Upgrading My dome light.

[Combat Chuck]

I'll admit that the stock overhead light in The Mule leaves room for improvement, everyone who's seen the first-gen setup knows, it's a non-adjustable mirror on a stalk with a recessed switch, and a single bulb. The lens is near opaque; and the unit is kinda frustrating to switch between door-activation, and passive-lighting.
Plus the mirror associated is on a pintle that is prone to shaking, and isn't a day/night mirror, making night-time tailgaters more irritating than usual.

One morning after the gym, I got a peek at a new Taco, and decided I wanted that mirror. After getting the setup of my preference and price off flea-bay, I began the process.

There are three issues:
- Electrical. In the intervening 23 years since each mirror was produced, the plugs have changed.

- Fitment.
This thing's much wider than stock, and deeper, and it won't fit easily, I have to make a bracket to support it against the roof, because, honestly, I'm not cutting holes in my roof.

- The Mirror itself. The adjustment screw was much shorter than I thought, so I'm waiting on a replacement so I can get it back on.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Electrical

It was pretty easy.

Step 1 was to remove the female plug from the back the '06 unit
Step 2 was to remove the plug from my '83 assembly.

Step 3 I made the first plug into a pigtail.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Electrical 2

1- Exposed the wires from the '06 unit

2 - Soldered the connections, and covered with heat-shrink tubing - only afterwards did I realize I'd forgotten to pass the wires through the hole in the unit into the back cavity :whoops:

 

[Combat Chuck]

Fitment

Fitment was really straightforward:
- Just cut a 2" square block of ply, and drilled out the trio of holes on it.

- Then drilled the third hole into the base-plate

 

[Combat Chuck]

test-fit

Just a test-fit of everything, see how the lights work!


Still to come:
-Mirror
- "shrinking" my visors.

 

[KLF]

I was thinking of the same thing, the old school dome light in these trucks pretty much sucks, as do the map lights. What is it with Toyota and their pathetic interior lighting? Even the dome light in my '05 Lexus is weak, the trunk light is worthless.

I was also thinking of something like you did, except an overhead console like what is in my Highlander, with the Homelink buttons for my garage door openers.

I have a blank canvas, my entire interior is ripped out now, even the headliner. I'm also swapping in a factory sunroof from a 4Runner, so no mod is too extreme.

 

[liljlandon]

Good idea... I used a led light bar that was about 1"x7" and had 6 LEDS. Ran off of 4 AA's and had a STRONG magnet on it... Left above the passenger, but would pull it if i needed a cargo light...

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Too late now, but a second Gen (84-88) Map light setup may have been less work... Like this one:

1984 1987 Toyota 4Runner Map Reading Light 4 Runner 88 - eBay (item 170571641396 end time Dec-26-10 18:09:12 PST)

However they never seem to sell the lights with the bracket that you need to install them... Wankers...

 

[Combat Chuck]

Well, I'll see how it works as I drive out to work tonight. I got stupid and undid the tension screw on the back of the mirror, so until I can get a longer screw to get it back together, the project's on hold.

Thanks guys!

The Plywood's just temporary until I get an overhead console built, bit it fit the bill, and turns out OEM headlight adjuster screws work great for mounting the unit into the stock holes. Still using Toyota parts, too!

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Nice work Chuck!

Too late now, but a second Gen (84-88) Map light setup may have been less work... Like this one:

1984 1987 Toyota 4Runner Map Reading Light 4 Runner 88 - eBay (item 170571641396 end time Dec-26-10 18:09:12 PST)

However they never seem to sell the lights with the bracket that you need to install them... Wankers...

I was lucky enough to get one with the bracket. The mechanical install was pretty easy but the electrical was a bit more difficult since my 85 didn't come with map lights.

I was thinking of the same thing, the old school dome light in these trucks pretty much sucks, as do the map lights. What is it with Toyota and their pathetic interior lighting? Even the dome light in my '05 Lexus is weak, the trunk light is worthless.

I bought LED's from George (search the 80 section) for both my 80 and my 4Runner. They fit in the dome light and the cargo light. They rock. Unfortunately I saw the other day that he isn't making any more of them.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Thanks!
LED's are on the list for these things for sure. Pep boys has some options, if anyone feels like stooping to automotive Wallyworld's low, or superbrightleds has some. problem is finding the correct length.

 

[pappy]

Too late now, but a second Gen (84-88) Map light setup may have been less work ...

I used to have a 1985 xcab (SR5) with the lights on the rear view mirror. Always wanted that setup on my 1985 4Runner and actually did some tinkering back and forth between the two. You would think it would be a direct swap. Not! Someplace I do have that light/mirror combo from a boneyard truck that I will repaint (gray to beige) and try to install again in the 4Runner. I agree the lighting sucks in these trucks.

I did see the LED replacements for the dome light at Super Bright LEDs – LED Lights, Bulbs, and Accessories. I'm having a problem swallowing the price. $8 for a simple bulb replacement to about $25 for something a bit nicer. Maybe if I can justify something else I'll spend the shipping and try them.

 

[toy4xfun]

pappy the only difference, is no wiring, i put a pick up light/ rear view mirror in my 84 4runner. now sr5 had a map light thing that looks similar to what chuck posted. and i have one of those some where and its bracket, but never thought to put it in.

and i bought these leds from a clearance rack at vador zone that made a big difference.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

The map light bolts right in, however you have to do some cutting on the headliner and wire it up, which can be a pain in a 4Runner since the stock light is at the rear, not on the mirror like the pickups.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Just a little update:
Turns out the adjusting screw I tinkered with on the mirror really can only be installed by the factory, so another unit is on its way from Flea-bay.
In the mean-time, I ditched the plywood spacer for the stock mirror which has a 1/2" hump that adds stability for now. No pictures of it, but if you can picture a small mound of redneck with a dash of inbred and a slight hint of frugal... that's how it looks for now, but it works.

The good news is: I'll have a second light unit for backup, or just extra interior lighting.

I also learned that the ground for the main switch is the stock negative loop of wire for the door switch - but the ground for the individual light switches runs through the screws into the cab roof. Kinda neat way to make everything run off a common source, and it makes total sense since it's a Toyota, and negative switched.

Carry on folks!