I've just recently done a complete replacement of the audio system in my '02 SuperCrew, from the deck down to the subwoofer. It's all new, and it's all hidden - I even have the subwoofer (and box) tucked away in the center console. The deck has a retracting faceplate, it's pretty slick. But to make it even more slick, I want to add some neon to it. I've got four 9" neon accent tubes - 2 blue and 2 red. The blues are going under the front seats, the red under the rear. I'd like to make this a permanent install, but I don't want these neon lamps coming on every time the truck is on. I'd like them to turn on only when the headlights are on.

I've thought of a couple of ways to do this. I could either wire them directly to the fuse box (which thus far hasn't worked) or I could splice them into the headlamp power supply leading out of the headlight switch.

I know how to get the switch assembly off, and I know which harness I am going to be working through, but I have absolutely no clue as to what wire I'll want to cut into. If somebody could tell me what wire is the power supply leading out of the headlamp switch, or even which wire correspends to the power to each headlight (this would be especially helpful) I would be extremely grateful. Thanks.

 

Ford used a Blue/red stripe wire for years to run the courtesy lights.There is also a Brown wire that ran the running lights.
I don't know the amperage of draw in these neao,but I would use a relay instead of wiring directly into the lighting system creating more draw on Ford's headlight switch.
The power from the running lights would trigger Better power from the battery instead.

 

Thank you very much for that little bit of knwoledge. Knowing now that the headlight switch solution might not work, could you advise on what kind of a relay I would have to wire in order to make this work? Also, now that I continue to think about it, I'd also like these lights to come on when the interior lights are on. I keep making this more and more complicated! Again, all help is appreciated, especially a diagram

 

The brown park light wire at the switch is definatley too small to power your lights but would have no problem turning on a Bosch type relay. If you go to any parts store and ask for a Bosch light relay they should know what to give you.

 

new problem:

i talked to a guy i know at the local tweeter store. he told me that i could simply splice into the red (ignition/accessory) wire that goes into my deck, and that should give me sufficient power. so i went ahead and used some quicksplicers and used that power supply, and i was also told that i could splice into the stereo's ground wire to ground the switch i installed for the lights.

however, after doing this, the stereo won't power on . i've checked the fuses, checked the relays, and none of them are blown.

this leads me to believe that either a wire has gone faulty during the splicing, or the deck has been damaged. I'll check the wires tomorrow, and if that fails, then i guess i will know what has happened. any other suggestions are welcome.

 

By "quicksplice", do you mean the Scotch-type connector that folds over the 2 wires? Those are among the WORST connectors ever imagined! The best way to splice wires (short of soldering, or cutting & crimping) is shown in detail on this site:
http://www.bulldogsecurity.com/site.html

 

is it possible that the scotch-type quicksplicers did this? what about using these connectors could cause my head unti to stop functioning - especially after i removed the quicksplicers and taped the wire back up?

i know that some aftermarket headunits have a fuse in them - where is this generally located?

thank you again