in my footwell.

I'm assuming you've checked all the fuses, relays, etc.? Did you pull up the kick plate and make sure the wiring was intact, etc.?

[Debonair]

There should be a fuse at the Y-connecter used to add the illuminated sills to the footwell light wiring. If this fuse blows, or the Y-connector gets loose this could make them go out. Hopefully this is all that is wrong. Standby for a picture from the installation instructions.

[OtownM37X]

Right - I remember finding your posts on that subject the other day actually and was really hoping it wasn't the same issue since I'm out of warranty! I've checked the fuses, etc. but was trying to avoid pulling up the kick plates. I guess I'll give that a shot now. Thanks

[OtownM37X]

Debonair - I probably missed that one when I checked the fuses a week ago. A picture would be awesome! Thanks!!

[Debonair]

Debonair - I probably missed that one when I checked the fuses a week ago. A picture would be awesome! Thanks!!

Here you go:

You can read the installation instructions HERE.



The wiring should be at the drivers kick panel.

[OtownM37X]

Debonair - This is great, thanks very much. I'll have a look this coming weekend. Cheers!!

[OtownM37X]

Debonair/Ilya - Finally got a chance to look at it this morning. In 20 minutes I was able to find and replace the blown fuse and put everything back together! Imagine the Infiniti dealer telling me to replace the whole system! And that was the 2nd time I brought it in, the first time they told me I didn't have illimunated kick plates! I'll be writing an email to their head office for sure.

Anyway, thanks very much for the help and advice, I got my interior footwell and kickplates light back! Cheers!

[Ilya]

Nice! Good work, sir.