Hey y'all. My thread got deleted in the FB forums asking for help so posting here.

I'm having issues with the map light install. I know I'm doing it right since I have a copy of the arc-light install guide but I can't get the center lenses to stay on.



Might be hard to tell but the center lenses are popped up near the LED switches. I can't get them to stay down and because of this turning the lights on with the map light switches become difficult. Also the red/white buttons stick too.



The issue appears to be related to these bulb plugs being too long. If I leave them out like this I can get the lenses on and functions just fine but then the LED board becomes loose and rattles around.

Anyways. I'm thinking I need to drill the holes for the switches to be bigger but wanted to check first because I really like how my holes look

One more thing. Did anyone else's map light come with this block? I think this will solve most of the issues I'm having too.

no block or install guide. My center cover barely fits and the upper left corner is raised a bit. The issue is the socket adapters, but not sure what you can do about it besides finding another way to connect. I sued some double sided foam tape to attach the board to the center plastic housing for the "mood" light. think i triple layered it to raise it high enough.

I can explain that spacer block easily enough

You are looking at the ArcLight instructions and that is probably part of their $370 kit. Take a look through the instructions to see if it is.

The Chinese knockoffs leave us on our own to figure that kind of stuff out, lol.

Probably an Xacto knife, some stiff foam and double sticky tape could be used to copy the block too.

Anyhow, I really want to get some good pictures at night so I won't install until later but I will be glad to take a closer look before I head out for dinner.

I don't see how the LEDs can light up if you pop out those black socket pieces. I bet those have to be in contact with shiny contacts on the green circuit board to get power to the socket and then to the white plugs for the LEDs

Mines raised too and looks like there's some good news. There was another post about fitment issues on facebook and cartrimhome is going to look into moving the black blocks for a second revision.

I was also somewhat able to get my lenses to fit by loosening the PCB screws on the rear of the light. I'm able to get the center lens to fit flush but it also makes my sunroof and garage buttons a bit harder to push but it's a workaround for now till these get replaced.

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I've given up on "before and after pictures! It took me a while today to effect a clean install of the passenger dome light panel. I was really careful to get the square hole as nice as possible for the switch body to poke through.



I really hate the supplied foam double sticky as it is fragile. I used the GooBGone liquid to remove the originals and installed a substitute 3M double sticky.

Some more progress this morning. The experience with the dome light helped and these two went fairly quickly.

When the boards are plugged into the metal tabs you'll find you can align the board a bit for levelness.
Check alignment as you drill your holes so the pushbutton is not at an angle.
Be sure to use new sharp drills when drilling holes in the lenses, support the lens face on a block of wood and don't run
the drill too slow. Start with a small pilot hole, check for alignment, next size drill, check for alignment.....

The plastic of the lens does not seem to be too hard but I was overly cautious cautious about cracking them during drilling.







Red light mode!

Not that I want to support this blatant knockoff of Arclights, but you need to remove the reflector for this to work.

I did remove the reflector and the fitment is still pretty bad. I wasn't able to close my garage this morning so I took out the console and tightened the screws. Now my center lens is loose and barely hangs on since I wore down the stubs that hold the lens in by pressing it in so many times since the corner pops out randomly.

I doubt cartrimhome did any fitment testing and simply just released them thinking they'd fit since it's a copy of arc lights board. I'm going to stop by my buddy's place this evening to take a look at his setup and see if there's any differences and report back.

Having read all of the concerns with fitment of the map lights I am taking this approach.

Metal reflector had to come out, not the least for space issues let alone the possibility of shorting out the back of the circuit board. I used some tools to reach in to bend back the reflector's small retention tabs and removed it. If I ever want to struggle with putting it back I can stash it away for that day.

The goofy plugs that go into the 194 bulb sockets are too long so I modified mine. I unplugged the wires from the 194 plug body then removed the wires and metal prong from the white plastic body. I cut some heat shrink tubing for each wire and one to go around both wires.

I shrunk the tubing around each metal prong and then shrunk the larger piece around the two insulated prongs.

On the white plastic 194 type plug I cut the rectangular plastic away from the two metal pins so that they are free and clear. Next I plugged the insulated wires directly onto the two metal pins and ended up with what is in the attachment. A shorter assembly where the wires can be bent over and clear the LED circuit board.

This kind of mechanical challenge is fun and is also what you have to expect when you buy a product of this type. Tomorrow I'll finish up the install and take some nighttime pictures.

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Lots of hyperbole from you and little else. Look kid you want support communism have at it.

But considering your username what does it matter anyways huh?

Cute how easily you resort to insults to pad your replies... hint insults and cheap rhetoric dont really add to your word count but they sure do add to something else.

Look you go buy your communist crap, if your truck burns to the ground maybe we will all get lucky and youll be in it?>

Either way as you so right said the world is ending..so who cares..I know I sure dont care about you tiny

Success with the map light install! The key was crafting a foam spacer to set the height of the LED PCB to place the switch bodies up to the lens without pushing it out. Will have to watch it over the next week or so and see how it fares.

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Well, this thread and the issues installing those knockoffs makes my decision to go with ARC Light pretty easy.

I hate seeing discussion boards ruined by a terminally angry person. The forum is better when we can all hang out, get along, share ideas and have fun without all of the drama....

More Princess Grug contributions to the forum.