Installing mirror marker LEDs
Thread Starter
Jared
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,697
Likes: 25
Installing mirror marker LEDs
Im not very good at this stuff(Nor am i responsible for anything you damage break or loose on your truck) but im going to give it a shot....
I Love the way super duty mirrors have the LED marker lights, so i decided to make some for my 97. I looked high and low for options for the lights and came up empty for a good solution, i found these 8" LED strips which can be cut in half to give you 3, or 6 LEDs, at auto zone for 15$.[IMG]
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First You will need to remove the door panel. #1 and #2 will snap off, as they are held on by clips. #3 will also, with some effort, unclip. the switches are attached by clips as well, be careful with these they break easily. #4 will pop off giving way to a 9MM bolt which you will ratchet off and this will allow #5(the door handle) to come out. once you pull out the handle you will be able to lift up the door panel(#6). BE CAREFUL! the door light will still be attached, simply twist it slowly and it should come out easily, now the panel will be completely seperated and can be moved.[IMG]
[/IMG]
Before removing the mirror you will need to remove the mirror cap, this can be done with a long flathead screwdriver. there are 4 clips, they simply pop up and over a little lip allowing the cap to pop off. I dont have many good pictures of this due to their location. you will see them and get the concept quickly.[IMG]
[/IMG]
Now that you have the mirror cap off you can feed the wire through to the inside of the mirror. I used the Bottom right clip hole, im sure there are other ways but this is what i deemed best. leave enough wire to position the lights wherever you would like but not too much or you will have extra wire showing.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
In order to get the mirror cap to fit back on, without cutting you wire you will have to mark and notch the bottom of the cap to accommodate the wire. i used wire clippers but pick your tool of choice, the notch shouldnt be any bigger than it needs to be or it will leak water into the mirror more than it already does.[IMG]
[/IMG]
Once the cap is back on you can position the light as you wish.
Now, to feed the wire through to the inside of the door you will need to remove the mirror. On the top right corner behind the Matting, you will find 3, 11MM bolts, these attach your mirror to the truck. Remove these at your own risk with EXTREME caution, if you drop one they will fall into the sealed door of the truck. By removing these you will unsecure the mirror, thus giving you access to the wire hole which is where you will run the wires from the inside of the mirror to the inside of the truck. I had a buddy hold the mirror, but you could probably sneak by holding it by yourself.[IMG]
[/IMG]
OK, so you have the mirror off and looking at where it attaches to the door you will see foam backing(#3), carefully peel it back to expose the entry point of the wires, #1 shows the guide wires entry point which will be pushed through to behind the glass of the mirror . this is where the guidewire should pop out.[IMG]
[/IMG]
Using something, preferably a thicker wire(a piece of what you will use to run power to the end of the supplied wires) you can push the wire in the hole(#1) and force it through to the other side behind the glass. you will see it pop out after some negotiation here.[IMG]
[/IMG]
Then attach the light wire to the "guide wire" by twisting them together and securing with electrical tape and and pull it back through.
Pull the wire through the hole in the door of the truck between the three bolt holes for the mirror and unattach your guide wire. you can now reattach your mirror. Also reattach your door panel by reversing the steps for removing it. Put the wire from the mirror behind the "#2" clip panel so it can be run from there to the gap between your front fender and the fire wall, sorry for the bad picture, when you look you will see it. IMAGE ATTACHED IN SECOND POST
Here is where you will splice the ends of your light wire to the ends of the extended wire for power hook up. make sure you know which is your hot and ground, that is crucial.
Now as for wiring it to your system there are a couple options, wire them into your parking lights or to a switch. if you wish to know how to do that PM me, that is a lengthy process in itself, i just wanted to go through how to attach the lights themselves.
Good Luck, hope this helps, its my first write up so dont hate too much
I Love the way super duty mirrors have the LED marker lights, so i decided to make some for my 97. I looked high and low for options for the lights and came up empty for a good solution, i found these 8" LED strips which can be cut in half to give you 3, or 6 LEDs, at auto zone for 15$.[IMG]
[/IMG]First You will need to remove the door panel. #1 and #2 will snap off, as they are held on by clips. #3 will also, with some effort, unclip. the switches are attached by clips as well, be careful with these they break easily. #4 will pop off giving way to a 9MM bolt which you will ratchet off and this will allow #5(the door handle) to come out. once you pull out the handle you will be able to lift up the door panel(#6). BE CAREFUL! the door light will still be attached, simply twist it slowly and it should come out easily, now the panel will be completely seperated and can be moved.[IMG]
[/IMG]Before removing the mirror you will need to remove the mirror cap, this can be done with a long flathead screwdriver. there are 4 clips, they simply pop up and over a little lip allowing the cap to pop off. I dont have many good pictures of this due to their location. you will see them and get the concept quickly.[IMG]
[/IMG]Now that you have the mirror cap off you can feed the wire through to the inside of the mirror. I used the Bottom right clip hole, im sure there are other ways but this is what i deemed best. leave enough wire to position the lights wherever you would like but not too much or you will have extra wire showing.
[IMG]
[/IMG]In order to get the mirror cap to fit back on, without cutting you wire you will have to mark and notch the bottom of the cap to accommodate the wire. i used wire clippers but pick your tool of choice, the notch shouldnt be any bigger than it needs to be or it will leak water into the mirror more than it already does.[IMG]
[/IMG]Once the cap is back on you can position the light as you wish.
Now, to feed the wire through to the inside of the door you will need to remove the mirror. On the top right corner behind the Matting, you will find 3, 11MM bolts, these attach your mirror to the truck. Remove these at your own risk with EXTREME caution, if you drop one they will fall into the sealed door of the truck. By removing these you will unsecure the mirror, thus giving you access to the wire hole which is where you will run the wires from the inside of the mirror to the inside of the truck. I had a buddy hold the mirror, but you could probably sneak by holding it by yourself.[IMG]
[/IMG]OK, so you have the mirror off and looking at where it attaches to the door you will see foam backing(#3), carefully peel it back to expose the entry point of the wires, #1 shows the guide wires entry point which will be pushed through to behind the glass of the mirror . this is where the guidewire should pop out.[IMG]
[/IMG]Using something, preferably a thicker wire(a piece of what you will use to run power to the end of the supplied wires) you can push the wire in the hole(#1) and force it through to the other side behind the glass. you will see it pop out after some negotiation here.[IMG]
[/IMG]Then attach the light wire to the "guide wire" by twisting them together and securing with electrical tape and and pull it back through.
Pull the wire through the hole in the door of the truck between the three bolt holes for the mirror and unattach your guide wire. you can now reattach your mirror. Also reattach your door panel by reversing the steps for removing it. Put the wire from the mirror behind the "#2" clip panel so it can be run from there to the gap between your front fender and the fire wall, sorry for the bad picture, when you look you will see it. IMAGE ATTACHED IN SECOND POST
Here is where you will splice the ends of your light wire to the ends of the extended wire for power hook up. make sure you know which is your hot and ground, that is crucial.
Now as for wiring it to your system there are a couple options, wire them into your parking lights or to a switch. if you wish to know how to do that PM me, that is a lengthy process in itself, i just wanted to go through how to attach the lights themselves.
Good Luck, hope this helps, its my first write up so dont hate too much
Last edited by jt94; Mar 13, 2012 at 01:37 AM.
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Thread Starter
Jared
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,697
Likes: 25
Originally Posted by wakonako
I like the finished effect in the dark, especially with the clearance lights. But IMO it looks extremely "DIY"/Homemade during the day.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 32
From: Atlanta, GA
Good job, JT!!!! I just did my passenger mirror the same way, because the aftermarket signal mirror wasn't working. I came to find out that after I installed (with double stick tape, silicone sealant and a couple of small screws) the strip, the ground wire in the mirror harness was in the wrong pin on the connector. Corrected that condition, and tapped into the correct signal leads. Works great! Yes, close up it looks DIY because of the silicone, but the LED strips were $6.00 as opposed to $240 for updated signal mirrors. Driver side next.
