How to install : "K5" LED Door Handle Plates in 2011-2013 Optima models
Purchased from the K5 Optima Store
Included in the package:
4 x LED Door Sills (2 Left, 2 Right)
16 adhesive circles
Tools needed:
Philips screwdriver
Knife/Small tipped flathead screwdriver
Larger flathead screwdriver
Electrical tape
Wire taps
or
Soldering Iron and Heatshrink
(If you prefer to solder instead of tap in. There are no pictures yet of the soldering process)
This install looks a bit difficult, but it's a lot easier once you get the first one in. Let's get started!
As you should with any install of an electrical component, remove your negative battery terminal:
![Image]()
Driver's side Front
Remove the two screws securing the panel to the door:
According to David:
Door handle
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Armrest
![Image]()
![Image]()
Remove the plastic cover above the door panel by inserting a knife/screwdriver in the top, pulling it away enough to get your fingers in there, and pull it away.
![Image]()
Once the screws are removed, you can pull the panel away. If this is the first time you've removed it, it'll be on there good. Some DIY's say you can just pull out and up, but I had to get a larger screwdriver and pry it away little by little until I could get my hands in there to pull it away. It sounds like it's cracking, but that's just the white clips breaking away.
![Image]()
Removed! Set the door panel on something so it doesn't get scratched/scuffed.
![Image]()
Disconnect the wiring harness from the window switch, this is where I tapped in on this door panel.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Red and black are +/- on this harness, but that doesn't hold true for them all.
![Image]()
Testing to make sure it works, and it goes off when I shut the car off
![Image]()
![Image]()
Feed the wires through the screw hole. I later removed the plastic cover to keep it out of the way, but removing it does break the tabs that hold it in.
![Image]()
Since the wires on this product are fairly thin, fold over and twist so it has plenty to grab in the wire tap.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Tap into the positive
![Image]()
And the negative
![Image]()
I wrapped it with tape for good measure.
![Image]()
Testing before sticking it on
![Image]()
Note: The point that the wires are connected to the LED Door Plate was frail on my first one, and broke. I had to resolder it on. I recommend taping the wires out of the way like this so you still have a surface to put the adhesive pads, and you don't bend the wires around enough to break it off. I peeled off the white surface on the back of the pads, otherwise the adhesive will just pull that off and it won't stick. Be careful when doing so, the LED module is on the very end where the wires go in, and can easily slide out.
![Image]()
Remove the protective film
![Image]()
Place two of the adhesive circles on the back, on either end. Make sure it sticks in place. if not, add two more on top of the first. You have enough to use 4 per plate.
Installed! Now you can replace the door panel, put in the 1 screw that you can actually get to, and move on to the next door.
Driver's side Rear
Removing the panel is exactly the same as the front:
![Image]()
![Image]()
On this door, the window switch harness is a bit smaller. here's the harness and which wires to tap into:
![Image]()
On mine, the wires were white (+) and gray (-)
![Image]()
After install, replace panel and move on to the next door
Passenger side Front
On this door, the wiring harness was a bit different than the both of them, with some of the pins having two wires running to it. When testing, none of them would activate/deactivate with ignition, so I tapped into the LED light strip.
(This picture is actually my driver's side LED harness, but the passenger side looks just like it. You can test to see which wires are + and - but putting your terminal back on real quick and turning on ACC. Once you verify it comes on/off with ignition, tap into those two wires.
![Image]()
Passenger side Rear
I tapped into the window switch on this one, I believe it was yellow and red
![Image]()
And here's the finished product!! Enjoy!!
![Image]()
You can get your hands on a set here : http://www.k5optimastore.com/products/k5-led-door-handle-plates
Purchased from the K5 Optima Store
Included in the package:
4 x LED Door Sills (2 Left, 2 Right)
16 adhesive circles
Tools needed:
Philips screwdriver
Knife/Small tipped flathead screwdriver
Larger flathead screwdriver
Electrical tape
Wire taps
or
Soldering Iron and Heatshrink
(If you prefer to solder instead of tap in. There are no pictures yet of the soldering process)
This install looks a bit difficult, but it's a lot easier once you get the first one in. Let's get started!
As you should with any install of an electrical component, remove your negative battery terminal:
Driver's side Front
Remove the two screws securing the panel to the door:
According to David:
Door handle
Armrest
Remove the plastic cover above the door panel by inserting a knife/screwdriver in the top, pulling it away enough to get your fingers in there, and pull it away.
Once the screws are removed, you can pull the panel away. If this is the first time you've removed it, it'll be on there good. Some DIY's say you can just pull out and up, but I had to get a larger screwdriver and pry it away little by little until I could get my hands in there to pull it away. It sounds like it's cracking, but that's just the white clips breaking away.
Removed! Set the door panel on something so it doesn't get scratched/scuffed.
Disconnect the wiring harness from the window switch, this is where I tapped in on this door panel.
Red and black are +/- on this harness, but that doesn't hold true for them all.
Testing to make sure it works, and it goes off when I shut the car off
Feed the wires through the screw hole. I later removed the plastic cover to keep it out of the way, but removing it does break the tabs that hold it in.
Since the wires on this product are fairly thin, fold over and twist so it has plenty to grab in the wire tap.
Tap into the positive
And the negative
I wrapped it with tape for good measure.
Testing before sticking it on
Note: The point that the wires are connected to the LED Door Plate was frail on my first one, and broke. I had to resolder it on. I recommend taping the wires out of the way like this so you still have a surface to put the adhesive pads, and you don't bend the wires around enough to break it off. I peeled off the white surface on the back of the pads, otherwise the adhesive will just pull that off and it won't stick. Be careful when doing so, the LED module is on the very end where the wires go in, and can easily slide out.
Remove the protective film
Place two of the adhesive circles on the back, on either end. Make sure it sticks in place. if not, add two more on top of the first. You have enough to use 4 per plate.
Installed! Now you can replace the door panel, put in the 1 screw that you can actually get to, and move on to the next door.
Driver's side Rear
Removing the panel is exactly the same as the front:
On this door, the window switch harness is a bit smaller. here's the harness and which wires to tap into:
On mine, the wires were white (+) and gray (-)
After install, replace panel and move on to the next door
Passenger side Front
On this door, the wiring harness was a bit different than the both of them, with some of the pins having two wires running to it. When testing, none of them would activate/deactivate with ignition, so I tapped into the LED light strip.
(This picture is actually my driver's side LED harness, but the passenger side looks just like it. You can test to see which wires are + and - but putting your terminal back on real quick and turning on ACC. Once you verify it comes on/off with ignition, tap into those two wires.
Passenger side Rear
I tapped into the window switch on this one, I believe it was yellow and red
And here's the finished product!! Enjoy!!
You can get your hands on a set here : http://www.k5optimastore.com/products/k5-led-door-handle-plates
