How-to. Key ring light Into s13

[locoluna825]

This is a DIY instructional TUT on how I wired my keylight into my s13. I am not responsible for damage done to your vehicle installing your keylight into your vehicle while following this tutorial. If you are worried about using this tutorial or intalling it yourself take it to someone who knows how.

Items you will need;

~Flat head and Phillips screw driver.
~10mm and 12mm sockets.
~Ratchet and about a 6in long extension.
~Pliers.
~(Suggested) Test light.
~2x Electrical quick splices.


(OPTIONAL) It is much easer to work with, if you drop your steering column a few inches to make more room. You can do this or skip right to removing the steering column cover.

(OPTIONAL) First remove/lower the Lower steering column plate.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03929.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03934.jpg

(OPTIONAL) Now up under the dash remove the two 12mm bolts holding up the steering column.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03935.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03936.jpg

You now have a few more inches to work with
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03937.jpg

(OPTIONAL END)

Remove the 6 screws using the Philips screw driver
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03938.jpg

Now disassemble and remove the steering column cover.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03973.jpg

There are two wires we need. A 12v power source something that comes on with a switch. Like your dome light or your Instrument Gauge lights. In this tut I’m going to show you how to wire the key light in so that it comes on with your instrument gauge lights. So when your speedometer cluster, and other interior buttons come on, so will the key light.

Underneath your turn signal there will be a white looking connector with several wires coming out from it. Look for the Red wire with the blue stripe. This wire is usually the switched power wire for the interior instrument lighting in a s13. Although it sometimes may not be. That is why I suggested using a test light.

The arrow in this photo is pointed to a red wire with a blue stripe.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03947.jpg
With the switch on the turn signal off. The test light is off.


http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03946.jpg
When you turn the switch on the turn signal the light comes on. If yours is not the same color. Use a test light to find the switched 12v wire. Off of the above connection.

Now all you need is a ground. You have two choices; You may ground one wire to the chassis. (Steering column.) Or you can use another quick splice to connect to a ground wire off of something.

Now take your pigtail you received with your key light. And take your quick splices.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/quick_splice.jpg

(If you did not receive a pigtail or if the pigtail was to short. You may have to use xtra length of wire. Or not use the pigtail at all and just splice the key light socket harness directly to the car.)

Connect one of the key light harness to the 12v switch source.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03958.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03960.jpg

Your pigtail is ready.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03961.jpg

Put your key light on your ignition. Try to get it on as far back as it will go. I found that this position is probably the best.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03964.jpg

Plug your pigtail to the key light and turn your parking lamps/headlights ON.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03965.jpg

IT should come on.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03969.jpg

If it did not come on. LED bulbs are polarity sensitive, so if not installed the right direction they won’t come on. You will have to remove the bulb from the socket and turn it around.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03971.jpg

Reassemble in reverse order. And put your new bezel on.
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03975.jpg

Done!
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j185/locoluna825/DSC03977.jpg

[Tantwoforty]

Very nice...

[hartig]

so its only on when the interior lights are switched on? doesnt seem to useful for finding the ignition..

[locoluna825]

Well. Yes. For this TUT I have wired it that way. But you can get more creative. You can wire it to your feet light under the steering column or the dome light, that way it comes on when you open the door. But even then... most people usually close there door before starting the car.... Sooo.. the light will be off by then..... If you need to find your ignition Its more than likely going to be dark like at night time and most people use there lights when its night time... yea.... For the key light will be on when you actually need it I chose to wire it to the parking light switch. Seemed like the most logic way.

[S13x88]

Interesting tidbit, but my Maxima also has a key ring light. It's wired up to a courtesy light, but not the door lights. The map light in the car stays on when you close the door for a few seconds, then slowly dims down to off. The key ring light does the exact same thing. It would be neat to wire up the key ring light to have the same effect.

[markland556]

Sounds like you would just need to tag +12v and then the red/White wire which is ground for the doorpins and wire up a capacitor on the 12v line. Should work...

[Razi]

I tried wiring up a capacitor, but it just made the light dim.
But an electrical guru can probably come in and tell us what the correct capacitor should be.

By the way, if you want the light to turn on when the door opens, find the Red/White and Red/Blue wires under the steering column.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm218/Razi11/IMG_2309.jpg

It's supposed to be for the stock footwell lamps, and lights up when the door opens.

[locoluna825]

Yes. For a car that came with a key light stock. It would stay on with the courtesy light. 240's did not some with any kind of light control for that. when you close the door the lights go off. No time delay or nothing. You could try hooking the key light up with the feet light in conjuction with a time delayed relay. that way after you close the door the key light stays on longer. Like the maximas these "JDM" key lights come off of.

[twomahs]

does anyone know what size bulb it is, for the key ring light? i have a feeling mine might've gone out.

[DennisC]

does anyone know what size bulb it is, for the key ring light? i have a feeling mine might've gone out.

T5 or type 74 sized bulb.

[soryu]

has anyone installed a capacitor?

[locoluna825]

To make it brighter??

[soryu]

to make it stay on a while after closing door.

[drpsnwbrdr]

so these came off a maxima or a JDM maxima? Was gonna say it looks a lot like my subaru one from a USDM GD, but it is alittle diff, but has the same colored wires, weird.

[KendallH]

How To Make Your Car Euro - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q83leOI_R-s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q83leOI_R-s&feature=plcp

Look towards the end of this video, shows how to set up the time delay.

[soryu]

something similar to this.
Centech Theater Style Lighting Control for Your Car (http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/accessories/il2.shtml)

[mikovu]

I did this, and now my buttons no longer light up, and the light by the pedals won't work either.

[91240coupe]

Is it possible to wire it with the power to the dome light so whenever you open your door it lights up with the dome light?

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

[DreamN]

such a thing is unheard of or probably only possible with blood magic.

[eek]

FSM is your friend. Just need to find the dome light wire then tap it to that so it will illuminate when the dome light is on.