Interior door panel lights

[Prince_Polaris]

I've used a black sharpie to dim bright leds before but not to change their color. So idk if that would work. The led itself wouldn't affect the marker as it doesn't get hot enough. The nice thing about the buttons is that unlike the dashboard, the color can be changed easily with whatever color you put in them.

Hoho, If I get good at this then I could scheme it all out, have the buttons in the middle green, and perhaps the door panels blue and the cruise control red! (If I ever get my hands on not-broken buttons)

 

[239]

Hoho, If I get good at this then I could scheme it all out, have the buttons in the middle green, and perhaps the door panels blue and the cruise control red! (If I ever get my hands on not-broken buttons)

Yeah it's definitely possible and not too difficult. I recommend getting a radio bezel with all the switches in it from the junkyard. It shouldn't cost more than $15 and it really helps when you're trying a new mod, as you can try it on the spare bezel first to see how it'll turn out. As for the cruise control buttons, I ended up buying new ones on Amazon. They were pricey at $70, but they're motorcaft and they look great compared to my old, cracked buttons and they also illuminate.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Yeah it's definitely possible and not too difficult. I recommend getting a radio bezel with all the switches in it from the junkyard. It shouldn't cost more than $15 and it really helps when you're trying a new mod, as you can try it on the spare bezel first to see how it'll turn out. As for the cruise control buttons, I ended up buying new ones on Amazon. They were pricey at $70, but they're motorcaft and they look great compared to my old, cracked buttons and they also illuminate.

Those sound like the ones I was working towards getting, and not only are mine cracked but a chunk fell off of them a while ago! The sad thing is that there's no junkyards anywhere near me, so Amazon and Ebay is all I got unless I managed to fenangle some sort of deal where one of the guys on this forum who lives near one grabs a part or two for me... but that's pretty outlandish I suppose. I also want new foglights, but I'm not sure if I should stick some bright LED ones in and see if it can shine through the dirty lenses, or just buy new ones since those are also 70 or more.

Edit: it's kind of ridiculous that I'm talking about buying all these things when I have 16 bucks to my name and no job to speak of, ain't it.

 

[239]

Those sound like the ones I was working towards getting, and not only are mine cracked but a chunk fell off of them a while ago! The sad thing is that there's no junkyards anywhere near me, so Amazon and Ebay is all I got unless I managed to fenangle some sort of deal where one of the guys on this forum who lives near one grabs a part or two for me... but that's pretty outlandish I suppose. I also want new foglights, but I'm not sure if I should stick some bright LED ones in and see if it can shine through the dirty lenses, or just buy new ones since those are also 70 or more.

Edit: it's kind of ridiculous that I'm talking about buying all these things when I have 16 bucks to my name and no job to speak of, ain't it.

There are sellers here on the site that have parts at low prices, I'd check the for sale forum. As far as the fog lights go, if you still have the original glass fogs, you may just have to clean them instead of replacing them. I still have the Valeo brand fogs that came with my truck. I opened them up with a heat gun and was surprised how they looked brand new after I cleaned the inside of the lens and the reflector. They looked dirty and faded from the outside but it was only because the inside was covered in dust and who knows what else. The glass fog lights can usually be cleaned from the inside, where as the plastic ones do fade and have to be recoated with clear coat or replaced. I would stay away from Leds in the reflector housings as they cause a lot of glare and can blind other drivers. Hey, I've been in the situation before where funds are scarce, but just hang in there and keep pushing forward.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

There are sellers here on the site that have parts at low prices, I'd check the for sale forum. As far as the fog lights go, if you still have the original glass fogs, you may just have to clean them instead of replacing them. I still have the Valeo brand fogs that came with my truck. I opened them up with a heat gun and was surprised how they looked brand new after I cleaned the inside of the lens and the reflector. They looked dirty and faded from the outside but it was only because the inside was covered in dust and who knows what else. The glass fog lights can usually be cleaned from the inside, where as the plastic ones do fade and have to be recoated with clear coat or replaced. I would stay away from Leds in the reflector housings as they cause a lot of glare and can blind other drivers. Hey, I've been in the situation before where funds are scarce, but just hang in there and keep pushing forward.

It'd a good thing I took them off a while ago to try cleaning them, I have a picture!

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/233034867263143937/285589178245447680/P_20161002_135032.jpg

However, I'm pretty sure they're plastic. if I can get glass ones, then could you show me where? I'd much prefer those, they wouldn't ever fade! The picture is of the foglight which is the better of the two, but they're both pretty dirty inside, and had water in them when I took them off too. And the broken glass of the last two foglights that I had to replace. I sprayed the hose around inside, but I was worried taking them apart would break them, after all that plastic is 18 years old!

 

[239]

It'd a good thing I took them off a while ago to try cleaning them, I have a picture!

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/233034867263143937/285589178245447680/P_20161002_135032.jpg

However, I'm pretty sure they're plastic. if I can get glass ones, then could you show me where? I'd much prefer those, they wouldn't ever fade! The picture is of the foglight which is the better of the two, but they're both pretty dirty inside, and had water in them when I took them off too. And the broken glass of the last two foglights that I had to replace. I sprayed the hose around inside, but I was worried taking them apart would break them, after all that plastic is 18 years old!

I'm not sure where you can buy glass replacements. I think I saw glass fog lights on Amazon a while back. But there's dozens of manufacturers so you'll have to search for the one who offers them with a glass lens. That or check the for sale forum to see if anyone has glass replacements.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

I'm not sure where you can buy glass replacements. I think I saw glass fog lights on Amazon a while back. But there's dozens of manufacturers so you'll have to search for the one who offers them with a glass lens. That or check the for sale forum to see if anyone has glass replacements.

I dunno, I can find headlights everywhere but for some reason, Fog Light assemblies are so scarce on Ebay and Amazon... sale forum's a section of this one, right?

 

[239]

It'd a good thing I took them off a while ago to try cleaning them, I have a picture!

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/233034867263143937/285589178245447680/P_20161002_135032.jpg

However, I'm pretty sure they're plastic. if I can get glass ones, then could you show me where? I'd much prefer those, they wouldn't ever fade! The picture is of the foglight which is the better of the two, but they're both pretty dirty inside, and had water in them when I took them off too. And the broken glass of the last two foglights that I had to replace. I sprayed the hose around inside, but I was worried taking them apart would break them, after all that plastic is 18 years old!

I'm not sure where you can buy glass replacements. I think I saw glass fog lights on Amazon a while back. But there's dozens of manufacturers so you'll have to search for the one who offers them with a glass lens. That or check the for sale forum to see if anyone has glass replacements.

I dunno, I can find headlights everywhere but for some reason, Fog Light assemblies are so scarce on Ebay and Amazon... sale forum's a section of this one, right?

Yes. I was looking at this thread a few days ago, maybe the seller has glass fog lights: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/parting-out-95-2001-explorers.166984/

Also, I've found dozens of sellers on Amazon who have fog lights for 98-01 explorers. The trick is finding ones that aren't plastic.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

I'm not sure where you can buy glass replacements. I think I saw glass fog lights on Amazon a while back. But there's dozens of manufacturers so you'll have to search for the one who offers them with a glass lens. That or check the for sale forum to see if anyone has glass replacements.


Yes. I was looking at this thread a few days ago, maybe the seller has glass fog lights: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php?threads/parting-out-95-2001-explorers.166984/

Also, I've found dozens of sellers on Amazon who have fog lights for 98-01 explorers. The trick is finding ones that aren't plastic.

Ahhh, yeah, and they're all so wildly expensive too. I think I want glass ones though, it sounds like they wouldn't tarnish all up like the plastic ones, and they should look nice alongside the new set of headlights I plan to get someday.

 

[Spuddy]

... I have the red reflectors but no lights... Is this something I can add to the doors?

I also seek the Holy Grail...

I was at the junkyard today (yay me) and I pulled a pair of door-mounted 'Courtesy Lights' from a '97. Didn't get a chance to play with them before dark but I think that it'll mount right up in there without much of a mod. So I just gotta find the 'puddle lamps' mirror-mounted lights' wire and tap into that. Then I'll think about adding strobes in there.

Stay tuned...

 

[Spuddy]

Hmmm...

Does anyone know if the hot wire for the interior dome lights/courtesy lights exist outside the vehicle?

It just occurred to me it sure would be nice if the whole underside of the vehicle little with the puddle lamps.

By the way, you just gotta put super bright LEDs in your puddle lamps. Pretty slick look for what some would call a beater.

 

[Prince_Polaris]

Hmmm...

Does anyone know if the hot wire for the interior dome lights/courtesy lights exist outside the vehicle?

It just occurred to me it sure would be nice if the whole underside of the vehicle little with the puddle lamps.

By the way, you just gotta put super bright LEDs in your puddle lamps. Pretty slick look for what some would call a beater.

I need to remember to stick LEDs in the puddle lamps, since they're kinda useless with the old normal bulbs.

 

[239]

Hmmm...

Does anyone know if the hot wire for the interior dome lights/courtesy lights exist outside the vehicle?

It just occurred to me it sure would be nice if the whole underside of the vehicle little with the puddle lamps.

By the way, you just gotta put super bright LEDs in your puddle lamps. Pretty slick look for what some would call a beater.

Unless your Explorer came with lighted running boards from the factory, it won't have wiring for exterior lighting outside of the vehicle. When I installed my lighted running boards I simply ran the wiring for them through an unused grommet underneath the driver's seat. It was simple, I just poked a hole in the rubber grommet and ran the wire through it, then underneath the carpet and up behind the footwell trim. I then tapped into the wire for the interior lights behind the fuse panel, and I was done. Leds are definitely the best way to go in the puddle lamps, I went with 5000k natural white for my lightning.

 

[Theelax42]

good day all.

I drive a 99 explorer sport utility edition and noticed on the door panels that there are no lights. I have the red reflectors but no lights. Thought this was pretty standard as all of the other cars I've had had them. Is this something I can add to the doors?

Also have a question on the window/lock controls. Can I switch out those lights out easily for LEDs? Would like them to match my dash I just did with blue led and wondering if it's as easy (plug and play).


And one last thing. The blubs for my head light switch and my 4x4 switch have burnt out. But my rear wiper still works. I've read everywhere that these turn on when you start and run constantly but mine cut on and off with the lights. These are bulbs I've not seen before. Are there LED replacements I can get for these? I don't know what to even look for.



Thanks a lot!!

I don't know if this is still even a question, but in my 98 I took the door panel off and discovered the light assembly taped to the harness from the factory. all I had to do was cut the tape, add a bulb and put it in the supplied, but empty fixture.