My version of the Maplight Mod

J.A.

J.A.

Senior Member
Not a new modification per say as I know some of you already have this done. But this link will take you to a write up I did in regards to My version of the Maplight Mod.

This mod will add functionality to the factory maplights so that they automatically turn on when any door is opened. They add much needed lighting to the front seat area to ease entering and exiting the vehicle at night. They fade in and out just like the factory dome lighting.

Additionally I added a switch so the mod can be completly shut off as needed.

Next up is changing these maplights, as well as the complete interior, over to led lighting which I will be doing in the very near future.

Let me know if you have any questions, also if you follow this procedure to accomplish the mod yourself, let me know how it went. :)
 
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Nice writeup! I'll have to try this out soon. That annoys me everytime at night how it doesn't light up.
 
Mike07SE said:
Nice writeup! I'll have to try this out soon. That annoys me everytime at night how it doesn't light up.
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Yeah me too, but I wont b/c I will somehow mess something up and just get frustrated and then nothing will get done anyway.
 
that is a great write up. skills. the mod itself is not something that i will be doing but wanted to give you props on the great write up
 
i did this mod (without the switch) and it took maybe 20 mins from start to finish. very easy and makes the truck how it should have been from the factory.

nice write up!!!
 
Guys, thanks for the comps!

Kenn, the roof wire harness begins at the body ECU and is connector 1A. Pin #8 is a solid white wire connected to two other wires in a small flat ribbon type cable. It runs up the A pillar to the dome light. I believe it is the center wire in the ribbon but didnt double check this info myself.

As to the Footwell write up, yes, I am about 75% done with that. The wiring and switch is done, I just need to get the Leds. Problem is I am trying to get my footwells from vleds along with larger order to change the rest of interior lighting over to leds. Each time I go to their site a different led is out of stock, when that comes in another is oos. I really dont want to pay shipping two or three times so I am holding out. Hope to be done soon.
 
J.A. said:
Guys, thanks for the comps!

Kenn, the roof wire harness begins at the body ECU and is connector 1A. Pin #8 is a solid white wire connected to two other wires in a small flat ribbon type cable. It runs up the A pillar to the dome light. I believe it is the center wire in the ribbon but didnt double check this info myself.
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Yep, you're right. it's a flat ribbon cable with 3 wires. it's white with three blue stripes. the center cable is the ECU one you want.
 
J.A. said:
Next up is changing these maplights, as well as the complete interior, over to led lighting which I will be doing in the very near future.
Click to expand...

It's been a while but I have have been finally able to complete my Footwell Lighting Mod and change over the full compliment of interior lights to Leds. I must say it looks great. Clean, crisp, white and really bright. It is amazing the difference the maplight mod, combined with footwells and high power led interior bulbs make when entering the vehicle at night.

I've not only had to wait a long time for the leds I wanted to come off backorder, but to get the light output just right, I had to try various wattages in certain locations, return, re-order, etc. Had to re-hardwire the footwell leds twice to get it just right.

I've done substantial work on the write-ups but will need another week at a minimum to get them published. Sorry nothing more to post just a little excited to get this completed. :D
 
I just did the mod using the A-pillar tap in point. Love it! Thank-you J.A. Thanks to triguy74 for confirming the wire to tap...



I do have a question about functionality. I got a bonus IMHO. When you turn on the drivers maplight all the lights come on. When you use the passengers maplight it works as it should:confused: Is that how it works for you guys? I like it but wasn't expecting that 'feature'. Not complaining, operationally it fits my needs beautifully.
:cheers:
 
Chris, no it does not work like that for me. Each maplight when pressed in works just like factory.
 
Hmmm... Interesting. Thank-you for the reply. A few more days have passed since I did the mod. Still no issues other than being slightly different than yours.
:cheers:
 
The only thing I can think of is that when you inserted the wire into the unused area of the driver side maplight switch, it may be touching the prong next to it. When you depress the driver maplight that prong gets grounded and brings the ground to the ILE wire which ultimately is connected to all the other lights. Since all the lights have a positive wire connected to them already when they get this ground they light up. But like you said it can be thought of as an extra bonus feature :biggrin2:
 
J.A. said:
The only thing I can think of is that when you inserted the wire into the unused area of the driver side maplight switch, it may be touching the prong next to it. When you depress the driver maplight that prong gets grounded and brings the ground to the ILE wire which ultimately is connected to all the other lights. Since all the lights have a positive wire connected to them already when they get this ground they light up. But like you said it can be thought of as an extra bonus feature :biggrin2:
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Thanks, I'll look at that. I'm ok with real and purposeful connections. Electrical connections that consist of 1 or 3 strands of wire scare me. That's how stuff burns up:cry:

If that's what's happening I may try to come up with a positive, secure connection to retain my extra feature:D

EDIT: That's exactly what was going on... The wire I pushed in was making contact with the center lead on the switch. It was occurring internally within the switch, not externally. At a later date I'll go back and modify so it works as it did when I first did the mod.
 
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