Turning off Courtesy lights on rear doors

[Fredo24]

I have a 96 LX 450 which I use exclusively for tailgating and beach fishing on Long Island. I have found that I can turn off the rear compartment light with the switch on the light itself but the courtesy light on the rear doors remain on when the tailgate is open. Any ideas on how I can get them off for the extended time I leave the tailgate open? They do not turn off unless both the tailgate and rear window are closed. Thanks.

 

[NLXTACY]

You could wire in a switch to kill the ground and mount that switch near the tailgate. Would be pretty easy to add actually. OR you can just get George's LEDs for the door lights and then it wont matter because it would take like a week and a half for the LEDs to drain the battery. Plus there isn't the heat issue that the stock lights have.

 

[Brian894X4]

I wired in a switch that interrupted the circuit near the rear hatch latch.

But if you don't want to that, when you have your rear hatch up, use a screw driver or something simliar to push the hatch latch closed, so it mimics the latch position when the hatch in locked shut. This will turn all the lights off. When you go to close it, just lift up on the rear hatch handle first to unlock the latch and close the gate normally.

 

[Fredo24]

I would rather put in a switch, how would you go about wiring this? Thanks.

 

[Sno bored]

I second the vote for LEDs. It takes about two minutes to put them in and you never have to worry about draining your battery

 

[NLXTACY]

I would rather put in a switch, how would you go about wiring this? Thanks.

Well still do the LEDs, but I dont have the truck here right now to tell you but there is a switch on the rear hatch that turns on the lights on the doors. Find that and tie in a switch in-line. I'm sure someone else will be able to chime in and say where it is. If no one chimes in I will let you know tonight.

 

[nuclearlemon]

Well still do the LEDs, but I dont have the truck here right now to tell you but there is a switch on the rear hatch that turns on the lights on the doors. Find that and tie in a switch in-line. I'm sure someone else will be able to chime in and say where it is. If no one chimes in I will let you know tonight.

the switch may be in the latch itself...that's how a lot of the newer rigs are doing it.

i've got the leds and they are so much brighter and not as useless as the regular bulbs.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

But if you don't want to that, when you have your rear hatch up, use a screw driver or something simliar to push the hatch latch closed, so it mimics the latch position when the hatch in locked shut. This will turn all the lights off. When you go to close it, just lift up on the rear hatch handle first to unlock the latch and close the gate normally.

Thats what I do... I usually just use my keys to do it.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

I haven't done it yet but plan on putting a little toggle switch inside the ashtrays. It would simply interrupter ground to the door lights when I don't want them on.

 

[kenton]

Well still do the LEDs, but I dont have the truck here right now to tell you but there is a switch on the rear hatch that turns on the lights on the doors. Find that and tie in a switch in-line. I'm sure someone else will be able to chime in and say where it is. If no one chimes in I will let you know tonight.

This is coming is pretty late, but can someone post the wire to put the switch in? Preferably one inside the body panel of the rear cargo area? I have the EWB,but can't seem to figure out which one it is, and am too lazy to tear into my rear hatch and trace it back.
Kenton

p.s. oh, and the LED suggestion isn't going to fix my problem-- I don't want the light on because I don't want light, not because I'm worried about draining the battery.

 

[nakman]

no wiring help here. But x3 on just flipping the latch on the hatch with a small screwdriver... works really well and takes 2 seconds, no switch or wiring required.

 

[Atoyot1031]

I'll make it x4 on the latch with the key or whatever happens to be in your hand. With the LEDs, I don't even bother anymore.

 

[Bear80]

What's will all the switch, screw driver nonsense? Just open the driver back panel cover, reach into the wire harness and remove the pin from the connector that comes from the tail gate switch?? The overhead light will not work either but honestly you can't reach the thing from the rear anyway.