HOW TO: Change the color of front door courtesy lights from white to red (and more!)

Don't know how popular or useful this mod will be for anyone here, but if you frequent some "buggy" areas at night and turn off all of your white interior lighting in fear of being swamped with bugs/flies in seconds, here is a mod just for you: red door courtesy lights (and more!)

I spend enough time on a river boat ramp in late evening and middle of the night, where RED in stead of white lights are really helpful in prevention of being surrounded by bugs in mere seconds.
Previous Tundras have some aftermarket options for replacement courtesy lights, which can be either red or white - nothing like this for 2022s...and there won't be, since Toyota decided to make our dome courtesy lights "built in."

Anyway,
Here's a quick and cheap way of changing your door courtesy lights from "weak white" to red:
(plus info on overheadconsole+footwell lighting)

Supplies:
1x cheap red LED strip of lights from Walmart (Alpena brand).
I've contemplated multiple different lights for the purpose but these work best; you'll see why below.


First, remove your door light with a small flathead or w/e trim removing tool.
Unplug it and take the top clear plastic cover off (don't break the tabs, be careful)
Then, slide out the "chip" with the LED on it:


Take your Alpena LED strip light and wire up in the following manner; yes - best way is to solder the wires to the contacts on the connector (can be easily reversed if you ever want to go back to stock).


Use 3 or 4 LED worth of strip, then use its double-stick tape to attach to the plastic cover you removed before. Click it back together and reconnect.
It all should look like this:


Congratulations; you just changed your door lights from white to red!



...."but wait, there is more!"
Red door lights simply aren't enough for me, so I decided to add red LEDs to the overhead console, and all footwell areas.

Overhead console LEDs:
No details for installation here; you need to take the console apart, figure out where you can drill holes safely (use my pic for reference if you proceed with this), then carefully install them, run wires down and onto wiring.
Lights: Amazon: Onzium 11mm red LEDs

$10 Oznium Brightest Light Bolt - Flush Mount 12V LED Light for Bumper, Grille, Cars Interior, Dash, Ambient Lighting, Motorcycle w/Sleek Aluminum Housing & Screw Nut (11 mm Black, Red LED)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ADHUSRY?ie=UTF8


Footwell lights: Amazon: 4x red LED rock lights:

$24 4 Pods LED Rock Lights, Ampper Waterproof LED Neon Underglow Light for Car Truck ATV UTV SUV Offroad Boat Underbody Glow Trail Rig Lamp (Red)

https://www.amazon.com/Ampper-Water...c04-43ed-b3aa-8c09ee2cd05a&pd_rd_i=B01H7FGLEE



End result:


Interior lights are connected together, and run to a 3-way ON-OFF-ON switch.
Top position= lights come on when doors are open (any door). OFF is off. Bottom position= red lights on no matter what.


Remember that "door open" sensors in these trucks are negavite-switched, which means you will be using the negavites to complete the circuits, if you want the overhead and footwell door lights ON with when a door is open. Wiring this up is a big involving so I won't go into full details just yet, unless you guys really need instructions. Since all there interior lights are connected together, opening ANY door normally would show that ALL doors are open.
To prevent this and to make the dash indicator show correct (and only) door is open, current limiting diodes must be used on each door contact. Again, not rocket science, but any one unfamiliar will scratch their heads.
Just for kicks really I also added a LED dimmer under the driver side console (not visible in pics) and all the negative wiring from all the interior lights run to/through it; it allows me to dim these lights as ,uch or as little as needed.
Onzium mini LED dimmer:

$33 Mini LED Dimmer Knob with Rotary Control Switch - pwm dimming for 12-24V LEDs, Fully Waterproof, dim up to 4.8A at 12V or 2.4A at 24V: car Automotive, Marine, Low Voltage Under Cabinet Lights

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085TK13SH?ie=UTF8

In the end I can have OEM dome lights on or off, led LEDs on or off with them (when doors are opened), or red LEDs on at any time...while being able to completely turn off the OEM white lights.
All this really helps me out in the middle of the night at a river's edge (for example), b/c opening doors even for a few secs guarantees unwelcomed guests.
.......easier on the eyes in general as well, so I always use them.

Have fun.
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