Something else I wanted to do was to update the interior lighting. I had a difficult time seeing the control knobs at night and the old bulb style interior light could stand to be updated. Even with that light on I couldn't see very well.
So, while on a trip to the parts store I checked out the LED lights that seem to be all the rage with the kids.
They had complete LED conversion kits for interior lights. I picked up the smallest one they had (the only one that would fit the housing in the FJ) and searched for a way to put some light on those control knobs.
They had a couple of different small, flexible strips of LEDs that were of various lengths and a couple if different brightness levels.
I picked up a 15" strip that was the least bright of the ones they had available and brought that home as well.
Here's some pics. I played with the camera settings in an attempt to get the images to look like they do in real life.
The white LED strip installed under the shelf.
A couple of shots of the illuminated knobs.
Not too bad, I don't think.
The trick is that the LED unit needs 12V to operate and I'm not sure it would work well with the dimmer that's built into the light control knob. So...if I decide I want less light I'll just put a strip of electrical tape over some of the LEDs to reduce the amount of light. The parts store also had a white LED strip that you could cut to length and that would work but I didn't like the idea of cutting the strip because once you cut you can't re-attach what you cut off.
But for now, that stip will be wired in with the rest of the dash lights and I'll never again pull the choke knob when I'm trying to turn on the wipers. :lol:
LED interior light in stock housing:
Nice and bright.
Uses a connector shaped like the old glass bulbs, LED board plugs in. Switch functions as normal. Install the bulb connector with + to + and - to ground.
One size of connector next to the bulb.