Map Lights on with Dome light

By any chance would the diode have anything to do with it not turning on.

If you did everything exactly as the write-up, those are the 2 things that I could think of that can throw it off.

 

Did it today. Worked like a charm. Great write up and photos.

 

Coming from my experience, the diode in the circuit yielded my lights to not come on. Not sure how they were using the diode before and if certain LEDs worked with it and some did not.

Check to make sure nothing is touching that isn't suppose to be touching and recheck to make sure everything is right. Not going to lie, mine didn't work the first time either. I shorted something out and blew a couple fuses but if you are touching the right spot it might not blow a fuse and just cause problems.

 

I take the diode part back since this the latest update to this mod compared to the original where the OP used a diode.

 

Just did this this evening. Worked great.

No screw, no diode, no relay, no solder.

I used friction to fit the wire into the third map light slot, then a crimp connector to tie into the blue wire of the dome light, like this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...me-light-mod-map-light-mod-2.html#post2556479

I did forget to remove the fuse, and thus blew it, but meh. They're cheap!

 

Thanks for this! I've always said its way to dim getting in and out of the cab when its dark out, having my front windows tinted to match the factory rear windows certainly doesn't help the situation either.

i will be doing this tmrw on a 2013 double cab off road

trying the ground hole first (OP's method) if that works I'm leaving it, if i don't like it i have wire crimp taps (like sheppy and naveronski's method)

 

too easy took more than 15 minutes, closer to 30 mins id say

i just stuck the wire through the hole (OP method) and then wedged the wire between the dome light bulb and its connector.

thanks again

 

What's the minimum gauge I should use for the wire from the dome to the map lights?

 

i used 14 gauge i had laying around, and i think that was an over kill

the stock wires leading to the dome and map lights are like 22 or 24 gauge. tiny.

 

video demonstration of the mod at work.

awesome!

http://youtu.be/Q878-Asbtyc

 

I've been planning this for ever, just never got around to it. Seen some new posts on this thread today. So between bowl games, I pulled the trigger. Easy, simple and quick (maybe 20 minutes). Thanks to all that has given input on this free mod and in this thread!! I went with the "updated" second version, source wire in the dome plug instead of in the "hole". Thanks again!! If anyone's on the fence about this, do it!!!

 

One last question before I do this...why bend the connector at the map lights? If you're opening up the harness and swapping wires, why not run the wire from the dome into the map light harness? Am I missing something?

 

Guess you could do that but you need to make sure it'll make good contact in the clip. But it looks plausible.

 

Because that tab (the one you bend) is not being used, before the mod. There are only two wires and three places for connectors. If one had the same type of female connector as the factory ones, that would be a slick way to wire it up.

 

After I posed the question, I saw this on another site and realized there wasn't a female connector in the harness. Now I just need to find one of those!

 

It would be a great way to tap that, however it's far from required. Just bend that tab out like the pic, and connect with a 1/4" female blade/appliance connector (I did close mine up a bit with pliers). Then I used a speed tap on the middle wire on the "dome light" end. Don't over think it!!!

 

Same male to female "plugs/harness" for the map light are utilized in the factory speakers (if you really wanted to make it super OEM looking/plug and play). For me, it's all hidden, as long as it works and it's reliable, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

In all reality, It's just 1 wire and a bent tab

 

If anyone who has done this on a 1st Gen could post pics or a walk through, that would be great.

 

BOOM! Just did this and it is a great mod! Nice write-up! Swapping those connectors was a biatch! Thanks everyone.

 

This just may be the first mod I do on my truck! Thanks for the write-up.