Cargo Area/Hatch Door Lights

I had some more modifications done, and I really like this one. I had some LED flood lights installed on the hatch door so that when the hatch is open, they shine down onto the cargo area (and the rear of the car and surrounding pavement). I'm attaching some photos that show their placement and how the car looks in the dark with them turned off and with them lit up. They fully illuminate the cargo area.

The lights were recommended by the guy who owns the stereo/alarm/12v shop I go to (Streetnoyz in San Diego). They have Cree LEDs in them, and the owner said he's had good luck with them as far as quality and longevity. I've included photos of the box one of them came in (both lights are the same). I think the lights are about $45 each. I think the installation was billed at 1 or 1 1/2 hours (most of that time being spent routing the wires). I had them install a switch so I could turn them off. If I don't turn them off, they come on when the hatch is open (like the OEM cargo area light).

 

They put the switch beside the OEM cargo light (photo below). The amount of light is incredible. In the photos, it looks like they might be too bright, but it's actually just right. You can see everything just like it's broad daylight. I got the idea on here from some similarly-positioned lights that were made for a previous generation Prius. I haven't switched the interior lights to LED yet. I might, but I'm not certain. I think I've seen a kit mentioned in these forums here to swap out all of the interior bulbs.

 

Thanks, I am very happy with the install. Every hatchback I've ever owned had lousy lighting in the hatch area (all like the little bitty side light built into the Prius). The trunks in my sedans were no better. I just wanted to have good lighting for once.

I don't know exactly how they tapped the power. I'll ask the next time I go in (I've got a few more things planned, including the addition of "D" hooks in the cargo area firmly secured to the body). I do know they ran it through with the OEM wiring at the top of the hatch, and that that accounted for a lot of the labor charge.

 

The puddle lights (one on each side) are part of the turn signal lights that I had added to the side-view mirrors. There are a couple of posts on here about those turn signal kits, including one post by me. A place called the Hybrid Pit sells them, and the other post is by them, I believe. They just replace part of the factory mirror. Almost every part of your OEM mirror remains. I really like them.

 

I have my car in for a couple of more mods, but I will try to remember tonight.

 

Here are some photos I took earlier. I hope they help.