The TM3 cabin LED lighting is dim, and while you can buy some LED upgrades (I will cover that in another post) some areas like the lights in the headliner cannot be currently upgraded due to their direct solid-state solder construction.
If you want to access the front cubby of the center console at night there is a small rectangular LED inside, however it is useless if you have added an aftermarket tray (another great accessory – see some versions HERE, HERE and HERE)
A nice and hidden front console lighting solution is to install a small LED strip (3 LED’s) on the underside of the center screen!
You can find instructions and parts list if you want to build the solution yourself from HERE or buy a pre-made cable, LED, cable and connector from the same site HERE <- Easier but it may take a while to get it.
If you want to build your own LED bar, without wire tapping and making this a fully removable mod, here is the connectors parts list:
A) Female Connector (car uses this) – TE Connectivity / AMP P/N: 1534111-1
B) Male Connector (LED’s use this) – TE Connectivity / AMP P/N: 1-1534155-1
AB) Retainer / Cover for Connectors (each connector needs one) – TE Connectivity / AMP P/N: 1534027-1
C) Pin Connectors (2 per plug) – TE Connectivity / AMP P/N: 1-928918-1 (Cut Strip)
Parts count for TM3 Console LED power splitter:
2 x “A”
1 x “B”
3 x “AB”
6 x “C”
The most challenging part of this mod will be to route the LED power cable under the cover of the temperature sensor (small round dot under the console), and back to the right-side of the console after removing the passenger side plastic and silver trim pieces that are held by clips and a series of T20 screws. There are plenty of YouTube Videos for taking the Center Console trim apart.
Once you manage to snake/route the power connector and cable for the under-display LED to the right-side of the console, you have 2 options:
A – Disconnect the yellow jacket power cable, the one coming from the front of the console, and thus deactivate the OEM Led inside the cubby, and connect just the new LED connector.
OR
B – Split the car power to connect both the new and OEM LED’s. You can simply buy $10 LED extension cables and make your own splitter, like I did.
Now the LED(s) will come on only when you open the middle cover in the console, and the light is bright and focused.
Here is a video of the result: [MEDIA=youtube]05gVp46qm4k[/MEDIA]
PICTURES:
Build a power splitter from the $10 kit linked above.
Remove the Passenger Molding (just pull on it)
Access the side power cable for the front console cubby light underneath and insert the splitter inline.
Route the LED light cable on the side of the console and up to the back-side of the center screen mount
If all was done correctly, opening the center console lid will activate BOTH the built-in LED and the Under Console LED!
