Secondary Dome Light Switch

I've searched and searched, but haven't had any luck.

Has anybody posted a mod to install a switch in one of the spare switch slots on the dash (to the left of the steering wheel) to be able to turn the dome light on?

Most of my cars have a dimmer and/or on/off switch down there for turning the dome light on. It's so annoying when somebody is in the back seat and needs light, so I have to fumble around to find the dome light switch. It's so nice to just flip a switch on the dash to light things up.

 

You can use a relay to interrupt the power lead to the dome light and supply a separate switched 12v source.
I haven't tried it. Not sure how it will interact with the rest of the circuit, but it's easy enough to test/jury rig a test. Make sure it functions correctly before you hard wire it.

 

If they're in the back seat, just tell them to reach up.

 

Thanks, but that doesn't help me.

 

How does it not? The passenger in the rear seat needs the dome light on. You tell them to reach up and turn it on. Problem solved.

They now have light, and you don't have to fumble around.

 

Because what I want is a switch I can reach by my dash, not an alternate solution.

 

Sorry, I'm being ruder than I need to be.

 

Here you go. Diagram is on page 131.

Do you want the light to come on when the door is opened, but also have an option of switching it on from the dash? If so I'd suggest putting a switch between the blue wire and ground. If you look at the bottom of the PDF there is references as to where those connections are (left side lower finish panel)

 

Yes I'd like it to come on when opening the door and also being able to switch it on. I will check out the PDF thanks.

 

Yah. You'd probably want a single pole, dual throw switch along the light blue wire on pg 131 and ground.

Switched "off" - it will connect to stock wiring and perform normally
Switched "on" - it will lead to ground and turn on your light

 

Something like this: http://www.delcity.net/store/Flat-Terminal/p_788717.h_788721.a_1.t_1 ?

 

I'm finally giving this project a go.

I'm somewhat helpless when it comes to reading wiring schematics.

I believe I have identified the blue wire that leads to the dome light. According to the pdf, the blue wire should be pin 9 in block 1E. I have circled this location in the picture. I have also identified the blue wire. The blue wire goes into a wire loom and then off to someplace (presumably the light). But there's also a tap on the wire which goes to a brown wire which goes into another loom.


Where is this brown wire in the schematic you linked to?

Correct me if I'm wrong:
In the schematic, the white wire going to the dome light (room lamp) represents the power.

The white/black wire represents the connection straight to ground.

The blue wire represents the connection from the dome light to ground, which is switched by the door. If this is correct - the brown wire must go to a door switch. So how does this circuit work? When the door is closed, there is no connection to ground, so no light? When the door is opened, a relay connects the circuit to ground and turns on the light? Does that mean that the red plastic between the brown wire and the blue wire is not a tap/splice, but instead some kind of switch that "disconnects" ground?

Sorry for the rambling question.

 

The Hot wire in the dome light is always Hot, even when the key is not in the ignition. The dome light will come on anytime a door is opened.
The door switches complete the Ground when a door is opened and the light will come on.
In order to turn it on with the doors closed you will have to provide another Ground, through the switch you are talking about.

 

I managed to do the mod finally- Bought an AirOnBoard switch and had to modify it a little bit. Works like a charm, the "Interior Lights" is always on with ignition and is dimmable. The top of the switch lights up when pressed and the interior lights come on. I've also done the map light mod so it turns on dome light and map lights.

 

So here's a question. If we do this interior light mod and then install the Toyota accessory bed lights and wire them like they're supposed to be, would they come on when the switch is turned on?

 

Single Pole, Single Throw Switch.

 

If you wired them into the ground after the dome light and before the switch.

 

does anyone have the link to the Wire diagram for this 2008 Tacoma handily available?