First Gen Tundra - DIY Puddle Lights

First thing's first... I could have sworn that the door card lights came on whenever you unlocked the truck with your key fob, but I guess that is not the case. The goal was to have a light turn on whenever the doors are unlocked.

I'll probably revisit and tap the wires elsewhere whenever it's not so hot.


Products Used:

• (4) Wire Tap Connectors
• (2) Extension Wires
• Wire Loom and heat shrink.
• 3/4" Drill bit. I used a Forstner bit and it went through easily and made a clean hole.
• (2) 3/4" Marker Lights. I used these -
  $9 FXC 10x 3/4" Round LED Clearence Light Front Rear Side Marker Indicators Light for Truck Car Bus Trailer Van Caravan Boat, Taillight Brake Stop Lamp (12V,Whitesmoked)
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XTJ2HFQ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
• Replacement door card clips/tabs are highly recommended.
• T30 Torx bit, Phillips screwdriver, 10mm deep socket, trim tools, basic electrical tools.

This project is pretty simple, but you do need to take your time.

• Remove your door cards and unplug all of your connectors.
• Remove your side mirror glass only. Tilt Mirror all the way up and pull straight out from the bottom. I put a piece of tape to mark which wire went on top for the heated mirrors.
• Mark and drill your 3/4" hole.
• Remove your side mirror assembly.
• Install your marker light and route wires.

• Remove the (3) T30 Torx bits under the mirror assembly to route the wires along factory harness.
• Pull back the seal on the mirror and feed the wires through the existing grommet.
• Route and secure your wires.
• Tap + (blue/white) and - (white/black) to the door card light.
• Test function of puddle light.
• Reinstall side mirror glass.
• Before reinstalling your door cards always function check your locks and mirror adjustment!
• Install door card.
• Repeat for other side.

 

I'll update whenever it's night time and can see how bright these actually are.

 

Like the look of those, personally I'd try and tie them into the cargo lights in the bed.

 

That or the map lights would be my next move, but with this heat I’m in no rush to pull everything apart to try it lol.

 

They look good!

 

Damn that is cool, added to my list of things to do.

 

The cargo light circuit is the only one that I could figure to run vs the courtesy light. Still won't activate with the lock/unlock module. The cool thing about the cargo circuit is that you can press the button on the dash off and then on again and the lights will stay illuminated for 15 minutes (credit assdog)
https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-1912#post-3517288

 

Yeah I might have to tap into the map light or something whenever I have more time. I’ll bring you a pair of these lights when I drop off your lug nuts.

 

Deal

 

I thought I’d be able to get away with this, but guess it’s not the case because they won’t turn off. Used an add a fuse in the cargo light in the dash fuse under the dash. I guess I’m running a wire through the headliner to see if it works.

Update:

• Ran the cable through the door following the factory harness. (Don't give me shit about the green door. It was like this when I bought it lol.)

• Fed wires through the grommet in the door.

• Since I already had this harness build I had a decent amount of slack so I neatly tucked it behind the kick panels.
• Grounded at the 10mm bolt behind the kick panel.
• Repeated for driver side.

• Ran a single lead wire for power under the dash across to the driver side.
• Connected the driver and passenger side + leads via a mini add-a-fuse.
• Connected the add-a-fuse to the 5amp cargo light in the fuse box under the dash. This does not work. Light is stuck on and will not turn off regardless of the cargo light being turned on/off or the doors being locked/unlocked.

The two power sources used so far do not function in the manner that I want which is to come on and turn off with the remote. I could have tapped straight to the map lights, but I was hoping to find a much easier solution than running another cable up to my headliner. So far the courtesy light in the door only turns on whenever the door is open and the cargo light is always on. I've unplugged it temporarily and will most likely run a single lead for power up to the map light. I probably don't need to go that far up to find a place to tap into, but it seems like the easiest and most accessible place to work with connectors with the trim holding the map light is removed.

 

The cargo light circuit is pretty complicated for a cargo light circuit.


I'd tap into your vanity lights if they come on when you unlock the truck.
I don't remember how it all worked in my 2005.
I'd run 2 wires and tap into the power and the ground at the light.



I haven't had my 2005 for almost 11 years, but I had lights under the truck that served as puddle lights.
I just don't remember how I wired them, and that was way before LEDs.
Had to run relays and all that.
I couldn't leave them on very long or they'd drain the battery..

 

If you don't feel that your LEDs are bright enough and they will fit, consider using VLED universal puddle lights.
They are not cheap, but they are awesome.
I used them for my custom puddle lights on my 2014.

UNIVERSAL LED PUDDLE LIGHT



They are about 2" wide and need a 1.5" hole

 

Ordered up the lights. I'll do them at the same time i do my ditch lights and stereo. Gonna have my dash all torn apart, so I'll still see if I can't wire them into the cargo light circuit after the integration relay. That wiring diagram for the cargo lights doesn't totally surprise me, I already knew I couldn't turn them on while driving, but didn't realize it was speed dependent.

 

Thanks for chiming in! I looked at those and I don’t think it’s possible to make them work on a first gen due to the curvature under the mirror. Truthfully the lights I used stick out more than I’d like but they definitely get the job done. If I’m really hurting for light I can just turn on the rock lights. This was just a convenience/got bored and it’s getting the best of me mod lol.

 

Just for shits and giggles I tried the dome light fuse under the hood and the footwell light. All of these make the light stay on full time. The footwell is throwing me off because I know it’s turning off, but the puddle lights won’t.

**EDIT.**
I just realized I probably need to tap into the ground instead of using the body ground as well if the truck is breaking ground to turn on/off lights. Don't give me shit I normally don't play around with electrical lol.

 

I'm guessing all of the interior lights are controlled by computer controlled relays upstream of the fuses. I haven't had a chance yet, but I was gonna try and find a wiring diagram and trace the wiring back from the cargo lights and to the relay and see if that's accessible. Still easier than dealing with CANBUS.

 

I edited my last post, but I'm almost willing to bet that the truck is breaking the ground to open up the circuit vs cutting power. I'm honestly tired of messing with it so I'll probably look into it tomorrow.

 

That wouldn't surprise me one bit. Wiring sucks to do in the best of times, doing it in the heat really sucks.

 

I posted the cargo and interior light diagrams.
But you can find all the diagrams here..


Ultimate TUNDRA Wiring Diagrams Collection | Toyota Tundra Forum