[fiat_tarun]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

As promised some night shots of the Illuminated Window Switches as shared by my friend, makes a world of a difference in the overall ambience of the car.
...

Great mod and I really wonder why OEM's skip on such essential features, especially in top variants. My now almost 7 year old Ecosport has all button including the rear buttons illuminated.

Originally Posted by avsrihari

Did you just kiss goodbye to the OEM warranty by fiddling with a switch? These switches become a muscle memory and you don't need to look at one to operate the right switch. Again, just my 2 cents.
....

There has been no cutting of any wires and it's literally plug and play. This whole warranty void thing boils down to your equation with the dealer, hence losing warranty for such minor mods with OEM parts should not be a concern.

[mack.mehul]

I never understand why car companies indulge in such petty cost cutting of not backlit power window switches in cars. Are we supposed to carry a torch with us to look for the switch in the night. The only car i have seen in india which had such switches for all windows & in the master control of front door was in Ford Ecosport. For a car costing 36 lacs, such features are bare minimum.

[black.beauty]

Originally Posted by mack.mehul

The only car i have seen in india which had such switches for all windows & in the master control of front door was in Ford Ecosport.

XUV300 came with back-lit switches for all 4 doors. It's one of the best switch qualities as well. Not plasticy clunky like Hycross and even Virtus. It feels nice and premium for a car of 13 lakhs.

[Dead_Pedal]

I really wonder how much do car companies save on skipping on things like these. Our BR-V has no buttons backlit and it's actually a task for my father(a senior citizen) to find the right switch especially when dark. Backlighting of steering mounted audio controls and the air recirculation slider control have also been left out. You need to remember what's where. CHEAP.
@CEF, are you also planning on getting the rear seat window switches changed or that's much harder due to possibly no wiring there.

[mack.mehul]

Originally Posted by black.beauty

XUV300 came with back-lit switches for all 4 doors. It's one of the best switch qualities as well. Not plasticy clunky like Hycross and even Virtus. It feels nice and premium for a car of 13 lakhs.

Maybe the XUV 300 also has such switches. But the point i want to make is that only a handful of cars get this feature and it is not such a big feature. Really at my wits end how can car companies leave out such basic things to save money.

[dexter78]

Question: does this upgrade have all Auto up down as well? If yes thats whats I would like to do.

[CEF_Beasts]

Originally Posted by dexter78

Question: does this upgrade have all Auto up down as well? If yes thats whats I would like to do.

Yes Sir, it retains its past functions; Auto Up/Down for all windows - only the illumination part is an add-on.

Originally Posted by Dead_Pedal

@CEF, are you also planning on getting the rear seat window switches changed or that's much harder due to possibly no wiring there.

Originally Posted by bhandary

@CEF_Beasts, will look forward to your update on the illumination of individual window switches on the Passenger Doors to decide on this upgrade.

My friend who has done this exercise first, has ordered the individual white back-lit switches as well. It’ll reach him in 2-3 days, I’ll follow suit with the installation. As you said the wiring (to light up the switch) is not present, so will be using basic plug-and-play couplers to light up the individual switches.

Originally Posted by avsrihari

Did you just kiss goodbye to the OEM warranty by fiddling with a switch? These switches become a muscle memory and you don't need to look at one to operate the right switch. Again, just my 2 cents.

I appreciate the whole lot of effort in finding the right switch but it just gives Toyota the right to refuse warranty unless the change is recorded in the Toyota service records.

Sir, to my best knowledge Toyota won’t be able to void the warranty, since it’s an OEM Toyota Japan part and doesn’t require any modifications. It just needs to be plugged into the Stock 20 Pin coupler already present in the car.

[Dead_Pedal]

Any way to get those driver seat memory and the overhead(sunroof control area) buttons to light up? They've been left out too.

[Tru@1111]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

I would suggest you to downsize to Crysta’s 17 inch alloys with 235/55/R17 tires, they’ll fill the wheel wells much better and provide a more supple ride; effectively killing two birds with one stone.

How to get the TPMS working if we downsize the alloys? Will there not be any issue?

[CEF_Beasts]

Exterior Incandescent to LED Bulbs Upgrade

Till my master window and individual passenger window switches arrive, decided to upgrade all the rear incandescent bulbs to LEDs.

The taillight’s brake and parking light are in LED, but the indicator and reverse lights were incandescent bulbs. Decided to upgrade these to LED, while was at the job also decided to upgrade the License Plate incandescent bulbs to LED as well.

Now the only incandescent bulbs on the exterior of the car are under the ORVMs ie. the puddle lamps.

The Upgrades:
Indicator Bulbs Specifications : Amber Colour 2000LM & 3000K LED WY21W / 7440 Bulb

Reverse Bulbs Specifications : White Colour 2000LM & 6500K LED T15 / W16W Bulb

(Indicator and Reverse LED Bulbs I’ve used are from Autobahn Technologies)

License Plate Bulbs Specifications : 2x T10 Bulbs (I’ve used Philips Ultinons)

Note: All the Interior dome lights across the cabin, puddle lamps underneath the ORVMs and license plate lights employ T10 bulbs in the HyCross, no festoon bulbs in use in the HyCross.

Ordered a Taparia 1/4” 46 Sockets Tool Kit alongside the T10, indicator and reverse LED bulbs

For the Reverse Bulbs:

The process is fairly simple, open the tailgate and you’ll see 2 cut-outs in the boot trim, just have to pry them open with a flat head screwdriver to access the bulbs.

Rotate and unlock the bulb holder after which you just need to pull out the incandescent bulb and insert the new LED bulb. Make someone switch on the car and shift to reverse to check if the LED bulb lights up or not. If it doesn’t, it needs to be rotated 180° and re-inserted since LED bulbs have polarity.

Simply twist the bulb holder and it’ll come out with ease


Pull out the halogen bulb and replace it with the LED, test the polarity by shifting to reverse, otherwise after installation will have to do double the work


Halogen Bulb that was removed on the left and Autobahn Technologies 6500K & 2000LM LED Reverse Bulb


Reverse Lamp Before vs After: Halogen on the right and LED on the left


Both Left and Right Reverse Lamp bulbs changed to LED

For the License Plate Bulbs:

The lights are covered with a plastic cover with a foam strip to prevent it from rattling with the body of the car. To open these plastic covers, on the outer sides of the plastic trims there are small holes in which you need to inserted the smallest flat head screwdriver and push the handle of the screwdriver to the left making the head of the screwdriver push towards the right, loosening the plastic trim.

The T10 Bulbs just need to be pulled out and the new T10 LED bulbs are inserted, the polarity needs to be checked before re-installing the plastic light covers.

Here both License Plate bulbs are halogens


The left license plate in LED and the right one still the old yellow halogen



Both license plates replaced with Philips T10 Ultinon 6500K LEDs

For the Indicator Bulbs:

The tail light assembly on the body needs to be opened. You’ll require T10 sockets to open the 2 bolts that hold each tail-light. Once the bolts are removed the light assembly needs to be gently slid and pulled out. You’ll see a yellow cap which is essentially the bulb holder, which needs to be removed twisted and removed. In the same way the bulbs just needs to be pulled out and replaced with the LED bulbs.

Before vs After: Right has the new LED bulb, meanwhile Left has the halogen bulb.


Both Indicator bulbs changed to LED


LED Indicators in action with Brake lights


All Lights in action: Reverse Lamp, Indicators, Position-light and Brake Light

A video to show all lights in action.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vATWWFr1Bw8?feature=shared

The total damage to the wallet to move from Incandescent to LED Bulbs was ~₹3600, the amount Toyota India saved by not giving these from Factory .

——————————— X ———————————

Drove on the Bandra Worli Sea-Link followed by the Coastal Road, for the first time since the Sea-Link — Coastal Road connector opened.

Pretty impressive piece of infrastructure that really cuts down on the time spent to reach town.

From the start of the Sea-Link to the end of the Coastal Road, I didn’t touch the brakes or accelerator at all. Everything was taken care of by the Adaptive Cruise Control set at 80kmph including steering inputs, except touching the steering to tell the car that you’re paying attention on the road. Toyota has absolutely nailed the ADAS system for Indian Road Conditions (by not including pedestrians and motorcyclists) and it really takes some pressure off you in our maniac road conditions.

Some pictures I clicked enroute and at Marine Drive;

Adaptive Cruise Control set at 80kmph












You just can’t beat a Hybrid powertrain when it comes to fuel economy in city conditions with traffic everywhere

[Tony2298]

Hi there

Those are some small but neat upgrades you managed to do with the Innova! Even I intend to do the same with my SUV in the coming days since white LEDs do help in elevating that premium quotient of the car IMO, especially given the fact that it gets such an impressive LED headlights+indicators on front and all LED white interior lighting, the poor halogens at the rear look really out of place especially given the fact that even some affordable cars viz Nexon, Fronx etc also get LED licence plate lights.

Let's see if I DIY the stuff or get it done outside since for a past few months I'm getting too much overwhelmed with my work. I recently got DashCam fitted in my car through ASC as I didn't have the time or patience of DIY.

PS- Like your Innova even I have adorned my SUV with the small TeamBHP.com sticker at the rear HSRP .


See more around!

Thank you
Tony

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

The total damage to the wallet to move from Incandescent to LED Bulbs was ~₹3600, the amount Toyota India saved by not giving these from Factory

With the competition slowly starting to give them a run for their money, you'd think they'd wake up.

For Toyota, the cost will probably be one third of what you spent, considering it will be a bulk order item from the supplier.

Considering they increase the price of their vehicles by 1lac every 6 months (I'm exaggerating on that figure), could they not squeeze this bulb cost somewhere in the mix!

Just boggles the mind with these car manufacturers. A filament based bulb has no place in a car at this price point.

[KkVaidya]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

The total damage to the wallet to move from Incandescent to LED Bulbs was ~₹3600, the amount Toyota India saved by not giving these from Factory

Where did you source these from? Any link or address would help.

[piiyush21]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

Exterior Incandescent to LED Bulbs Upgrade
...

This is a very nice and detailed post and will surely be helpful with my upcoming Hycross (Fingers crossed I hope it gets delivered next week). As of now I want to upgrade the lights of my Ciaz and would like your insights as to how you decided on the specifications of the bulbs which you used.

[CEF_Beasts]

Originally Posted by Tru@1111

How to get the TPMS working if we downsize the alloys? Will there not be any issue?

The TPMS should be a palm-sized sensor installed on the alloy, which should be easy to remove and refit on the new 17 inch alloy. Any tire shop where you’re getting the alloys and tires changed from can replace it.

After installation you just need to drive a few kilometres for the system to calibrate itself.

Only precaution you need to take is, for the correct sensor on the correct location. Eg: the front right tire sensor should be fixed on the front right location only after tire replacement.

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

For Toyota, the cost will probably be one third of what you spent, considering it will be a bulk order item from the supplier.

Just boggles the mind with these car manufacturers. A filament based bulb has no place in a car at this price point.

Absolutely agree, baffles me as well !

Originally Posted by KkVaidya

Where did you source these from? Any link or address would help.

I have sourced the LED Indicator and Reverse Lamp Bulbs from Autobahn Technologies (Link) and Philips T10 LED bulbs from Amazon.in

Originally Posted by piiyush21

This is a very nice and detailed post and will surely be helpful with my upcoming Hycross (Fingers crossed I hope it gets delivered next week). As of now I want to upgrade the lights of my Ciaz and would like your insights as to how you decided on the specifications of the bulbs which you used.

Thank you and Congratulations to you on your HyCross

So the HyCross uses 12V WY21W (21W) bulbs for the rear indicators and 12V W16W (16W) Bulbs for the reverse lamps.

I sourced the amber indicator LED bulbs in size 12V WY21W (24W) 2000Lumens & 3000K and white reverse lamps LED bulbs in size T15 12V (18W) 2000Lumens & 6500K from Autobahn Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Note: I have no personal relationship with Autobahn Technologies. My friend has these installed in his car purchased from them and after his feedback even I decided to go with the same bulbs.