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14:th-Feb-2016, 14:23:53 (This post was last modified: 14:th-Feb-2016, 19:40:13 by sheppy1.)
Welcome to my tutorial on how to fit VERY bright LED panels to the boot compartment.
You have two choices here…either simply replace the ONE factory unit that’s already in place…or add some additional wiring to the factory wiring, run it through to the other side and cut another hole so you can then have TWO of these LED strips installed. If you’re wanting TWO boot lights then follow this tutorial first then come back to mine afterwards, if not then just follow mine right now
There are others out there and these are NOT the specific ones i bought as i got mine from another seller a year ago but they look identical..And these are also cheaper than what I paid too.
Anyway, so once you have those you’ll want to cut off all the stuff you don’t need like this:
Now you’ll want to go to your car and remove the boot light holder (just pops out). Then you’ll need to cut off the factory connector like so:
Now that you’ve done this you can start to widen and lengthen the factory light hole. Your best bet here is to use a stanley knife as it will slice right through the boot material…widen it every so slightly by around a few MMs…you don’t need to widen it too far. You’ll want to lengthen the hole by quite a bit…you’re better off cutting towards the FRONT of the car until you can’t any further due to you hitting the metal frame:
Then you’ll want to cut towards the BACK of the car until you hit a pice of grey plastic trim. Once you hit this you’re gonna need to trim a few MMs of the grey plastic trim off to make way for the LED panel. You literally just need to shave off the plastic bit by bit and then keep checking to see if the bulb strip will fit into it. Do this all around bit by bit for the grey plastic trim and also the fabric boot section itself until the LED panel fits snugly
Next you’ll want to remove the LED panel again as you’ll be wiring the thing up now. This bit is easy and you simply need to wire positive to positive and negative to negative like so:
Then secure the wiring by crimping or soldering or just electrical tape and then slot it all back in and voila! Job done Obviously if you followed the tutorial at the top to fit the second boot light then you’ll have the wiring over that side and can follow the above steps to fit yourself another super bright LED panel.
Enjoy being able to actually see something in your boot!
Comparison with LED bulb in factory holder on the left and my new super bright LED block on the right:
Night time pics
And yes I do have a lot of water in the boot haha
I'll get a pic in the dark now I have the super bright LED blocks on both sides
Ta mate! yeah may aswell, cheap and easy mod that's way better than those led bulbs! How is it in the insignia then? Do they still only have one rubbish bulb on one side of the boot?
the same mate it had the hole on the other side but nothing in there
so i got hold of one and i wired it in and put LED bulbs inside them
but have you seen how big my boot is in the insignia
i could sleep in it Haha the LED bulbs need to be a lot brighter
so this looks like a better option for me so cheers mate.
Hahaha I haven't seen it no but I can imagine it's like having a candle in the dark trying to light up a huge boot with one or even two of those bulbs!
Seem to be really cheap for those led blocks now. @rusty2009 found that one I linked too and it's like 15 quid for the pair... I I paid over 25 quid for mine when I used them as Reg plate bulbs!
Hahaha I'm surprised you didn't notice when you couldn't see anything at night! These new ones I have installed are immense! It lights up the boot light a Christmas tree! Sooooo much better and can't believe I never thought to use those led blocks for this purpose before now! Ha
Thanks for this post, having come from a Veccie C with 2 LED lights to an astra J with one dim bulb im struggling again...
the fit of the lights seems straightforward enough and I dont forsee any issues, but how did you route the wiring around the boot to the other side for the 2nd 'new' light?
Phil.
-------------------------
Ive given up golf.
The only time I hit 2 balls straight
was when i trod on the bunker rake
Phlyer Phil
------------------------
Head In The Clouds
Mind In The Gutter
(11:th-Aug-2017, 17:22:02)phlyer Wrote: Thanks for this post, having come from a Veccie C with 2 LED lights to an astra J with one dim bulb im struggling again...
the fit of the lights seems straightforward enough and I dont forsee any issues, but how did you route the wiring around the boot to the other side for the 2nd 'new' light?
Phil.
-------------------------
Ive given up golf.
The only time I hit 2 balls straight
was when i trod on the bunker rake
(11:th-Aug-2017, 17:22:02)phlyer Wrote: Thanks again. completed the fit what a difference !! Being mobile rail staff I have a boot full of stuff and am out frequently at all hours. Now i can see to sort my gear out with ease.
Phil.
-------------------------
Ive given up golf.
The only time I hit 2 balls straight
was when i trod on the bunker rake
Just did this mod. 5 minute job actually.
All you have to do is make the hole larger exactly like in Sheppy's pictures, cut a little bit of the plastic on one side.
And then what I did was remove the halogen bulb from the holder and just plug in the connector of the new led light in the place where the lamp was of the old light.
Then I just jammed the whole old light inside the hole (that is now bigger) and fitted the new led light snugly. There is room engough for everything, but not too much room so it wont be moving around and come loose.
No cutting wires, no soldering
Oh and take Rusty's advice and cut the plastic ridges that are on one side, it will make it fit better.