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Prius Prime Plus - Trunk additional LED lighting

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by citiprius, Feb 25, 2018.

  1. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    The factory trunk light is too dark and not functional at all. It is a 12V 5W bulb. So I spent an hour to add a LED light on each side. It's both functional and beautiful :)



    Pictures: (will be uploaded later)

    1. Remove the trunk mat
    2. Remove the 4 pins from at the edge of the trunk cover (which will then expose the battery pack by usng a flat screw driver.
    3. Remove the 2 hocks on each side of the trunk (which use for holding the trunk privacy cover) by using a flat screw driver. It will then expose the screw underneath
    4. Remvoe the 2 screws using phillips screw driver on each side of the trunk.
    5. Remove the large flat cap plastic pin at the bottom of the each side wall near the rear seat. I use a piler to tuck underneath the cap and pivot / pull it out.
    6. Pull out the trunk light by using a flat screw driver.
    7. Pull out the side cover, it allows to run the wire from the trunk light to the bottom back of the rear seats.
    8. Open the tinny plastic black hidden panel door on each side of the trunk wall.
    9. Run the wire behind the side wall, then the edge of the battery pack, then to the other end, then throught the left side wall, then run the wire out to the left side panel square opening.
    10. Drill a hole and install the LED housing & light on each side.
    11. Connect the wires to the LED light and tab them to the factory trunk light wires.
    12. Test it by closing and opening the trunk door.
    13. Put everything back and done.
     
    Kayley, Bonobo.P., ice9 and 5 others like this.
  2. mhye01

    mhye01 Member

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    sooo....them pictures? lol, Im actually interested in this
     
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  3. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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  4. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    Just posted a link. enjoy
     
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  5. Gianni I

    Gianni I Member

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    Wow...looks great.
     
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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  7. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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    I like what you've done with this. I've been looking at different alternatives for the lights themselves, but I think I like your choice best because they are so small and only require a small hole. I do have some questions, if you don't mind answering them:

    1. Where did you actually put the lights? I looked at your link, but I couldn't find a picture of the installed lights themselves.
    2. The way you have wired yours, do they come on whenever the hatch is open, or are they also controlled by the same switch that turns the OEM cargo light on and off?
    3. Is there anything you'd do differently if you were going to do the project over?

    Thanks!
     
  8. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    Thanks for your questions Insighter,

    1. My son took my car, but I'll take some more pictures and update the pictures later tonight.
    2. I tab into the OEM trunk light wire, so when the trunk is open, it turns on, when it close, it turns off. But it CANNOT be controlled by the switch of the trunk light as that switch is part of the assembly. Unless I solder my wires to the assembly, then the same switch can control all 3 lights.
    3. I might try different color LED light. Initially, I was looking for some tiny LED light which looks like a mini version of the deck/patio lighting and has a semi-sphere / round housing that projects the light to the floor, so that I can mount it on the side wall rather than on the ceiling of the 2 "caves". But I search for a long time and couldn't find one. End up I mount it at the current location but it looks great.
     
    #9 citiprius, Mar 8, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2018
  9. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    I've updated the doc with more pictures, please check it out.

     
    #10 citiprius, Mar 8, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2018
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  10. Insighter

    Insighter Active Member

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  11. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    Kayley and Insighter like this.
  12. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

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    I can play too? Decided to go the ez 5 minutes job rather than routing wires up on the hatch. Works for now :)
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. randomwalk101

    randomwalk101 DYI'er

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    Comparison shot (without the extra light)
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Great Mod. Thank you for sharing with us! (y)
     
  15. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    That looks easy and bright. But it might be blocked and to avoid that, you will need to stuff the left side of the trunk first. ;)
     
  16. mister2cool

    mister2cool Member

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    I just came across this and the mod is very cool.. I still don't understand why a light isn't on the hatch so it would be shining down once the hatch is opened.
     
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  17. robertjackson17

    robertjackson17 Junior Member

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    Putting lights on the hatch facing down makes a huge difference. I added 4 LEDs to the hatch in addition to 2 side LEDs as described in this post. The pics show the hatch lights on and off (the 2 side LEDs are off).

    LEDs are


    Switches are
    (any similar switch should do). I used one switch for the 4 hatch LEDs and a second switch for the 2 side LEDs.

    Wire


    Wire Connector
    joins the wiring between the car body and the hatch. Allows the hatch trim to be removed and detached easily

    Wire Taps
    to connect the LEDs to the main wiring backbone and to tap into the power going to the factory-installed trunk light.

    I also needed some spacing washers from Home Depot to help hold the LEDs in place when they're in the hatch plastic.

    Possibly the hardest part of installing lights in the hatch is threading the wire through the flexible accordion hose between the car body and the hatch.

    3185699d-8eda-4604-9e90-a2c883a5c913.JPG bec7dec9-f958-41d3-98bf-2ec76c56e756.JPG

    [edit to add parts list]
     

    Attached Files:

    #18 robertjackson17, Nov 6, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  18. mister2cool

    mister2cool Member

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    Well done.
    I am curious though why you added switches. You don't want these to always come on when the trunk is opened?
     
  19. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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