Our upgrade to the weak boot light

Hi, I thought that others may want to see a way to get a bit more light in the boot as the original only lights up a little corner of the rear seat!







With hindsight I should have turned the flash off for night shots!

eBay 5metre roll of led lights
Soldered on spade connectors to led lights
Added sticky back Velcro to lights to stick to carpet
Pushed wiring through small hole conveniently supplied below existing light (I do wonder what the hole is actually for as it is the same the other side)
Pushed spade connectors into terminals on bulb holder where the bulb used to be.

Very innovative - good idea!

I don't understand the need for a boot light. The boot is the size of a shoe box. What are people putting in the boot that's so small they need a light to see it? I mean this mod looks funky and all but seriously, the boot is tiny. If you blindfolded me I'd be able to find anything in the boot in seconds. Am I missing something?

Cheers Elio

Jnoiles
We live in the country mate, wilts, no street lights anywhere, wife leaves for work (travel to station for train to London) at 0450 and returns 1900. The bag for the laptop and the de icer are in the boot, as is the spare wheel shudder the thought. She has tried fumbling in the dark with the candle that Fiat fit then told me to sort it, hence the light.

Different strokes fer different folks eh, you may not want or need one but it doesn't make those that do some kind of nut

jnoiles said:

I Am I missing something?

Click to expand...

Possibly, but with better boot light you may see it.

Just sympathise with the original Sport and Pop owners who had nothing.

Having aforementioned Sport 500 (with no boot light) I got used to not having it and always was seen fumbling around in the dark looking for things. Can you imagine my joy at discovering I HAVE A BOOT LIGHT in my Punto Abarth! Thanks to usual Fiat quality control, it wasn't working, and I didn't see it (as its in stupid place in the boot) but after accidentally discovered it a week ago (and got it working, loose connectors) I can honestly tell you it is easily the best thing since sliced bread!

Venters said:

Possibly, but with better boot light you may see it.

Click to expand...

:worship:

You will find the boot light in the gp will fit the 500 the wiring should be there look In the guides section

Re: Our upgrade to the weak boot light

sixer said:

eBay 5metre roll of led lights
Soldered on spade connectors to led lights
Added sticky back Velcro to lights to stick to carpet
Pushed wiring through small hole conveniently supplied below existing light (I do wonder what the hole is actually for as it is the same the other side)
Pushed spade connectors into terminals on bulb holder where the bulb used to be.

Click to expand...

you have everything now except an armrest

Re: Our upgrade to the weak boot light

sixer said:

Hi, I thought that others may want to see a way to get a bit more light in the boot as the original only lights up a little corner of the rear seat!
....
With hindsight I should have turned the flash off for night shots!

eBay 5metre roll of led lights
Soldered on spade connectors to led lights
Added sticky back Velcro to lights to stick to carpet
Pushed wiring through small hole conveniently supplied below existing light (I do wonder what the hole is actually for as it is the same the other side)
Pushed spade connectors into terminals on bulb holder where the bulb used to be.

Click to expand...

Very neat looking job.
Is that 5M ?
How tough are the LEDS - can it take a bit of 'rubbing' from grocery items, etc. Suspect that it wouldn't be able to take the track spares that I once saw Jason (Jnoiles) having in his boot.

sixer said:

We live in the country mate, wilts, no street lights anywhere, wife leaves for work (travel to station for train to London) at 0450 and returns 1900. The bag for the laptop and the de icer are in the boot, as is the spare wheel shudder the thought. She has tried fumbling in the dark with the candle that Fiat fit then told me to sort it, hence the light.

Click to expand...

Cool, I wasn't having a go, I just still remain puzzled by it. I had a big Holden once that had an evil boot that was massive and weirdly shaped. You could fit 3 teenagers in it (don't ask). That needed a boot light. The 500 boot is half filled with my laptop bag. I can't wrap my head around the idea that stuff gets lost in the boot? Even when you pack it like this:

Jason, is your last name Milat?

Re: Our upgrade to the weak boot light

loveshandbags said:

Very neat looking job.
Is that 5M ?
How tough are the LEDS - can it take a bit of 'rubbing' from grocery items, etc. Suspect that it wouldn't be able to take the track spares that I once saw Jason (Jnoiles) having in his boot.

Click to expand...

Thanks, they come in a 5 metre strip with points at which you can cut to any length you wish. You then solder at the terminals at one end. The leds and the conductive flat cable are probably no thicker than a thumbnail, but it is covered over with with about 3mm deep flexible soft clear plastic, thus offering great protection.