Let's talk lighting

Having recently purchased my 05 Taco, I've discovered it's a very very dark place to spend time. Maybe I'm spoiled by my German cars, but I'd appreciated a bit more lighting in the cab.

I did do some searching which netted me these great threads for:
Footwell lighting- Footwell Lights That Don't Suck (2nd Gen Edition!) - In Stock! | Tacoma World
And bed lighting- FS: Waterproof Under Bed Rail LED lights | Tacoma World

But what have folks done for illuminating the dashboard and other controls? For example, the switches (locker and AC, if equipped) to the left of the steering wheel are completely dark. I would expect them to be backlit, but it's a blackhole over there.

I'd really love something that added a bit of soft overhead lighting. Suggestions, thoughts, insults welcome

 

Don't ignore the "map lights on with dome light"
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/map-lights-on-with-dome-light.251261/

 

Ahhhh....thanks!

 

@UserUnspecified , the diff lock "fog" lights switches will illuminate when the parking or driving lights are on. The mirror control switch normally doesn't, but I got tired of fumbling around trying to find it, so I installed a switch from a Prius. Found the info from this thread. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mirror-control-switch-question.382370/

Here is what the controls look like on the left side of my steering wheel.


When I first bought my truck and before I retired, I was leaving my house at 4:30 every morning for work and trying to find the cup holder for my morning cup of Java wasn't fun. I didn't want a bright light so I came up with an idea to use led strip light that I trimmed and molded to fit where I wanted it. It was originally came with two led strips that were designed to be powered by a "cigrette lighter" style. Instead, I cut the wire and used a simple toggle switch that I hid in that little pocket drawer just to the left and below the steering wheel. It worked great and 12 years later it still does. I eventually added the second (full) strip on the headliner behind the driver's seat, but only use it every once in a while. Here's a few pics of the lights and one of the HVAC control switches - that add additional low key lighting.

 

nice

 

Ohhh, the Prius mirror switch would be super helpful. I'll have to search the local u-pulls.

Re: the fog and rear diff switch. Mine definitely do NOT light up.
Given neither illuminate, I'm guessing it's bigger problem than just a burnt out bulb in the switch itself.
although, you have an 07. Wondering if the 05 was pre-illuminated switch.

Two thoughts:
1. Was looking adding 5mm LEDs at various places in the interior to add some additional indirect lighting
2. Looks like you have the newer style HVAC controls. Did you go thru the whole swap where you have to desolder the rheostat from the old board to the new one?

Thanks!

 

On the Prius mirror switch, be sure to read that thread to make sure you get the right one, not all Prius mirror control switches are illuminated. Hopefully someone with an 05 Prerunner will chime in on that one. All though, I've heard of the bulbs bruning out. The HVAC switches came from Amazon. Just pull the old ones off and replace.

$11 etopmia Car Air Conditioning Heat Control Switch Ac Knob Fit for Toyota Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/etopmia-Conditioning-Control-Switch-Toyota/dp/B076ZHF2HX

 

I also have an 05 and my fog light and rear diff switch do light up either. It was this way when I bought it just this past year. Didn’t think to ask the original owner if it ever did or not. I do have some bright white led bulbs in the map lights and it makes a huge difference for general lighting.

 

Fog light illuminates, there's bulb for dash lighting but not to let you know it's selected. You could swap the switch for an FJ type and get both.


Locking differential also illuminates.

 

The foglight switch you listed, is that the dual illuminating one from the FJ?

 

Nope, the one for the Tacoma.

 

Gotcha

For those looking, it appears these guys might have a switch that emulates the FJ dual illumination functionality:
CH4x4 Push Switch for Toyota - Fog Lights Symbol

 

Question for you all, do you know the actual dimensions of the toggle switch needed? The ones I bought off Amazon are too small.

 

Edit: updating post. After thinking more about it, you can make the single button switches work without modifying them, see later post. The big issue is trying to get the dual button switches to work with the fog lights.

 

That is incorrect. Blue wire from fog is (+) to ground to close the circuit.

 

Yes, you switch the 12 volts signal from the relay, and pull it to ground to complete the circuit and turn on the lights. That's switching ground.... The CH4x4 switch is designed to have 12volts on the input side, and output 12 volts to the load when you press the switch. If you have +12 on the load side with the switch off, it lights up the LED constantly. I think we're saying the same thing, but using different terminology. There are multiple reports of the LEDs being constantly on for the fog lights when using the CH4x4 switch, and I just had to modify the circuit board in one of these switches to get it to work on the fog light circuit.

Edit: you got me thinking though, and because there is the +12 available on the blue wire, you could make the single switch work without modifying it. You wouldn't follow the recommended wiring that comes with the switch though. You'd have to connect the blue wire on the truck to the green wire on the switch and connect the red wire on the switch to ground and it should work ok. The big issue I ran into was with a dual switch, and I didn't think the wiring all the way through on how a single button switch could be made to work. I'll go back and update my original post. Thanks.

 

A switch is a switch is a switch...