I've been racking the forums and my brains for over an hour on this. I need a source of electricity in the car that turns on when you open the door, but then continues to stay on as long as the car is on. Of course my first thought would be the map lights on the mirror, but those dim and turn off after the car is running with the doors shut.

So then my next thought being, would I have to tie this into two different components? A steady on while the car is on, like the radio, but when that shuts off, it retains it's power from the map lights until they dim off?

I have a sunroof, so the mirror map lights are the best I have for now.

More specifically, this is for a small light in the center console. I would rather not put it on a switch. Any thoughts or guidance would be helpful.

 

Bump. No one knows or has done this?

 

Bump for answers.

 

To my knowledge there is no source like what you're looking for, some are connected to the ignition but I don't believe any turn on and stay on with the door being opened. You'll have to install a switch to active with the door opening.

 

Just tap into the sunroof fuse or another one

 

You can do it. It's not hard get an ohm meter and find an accessory wire in the fuse panel. your power windows is a good one that will stay on until the circuit is broken by opening the door. If you could give me some information as to what youre planning on doing I can help you out a little more

 

Thanks, Squints. Here's my plan. I want to put a small light in this cubby hole so that these switches are always lit up whenever the car is running.


I'd REALLY love it to light up as soon as the door is opened, stay on if the car is running, and then turn off or better yet, "fade" out the same way the mirror lights do when the car get's turned off. That's why I thought connecting two power sources, one to the mirror lights, and another to a power source that will turn on when the car is running. That way, it will draw power from the current source. If the doors are opened, and the car remains off, then it will act as the mirror lights do. If the car is turned on and mirror lights fade once the door is closed, it will remain on while it's connected to a secondary power source as long as the car is on. Then it will switch back to the mirror source once the car is turned off as those turn on and fade out once the door is closed and the car is locked.

Sorry if it's confusing.

 

You will have to splice into the wires for them to dim. They will not do it by just tapping into the fuse panel

 

What's what I figured I'd end up doing. Do you think that will work? I've never tried anything like this before (dual power sources). I'm fairly good and familiar with the electrical systems of a car, having done a lot of work on them in the past. I'd hate to tear up the interior just to find that it doesn't work.

 

I sent you a pm with my number shoot me a text

 

tap off the illumination wire for the radio. it will dim with the dash dimmer switch

 

Never got a PM.

It's not necessarily that I want to be able to dim that light, but I want it to react the same as a dome light, or in my case, the rear-view mirror lights when I shut the car door.