Installing puddle lights on factory SR5 mirrors

My 2014 SR5 didn't either.
I tested every wire in the mirror plug for any interior light feed and didn't find one.
Same for my Muth turn signal mirrors, I had to run my own wires from under the dash..
I put connectors inline in case I need to remove the mirror(s).
Black one is the mirror turn signal, the silver one (silver sharpie) is the puddle lights..

 

For the cost of buying new mirrors, I'd opt for running and soldering a little wiring.
Just tap into the little light under the steering wheel for the puddle lights.
They will dim on and off when you unlock and lock.
I went ahead and ran floorboard lights off that circuit as well..
It isn't that hard..

 

@Pot Hole running the wires actually isn't that bad. Running the wires probably took me about 20 to 30 min a door. Trying to figure out the wiring is what killed me. But I finally figured it out.

 

You will have to run wires....I just did it on mine.

 

I actually installed VLED interior lights several months ago so I have floorboard lighting. Recently, I bought a set of VLED puddle lights along with VLED 3-way connectors and wire extensions with the intent on pulling wire and adding puddle lights to my Limited's mirrors. What I have found out is the VLED connectors are pretty large and will likely be difficult to pull through some of the grommets and passageways getting from the mirror to the interior of the truck. Yes I can cut and solder my connections, but I saw a set of Platinum mirrors online at a decent price and I figured if the puddle lights on them were plug-n-play with the wiring harness on my Limited, I might just go that route instead.

 

Post a pic of the connecter that goes to the mirror and I will compare it to mine. If the wiring is the same, it will not have wires for the puddle lights. My 2020 does have wiring in the connector for turn signals so that I can add the Muth system at some point.

 

Wiring diagram from 2015.

The plug at the mirror is M6 and N6.
Power to the puddle light would be the pin 6 on both.
If you have a wire there, test it and see if it works with the interior lights.
if not, you'll have to run your own.





I have that left hand brown wire in pin 6 my 2014 SR5 but it has no power to it.
Ground wire is pin 5, this is upside down from the diagram above.

 

The 2020 SR5 connector has wiring for turn signals now. I know which ones they are....I just haven't ordered the Muths yet.

 

From what I can see on the 2015 wiring diagram, if you don't have seat position memory, you don't have a puddle light feed..
That is what the *1 is on the wiring diagram for the puddle light feed.
i could be wrong..

 

I definitely don't have seat position memory on my Limited

 

Just finished this mod up today on my 2020 Limited (took me about 5 hours from start to finish). The thing that was different in my VLED puddle light installation was I already had the VLED interior lights so I figured there had to be a way to tap into the existing circuit rather than trying to find the wire for the cargo light circuit. After a little research on the VLED web site, I ordered two six-foot extension wires (with one male end), two four-foot extension wires (with male and female ends), two 3-way splitters, and two puddle lights.

After taking my mirror off and mounting the puddle light, I plugged the 6-foot extension wire with the male end into my puddle light and then fed it back through the mirror assembly following the directions in this very informative thread. I then ran the wire down the door, through the flexible hose between the door and the cab, and then into the cab (be patient, it's a job!). Once I got the wire inside the cab, I cut off a female end from one of the two 4-foot extension wires I bought and soldered it onto the wire coming from the puddle light. Using the 3-way splitter, I was now able to connect the puddle light up to the interior light circuit simply by plugging each circuit together. Hide the wires up under the dash and I was done. My puddle lights now come on and fade off with the interior light circuit.

If anyone has any questions about what all is needed from VLED to do this mod like I did, feel free to message me.

 

So that was lame, but we got it done. Thank you for the write up!

 

Great write up and easy to follow along. I'd be curious to see if there are any puddle lights out there that illuminate the toyota logo (similar to the puddle lights on the higher end cars such as lincoln navigators that illuminate the logo on the ground). Just a thought

 

Yes they have them for Toyota.

 

Just started this install on my 2020 SR5. Taking the door panel and mirror off was easy. Drilling and putting in the VLED led was easy. Hard part was fishing the wire through the nearly impossible door harness. I kept reminding myself of your comments requiring patience. Well, I have cuts and bruises on my head, arm, sides and almost got the drivers side wire through. Was able to poke through my fishing line (hanger), but the taped wire pulled off short of making it through....

I gave up for the night and will try again this week.

I'm sure this mod will be worth it though!! Thanks to all of you for your tips.

 

I can't stress enough how important it is to have your fish tape wire wrapped properly when doing this mod. I generally strip an extra long section of my wire, lap the two ends opposite of each other onto my fish tape, and then make sure I wrap them good with electrical tape. It also doesn't hurt to lube them up with wire lube before trying to get through the harness (you can get it at your local hardware store or just use something like Dawn detergent).

You will be happy once you get this done, I promise

 

I find that removing the rubber boot at both ends helps too, especially with the very small Guage wires that are in there.

 

Thanks for the motivation! Using your tips and techniques, I was able to complete the drivers side. Taking the grommet out and poking a hole through made it way easier.

I feel that the passenger side will be quick and then I’ll just need to route an extension to the drivers footwell to tap into the footwell light.

Can anyone with a smart key (20+) advise how to tap into that light? Which wires does the Black with stripe and black tap into? TIA

 

After you've done one side, the other side usually goes much faster now that you know the best way to feed the wire into the cab

 

I ordered the ones from Amazon and they look cheap and no way of keeping water out. Lot smaller too. So I ordered the ones from VLED

 

Vleds are the way to go. I have them in mine.

 

Just making an update here. It’s coming up on 3 years since I installed the VLED puddle light kit.

The lights still work as new. Nothing has come loose, and there are no performance issues. I have every reason to believe these will function perfectly for another 3 years at least.

 

Yep...they make good stuff. I love the tail light conversion.

 

Thank you for the update.

This is on my list. I’ve had them almost three years on my Tacoma (but those are screwed in rather than 3m tape) regardless, validating to hear they still hold up with tape.

 

I think even if the tape started to fail over time (and I have no reason to think it will), you could secure them to the mirror housing with a quality adhesive.

 

Attempting to install mirrors from a limited ‘17 into my 08 SR5 and can’t grasp this one.

Attached is a photo of the current plug in my 08. Question is where do I add the wires into the factory plug to make the puddle light work? I plan to tap into my drivers side footwell light for signal.

 

Your installation is wildly different than mine. You might want to start a thread with your question that will get attention from folks with more familiarity of the various wiring and plug configs over the different generations.

 

Don't even bother with that plug.
Just run your own wiring from the footwell light to each mirror.
Route the wiring thru door wiring boot and then the mirror housing.
You can use a stiff zip tie to help you feed the wire thru the boot and mirror.

I put connectors inline in case I need to remove the mirrors.
I actually have 2, one for the puddle lights and one for the Muth signal mirrors.




You can also tap into the footwell light for footwell lights.

 

While that would be simpler, I’m using the factory mirrors with the lights built in. So I’m forced to use the oem plug. Just need to know where to add the pins to make the factory lights work.

 

I understand now.

Here is a 2015 wiring schematic for your mirrors should be the same for 2017.
It will show you the pin numbers and wire colors of the puddle lights.
M6 and N5 are mirror connectors.
Pin 5 is ground, pin 6 is power.
Always test before finalizing connections.