Wiring-Electronics 101... Learning how to install lights etc on your own...

[LongBeachCoupe]

Ok so i thought i would start a thread where i am going to document DIY's with the help of some of you guys... I am going to install footwell lights, cup holder lights and maybe a few others... and i am pretty clueless when it comes to electrical work..... so for those of you out there in the same boat as i am... this thread should bring you from root to fruit...

Tools required: Dremel, wire (18 gauge?), Switches, your lighting products, zip ties, electrical tape, multimeter, wire strippers, a tallboy

Ok so lets start out with the basics... Everything we hookup needs to have 2 things... power and ground (connected to a bolt/body)... The power SHOULD (if im wrong, correct me) be on its own line, so dont splice into anything... we will need to run a new fuse to the box under your left knee... And there is a spot to put 2 switches right next to your trunk pop button...

Paneling:Obviously you dont want wires hanging everywhere... so we are going to have to put them under the paneling... (please help here guys) i am not sure if all the panels are essentially just "stuck" with tabs of some sort, and we can just yank them out

Wiring schematic: Ok so without planning, you plan on failing right?! So i want to figure out a way where ill have a live wire i can use running around the car for later installs... (Can i just have 1 power wire going around the whole bottom baseline and pull all my power from that for multiple lights?) Also can i just smash wires together and electrical-tape them? or should i use solder and a heat shrink wrap (overkill?)



Modified by LongBeachCoupe at 12:46 PM 4/4/2008
Modified by LongBeachCoupe at 1:14 PM 4/4/2008

[LongBeachCoupe]

Come on guys... lets give the thread some action..

[quick_shift]

LOL the thread has only been up for 2 hours.

I'd like to help but I'm pretty much in the same boat as you when it comes to this

[LongBeachCoupe]

now its 4 days... no info... Ok ill attempt to start on my own with questions im having...

Does anyone know how to take off the panels around the center console? so i can get under the cupholders?

[kuhan]

You should download your 2008 coupe service manual and look into "INL.pdf" and"IP.pdf" for more details on removal instructions.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Awesome thinking! I have the damn thing on my computer already... one day i was gonna print it... like 200 pages in i gave up lol... i just printed these out to start the gameplan... Cupholder LEDs here we come!