neon

[portcom4]

Id like to install some neon under the dash and under the seats of my 02 sedan. Id like to know if it is an easy install or should I get it done professionally. Id like to be able to activate it whenever Id want to with a switch, Also does anybody know which is better led's or neon.Verno http://ib2.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[RobbieTheStiff]

It's very easy to install yourself. Go to Canadian Tire and in the Rice isle you can find a 3 plug cigarette lighter adapter and some small neon tubes with a cigarette lighter plug.

If you are planning on doing a lot of lighting, you may want to get it professionally done, as it should be done properly with a power distribution block wired directly to a +12V line, rather than through the lighter. But for just a few lights, you can DIY no problem.

Most of the time the wiring for the lights will not be long enough. You can easily splice in some small gauge speaker wire to get the length you need. Just make sure you seal your splices properly with either electrical tape or heat shrink tubing. The last thing you want is one of those wires grounding out against the car body or shorting with another wire.

If you want to have a switch that's easily accessible, you can buy a simple switch from Radio Shack and just wire it in-line on the 3-plug cigarette lighter adapter. Then you could switch all the lights on and off very easily. Otherwise, most of the neon tubes will have a switch on their own plug, so you could switch them individually. But that plug will probably be buried behind the dash somewhere, and not easily accessible.

A really good spot to put the 3-plug adapter is behind the kick plate at the ba

[RobbieTheStiff]

A really good spot to put the 3-plug adapter is behind the kick plate at the back of the centre console on the passenger side.  It is a small plastic panel that fits over the heating duct and is held by only 1 snap fastener.  Take that cover off and you can run all your wiring to there.

For neons under the seat, you can easily route the wiring just up under the bottom edge of the centre console, and run it up underneath the dash where your adapter is.  You don't need to take the console out, just tuck it under the plastic, it will stay put.

For neons under the dash, just make sure the wires don't get in the way of any of the steering components, HVAC controls, or your glovebox.

PHEW!  That was really long... but it's very easy to do this yourself, and a good way to build up to more difficult stuff like replacing your speakers or wiring an amp and sub. You really get to know your car when you start poking around behind the trim panels...  http://ib2.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif