[dmicpa]

At night I am hunting for the little button on the overhead console to open the garage door. Why they didn't illuminate this I'll never know.

Is there any paint or stick-on to make this visible at night?

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2001 EX, White, Trailer Hitch, Back-up Sensor, Heartland Console, Mudflaps,comp/temp Mirror,Muth signal side mirrors, Honda Cargo Tray

 

[Hooter]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by dmicpa:
At night I am hunting for the little button on the overhead console to open the garage door. Why they didn't illuminate this I'll never know.

Is there any paint or stick-on to make this visible at night?

</font>

I find it very annoying too. Trying to come up with a solution.
I solved the lighting problem for the center tray by installing a console and mounting small red lights on it.


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2002 Ody SS EX, Splash Guards, WeatherTech mats, Cargo Tray, Plug-n-Go Console,Under coating, Paint treatment, Upholstery treatment, VentShades on order.

 

[my_2001ody]

I would like it illuminated too. Same goes for the window switches on the driver's door. Hope to have some time to work on it next year (another month or so).

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Lanny
2K1 EX MB

 

[honda4]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by my_2001ody:
I would like it illuminated too. Same goes for the window switches on the driver's door. Hope to have some time to work on it next year (another month or so).

</font>

I had the same problem. Solved the problem by using the old remote. Stick it in the visor. It worked great on $2000 car and works exactly the same here. And I can feel it in the dark easily because the 3 buttons are 3 different sizes. Most of the time I use the biggest one.

 

[my_2001ody]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by honda4:
I had the same problem. Solved the problem by using the old remote. Stick it in the visor. It worked great on $2000 car and works exactly the same here. And I can feel it in the dark easily because the 3 buttons are 3 different sizes. Most of the time I use the biggest one.
</font>

That would be too easy (and logical)!

Sometimes the best part of doing a mod is the part where you have to stimulate the ole gray matter between the ears.

 

[Maugham]

I wonder if the Ody designers thought it would be better if people found these particular buttons by feel rather than sight.

Illuminating buttons in that particular location close to the windshield increase the visual "noise" in front of the driver. True, it would be a very minor distraction, but still it would be a distraction. I like the front view to be as unemcumbered as possible.

It took several practice attempts, but I can now reach the correct buttons without effort, as if on autopilot.

The buttons are differentiated both in location as well as with the "braille" nubs on each button.

I programmed my garage with the center button, because for me that is the easiest to locate among the three.

It may be about as easy to locate the buttons as it would be to locate a separate remote. At first, I reached up to the visor and just move right until finding the buttons.

One trick would be to program all three buttons to the same function, if they weren't needed to control other gadgets. Then it wouldn't matter which one you pressed.

I open the garage door while driving in the alley, about five houses away. I don't want to be looking for a button then, I need to keep my eyes

on the road.

Just a different perspective and I do appreciate the preferences of others.

Regards,

Maugham

 

[MerpsMom]

Here's a solution which may work: it did for my keyless remote. Find a picture framer buddy, or go to HobbyLobby, etc. Ask for a "bump-on." These are little round disks that we put on the bottom two corners of the back of a frame to hold it out slightly from the wall and also to keep the frame from moving once hung. These disks come in clear and brown half-rounds, or same with the tops cut off to provide a flatter top. I put the flatter one on the "lock" button on my remote. The adhesive holds very well and I have a truly large braille feature on the remote. (Skip the half-round: it's way too sensitive to bumping.) Don't see why you can't do the same with the HomeLink buttons.

(Glad I thought of that as the fumbling for the buttons irritated me as well.

)

 

[GeorgeB]

Hi everyone! I've been reading this forum for many weeks and have gotten a ton of incredible info. Just did the high beam mod this weekend! This topic prompted me to finally make a contribution.

I too have been searching in the dark for the Homelink buttons. I don't spend a lot of time in the Ody (mostly driven by my wife) so I haven't developed an intuitive feel for where the buttons are. I usually found the map lights and then the Homelink.

To solve the problem I bought two green LED lamps from Radioshack and mounted them under the map light lens. Don't use mini lamps, they get too hot right next to the lens. There is about 3/8 inch clearance between the map light buttons and the Homelink unit with plenty of clearance above for wiring. All work can be done on the bench; there are four screws holding the light unit to the roof - two under the lens and two more inside the sunglass compartment.

Power is taken from my Donnelly mirror which turns on with the ignition. The LEDs are rated for 12V but are a bit too bright for my liking so I installed a 1K ohm - 1/2 watt resistor to make the LEDs glow a little dimmer. They just illuminate the map light lens and outline the Homelink buttons.

Would love to do the window buttons next! Anyone give that a try yet?

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[Ken W]

George, great idea. I was thinking the same thing, but all I could find in the way of 12 volt LEDs is the big blinking red ones (even at RadioShack. If you have the part # for those puppies that would be great.

Ken

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'91 Sentra SE-R
'57 Chevy Belair Sport Coupe.
If at first you don't succeed...so much for skydiving.

 

[my_2001ody]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GeorgeB:
Would love to do the window buttons next! Anyone give that a try yet?
</font>

Someone mentioned on another thread about the Acura TL(?)having similar switches that were lighted. We need someone with a TL and/or a TL electrical/parts manual to check it out.

 

[ody2002]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GeorgeB:

Would love to do the window buttons next! Anyone give that a try yet?


</font>

Razorback finds that Acura TL's illuminated window switches are identical looking to the Ody's. Here's the link to that thread:
http://www.odyclub.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000085.html


[This message has been edited by ody2002 (edited 11-27-2001).]

 

[GeorgeB]

Ken wrote:
George, great idea. I was thinking the same thing, but all I could find in the way of 12 volt LEDs is the big blinking red ones (even at RadioShack. If you have the part # for those puppies that would be great.

You're right, not all RadioShacks are created equal! Luckily there seems to be one every 5 miles. The first one I went to had a rather limited selection of components - the second was much better.
I'll check the LED part numbers tonight and report back tomorrow.

 

[Razorback]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ody2002:

Razorback finds that Acura TL's illuminated window switches are identical looking to the Ody's. Here's the link to that thread:
http://www.odyclub.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000085.html</font>

You are right. And I hate to say it, but between the two kiddos, work, and money I just haven't gotten back to trying the Acura door switch mod.

I do feel certain it can be done! I'll try to make a point to check on the prices for the door switches with the Acura dealer...

Greg

[This message has been edited by Razorback (edited 11-27-2001).]

 

[GeorgeB]

The LEDs I used for the Homelink lighting are RadioShack part number 276-271A. That is for the green - they also had red or yellow if you prefer.