1999 corolla ve trunk light adding.

Hello Every One, I have a 1999 Corolla VE. VE means no options at all. Other than the dome light, there's no lighting in the trunk. I would like to know how: 1) I could add an LED light strip in the trunk since there's no socket or wiring that I could use. I have bought a pin switch and that's about it. I would like to know how I could grab any wire from the tail light to provide power and how to set it up so the light goes on with opening of the trunk and light goes off with the trunk closing. I think the pin switch would provide the turning on and off. 2) I would like to know, since the car didn't come with any trunk release mechanism, how could I add it? My 90 Accord has the release cable and I used the actuator tie to my alarm AUX and it works great. But the Corolla has no release cable that the actuator could attach to to work. Thanks.

Running off a stop light etc. is unworkable, you need to run a wire back from a constant and ground it through the pin switch so it turns on when you open the trunk. In fact run 2 wires, the other goes to the ground (pin switch) side of the LED because you will need that as a trunk trigger for the alarm you will eventually install Then there's the third thicker wire you will need to install the release solenoid..

Why not use a battery operated LED light? I have several $3-$5 3xAAA or 3xAA cell powered puck or disc lights that have a magnetic base (and a hanging hook). They last well over 24 hours lit. Some have a side or face switch; on others you simply push the "lens". I keep a few on my unlined ute ceiling and move them to bonnets or wheel guards as required. Certainly great as a temporary light until I get to installing a hard-wired light (like in about 10 - 30 years time...)

I picked up a pair of multi LED lights, stripped the 6 volt battery bits away and hooked both up into the rear of my Rover Estate via 270ohm resistors replaced an existing 10 watt pendant bulb. My middle and front dome lights were simple cap-less wedges so I directly replaced them with 12 volt LEDs. Funny how great minds think alike

Yeah - but I sometimes think like that too! (ha ha)

Thanks guys. Right now I have this in the trunk. It has a magnet so my wife can turn it on and off. She always forget it so I have to change the batteries daily. I just want to make it convenient for her. Also the car won't have an alarm. I don't think any one want to steal this car but it would nice to give her a push button trunk release. The car has a disable alarm brain already under the dash. It was poorly installed. This helps from having to turn the engine off to open the trunk.

So for the trunk light could I wire it without a relay since it's low current draw LED strip? How would I do it? Constant 12V to a 1 amp fuse then to LED strip positive. Then pin switch to negative of LED strip? I know I will need a relay for sure with the trunk actuator but that I have a diagram from Howie a while ago. Thanks.

Yes - a relay usually requires more current than the LEDs! And your wiring is correct too. IE +12V - fuse - LED+ - LED- - switch - GND The fuse is to protect the wire used. You probably can't "fuse protect" the LEDs - they'll blow or fail on their own accord.

oldspark wrote: Yes - a relay usually requires more current than the LEDs! And your wiring is correct too. IE +12V - fuse - LED+ - LED- - switch - GND The fuse is to protect the wire used. You probably can't "fuse protect" the LEDs - they'll blow or fail on their own accord.

Thanks. So for the negative of the LED strip it goes to the spade connector of the pin switch and the switch itself is grounded if installed on metal. So when the switch is up it grounds to light up the LED strip.

Yes.