compu_85
Gadget Guy
(finally) got these installed on our car today. Nice and easy 
I removed the carpet and ran the wires along the factory harness.
-Jason
I removed the carpet and ran the wires along the factory harness. -Jason
LED trunk light mod (Kchorro mod)
- Thread starter yamaguy
- Start date
carlrx7
Veteran Member
Pics!
Zedbra
Veteran Member
Two bucks on Ebay for the LED strips. Wait 3 weeks to arrive from China, wire it as clean as you want. Took me all of 15 minutes to run and splice wires and then I let my love of zap straps do the rest.
compu_85
Gadget Guy
OK
Now that it's all done I find the cubby on the driver's side is a bit dark. I don't feel like undoing all the lights right now, perhaps later I'll add another LED on that side.
-J
APT
Veteran Member
I have light strips similar to Zedbra. 5 of them, attached with superglue instead of zip ties. Wires mostly run on top of the metal deck. I'll have to get some pictures too. I really like the amount of light in the trunk now.
so happy to see this thread. Lighting in my new Passat is horrible, and I am in a night sports league,a nd can never see my gear in the trunk to find stuff. Will def need to do a mod like this, the brighter the better!!
compu_85
Gadget Guy
They moved the light at the last moment it looks like... probably to illuminate the AddBlue refill.
-J
-J
Zedbra
Veteran Member
compu_85
Gadget Guy
I mounted the LEDs in my truck in the recesses of the metal for just that reason, they should be protected from bumps.
I spy the bag hook! Love how the holes are there for them, but VW did'nt feel I was deserving of one...glad I "found" the one in the 06 before I sold it!OK
Now that it's all done I find the cubby on the driver's side is a bit dark. I don't feel like undoing all the lights right now, perhaps later I'll add another LED on that side.
-J
Salsaman06
Veteran Member
Yeah I have been thinking that this would happen with this mod and have been thinking about how to protect the lights before I install them. Surprised no one has observed this earlier in the thread.
Deezil_n_Dachs
Veteran Member
I finally got an opportunity to install my version of the LED trunk light improvement. I used 5 lights, two in the front, 3 to the rear. It's a massive improvement over the dinky little well light that OEM installed.
These two insisted on hangin with me during the install.
These two insisted on hangin with me during the install.
Love the doxies!I finally got an opportunity to install my version of the LED trunk light improvement. I used 5 lights, two in the front, 3 to the rear. It's a massive improvement over the dinky little well light that OEM installed.
These two insisted on hangin with me during the install.
sumtingwong1381
Well-known member
I'm glad I found this thread. I've been disappointed in the trunk light since purchasing the car, and wasn't sure what route I was going to take. I followed some others' advice and went with the LEDs from superbrightleds.com. Shipping was fast, and the install was super easy. I also replaced the stock bulb with a LED. Here are a few pics.
I removed the sub box, and ran the wires to one central location. I then spliced them all together, along with some 16 gauge wire that I purchased.
Here is a pic after the install, and you can see (2) of the bulbs.
Here is a final pic where the bulbs are not visible.
I removed the sub box, and ran the wires to one central location. I then spliced them all together, along with some 16 gauge wire that I purchased.
Here is a pic after the install, and you can see (2) of the bulbs.
Here is a final pic where the bulbs are not visible.
Light not getting enough power
When I first sought out replacing the factory light assembly I assumed the lamp had burned out. So I purchased some LED strips and soldered them to the OEM assembly as shown earlier in these posts. I plugged the connector in and the LEDs showed very faintly. I examined the stock bulb and the filament is not burned out. I checked as much of the harness as possible for broken wires etc, but could find none. I even unplugged the harness from the passenger rear lamp which caused the rear lamp to stop working, plugged it back in to verify that source was receiving enough current. Finally to ensure my soldering worked properly I plugged the store demo box back into the whole OEM truck lamp assembly and the LEDs lit up perfectly. I'm stumped...Does anyone have any ideas that could help me trouble shoot the problem. Thank you in advance for the help.
When I first sought out replacing the factory light assembly I assumed the lamp had burned out. So I purchased some LED strips and soldered them to the OEM assembly as shown earlier in these posts. I plugged the connector in and the LEDs showed very faintly. I examined the stock bulb and the filament is not burned out. I checked as much of the harness as possible for broken wires etc, but could find none. I even unplugged the harness from the passenger rear lamp which caused the rear lamp to stop working, plugged it back in to verify that source was receiving enough current. Finally to ensure my soldering worked properly I plugged the store demo box back into the whole OEM truck lamp assembly and the LEDs lit up perfectly. I'm stumped...Does anyone have any ideas that could help me trouble shoot the problem. Thank you in advance for the help.
Burl
Well-known member
I tried to do this mod but ran into an issue. I am only getting 6V at the OEM light. Any ideas what might cause this?
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
- Location
- Springfield, VA
- TDI
- ‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
Someone else reported low voltage at the OEM light, too. I don't remember what caused it or what the solution was.
AreaMan
Well-known member
I installed 6 of the "little dot" leds from superbrightleds and while it made a huge difference, one of them blinks for the first half minute or so and another flickers for the first half minute. Then they are solid. Really weird and annoying. I thought it was a bad connection but I soldered all connections to a common source and then checked the voltage and wires at the two trouble makers and don't see any problems. Rather than send them back, I just ordered a few more and will try replacing the baddies.
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
- Location
- Springfield, VA
- TDI
- ‘18 Tesla Model 3D+, ‘14 Cadillac ELR, ‘13 Fiat 500e
I've have had issues with blinking/flickering LEDs from SBL, but not on the little dots. Product quality is not consistent, although their return policy is pretty good.
Burl
Well-known member
Anyone else remember this thread about low OEM voltage at trunk light? OEM light doesnt work most likely because it's only seeing 6v and that is also keeping me from upgrading to led's.
mknj
New member
I hated the dark trunk. Performed the led upgrade as outlined in previous postings. Did not check the voltage. Been very happy with the results so far, about 2 months.
http://www.autozone.com/lighting-led-and-neon/led-lighting/alpena-flexled-light/60060_0_0/
Bought these at autozone for $16. Layed them perpendicular to the trunk opening, one just in front and one just behind the subwoofer. Wanted to keep them protected from getting rubbed off by luggage. Ran the wires through available holes. Did not solder but did shrink wrap connections.
Very happy.
http://www.autozone.com/lighting-led-and-neon/led-lighting/alpena-flexled-light/60060_0_0/
Bought these at autozone for $16. Layed them perpendicular to the trunk opening, one just in front and one just behind the subwoofer. Wanted to keep them protected from getting rubbed off by luggage. Ran the wires through available holes. Did not solder but did shrink wrap connections.
Very happy.
Herkguy
Veteran Member
Those are like what I used also, they are just to easy to instal to not do this mod.
as the factory trunk lighting is well....Just test them where you want them, stick them and run the wires to the original light harness. No individual lights and extra wiring or gluing, super easy and clean instal. Use cut splice, t-tap, solder, shrink wrap...what ever your heart desires and you are done.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=402389&highlight=Trunk+light
AreaMan
Well-known member
Well I guess I must be a magnet for the bad ones. I ended up batting 0.667 (6 of 9) with these. Replaced the two blinkers with two new ones, only to find one of those blinked too
. Replaced that one and now I finally have 6 installed that come on solid and stay solid (end result is awesome btw).Confirmed they're bad by removing them and hooking them directly up to a 12 volt battery and watching them blink/flicker for the first 30 seconds up to a minute before staying on. Like an old fluorescent lamp with a bad ballast in slow motion.
Don't know if I'll bother returning these to SBL considering how cheap they are, but I won't be buying any more of these.
I recently worked with Herkguy on this. He did a great job installing my two trunk LED lights. My LED lights were from ebay, 4x3 rectangle grid, two of them. At night, the two LED show up great. The OEM, lower right trunk light is basically invisible.
Thanks again Herkguy.
Thanks again Herkguy.
fxk
Veteran Member
Got a link to these?i will be using these, i think 4 of them:
using these bases:
they are 4.66 each, specs:
Halogen Equivalent 12 Watt(48 watt total)
Voltage 12V, DC, Max.120(480 lumen total) Lumen
Beam Angle 120 Degree,Tri-chip 5050 SMD Cool White
Diameter 0.91 in.
Length 1.38 in.
Jetta_Pilot
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2005
- Location
- West Hill, Ont.
- TDI
- 2015 Passat Highline TDI Candy White (SEL Premium) long gone 2002 Jetta TDI
Resurrecting an old thread. But all the previous posters went to a lot of trouble with as many as 5 different lights in the trunk. Having said that, times have changed and the light I installed in my trunk was probably not available then.
Wired into the original dim trunk light and ran one wire to the top of the trunk concealed as much as possible. Mounted the light with GORILLA double sided tape to the top. Cost for the light off eBay about $ 1.00 shipped and 20 minutes work to install. It is so bright in my trunk I could read there.
Wired into the original dim trunk light and ran one wire to the top of the trunk concealed as much as possible. Mounted the light with GORILLA double sided tape to the top. Cost for the light off eBay about $ 1.00 shipped and 20 minutes work to install. It is so bright in my trunk I could read there.
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