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Running board lights?

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by wyone, Nov 10, 2018.

  1. Jun 8, 2019 at 2:21 AM
    #31
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    Thank you! I was laying under the truck with a light shining down from the area with the wires and didn’t see any light coming through. I’ll keep looking and trying to fish something through.
     
  2. Jun 10, 2019 at 5:05 PM
    #32
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    A8A12C9D-3164-47C2-8B6D-908D20666801.jpg
    So I’m installing my lights and I located the biggest pink one but there’s something already patched in (see pic with the yellow thing) and when I tap that, it doesn’t provide enough power to run the lights. Any ideas?987FE659-A467-41D5-A2D8-1B41CB85D18D.jpg
     
  3. Jun 10, 2019 at 5:52 PM
    #33
    Berdine

    Berdine Voodoo Sport

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    Did you tap the pink wire before or after that yellow thing?
     
  4. Jun 10, 2019 at 6:18 PM
    #34
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    After the yellow thing (but to quote Steve Martin “what the hell is that thang).
     
  5. Jun 10, 2019 at 6:20 PM
    #35
    Berdine

    Berdine Voodoo Sport

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    I'd tap it before it. Looks like some type of resistor or converter
     
  6. Jun 10, 2019 at 6:21 PM
    #36
    madmatt

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    Ok thanks. I’ll give that a try tomorrow when there’s light.
     
  7. Jun 10, 2019 at 7:45 PM
    #37
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    So when I try again tomorrow, anybody have ideas of which other wire in the rear driver’s side kickplate loom will work for powering rocklights as courtesy lights?
     
  8. Jun 10, 2019 at 8:00 PM
    #38
    NCTundra18

    NCTundra18 New Member

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    So i have a question. I've been wanting to do this for a long time and even have the lights. I just haven't had the time. My question is when you hook your battery back up does your truck run good? My 05 Tundra ran like crap for days after i would unhook the battery. The computer wouldn't reset or something. I just don't want my new truck to do that and I'm kinda scared to mess with it.
     
  9. Jun 11, 2019 at 5:30 AM
    #39
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    LED step bar light strips
    You don't have to unhook the battery to install the lights
     
  10. Jun 11, 2019 at 5:32 AM
    #40
    xtyfighterx

    xtyfighterx New Member

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    It will be fine I always unhook mine for good practice. But if you are worried just pull the fuse on the circuits you are tapping into.
     
  11. Jun 11, 2019 at 2:59 PM
    #41
    madmatt

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    Well, I’ve now tapped before and after the yellow thing (resistor?) and while AFTER it I have power when the doors are open and goes off when the doors are closed, it’s not enough to power the lights. So now what? Grrr this thing is starting to really piss me off!!
     
  12. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:07 PM
    #42
    tinman10101

    tinman10101 Ah cha cha cha

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    hey matt

    i think somene suggested tapping into the footwell light. its right there underneath the steering wheel to the left. thats where i plan to tap after i get the lights. hope that will work. i wouldnt know until i actually attempt.
     
  13. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:07 PM
    #43
    NCTundra18

    NCTundra18 New Member

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    Maybe try the footwell light. I believe that's what I'm going to do.
     
  14. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:13 PM
    #44
    NCTundra18

    NCTundra18 New Member

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    I just need to figure out which wire it is on my 2018.
     
  15. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:29 PM
    #45
    madmatt

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    Here’s my problem. If I tap the footwell light (it’s TINY if you haven’t looked yet, and only carries amps for that 1 light) it won’t provide enough power for my rocklights (already tried). The only answer I’ve been able to come up with so far is to run a dedicated power line from the battery, through the firewall to the spot where I want it, then use a relay to get the the factory wire to trigger the light. Seems WAY more complex than it needs to be.
     
  16. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:44 PM
    #46
    NCTundra18

    NCTundra18 New Member

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    Yeah I've looked at it. I'm just hoping it will be enough power for the ones i have. What color one did you tap?
     
  17. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:58 PM
    #47
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    Under the rear drivers side kick plate, the largest pink one provides 2.5 amps when the interior lights come on-either by opening the doors or when you unlock with the remote.
     
  18. Jun 11, 2019 at 3:59 PM
    #48
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    I think I may shit-can this whole project. I don’t want to run dedicated power from the battery.
     
  19. Jun 11, 2019 at 6:42 PM
    #49
    Berdine

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    Do you have a test light? Save you alot of time Earlier post was small grey wire for prior 2018, maybe givebit a test
     
  20. Jun 11, 2019 at 6:56 PM
    #50
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    Yeah, I hit several with the multimeter and only found 1 that did what I want. I was simply hoping someone would say “you dork, you missed it, use this one”.
     
  21. Jun 11, 2019 at 7:13 PM
    #51
    TomC843

    TomC843 The wheel weaves as the wheel wills.

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    I've wired two LED strips in the foot wells and two strings on the running boards all to the little wire to the foot well bulb.

    floor4.jpg
    IMG_7822 (1).jpg
     
    mav7021234 and Cthulhu like this.
  22. Jun 11, 2019 at 8:22 PM
    #52
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    LED step bar light strips
    I'm the one that said to tap into the footwell socket above the parking brake. I don't know why such frustration trying to find the right wires when there is a simple solution that had already been previously given. The job was easy. 4 separate led strips wired together.

    20190109_060819.jpg
     
  23. Jun 12, 2019 at 3:31 AM
    #53
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    In my case, that wire didn’t provide enough amperage to run my rock lights. I was simply looking for any other ideas.
     
  24. Jun 12, 2019 at 5:54 AM
    #54
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Here's a write up I did on mine:

     
  25. Jun 12, 2019 at 7:43 AM
    #55
    TundraTSS19

    TundraTSS19 New Member

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    I would suggest using different leds beside rock lights so you can utilize what's already there. Makes life easier. Just use led strips
     
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  26. Jun 23, 2019 at 6:07 PM
    #56
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    Ok, everyone who told me that I’m an idiot about this light thing is correct. I am an idiot. I re-tapped the footwell light and it’s supplying power for my rocklights. (It turns out that when I tried it before my test wire was bad- I tried again today with a new one and it has plenty of power for the lights!)
    Here’s my new issue (damn, I’m getting more issues as I get older!). After I put it all together and put the fuse in the fuse holder (in-line like a good boy) the lights are on continuously. What the heck?? I tapped into the little light by the parking brake, the one that comes on when you open the door and goes off like a good little light should, but the power it supplied is continuous. Now this is getting pretty funny. I guess I need to tap the negative on that little light too so that it will be switched?
     
  27. Jun 23, 2019 at 7:12 PM
    #57
    TomC843

    TomC843 The wheel weaves as the wheel wills.

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    I used + and - at the foot well light, did not see any reason to do different, if that light works then mine should work. It did.
     
  28. Jun 23, 2019 at 7:23 PM
    #58
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    Yeah, I tapped the positive and just went to an easy ground. I guess these things have the switches on the negative side. Too bad. That drivers kickplate is a pain in the butt to get back on perfectly! Lol
     
  29. Jun 23, 2019 at 7:31 PM
    #59
    NCTundra18

    NCTundra18 New Member

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    Which color was the positive wire? It's been raining and i haven't had time to do it.
     
  30. Jun 23, 2019 at 7:42 PM
    #60
    madmatt

    madmatt New Member

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    Honestly, I don’t remember. I’ll look at it tomorrow and let you know.
     
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