Other Use for This Switch??

All,

Quick question... I will be installing a camper shell on my TRD OR DCLB here in the next week or so. With that, I will loose the bed light function of the 3rd brake light. Can I use the switch in the cab (see pictured below), to run perimeter work lights that I want to mount to the top of the shell?

If anyone has done something similar to this, could you include any wiring details? Like what wire and tapped into and how you routed the lights and wires?

Thanks for the help!!


(not my truck, just needed a picture of the switch)

 

I haven't done it but I can't see why not. I'm going to assume the switch itself does not switch the light directly but a relay to trigger said light.

Find the relay and use it to trigger your new lights as long as it's rated for the amperage.

Technically you could probably tap in at the light but the issue is if you're putting a higher amperage light you could overload the fuse or wire so it's better to just start fresh to an extent.

And if it does trigger the light directly you could still just rewire a relay into it.

 

I'm assuming thats switched through a relay, so I dont see why not.

 

These should help
It is relay controlled. Looks like if you want to tap in and keep the functionality of the switch as is, I would use green wire near the relay, or you can pick it up at connector IE1









This will also help, especially post #9
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...s-using-double-cab-cargo-light-switch.436440/

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[Edit
@RedEmpire provided better link https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/other-use-for-this-switch.543947/#post-17608941 with pictures for accessing the green wire at connector IE1. Thks @RedEmpire
/Edit]

 

^^^ Awesome!! thanks for the links. Now to see if I am brave enough to tackle this one..

 

@FlyFisherCJ this is an awesome idea!

 

I have had this idea as well, however I was going to try and set it up so the canopy lights came on just like the factory bed lights do. Haven't gotten around to looking into it yet, but let me know what you find!

 

That switch also turns the interior light on with the door if I remember correctly

 

I think it's a different switch on the overhead console for the interior lights. At least on mine. Ask me about why i thought i had a burned out dome light already lol.

 

You might be right, maybe I'm thinking that it sends power up and energizes the other switch? I remember fooling around with it the 1st day I bought the truck and have not touched it since.

 

Hmm. Could be. I had never touched mine after I first bought it either. But the place that did my repairs after I got rear-ended flipped the interiors to off. Took me a day to realize what changed.

 

@mesojdm is this your work?

 

ive seen similar switches being used as winch in/out

 

Just a random picture online

 

I knew it wasn’t him lol

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...light-bed-light-circuit.530874/#post-17086665

 

Just checked my DCOR, the switch besides the steering wheel only controls the bed lights, and the switch by the rear view mirror, on the roof console, only controls the interior cab lights.

They do not effect each other.

 

Good deal, thanks for the info.

 

Nope, That's mine!