Interior light cleverness

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

This is possibly the dumbest thing I've wanted to do yet lol, but y'know on a lot of cars these days the interior light comes on when you unlock the doors? Then it stays on for a bit etc then goes off. Would it be easy to make the interior light on the 19 do that? Or is it gonna be complicated?

The only reason I ask is that I very often have to park my car in complete darkness, and the only way I can actually SEE the car to walk to it is by constantly unlocking & locking the doors & making the indicators flash lol. Which is very silly. I know you're all just gonna tell me to get a torch, but if anyone has actually got any ideas about this, they would be much appreciated!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

they should actually fade out when the door opens but they don't, they even have the cap there!

To get it to do what you want, use a timer relay thats pulsed when the doors lock/unlock which will do the job.

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Cool, cheers chris. Yeah on my mum's megane the light fades out once you turn the ignition on.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

yeah same on all meganes.

Although when you lock the doors it goes out right away.

It also fades quicker if tyou start the engine.

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

would be quite easy to knock up a delay circuit and wire it in, hehe i could make one with an adjustable delay Smile

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Really? You could make one Si? You amaze me with ur cleverness Laughing

!

It'd have to be small enough to fit up in the roof assembly bit with the sunroof controls on etc tho wouldn't it. How would u make it adjustable? That's just showing off lol Razz

I'm assuming I could buy something like this rather than you going through the trouble of making one?

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

its very very easy Si, it would be small enough to fit into the roof assembly and to adjust the delay you could either have something like the dimmer switch control mounted in the roof assembly or have a 'pot' on the board itself (althou that would mean removing the assembly if u wanted to readjust the delay)

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

So, si, if you were to name a price & were able to make me one......would it be easy for a dumb ass like me to fit? Laughing

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

well . . would u like one with a dial for the delay so you can adjust it and do you want instant light out after whatever set time or an uber cool light slow fade out hehe

if you want a dial to adjust the delay, i could do an exchange thingy i guess on the roof assembly, i build the thing here and send u a complete unit using one off my chammy and then u send me your roof thingy.

then all it would be is a matter of plugging it in

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Oooh I think I'd have to go for the slow fade out option Razz

lol. I think a 20 second delay would be okay, I don't think there's much point in having it adjustable really.

I can't picture the roof unit without going and lookin at it (which I don't want to cuz it's pissin it down!) but do the 2 lights come out seperately to the rest of the unit? Like we wouldn't be exchangine the whole massive thing would we? Sunroof controls & everything? Just the 2 lights & switch?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

if youre going to do a swap, make sure youve got the same roof unit, there are 2 types, one for cars with a factory installed alarm and one without...

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

Not sure if mine had the factory installed alarm or not? Wouldn't all the 16v's have had an alarm? I dunno. All I do know is that mine has now got an aftermarket alarm which I use to lock & unlock the car. Would that affect the way you've gotta wire it up Si? Or no different?