Center console led light mod

[05Single]

Bored looking for stuff to do to my hoe and hated how the center console had no light.

First I went looking for a light at the local salvage yard. Looking for a small housing like licence plate lights and courtesy lights. Then I looked for car trunk lights. Found a few from a few different cars. Went with a VW B6 passat trunk light, small and sits flush.

Inside is a mount for a 194 bulb. I wanted to do a housing so I can change the bulb if needed instead of using strips and tape and having 1 or 2 leds going out on the strip after time and the tape giving out eventually after constant use.
Look closely for the part number.

Measured a spot to cut out. Not the actual border but the inside where it clips in.
Thought I have pic of the cut but I guess not. Anyway its pretty straight forward. Just measure and cut the right size rectangle.

Had the lihts mounted on the drivers side so when the console is opened the light is facing the passenger instead of the driver at night while driving.

The flash on the phone makes everything look dirty and scratched but it doesn't look that bad with the human eye lol. gonna end up putting black suede inside the console later anyway.

 

[05Single]

So at first I was going to wire it to a switch with power from the rear cigarette lighter. Then I had an idea, so back to the salvage yard I went.
Picked up a glove box light from a nbs silverado.(same as tahoe, yukon, avalanche, exc)

Drilled a hole and ground a mounting spot on the lid mount side so the switch is out of the way and wont get caught on anything.
Oh yeah while this was out I drilled a hole for a aftermarket usb and aux jack to plug in. Later I decided to install a regular cigarette lighter.

On the back side had to shave one of the ribs so the switch can sit flush and even

Next was to cut the sub frame to make room for the switch. Set the console back in without the switch and trace the hole.

Cut

 

[05Single]

Test fit test fit test fit

So the switch is also the light housing for a 194 bulb. So I tore open as led bulb I had laying around and made an adapter to wire to the actual console light.

 

[Five]

Very nice!

 

[05Single]

Wired into rear cigarrete lighter for power.

Had a issue with the factory socket mounting in the hole I made. The thickness of the plastic is thinner than I thought so I used a c clamp type of washer to hold it in place. Didnt want to jb weld or glue in place so I can remove the socket later if necessary. The clamp holds like a champ

Power is from original plug just extended from lower dash to center console. The usb will be in place of where this cigarette lighter use to be. So far all oem except the vw light and all FREE.

More cutting to give room for the lighter. Started as one hole. Ended uo hacking a notch. Frame integrity still sound and strong

 

[05Single]

 

[05Single]

Very nice!

Thanks. Like I said I was bored lol

 

[05Single]

Final install

Night time shots

Emergency stripper dollar bills

 

[05Single]

Next was the 2nd row cup holders since I was in that same general area on the interior. After 02 they stopped putting a foot light at the back of the center console for the 2nd row. So I decided to make my own, this time with a newer impala trunk light. So back to the salvage yard and again sticking to GM oem.

Measured and cut. The fit was perfect.

Easy removale and installation. Everything is Phillips head.

 

[05Single]

Night pics later tonight