Ovehead console ligthing?

GrantK

GrantK

New member
The overhead console controls for crawl control, muti-terain, rear diff lock and ATRAC are impossible to read in the daytime. So, I would like the back-lighting for them on all the time instead of just when the main dash lights are on. To save me re-inventing the lighting-wheel, has anyone done this yet and if so, is there a write up? 

Thanks
 
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I think it would be impossible to see that orange color in the daylight anyways even if they were on. Or is that just me?
 
Grant,

If you take the O/H console down and disconnect plug #U7- which is a black 22 pin connector you can get to what you need.

Looking into the connector, position #18 will be a green wire. It's the bottom row, 7th from the left. This wire is the power for all the switches' lights: +12V.

Cut that wire, and connect the end (still attached to the plug) to an ignition only 12V source. Make sure you insulate the other loose end of the wire.

Simple and sweet.

EDIT- It WILL NOT light the Crawl and Multi-Terrain switches on Trail Edirions. They are controlled by the CAN circuit (computer).

Read below. Just wanted to clear it up in this post! A/M
 
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Antman said:
Grant,

If you take the O/H console down and disconnect plug #U7- which is a black 22 pin connector you can get to what you need.

Looking into the connector position #18 will be a green wire. It's the bottom row, 7th from the left. This wire is the power for all the switches' lights: +12V.

Cut that wire, and connect the end (still attached to the plug) to an ignition only 12V source. Make sure you insulate the other loose end of the wire.

Simple and sweet.
Click to expand...

Thanks Antman, I was hoping you'd reply. I'll give it a try when I take the console apart to do your other console lighting mod to light the sunroof switches.
 
Ha! I wouldn't wish that sunroof switch LED mod on my worst enemy... :jk: What a PITA! Good luck, though. Let us know how it turns out.
 
Yea, I remember you said your console light mod was not fun. That's why I plan on doing them both at once. That way I can get the overhead completely done and not worry about it again.
 
My "Good Doctor", did the overhead console lighting mod the way you suggested.
The A-TRAC, DIF. LOCK and TRAC buttons are the only ones that illuminate with the key "ON" now.

The back lighting for the Crawl and Multi-Terrain still only come on with the headlight switch.
Using a test light at the Crawl/Multi switch connection, the green and blue wires have 12v., key "on".
Any ideas buddy?
 
Picked up a couple of these orange/amber LED's at RS w/resistor built in to do the cup holder mod.
g_00994043.jpg


Really, is the Moon Roof LED mod as bad as you say?
Damn, better get another bottle of Vodka.
 
The sunroof LED mod is kind of scary, but not too hard. Look up how much an O/H console costs. They don't sell it in pieces- just the entire unit, as far as I could tell. I think it was somewhere around $1200? I don't know, it was a while ago, but I remember it was expensive. You don't want to F it up...

The area the LED mounts in is a tiny little space and there is no room for error when drilling. You also need to pick up a small- I think 3mm? LED to fit in there. It also took some fidgeting to get it aimed correctly before it all went back together. Would I do it again?

Yes.
 
flash said:
The back lighting for the Crawl and Multi-Terrain still only come on with the headlight switch.
Using a test light at the Crawl/Multi switch connection, the green and blue wires have 12v., key "on".
Any ideas buddy?
Click to expand...

What switch connection did you test? How about some pics. I'm having a hard time finding these switches on the W/D...

Hell, as long as you have the tester there, find out which wire is +12v with the headlights on, and run the ignition source to that just like you did the others!

I'm still looking, though...
 
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Antman said:
Would I do it again?

Yes.
Click to expand...

Good!
When you going to be in the Chicago area?
Will put you up, feed your ass and have a FULLY stocked liquor cabinet.
Plus, as an added bonus, am heading up to our cabin in the U.P. in May to open it up and will be doing Walleye/Trout fishing.....if you're so inclined.

BTW, how's that issue with the wiring on the overhead console coming? :biggrin2:
 
Antman said:
What switch connection did you test? How about some pics. I'm having a hard time finding these switches on the W/D...

Hell, as long as you have the tester there, find out which wire is +12v with the headlights on, and run the ignition source to that just like you did the others!

I'm still looking, though...
Click to expand...

The connection that goes into the CRAWL/MULTI board. If memory serves me it contains 8 wires on a 10 or 12 cavity plug.
I know, would have been easy if one of those illuminated with lights "on". We'd been talking fishing instead of electrons.
What's weird is that only the Green and Blue wires illuminate with key "on".
Trust me, I stuck (he said "stuck") each wire at that connection with lights on and none of them illuminated.
Only the blue and green and that was with key "on", no headlight.
But I did check for voltage after I did the mod if that helps. Not sure if the blue and green had voltage prior to the mod. but one of them had to.

I did take the assembly apart (as best as possible) and it's a circuit board that is not friendly to access. I'm wondering if the board is using a ground to activate the back lighting.
 
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Could be switched with the ground- could also be activated by CAN (my guess- and if it is your SOL.)

I have the W/D printed in a binder, and I can't find those switches. Even in the section they should be listed in (a-trac, abs, auto LSD, DAC, Hill-start Assist control, Mutli terrain select, TRAC, VSC).

What color was that plug?
 
Think I found it... They call it the "Drive Monitor Switch"

Plug U1- 12 connections. It's lit from the ground, it looks like. Gray wire in pole#10 which is on the bottom row, 4th from the left .

It's also fed from the other plug U7- gray- pin#14 bottom row third from right.

Why they did this, I don't know. Test it (cut it and verify it's grounded), and we go from there.
 
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Actually, I'm a little confused here. The W/D shows a ground heading to it, that's it. (It's on Pg#4 under "Illumination, Taillight")

Maybe it is lit by CAN, because it will always be grounded. All the other switches that you made light up (ignition only) show the green wire and a ground. Don't cut anything!

EDIT- The plug definitely receives signals from CAN, I can see it in the W/D...so, i'm 99.99999% sure it's lit by the CAN circuit.

CAN (AKA - Multiplex Communications System) is Antman's worst enemy.

My road ends here, bud. Sorry!
 
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No worries or apologies needed my friend as I thank you for going above and beyond.
Kinda had a feeling that after the mod and it didn't light, it was a controlled grounding circuit.

May I still send you that blender from '79?
 
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