FordFusionClub.com banner

Center console ambient light hookup?

26K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  bangster  
#1 ·
Hey everyone!

First, I have been thumbing through many of the posts on this board for months getting ideas on upgrades and mods that I might do on my Fusion. Thanks to everyone for their ideas and insights.

I'm looking to add some type of ambient lighting to my 2009 Fusion, and so I opened up the center console area to get more familiar with the layout and wiring options. I found this green plug pre-wired for something. Since it is right below the area of where the factory ambient light switch would be, I was curious if that is what it might be for, and If I could tap it for such use? Might this switch be hooked into the dimmer control? Any input from those with more tinkering knowledge than me would be appreciated.
 

Attachments

#2 ·
You would be better off probing the wires with a multimeter.
 
#4 ·
[quote author=CommodoreVic20 link=topic=168792.msg3575019#msg3575019 date=1269003030]Might this switch be hooked into the dimmer control? Any input from those with more tinkering knowledge than me would be appreciated.
[/quote]On the Mustang, the dimmer switch doesn't control the ambient brightness. You get either high or low (or off) via the info/setup menu.
 
#5 ·
Ok,

I was able to borrow a friends multi-meter over the weekend and I did confirm what each of the three wires will do.
The purple-gray is a 12 volt tied into the headlights and dimmer switch. The solid green is 12 volt and is live when the engine is on, or accessory is on. It is delay off like the radio when the key is turned off (power remains to the circuit until the door is opened, for example). Lastly, the solid purple appears to be the ground.

This should work out well, as it gives me several options for powering whatever lighting kit I install, based on how I would like it to behave. I am also going to install the Ford Fusion lighted door sill plates in the next week or two, so I will see how all this pans out.

Best....
 
#6 ·
[quote author=CommodoreVic20 link=topic=168792.msg3579157#msg3579157 date=1269266133]
I was able to borrow a friends multi-meter over the weekend and I did confirm what each of the three wires will do.
The purple-gray is a 12 volt tied into the headlights and dimmer switch. The solid green is 12 volt and is live when the engine is on, or accessory is on. It is delay off like the radio when the key is turned off (power remains to the circuit until the door is opened, for example). Lastly, the solid purple appears to be the ground.
[/quote]Not sure what year your car is but for the 2010 model year the wiring codes are as follows:

Violet/Gray = traction control + (hot in start or run)

Green/Red = ambient light switch to module.

Black/Violet = ground

Violet = SJB to puddle lights.
 
#7 ·
I am looking into installing an ambient lighting kit but I want to make it look stock. I'm thinking of buying the stock ambient light button and then connecting the positive wire of the leds to the green/red(2010 model) wire coming out of the stock switch. Then I would connect the ground wires directly from the led light strips to a good grounding point. If anyone has any input or knows if this will work, I would like to hear your feedback.
 
#8 ·
[quote author=jeshively link=topic=168792.msg4056422#msg4056422 date=1308880227]
I am looking into installing an ambient lighting kit but I want to make it look stock. I'm thinking of buying the stock ambient light button and then connecting the positive wire of the leds to the green/red(2010 model) wire coming out of the stock switch. Then I would connect the ground wires directly from the led light strips to a good grounding point. If anyone has any input or knows if this will work, I would like to hear your feedback.
[/quote]The last time I looked at the factory schematic was a while ago but I don't think this would work, and there is more than just a switch involved. It's not a typical switch.
 
#9 ·
I know this is an older post but...
The factory ambient lighting button is just a "selector switch". It sends a signal to the ambient lighting module to select between the different colors and off, so essentially you would push the button when off, it would light up say white, next push, yellow, next, pink, next green, next, blue, so on, then eventually you would get to the push that turns it back off again. The ambient lightin module is what sends the signal to the LED's (groups of 3 LEDs I believe) to turn on and off in different combinations to form colors. like: blue on, now add red and green to make white, now turn down blue to make orange, etc.

SO... you could definitely find a way to integrate the factory button and just wire it to be an on off switch, but you would have to use a relay or something.

good luck.
 
#13 ·
Did anyone ever go any further with this? I have the Ford aftermarket ambient light kit, but I want to use the factory ambient light switch instead of the one I have to drill in the center console.

The factory switch is a combined unit with the traction control switch, but it doesn't look like it would be too hard to transfer the wires from the aftermarket switch to the connector that goes to the factory switch.
 
#10 ·
[quote author=crowdogg link=topic=168792.msg4096259#msg4096259 date=1313799175]
I know this is an older post but...
The factory ambient lighting button is just a "selector switch". It sends a signal to the ambient lighting module to select between the different colors and off, so essentially you would push the button when off, it would light up say white, next push, yellow, next, pink, next green, next, blue, so on, then eventually you would get to the push that turns it back off again. The ambient lightin module is what sends the signal to the LED's (groups of 3 LEDs I believe) to turn on and off in different combinations to form colors. like: blue on, now add red and green to make white, now turn down blue to make orange, etc.

SO... you could definitely find a way to integrate the factory button and just wire it to be an on off switch, but you would have to use a relay or something.

good luck.
[/quote]

if anybody wants the easier route. ford does offer a kit for vehicles without ambient lighting.

http://accessories.ford.com/interior-light-kit-9994.html
 
#14 ·
Whatever it is, I'm not seeing it on my 2010 book.
The cupholder connector is grey and square and towards the front of the cupholders on mine.
 
#15 ·
I know this is a really old post but I just got a 2011 Ford Fusion SE. How would I book up ambient lights if I don't have them? I'm wanting to do some mods this summer and I'd love to have the ambient under the dash and in the cup holders. Thank you very much in advance.
.
 
#16 ·
I know this is a really old post but I just got a 2011 Ford Fusion SE. How would I book up ambient lights if I don't have them? I'm wanting to do some mods this summer and I'd love to have the ambient under the dash and in the cup holders. Thank you very much in advance.
.
Hi bry11083 and welcome to the Ford Fusion Club. Unfortunately, the actual ambient light/LED components are not in your vehicle. So you would need to add them and connect to the headlight circuit, or connect to another circuit and add a switch.

There used to be a Ford Accessories, OEM kit available to add Ambient Lighting to the first generation Fusion. I am not sure if it is still available, but you can ask the Parts Department at your local Ford Dealers if it is. It does not give the full factory Ambient Lighting system, but others were happy with it in the past.

If the kit is no longer available, you would need to create your own LED system kit.

I am sure others will jump in with more information and advice, so let us know how you make out and good luck.
 
#18 ·
Here is the part number I found

CL8Z-13E700-AA
Hi bry11083. Okay, then this is what I would recommend: Stop by the Parts Department of your local Ford Dealership and ask them if this part number is compatible with your particular vehicle, and still available. Have your VIN handy. If it is compatible and available, ask for a price. Keep in mind that parts pricing is negotiable, so negotiate.

Then either purchase from them, or take the part number and shop online for a better price.

Let us know how you make out and good luck.
 
#19 ·
I want the cup holder part, but having ridden in vehicles with all the other LEDs, I find it less ambient and more annoying.

I got the switch, the control module, the cup holder, and some of the footwell LEDs from junked cars.

I have actual things I need to fix on the car, actual upgrades to perform, then I hope to add the cup holder and maybe some under dash LEDs controlled separately so when driving I can turn them off.

The control module on the bottom of the cup holder. It just uses a toggled signal from a button to be off, then the different colors. It just outputs an RGB signal, I would replace the module with my own microcontroller so I can control them better, more colors, brightness, patterns, logic, etc.
Image

I want ice blue!
Image


Image

Image


The ones on the sides of the center console and the back are simple RGB LEDs with a diffuser lens:
Image

Image