Cargo Dome Light Install

[gmoney35c]

Using Snooperstyle's Cargo LED Mod Write Up I was able to add a dome light to headliner. Pretty nerve wrecking cutting thru brand new headliner, but I am happy with the way it turned out.

I simply used the instructions from snooperstyle along with oem domelight from 2003 tacoma, two metal brackets, bolts and washers. Below are pics of the install.


Here is a link to dome light I used
Toyota Tacoma 4Runner Truck Over Head Dome Light - eBay (item 200536579650 end time Apr-25-11 16:59:26 PDT)

Oh yeah... I added a couple strips of LEDs as well... Thanks snooperstyle!!

 

[Antman]

Yeah! That's the way it should have come from the factory. Great job with that!! How about a measurement from the edge of the headliner (by the hatch) to the cutout? I would hate to make a hole in the wrong place- looks like you had plenty of room there. Did you get the power from one of the hatch-light feeds? I want to do this...now.

 

[deekoi]

Nice job!! Looks great. I'd be hella scared to cut in... Haven't decided how I will do this but this gives me another option. Thanks !!

 

[Scuba6]

Very nice - clean install. I've already done the LED answer for now, but as sharp as this is, I may work towards this over time.

I'm assuming you ran the wires into the door power per Snoop's original write up? (that's the part I'm still gun-shy to do).

 

[treyb]

Great Job!!!

Question about the metal brackets you used. Did you actually mount the new light to the roof using these brackets or were they just used to provide some support/backing for the light and to prevent it from falling out of the headliner? Did you notice any spots above the headliner where you might be able to bolt the light directly into the roof (metal beams or braces)? How much of the headliner did you have to pull down to get access for wiring?

Thanks.

 

[gmoney35c]

Thanks guys for the compliments!!

Antman,

6 inches from the edge of headliner is where the outer border of cutout made (cut parallel to headliner edge)

I tapped into the driver side hatch light wiring harness.
Red (+) constant power
Purple (-) on switch
Blue (-) door switch


Scuba6,
As long as you follow snooper's write up, you will have no problem running wires. Just took a little patience


TreyB,

Brackets basically wedge/clamp dome light to headliner. It is very secure. The hole made in headliner is smaller than actual dome light so brackets sit on outer edge of light .

Initially, my worry about the install was that the light would not sit flush or tight against headliner, but it does.

It would take a custom job to fabricate bracket and mount to roof directly. Possible, but beyond what I can do for sure.

I only removed the 3 push tabs to access the area I needed for wiring and mounting. Careful not to pry too much or it will crease headliner. Probably only had enough room for hand/wrist to mount bracket.

 

[Antman]

Excellent! That will be my next project- great job

 

[Snooperstyle]

Holy cow GMONEY I just saw this!! I feel honored that my thread could help you and others! This forum rocks! :drummer:

Thanks for being the first to take the plunge into cutting that headliner...I feel sure that many people on this forum will be following your lead on this...

1. Can you provide a little bit more detail on how you mounted those brackets? Do they just sit above the headliner using compression and the alignment of the hole, or did you somehow attach the brackets to the back of the headliner?
2. So, just so I can get this...the Taco assembly uses screws? Or does it pop in like the 2nd row one on the 5th gen t4r? I presume you are using screws since it is not hard-mounted to the roof, right?
3. In your first picture, is that a template that comes with the Taco dome light assembly, or is it actually part of it, or neither?
4. Lastly, are you gonna put LEDs in that puppy or what?

Great job!

 

[gmoney35c]

Hopefully these pics will help...

Snooperstyle, glad I am able to contribute considering I have gained so much from this forum. Much credit to you b/c without your detailed write up, I would have not even attempted this.

So the dome light I used has a flat level recess around border and center protrudes toward roof. The hole made is just enough to accommodate area that protrudes out. The template is easy to make once you have the light in front of you (on pic below, the red pen border indicates outer dome light border). The first pic above is that actual cut/hole in headliner.

Inside the clear dome light housing are two holes that I used to place screw through. On the opposite side (inner headliner) is where the bracket sandwiches headliner and secured with washer and bolt.

Bracket will sit in this orientation when screw in place and headliner sandwiched in between

view from inside headliner

Will definitely get some LEDs soon!!

Hope this makes a little more sense. Happy to clarify and answer any other questions

 

[Snooperstyle]

Perfect thanks!