General I lit up the old boot (and I'm not referring to the Mrs).

[Herts Hillhopper]

Here's a curious thing. The light in the Multipla's boot is the same, but there only the front 'lens' shows with the rest all behind the trim (so not much light in the boot and lots in the space where the jack is stored). In the Panda, yes it fits 'sideways' but this seems to be because most of the light comes out of the back... and Fiat seem to have exploited that.

 

[BenP]

It wasn't until I read this thread that I realised I actually had a light in the boot of the 100HP!

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

if you have an electric triger for the boot ie swich opening not mechanical the light will go out as their is a swich in the lock to tell the body computer wether the boot is open or closed also i fink ther is a warning on the dash board depending on how much you spent on the car lol

...and, if you do the same as I did and slam the boot with something in the way of the latch, that reveals that there are two switches -- one for the boot light and one for the 'door open warning'. I broke the switch by slamming the door onto a coat and then couldn't lock the car because it thought a door was still open. I pulled the plug off the boot latch by getting my fingers in behind the trim, so I could lock but have no light. Later, as cheaper fix than replacing the latch, I cut the wire to the 'door open' switch but the boot light still works after putting the plug back.

 

[Ingvarr]

By the way, does anybody know what exact connector type is used for the boot lamp?
I want to buy one to do proper connection to it, but pretty much stuck unless I know exact type of this wierd big 2-pole plug.

Anyway, first phase of the proper boot LED lighting complete. Behold:

Basically, I've decided to use pair of these - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-42-LED-White-Panel-Dome-Car-Wedge-Bayonet-Festoon_W0QQitemZ360110543716QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item360110543716&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

They have just arrived, so I've completed the first half - putting the light under the left parcel shelf support closest to connector.

Here is the piccys - take note that first four is at daytime, this makes some impression on how bright the light is. I must say that these panels are of pretty much perfect size, and they are perfectly hidden by parcel shelf rests, so no of their bright light gets in your eyes. Easy to fit to - just use good two-sided sticky tape.

Last two images is a proper nighttime test. As you can see, visibility is excellent. Cornish tin mine? Hell no!

When I'll get a stretch of wire and proper connector, I intend to put another one on right shelf support, not that its really necessary, but for the sake of symmetry

 

[udtrev]

Very good, how did you wire that one up, or did you use the festoon fitting ?


Trev

 

[Ingvarr]

I cut off the plastic bit on the small 2-pin connector soldered to LED panel wire, and this way it fits into larger FIAT one. It does not properly lock obviously, but I secured it with some duct tape, and then hidden the connection by pushing it back under the carpet trim.
If needed, it can be easely removed and restored to original state.

 

[KozmoNaut]

I found the wire loom and connector on my 2008 multijet dynamic and hooked up a multimeter to check the voltage etc.

Oddly enough, even with the boot closed, there's a constant 12 volts across the connector. Boot open, boot closed, doors open or closed, 12 volts no matter what.

I've checked that the door sensors work. It triggers the door light on the dash just fine, and I'm unable to lock the car while the boot is open.

But still, there's a constant 12 volts across the connector, even with the boot properly closed. I'm very interested in lighting up the boot, but not particularly interested in a light that stays lit 24/7.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Ingvarr]

I haven't checked the voltage, but the light goes on when I open the boot, goes off when I close the boot and also even with boot open there is a timeout (large, about 10-15 mins), after which even with boot open it goes off.
Its possible that voltage is always present, but the current is limited in "off" mode.

 

[KozmoNaut]

That's the the same conclusion I ended up at. I tried fitting a spare 12v 7-LED ceiling spot my dad had. With the boot open, it turned on nicely, but with the boot closed, one of the LEDs didn't turn off.

So, instead of admitting defeat, we ended up rigging a relay and a bit of wiring, and it works perfectly now

Most likely, the circuit is designed for an incandescent bulb which draws a fair amount of current compared to the LEDs, which would also explain why the multimeter didn't read the voltage like I expected.

After 45 minutes of tinkering, the Panda has a bootlight, and one with a bit more oomph than the standard FIAT unit, to boot ;-)

 

[percymon]

Ordered one of these based on the pictures above of the Far East supplied LED block..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WHITE-40-LED-DOME-DOOR-LIGHT-For-CAR-Vehicle-Interior_W0QQitemZ310113892957QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item310113892957&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1299%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

this one is based in Manchester , so faster delivery and less risk

Will report on performance next week

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

...but with the boot closed, one of the LEDs didn't turn off.

So, instead of admitting defeat, we ended up rigging a relay and a bit of wiring, and it works perfectly now ...

I suppose you could simply have added a resistor in series with the LEDs to provide a bit more 'load' on the circuit. Wouldn't affect the brightness but would keep the computer happy and all turn off.

 

[KozmoNaut]

I suppose you could simply have added a resistor in series with the LEDs to provide a bit more 'load' on the circuit. Wouldn't affect the brightness but would keep the computer happy and all turn off.

Most likely, yes.

But my father has worked for with electronics etc. for more than 35 years, and he wanted to do it the fancy way

 

[percymon]

Ordered one of these based on the pictures above of the Far East supplied LED block..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WHITE-40-LED-DOME-DOOR-LIGHT-For-CAR-Vehicle-Interior_W0QQitemZ310113892957QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item310113892957&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1299%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

this one is based in Manchester , so faster delivery and less risk

Will report on performance next week

Arrived this morning - not exactly the quickest delivery given it only came 40 miles down the motorway from the warehouse. The seller must be a fairly big concern as the package was marked 'packing group 4'.

So hopefully the girlfriends boot will be illuminated this weekend

 

[james_f]

Excellent way of brightening up the boot!

Is double-sided tape the only way to secure the 'unit'? I can just foresee it coming adrift as joggled about while driving. Is there no way to put a couple of little self tappers through the LED unit? Or are there some properly strong double-sided pad thingys which would be ok?

Also, a really good description of how the unit is wired into the cars system would be useful, images even better!

 

[Ingvarr]

Excellent way of brightening up the boot!

Is double-sided tape the only way to secure the 'unit'? I can just foresee it coming adrift as joggled about while driving. Is there no way to put a couple of little self tappers through the LED unit?

The double-sided Sellotape fixing pads I've used are rated at 1 kg. Since the actual LED panel is hardly above 10 grams, I doubt it will come adrift any soon

Comprehensive instructions on connecting are in the first post of this thread. Nothing much to add to it really - pull the carpet, you will see the loom and free connector, untape it and plug your lamp/LED in it.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

...a really good description of how the unit is wired into the cars system would be useful, images even better!

James
Your 4x4 already has a (rather dim) bootlight.. The unit described here by percymon a couple of posts up this thread is supplied with a 'dummy bulb' that you put in place of the real one in the existing bootlight and that's all you need to do (or you could use the wiring connectors that supply that). Most of the 'work' described in the first post applies to those who don't already have a bootlight fitted.

Pete

 

[percymon]

It really doesn't get much easier - remove two screws on the parcel shelf side section, pull carpet down under the shelf 'legs' , undo the masking tape on the wiring loom to reveal the lead and white plug. Pull plug and wiring through the carpet (there is a cross slot already cut for this). Replace carpet and screws. Fit cable locating plug to parcel shelf leg (already fitted to car wiring lead), then plug in your chosen light.

My LED panel came with a variety of connectors to fit in standard bulb holders (festoon, push fit etc etc). The unit came supplied with a black fitted plug wth two thin metal prongs - these slid straight into the Fiat white plug - it is quite secure but would benefit from a small amount of electrical tape to secure the connection for the long term.

I then stuck the LED panel (using the full size self adhesive pad already fitted to it) to the underside of the shelf support - hence light shines down at a slight angle across the boot floor, and not backwards like the factory light.

How bright ? - its like a football stadium in there ! will try to post some pics tonight of connectors etc, but the post on page 2 by Ingvarr is very represenative.

Does the light go out when you close the boot - after the long delay it certainly does. Not sure how long this delay is as i stood by the car for 5 minutes admiring the lighting through the rear window, got cold and decided to leave it 30 minutes before i went back to check, by which time the light had extinguished.

 

[james_f]

Cheers guys, I'm obviously having a senior moment or two!

 

[tipouno]

Many thanks to all contributors to this post. My new Panda came without boot light and I have followed the advice hereon anf fitted an LED unit which provides excellent illumination. I have noticed that the light comes on not only when the boot is opened, but also when the central locking is operated and also when the drivers door is opened. It appears to come on at half power until the boot is opened, then it lights up fully. It also stays lit for a fair while - much longer than you would consider necessary. As others have experienced this, I am not too concerned, but will monitor it.

 

[Ingvarr]

The small residual current is here to detect for burnt bulbs.
With filament bulb its not enough to light the bulb, with LED its enough to actually produce light.
However the current is the same in both cases and completely harmless.