Cargo Area Light - How to install one?

[97 FZJ80]

I recently acquired a dome light to be installed in the cargo area. Before proceeding, I am collecting information on how to proceed with this. I appreciate advice from those that have done this before.

* How do I remove the headliner? From CDan's prior posts, I know that this is a very expensive part and don't want to mess it up. For mounting the light, is it necessary to drop the entire headliner or just drop the rear of the headliner without removing it completely?

* From some prior post (which I cannot find), I remember someone mentioned a connector taped on the wiring harness that is used for the rear light for the non-US models. Where is this plug and how do I find it.? Does the plug fit the OEM light that I have, which is the same dome light as the one from the 1st and 2nd row seat.

* Where do I mount the light? Again from the prior post, I remember someone (Dan?) mentioned that the factory light location for the non-US model has a metal mounting plate. Does anyone have a picture of the light mounted in their 80?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

John
MOD: this post might be useful to archive.

 

[Rich]

If your wiring harness had the rear dome connector, it would be the same as the connector used for the existing middle row door switched dome lights.

But, your '97 does not likely have the connector.

I know with certainty my '97 does not have the connector.

The +12 volts is available in the driver's rear interior wheel well. The switched ground is available in the existing harness that runs from the wheel well to the roof. You would have to do your own splicing.

To drop the headliner you need, at a minimum, to remove the upper rear side panels and upper middle side panels and all four of the rear grab handles. You need to pull all (5?) of the plastic barbed buttons that help hold up the headliner and you need to pull the rubber or plastic trim from around the passenger doors and the rear hatch. Doing this will allow you to drop the rear of the headliner a little, so you can see what is what. You will need somebody to hold the headliner. If you drop it too far, while the front of the headliner is still attached, it will no doubt be damaged. It is made of thin brittle fiberglass.

I would say the only proper approach is to do what is necessary to entirely remove the headliner, as just dropping the rear is inviting it to break.

There is no clearance to install the middle row dome lights in the rear roof sheet metal. You will have to cut a hole in the headliner and the rear roof rib to install a middle row dome lamp. Or, you could build a spacer to enable flush mounting a middle row dome eliminating the clearance issue. I have built such a spacer. I have not yet mounted the light.

If grey is a color suitable for you, I believe you can buy a factory rear cargo dome light. I don't know whether the factory rear cargo dome light flush mounts or not. Check with Dan on this, both as to availability and flush mounting.

 

[Beowulf]

If grey is a color suitable for you, I believe you can buy a factory rear cargo dome light. I don't know whether the factory rear cargo dome light flush mounts or not.

They are available only in grey and they are not a flush mount. Mine is still on the work bench awaiting the first time I have the roof liner out.

-B-

 

[97 FZJ80]

They are available only in grey and they are not a flush mount. Mine is still on the work bench awaiting the first time I have the roof liner out.

-B-

What is the advantage of using a OEM cargo light as oppose to a regular dome light (like the ones up front)? The regular dome light allows the use of George's LED light bulb replacement.

 

[Beowulf]

What is the advantage of using a OEM cargo light as oppose to a regular dome light (like the ones up front)? The regular dome light allows the use of George's LED light bulb replacement.

Dunno. I believe you can use George's LED's in the JDM cargo area light. Dan made me buy one. I've learned not to question his judgement.


-B-

(Wondering if that's such a good idea..... His dogs are getting as big as horses.)

 

[97 FZJ80]

Dunno. Dan made me buy one. I've learned not to question his judgement.

-B-

(Wondering if that's such a good idea.....

He didn't have one in oak color - so I bought a used dome light and wiring from a fellow 'mud member.

I wonder if I can just fish a wire above the headliner from the second row light to power the cargo area light?

 

[Rich]

You can splice wires to the harness to the middle row dome light or the the harness in the driver's rear quarter panel. On a '97 I don't know that it would make any difference.

My understanding is that earlier models were set up with diodes in the dome light circuit such that only opening the rear hatch would automatically turn on the cargo dome.

 

[cruiserdan]

George's dome insert does not quite fit in the cargo area lamp. That lamp uses a slightly longer bulb. George was kind enough to make a modified version for me that had slightly longer "lugs" on the ends. The one he made for me fits beautifully. I hope he doesn't mind that I mentioned it as I do not know if that is something he does usually.

D-

 

[97 FZJ80]

For my 97: The two rear doors are on the same circuit as the rear hatch. Opening any of the three doors turns on the rear dome light and the two entry lights on the rear doors.

John

 

[elmariachi]

He didn't have one in oak color - so I bought a used dome light and wiring from a fellow 'mud member.

I wonder if I can just fish a wire above the headliner from the second row light to power the cargo area light?

I bought a center dome light and installed it in the rear on my first '97. I had to dremel a bunch of metal to cut an opening (because there's not one) and its a real PITA.

Jim

 

[97 FZJ80]

Would cutting a small hole in the headliner to clear the bulb carrier and bolt the light directly to the headliner work? I will need to run a separate ground wire as the light is grounded by the screws.


John

 

[elmariachi]

Would cutting a small hole in the headliner to clear the bulb carrier and bolt the light directly to the headliner work? I will need to run a separate ground wire as the light is grounded by the screws.
John

If you're talking about an OEM front dome light installed in the rear, I can't see how you could install it by just cutting the headliner. It would stick out and look terrible. But hey, its your truck.

Jim

 

[97 FZJ80]

Jim,

Not having the seen headliner down before, I assume by your comments that the headliner sits flush against a inner metal roof liner? Is there any place on the headliner in the cargo area where it is hallow behind the fiberglass headliner (no metal inner roof)?

John

 

[RavenTai]

on the curved down part in the rear the headliner is pretty close to the metal, take a look at the round plastic fasteners in the back, it is flush there, after it makes the curve and is horizontal there is some space except for where the supports run, you would have to remove the padding (sound proofing?)

But mounting the light directly to the headliner is not a good idea, I don’t think you are getting how fragile that thing is, I don’t know what it is made out of but if it is fiberglass it is dam thin, it reminds me of the wafer stuff in Nutty Bars , it has a lot of air space in it and is very brittle ,it does not like movement, if I ever take mine down again I am going to reinforce it with fiberglass.

I took some pictures wile I had the headliner and sunroof pan out but unfortunately not facing rear where you need to see.

 

[Rich]

To the best of my recollection the headliner is a very thin foam reinforced with an even thinner layer of non woven fiberglass. It is very lightweight and would be easily damaged if allowed to droop.

John, you really have to take a look for yourself and then decide how you want to approach the work.

Unless you are feeling very clever be certain to have a helper when you drop the headliner.

 

[loquito]

What is the advantage of using a OEM cargo light as oppose to a regular dome light (like the ones up front)?

I don't know about a 97

But I used the light that Dan sent me. It's smaller than the forward two.
On the 94 there is a flat spot on the rear roof rib that is perfectly sized for the smaller light.
I cut out a relief with a dremel like tool and pluged in the available harness.

{* From some prior post (which I cannot find), I remember someone mentioned a connector taped on the wiring harness that is used for the rear light for the non-US models. Where is this plug and how do I find it.? }

Again on a 94 litteraly in the top drivers side corner of the roof, there is a cut out with wires back inside the hole. Mine had the extra harness taped to another run just below the lip of the hole. I don't know 97's.

Sounds like your headliner is harder than mine. Lots of good posts on the headliners from a ways back, who was it that left his in the hallway for awile?

Well I hope you find something in there helpful.
Steven

 

[elmariachi]

Jim,

Not having the seen headliner down before, I assume by your comments that the headliner sits flush against a inner metal roof liner? Is there any place on the headliner in the cargo area where it is hallow behind the fiberglass headliner (no metal inner roof)?

John

The "right/OEM-look" way to do this is also the hard way. You need to drop the headliner and gently cut a recess in the inner metal roof skin. A dremel works best. Then snake a hot wire from the middle light and secure the light base. Reinstall the headliner and attach the cover and you're done. This is what I did on my first '97 and it worked and looked great. The only other clean/OEM option is CDan's factory rear light, which I believe is pillar-mounted (and also pre-wired I am told).
Jim

 

[JerryLX450]

Elmariachi, Do you have pics of it? at least i have the idea what might look like? Thanks

 

[elmariachi]

Elmariachi, Do you have pics of it? at least i have the idea what might look like? Thanks

The truck I installed the rear dome light in was 3 FJ-80s ago. I haven't done it to the one I just bought though I am thinking about it ( I should have when I dropped the rear of the headliner to install the XM radio antenna.) If I get around to doing it I'll take pics.

Jim

p.s.....now that I think about it, I don't think I dropped the headliner completely. I made a cutout through the headliner and into the metal skin with the dremel and only dropped the very rear of the headliner in order to snake the wires.

 

[elmariachi]

Scratch that last transmission...with all this talk I have decided to go ahead and install it. I'll post pics of the install in a few days.

Jim