How To: Door Actuated Map Light Install

Well I'm on my way to being done with this. Dash cam, lighted key ring, door actuated map light, and a new stereo. Only spliced in at the a pillar once on the black wire and once on the black/white wire.

Found three connectors behind the dash that were taped back not in use. Thinking some may have to do with my truck possibly being wired for a rear diff lock, as they are the right length to reach the switch blank. One connector was really random with a single pin and a black/white wire.



Tried to make my second wire to the map light go through the OEM male plug but learned that the single wire plugs aren't identical (won't fit) to the double wire plugs. Even though my stock single wire plug had a slot for that second wire. So that wasted a good amount of time.

 

that black 2 prong is a unused connector.. its for a rheostat that never actually ended up in any tacomas.

 

Interesting. After some searching I determined the factory diff lock switch is a 5 pin white connector with one unused pin. So that means I'm partially wired for a rear locker. Would still need an ECU and harness to the axle. Oh and the whole new axle...

 

the dash harnesses are all very much the same... for ease. i mean my base model tundra was wired for power everything (including heated mirrors) but it had manual everything... install the extra harnesses to the dash harness and your pretty much done

(the 02 taco appears to be wired for J shift ADD all i need is a transmission relay and the harness from the ECU to the transfercase

 

What are the black controls on the center of this part? I need a dark gray to match my 96 interior. This should still work on a 96 Extra cab 4X4 DLX? What would be a part # for this part? What would be a part number for the lighted key ring?

 

Another tan one for sale!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3-button-door-actuated-maplight-tan.672504/

 

Thank you thank you thank you OP for this write up! This should be stickied if it isn't already.

Question though what led bulbs do you recommend that would work with the map lights? The ones I have when I install them..they don't come on, only the oem halogen ones do. Please let me know.

 

I have no clue as I dont like the harshness of LED's unless its behind the gauge cluster. But I do know that if an LED is used in the door switch circuit it will need a resistor in series with it to work.

 

Blue92, thank you so much for the walk through. I just managed to install my new found three switch. All thanks to the walk through help. I did freak out after the install briefly when I was testing the light without screwing it in. Then I figured out it needed to ground out. Much appreciated!

 

Could someone get some measurements for me? Or approximate?

• the width of the holes for the map lights
• the distance of each hole left and right from the center

I want to do this to my 01 reg cab that only has the single dome light up front. I will have to cut the holes in the headliner. I'm guessing wiring should actually be easier since my "door" light is already up front there.

 

It's probably 3" on each side. If I remember correctly. I.just made a cardboard template.

 

On my '04 I thnk I recall you can feel where to cut as being already stamped out of the metal behind the headliner. I think I followed the metal stamp-out as a perfect template. Been a few years so I could be wrong

 

It looks like there is a small 2-wire harness that plugs into the back of the mirror, do I need to source a unit that has the harness and pigtails, or is this possible without it? Thanks for the write up!