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DIY: Tow Mirror Puddle Lights

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by VTYOTA, Mar 18, 2019.

  1. Nov 18, 2021 at 6:17 AM
    #61
    pnw.tundra

    pnw.tundra PNW Tundra

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    Good info! Does the polarity of the VLED wiring matter to these blue & white wires? I know now is black and one is striped black. TIA
     
  2. Nov 18, 2021 at 10:17 AM
    #62
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole New Member

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    TRD skid plate, Stainless Running Boards, JDA Astar turn signal bulbs, VLEDs footwell lighting, Wet Okole seat covers, Weathertech Window Deflectors, more to come!
    It should
     
  3. Apr 3, 2022 at 6:46 AM
    #63
    Taco-Spike

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    Question for people with tow mirrors that have the running light and turn signal. Is the mirror running light on all the time or just when you activate parking lights?

    asking for a future mod I’m considering

    putting vled max pod lights as a running light but only want them on when parking lights activated. Will be doing this same time as puddle lights. I know I will have to drill the cap and some internal housing portions. Just wanting to know functionality first. This will be for stock mirrors

    might do both running light and turn signal, not sure if I’ll use a max pod or mini pod for both or mix them
     
  4. Apr 3, 2022 at 6:51 AM
    #64
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Only when parking lights are on
     
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  5. Apr 3, 2022 at 6:53 AM
    #65
    Taco-Spike

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    :fistbump:
     
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  6. Apr 3, 2022 at 7:16 AM
    #66
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Buddy of mine and myself put puddle lights on the stock tow mirrors. Always loved the light output and look. Thought about doing it to the new Boost mirrors but I'm enjoying them too much to take them back off and tear into em haha
     
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  7. Apr 3, 2022 at 7:30 AM
    #67
    Taco-Spike

    Taco-Spike Gateway from Tacoma World ~ ended up here

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    Yeah, that’s why I’m planning to do it all at once. I’ve redone many things on my Tacoma over the years. Kind of a hassle and my tabs on my door panels couldn’t take much more.
     
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  8. Apr 3, 2022 at 7:35 AM
    #68
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Sounds like you could set a speed record on door panel removal lol. I feel the same about grills and headlights.
     
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  9. Apr 3, 2022 at 4:44 PM
    #69
    junior

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    Do you remember if the mirror glass on the OEM tow mirrors pulls off similarly to the OPs post? Im still wanting to do this mod but keep getting distracted
     
  10. Apr 3, 2022 at 6:06 PM
    #70
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    It does
     
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  11. Jun 10, 2022 at 8:16 PM
    #71
    1bad10tacoma

    1bad10tacoma New Member

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    Subbed for later
     
  12. Jun 19, 2022 at 4:26 PM
    #72
    chrisf111

    chrisf111 New Member

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    I was scared of breaking my mirror removing the glass just by pulling on it so I just left it in place. You can do this mod without removing the mirror, it's just a bit trickier. The tip about fishing the wire through from the car side of the mirror is key. Only took me a few tries with a thick USB wire.
     
  13. Jun 20, 2022 at 5:11 AM
    #73
    chrisf111

    chrisf111 New Member

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    Does anyone else experience MAJOR RF interference with these lights? When my puddle lights are on my key fob range drops to no more than 3'. The moment the lights turn off I am back to 100+ feet. I've tried switching the polarity but is there anything else I can do to combat this. If it matter I have tapped into the footwell circuit.

    I have a remote start w/ long range remote from 12vsolutions coming this week and am hoping that remote will be able to operate fine still.
     
  14. Jun 20, 2022 at 5:44 AM
    #74
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Hard wire it to your cargo or cab lights. You can run jumpers to try it first.
     
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  15. Jun 20, 2022 at 10:46 AM
    #75
    chrisf111

    chrisf111 New Member

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    Will be trying this later. Wanted to do the footwell in order to get the dim on/off effect but after looking at the wiring diagram it seems in order to do the dim it takes the negative power feed through the ECU. The antenna must not like that.

    Will try connecting to cargo switch (upside is I will have switch control) and update with results.

    UPDATE: Switched to tap into cargo switch positive and a body ground negative with the same results. Next step will be to reroute the wires and see if maybe they are routed too close to something associated with the fob receiver. I will also do a test with the second (uninstalled vled) powered from another car to see if it is just the LED causing interference or the fact that it is tied into the same wiring system putting some sort of feedback in the circuit.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2022
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  16. Jul 29, 2022 at 4:17 PM
    #76
    Taco-Spike

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    Thanks OP

    we have power

    5E8BD9C9-D75D-4B97-979D-EF813970CFD0.jpg AF628CAC-A48F-4592-9887-DF99BD01AD4C.jpg
     
  17. Aug 24, 2022 at 4:36 PM
    #77
    NewToTrucks84

    NewToTrucks84 New Member

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    Did this mod on my 2016 Tundra about 4 months ago. Last night I went out to my truck and noticed both puddle lights no longer turn on..
    Has anyone else experienced this issue? Not really sure where to start as the cargo lights work fine. The puddle lights just stopped working.
     
  18. Aug 24, 2022 at 4:38 PM
    #78
    chrisf111

    chrisf111 New Member

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    I would start at where you tapped into the cargo light circuit. If both are not working that tells me the issue is between the tap and where they split to go to each light.
     
  19. Aug 24, 2022 at 4:51 PM
    #79
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Check the ground
     
  20. Aug 24, 2022 at 4:53 PM
    #80
    Taco-Spike

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    ^^

    I would check both above. If it was one might be different but both seems light a connection issue
     
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  21. Aug 24, 2022 at 5:37 PM
    #81
    NewToTrucks84

    NewToTrucks84 New Member

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    probably a dumb question but could either of these (tap and ground) just stop working without any type of manipulation?

    am unable to check at the moment. Just gathering as much info as possible.
     
  22. Aug 24, 2022 at 5:52 PM
    #82
    Taco-Spike

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    It could be. Only one has to go out / disconnect for it to not work. It needs both to complete a circuit to work. Splices and taps can come loose at almost any time and depending on the connection.
    Could be a fuse short but check the other before going down that road.
     
  23. Aug 24, 2022 at 5:58 PM
    #83
    NewToTrucks84

    NewToTrucks84 New Member

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    Ok that’s reassuring as I am an extreme novice to electrical troubleshooting. Fresh install, no issue.

    Will check both and report back. Thanks!
     
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  24. Aug 24, 2022 at 6:44 PM
    #84
    Taco-Spike

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    Cool. please update.
    myself and I’m sure others in this thread can also help as needed.
    Just take your time and check and test all your connections.
    When I did mine I made sure to make all my main connections in the kick panel areas so it would be easy to access if something came loose
     
  25. Jan 13, 2023 at 4:08 PM
    #85
    Zeroman

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    I picked up a set of used OEM Tow Mirrors from texasrho83 a few weeks ago. Thanks texasrho83!

    I decided to replace the puddle lamps he had previously installed with a set of VLEDS.

    I also decided to reroute the wiring through the mirror supports as others have done.

    I found this video on youtube where a guy had disassembled his tow mirrors to repair them because they would not easily extend, or contract.

    Here is the video.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu02O4fw14E

    For those wanting to not route the wiring "blind" this is the way to go.

    I am not finished, yet, but it is pretty easy to do.

    My mirrors are from a 2016, so they are just a little different, but you'll get the idea.
     
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  26. Jan 13, 2023 at 4:24 PM
    #86
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Wow you rebuilt the hell outta those old mirrors! Did you get some amber inserts? Could've sworn I had the smoked ones on there.
     
  27. Jan 13, 2023 at 4:28 PM
    #87
    Zeroman

    Zeroman New Member

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    Well, that's not me in the video, just a video I found online.

    I am in the process of doing the same thing.

    Yes, the ones I got from you are smoked ones.

    I also plugged up those holes. ;)
     
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  28. Jan 13, 2023 at 4:30 PM
    #88
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    By the way, did you get the details on the fire extinguisher?
     
  29. Jan 14, 2023 at 8:41 AM
    #89
    Zeroman

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    Working on it.....
     
  30. Jan 15, 2023 at 8:31 AM
    #90
    Zeroman

    Zeroman New Member

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    Left you a voicemail...call me when you can
     

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