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This How-To is for everyone wishing to get more light in their trunk. The factory bulb provides next to no light whatsoever at night, so I designed this How-To for everyone who hates it as much as I did. This will add some style to your trunk and also be very practical. Because I used CCFL's (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lights), no heat is given, only great light output.
This is what was included in the kit i purchased from VibeLights.com. I chose to order 2 12" CCFL's in White. With standard shipping they arrived at my house in less than a week, in perfect condition.
Please read all instructions to make sure you fully understand the directions. If the inverter is hooked up incorrectly it will be damaged and you will need to purchase a new set (if you do, you might as well order a different color so you can change it if you get bored later on down the line).
This mod is for the sedan only, though similar step may be used for the hatchback and wagon.
This mod requires removal of the rear deck.
I performed this mod on an 05 Mazda6 S, the 06+ may have different colored wires. If someone with an 06+ attempts this mod, please clarify.
Upon successful completion of this mod, the CCFL will turn on and off automatically when the trunk is opened and closed.
![]()
EDIT:
Before doing this mod, remove the Room Fuse from the interior fuse panel to avoid blowing it and/or getting shocked.
Step 1:
Although it says they are made for automotive use, they still had a PC male-connector on the end of the power inverter. The first step is to cut off that connector as close to that connector as possible, then strip the wires about half an inch and twist the wires (separately) so they make a good connection when connected to the trunk wires.
***Make sure you only cut off the PC connector on the RED/BLACK wires; the other connectors are for the CCFL tubes and should remain in tact.***
Step 2:
The rear deck must be removed for this modification. To remove the rear deck, fold down the rear seats and you will find several clips similar to the ones found on the trunk lid. Simply pull on the center of the clips and it will pop out, then pull from around the outside and the clip will come out. Be careful not to lose any clips. Don't forget the clips behind the sides of the seats.
This is behind the Side of the seat, one clip is beneath the seat-belt cut-out.
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Two more are near the center of the deck.
![]()
And the rest are to the right of those.
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Step 3:
After the rear deck has been removed, look inside the trunk, there will be a little white bulb cover on the right side, it requires a little force to get off (I used a screwdriver to pry it off, it just pops out). Then there is a bulb beneath it. Remove the bulb. I just used my hand, it pops out very easliy so you don't have to worry about burning your fingertips.
The bulb cover is located in the center where the Dynamat is no applied. This is what it will look like with the bulb cover and bulb removed.
![]()
From inside the cabin, the rear deck should look like this. The trunk light connector is just to the left of the factory Bose subwoofer (which I also removed while i had the rear deck off).
![]()
Here is a close up of the trunk light connector.
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Step 4:
You will need to pop out the connector shown in the above picture, this is where you will get the power from to power the CCFL's. Also, if there is any electrical tape on the stock wiring, remove it so that you can have more leverage when you splice the wires together.
Step 5:
The kit came with mounting hardware (including double-sided tape), but I used 3M double-sided tape to attach the power inverter to the bottom of the rear deck (Metal). I attached it to the bottom because I wanted to play it safe and be sure the rear deck would fit correctly when reinstalled. The inverter will not fit perfectly on the bottom of the rear deck so make sure to completely cover the bottom of the inverter with the tape.
![]()
I chose to route the power wires through the bottom (rectangular) opening where the factory bulb cover fit so they will not be squished when the inverter is attached.
***Make sure to attach the inverter in the same orientation as shown above so you will have enough room to run the wires.***
![]()
Step 6:
***This step must be done done from inside the cabin. For Step 6 make sure the TRUNK LID IS CLOSED!***
Mazda decided to use a brown coloration for the wires that power the trunk courtesy light. You must pay attention to detail in this step, if the inverter is wired incorrectly, it will be damaged and a new inverter/kit will have to be purchased to finish the mod.
The color of the wires found in your car may differ from the ones pictured in this mod. The factory wire with the red stripe will get connected to the red wire found on the CCFL's
The wires have the following charges:
Mazda Factory Wiring
Positive = RED/BROWN Wire
Negative = BROWN Wire
CCFL Wiring
Positive = RED Wire
Negative = BLACK Wire
Remove the cut off the factory connector for the stock bulb. Splice both sides of the wire about half an inch.
![]()
Step 7:
Connect the RED/BROWN Wire of the factory wiring to the RED Wire on the CCFL's.
Connect the BROWN Wire of the factory wiring to the BLACK Wire of the CCFL's.
![]()
Tape the wires up (Seperately) and test out the new CCFL's. Make sure to have the CCFL tubes plugged into the connectors on the inverter before proceeding to Step 8. Never give power to the inverter without the CCFL tubes plugged into it.
Step 8:
Open the trunk from the outside and make sure the CCFL's are working properly. Then close the trunk slightly so that no light can enter the trunk and you can clearly see the CCFL's from inside the cabin (with the seats down).
With the trunk open.
![]()
With the trunk closed
![]()
Step 9:
Apply the same 3M double-sided tape to the bases of the CCFL's, Making sure to apply to the same side of the base.
![]()
Step 10:
Attach the CCFL tubes to the bottom of the rear deck. Try to position them at the same angle and adjacent locations so it looks like a clean install.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Step 11:
Zip-tie all the wires for a clean install, and to keep them from dangling in the trunk compartment. After i zip-tied the wires I also used some electrical tape to attach them to the deck.
![]()
Step 12:
Re-attach the rear deck, fold up the rear seats, and clean up the mess. You're Done!
Here are some pix of the install at night (bad cell phone camera).
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Mods...Sticky?
This is what was included in the kit i purchased from VibeLights.com. I chose to order 2 12" CCFL's in White. With standard shipping they arrived at my house in less than a week, in perfect condition.
Please read all instructions to make sure you fully understand the directions. If the inverter is hooked up incorrectly it will be damaged and you will need to purchase a new set (if you do, you might as well order a different color so you can change it if you get bored later on down the line).
This mod is for the sedan only, though similar step may be used for the hatchback and wagon.
This mod requires removal of the rear deck.
I performed this mod on an 05 Mazda6 S, the 06+ may have different colored wires. If someone with an 06+ attempts this mod, please clarify.
Upon successful completion of this mod, the CCFL will turn on and off automatically when the trunk is opened and closed.
EDIT:
Before doing this mod, remove the Room Fuse from the interior fuse panel to avoid blowing it and/or getting shocked.
Step 1:
Although it says they are made for automotive use, they still had a PC male-connector on the end of the power inverter. The first step is to cut off that connector as close to that connector as possible, then strip the wires about half an inch and twist the wires (separately) so they make a good connection when connected to the trunk wires.
***Make sure you only cut off the PC connector on the RED/BLACK wires; the other connectors are for the CCFL tubes and should remain in tact.***
Step 2:
The rear deck must be removed for this modification. To remove the rear deck, fold down the rear seats and you will find several clips similar to the ones found on the trunk lid. Simply pull on the center of the clips and it will pop out, then pull from around the outside and the clip will come out. Be careful not to lose any clips. Don't forget the clips behind the sides of the seats.
This is behind the Side of the seat, one clip is beneath the seat-belt cut-out.
Two more are near the center of the deck.
And the rest are to the right of those.
Step 3:
After the rear deck has been removed, look inside the trunk, there will be a little white bulb cover on the right side, it requires a little force to get off (I used a screwdriver to pry it off, it just pops out). Then there is a bulb beneath it. Remove the bulb. I just used my hand, it pops out very easliy so you don't have to worry about burning your fingertips.
The bulb cover is located in the center where the Dynamat is no applied. This is what it will look like with the bulb cover and bulb removed.
From inside the cabin, the rear deck should look like this. The trunk light connector is just to the left of the factory Bose subwoofer (which I also removed while i had the rear deck off).
Here is a close up of the trunk light connector.
Step 4:
You will need to pop out the connector shown in the above picture, this is where you will get the power from to power the CCFL's. Also, if there is any electrical tape on the stock wiring, remove it so that you can have more leverage when you splice the wires together.
Step 5:
The kit came with mounting hardware (including double-sided tape), but I used 3M double-sided tape to attach the power inverter to the bottom of the rear deck (Metal). I attached it to the bottom because I wanted to play it safe and be sure the rear deck would fit correctly when reinstalled. The inverter will not fit perfectly on the bottom of the rear deck so make sure to completely cover the bottom of the inverter with the tape.
I chose to route the power wires through the bottom (rectangular) opening where the factory bulb cover fit so they will not be squished when the inverter is attached.
***Make sure to attach the inverter in the same orientation as shown above so you will have enough room to run the wires.***
Step 6:
***This step must be done done from inside the cabin. For Step 6 make sure the TRUNK LID IS CLOSED!***
Mazda decided to use a brown coloration for the wires that power the trunk courtesy light. You must pay attention to detail in this step, if the inverter is wired incorrectly, it will be damaged and a new inverter/kit will have to be purchased to finish the mod.
The color of the wires found in your car may differ from the ones pictured in this mod. The factory wire with the red stripe will get connected to the red wire found on the CCFL's
The wires have the following charges:
Mazda Factory Wiring
Positive = RED/BROWN Wire
Negative = BROWN Wire
CCFL Wiring
Positive = RED Wire
Negative = BLACK Wire
Remove the cut off the factory connector for the stock bulb. Splice both sides of the wire about half an inch.
Step 7:
Connect the RED/BROWN Wire of the factory wiring to the RED Wire on the CCFL's.
Connect the BROWN Wire of the factory wiring to the BLACK Wire of the CCFL's.
Tape the wires up (Seperately) and test out the new CCFL's. Make sure to have the CCFL tubes plugged into the connectors on the inverter before proceeding to Step 8. Never give power to the inverter without the CCFL tubes plugged into it.
Step 8:
Open the trunk from the outside and make sure the CCFL's are working properly. Then close the trunk slightly so that no light can enter the trunk and you can clearly see the CCFL's from inside the cabin (with the seats down).
With the trunk open.
With the trunk closed
Step 9:
Apply the same 3M double-sided tape to the bases of the CCFL's, Making sure to apply to the same side of the base.
Step 10:
Attach the CCFL tubes to the bottom of the rear deck. Try to position them at the same angle and adjacent locations so it looks like a clean install.
Step 11:
Zip-tie all the wires for a clean install, and to keep them from dangling in the trunk compartment. After i zip-tied the wires I also used some electrical tape to attach them to the deck.
Step 12:
Re-attach the rear deck, fold up the rear seats, and clean up the mess. You're Done!
Here are some pix of the install at night (bad cell phone camera).
Mods...Sticky?
I love cathodes. Got em' everywhere.
