removal of side air vents for LEDs installation

[Captain N]

Hey guys I need your help. I want to instal some red leds in my air vents. The middle 2 are easy because they come right off with the center console so not a problem. I was wondering about the 2 side vents. I don't know if I can just pull them out or not. They kinda twist apart but stay in that socket and it doesn't seem they would fit though the hole. Now I can reach up under the dash on the driver side and feel the vent track there, and was thinking about shoving a wire hanger though that side and attaching my wire.

Has anyone done this before?
Also is 1 led enough in each vent or should I use 2?
and how should I attach them, just hot glue them down or double side tape.

Any info on the subject would be great

Russ

[Cody]

i did this in my xB. to get to them i had to take off my dash completely..
16430
then we drilled holes in the back of them, popped and led in and it looks great. kind of a lot of work for it but if youre up to it go for it(if its the same in an xA that is).

[Cody]

oh and i only used one led per vent. i dont have any pics of it finished but it looks great!

[Captain N]

yeah thats one way of going about it. I was hoping theres a quicker way but this will work as well. lol
Also how did you place the LEDs on the side vents. Did you just lie them down into the vent or attached them with some tape. I want the placement to be good so I do not have to go back in and fix it.

[comedykills]

you drill a hole for the led to fit into and it will hold it in place no need for tape or glue just push it in the hole

[Captain N]

like drill a hole in the track of the air vent or into the ball vent thing and sit it in that???

[STEELBREEZE]

like drill a hole in the track of the air vent or into the ball vent thing and sit it in that???

You'll drill the hole near the rear of the vent after the curve so to line up the direction of your LED towards the front of your vent. You'll see once your in there. Just look straight back into your vent from the front, and line up a direct line forward. I did mine a lil different but the LEDs I used were a lil different. Just remember most normal LEDs are directional and produce light in a straight line. It's not that hard of a job even including removing the dash. Not including your electrical hook-up, you could do it in a couple hours. Ours was in an XA.

[Captain N]

Yeah that makes sense, I'm going to start it now and see what happens. Mine is a xA as well I found a tutorial on how to remove the dash so it should work great.
http://scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67439

[Captain N]

ok started the project and I can't get the glove box off?? any help

[Captain N]

Ok guys I made it through. Took me all day from about noon till 11 at night. Totally worth it. Had trouble getting the glove box out, when I realized you just squeeze the sides and it come out. Than the last bolt that is connect to the passenger airbag would not budge. I had to have my neighbor come over with a impact socket to get it off it was on there so damn tight. After that it looked like this.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/russlyman/scion%20xA%20leds/scionnodash.jpg
It was a mess. I ended up scratch a bit of my dash from putting it on the cement. :0(

After the long wiring and installing the leds, it finally went back together great. He is the best picture I could get at night.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/russlyman/scion%20xA%20leds/scionledsinsidecab.jpg

I ended up having 4 leds left over because I thought I would need more for inside the air vents. 1 led was plenty and I probably could have set them back further too. I was worried the light wouldn't shine through even and if you look in the vent you can blantly see it right there. But o well. I took the extra 4 leds I have and put them across my front end, and hook up a red led bar in my grille.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/russlyman/scion%20xA%20leds/scionredledoutside.jpg
You can kinda see my white underglow too, but we had to shine some light on the car so the picture would come out. It looks great in person, kinda like a UFO.

I saved a ton of money I think wiring the LEDs myself. I just went to Radio Shack and but a pack of LEDs for $3 and resistors for $1. I got 18 gauge wire at Walmart for like $2.50 So for the inside vent glow and outside glow it probably coast me like $15

[JylBish]

That looks fantastic!!! :up:

Wanna do mine next?? :)

[Cody]

nice! sorry, i wouldve helped alot more, but i forgot about this thread until now lol

[Captain N]

That looks fantastic!!! :up:

Wanna do mine next?? :)

road trip. lol If you were closer def, I love modding other peoples cars