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I got my RickHondaR replica ambient footwell lights today, and wanted to install it with auto dimming controlled by the already existing interior lights. There is a guide on here about doing this already, and it helped me along on how to do it, but it still left me guessing about some parts. I'm not writing this to take any credit from soponcio_virtual who wrote the original guide, just clarify some points about the install. The original post can be found here: [HOW TO] DIY - Footwell lights (they dim!)
Update 23.06.2020: Hi guys. Got a request to add missing pictures. I don't have the edited pictures anymore, but I found what I believe is the original unedited versions. As there is only room for 10 attached pictures I have edited out a couple that wasn't really needed.
Now on to the guide.
Tools needed:
Step 1
Order your kit from RickHondaR here: Replica Honda footwell lighting kit.
Step 2
Start by removing the cover on the driver side. This will enable you to remove the lower part of the dash below the steering wheel. You need to do this to get to the wires that control the interior lights.
![313413]()
Blue arrow shows where I put the flat screwdriver to bend the cover off (not shown in updated pictures). Work your way from there towards the part closest to the drivers seat. It comes off almost like a door hinged on the front part close to the frame of the car.
Unscrew the screw marked with red arrow (not shown in updated pictures). This will enable you to remove the cover beneath the steering wheel.
Remove the cover under the steering wheel by gently but firmly pulling down from the center console side towards the door.
When the covers are removed we need to find the correct wires to connect to. If you lay down on the floor of the footwell and look up under the dash you will see two white connectors on the right side of the fusebox. The one closest to the drivers seat is the one we want. It got a light blue and a light green wire sticking out of it. The connector is held in place by a clip. It can be a bit tricky getting this out since there is very little place to work with. Be prepared to get some bloody knuckles.
Once we got the connector out we can push it out the side towards the door.
![313414]()
Remove some of the tape at the end so you can uncover the wires. As you can see there is now one light blue and one light green wire ready for use.
The light blue wire marked with a red arrow is the positive (+) and the light green wire with blue arrow is the negative (-).
Connect your RickHondaR light kit using the supplied Scotch Lock's. White wire in the kit goes together with the light blue wire from the car, and the white with a black stripe in the kit goes together with the light green wire from the car.
![313415]()
(Please ignore the wire colors coming out of the Scotch Lock's in my pictures, I had to test wire it to find out what was positive and negative. I then soldered my wires on to the light kit. You don't have to go through that step, just connect the light kit directly.)
A demo on how to use Scotch Lock's can be seen in this video:
When you are done connecting the Scotch Lock's you can put the connector back in its place. To check that its got connection again just turn on your interior lights. They should work again.
We should now have ended up with something like this:
![313416]()
Next up is getting the lights from the drivers side to the passenger side footwell. This is done by using a piece of piano wire or a straightened out old fashion wire coat hanger, and pushing this from the passenger side footwell, behind the center console. There is a small opening just about where the carpet ends.
![313412]()
And we end up here on the drivers side:
![313422]()
Next place the passenger side LED strip where you want it. I placed it just about in the center of the cover beneath the glove box. Some remove the cover to the the LED strip in to the hole that you can see in the picture, but I found it just as easy to just push it in from the side.
![313417]()
Back on the drivers side footwell i tied the remaining wires up into a nice little ball and secured it to some other wires up in the dash by using some strips.
![313418]()
Be sure the wires don't get in the way of your pedals or steering column.
Almost done now. Get your plastic covers back in place using the reverse technique as described in the beginning.
Time to place the driver side LED strip. Just as on the passenger side i tried to center this as much as i could in the footwell.
![313419]()
Secure any remaining wire from the last LED strip together with the rest of the wire under the dash.
And now its time to enjoy the fruits of our labour!
Footwell, long exposure time:
![313420]()
Looking great! The red footwell lights will now dim just as the rest of the interior lights when you unlock the car, start the engine, etc.
And a final warning. Be careful when removing covers in your car! So far during my ICE install i had not broken any clips, but tonight when i was putting in the lights i managed to break two at the same time while removing the lower cover.
Luckily they where not very important for holding the cover in place since they are close to the screw, but I will try to get them glued on later using some plastic melting glue.
Good luck with your install, and don't hesitate to ask questions if there is anything you wonder about.
Update 23.06.2020: Hi guys. Got a request to add missing pictures. I don't have the edited pictures anymore, but I found what I believe is the original unedited versions. As there is only room for 10 attached pictures I have edited out a couple that wasn't really needed.
Now on to the guide.
Tools needed:
- Flat screwdriver
- Star screwdriver
- Wirecutter
- Pianowire (or similar stiff wire)
Step 1
Order your kit from RickHondaR here: Replica Honda footwell lighting kit.
Step 2
Start by removing the cover on the driver side. This will enable you to remove the lower part of the dash below the steering wheel. You need to do this to get to the wires that control the interior lights.
Blue arrow shows where I put the flat screwdriver to bend the cover off (not shown in updated pictures). Work your way from there towards the part closest to the drivers seat. It comes off almost like a door hinged on the front part close to the frame of the car.
Unscrew the screw marked with red arrow (not shown in updated pictures). This will enable you to remove the cover beneath the steering wheel.
Remove the cover under the steering wheel by gently but firmly pulling down from the center console side towards the door.
When the covers are removed we need to find the correct wires to connect to. If you lay down on the floor of the footwell and look up under the dash you will see two white connectors on the right side of the fusebox. The one closest to the drivers seat is the one we want. It got a light blue and a light green wire sticking out of it. The connector is held in place by a clip. It can be a bit tricky getting this out since there is very little place to work with. Be prepared to get some bloody knuckles.
Once we got the connector out we can push it out the side towards the door.
Remove some of the tape at the end so you can uncover the wires. As you can see there is now one light blue and one light green wire ready for use.
The light blue wire marked with a red arrow is the positive (+) and the light green wire with blue arrow is the negative (-).
Connect your RickHondaR light kit using the supplied Scotch Lock's. White wire in the kit goes together with the light blue wire from the car, and the white with a black stripe in the kit goes together with the light green wire from the car.
(Please ignore the wire colors coming out of the Scotch Lock's in my pictures, I had to test wire it to find out what was positive and negative. I then soldered my wires on to the light kit. You don't have to go through that step, just connect the light kit directly.)
A demo on how to use Scotch Lock's can be seen in this video:
When you are done connecting the Scotch Lock's you can put the connector back in its place. To check that its got connection again just turn on your interior lights. They should work again.
We should now have ended up with something like this:
Next up is getting the lights from the drivers side to the passenger side footwell. This is done by using a piece of piano wire or a straightened out old fashion wire coat hanger, and pushing this from the passenger side footwell, behind the center console. There is a small opening just about where the carpet ends.
And we end up here on the drivers side:
Next place the passenger side LED strip where you want it. I placed it just about in the center of the cover beneath the glove box. Some remove the cover to the the LED strip in to the hole that you can see in the picture, but I found it just as easy to just push it in from the side.
Back on the drivers side footwell i tied the remaining wires up into a nice little ball and secured it to some other wires up in the dash by using some strips.
Be sure the wires don't get in the way of your pedals or steering column.
Almost done now. Get your plastic covers back in place using the reverse technique as described in the beginning.
Time to place the driver side LED strip. Just as on the passenger side i tried to center this as much as i could in the footwell.
Secure any remaining wire from the last LED strip together with the rest of the wire under the dash.
And now its time to enjoy the fruits of our labour!
Footwell, long exposure time:
Looking great! The red footwell lights will now dim just as the rest of the interior lights when you unlock the car, start the engine, etc.
And a final warning. Be careful when removing covers in your car! So far during my ICE install i had not broken any clips, but tonight when i was putting in the lights i managed to break two at the same time while removing the lower cover.
Luckily they where not very important for holding the cover in place since they are close to the screw, but I will try to get them glued on later using some plastic melting glue.
Good luck with your install, and don't hesitate to ask questions if there is anything you wonder about.
