Various Lighting Questions

[jsimms243]

I am thinking about replacing my interior dome lights with LED. But first, I wanted to get some important questions answered before I invest money in bulbs:

I have a '99 4Runner, base 4 cyl.

When I open the door, the center and rear (hatch) interior lights (in the ceiling) turn on, but the lights directly over the shifter do not turn on. So, naturally, it's very dark up front. Am I missing some simple switch somewhere? Where should I start? Aren't these suppose to turn on when the door opens?

Next, if I replace these dome lights with LED, I am concerned the older dingy plastic light covers may impede the LEDs shining ability. Are there replacement covers available, or, in your experience, should this not be a concern?

Lastly, am I crazy? Does the 99 4Runner not have floorboard lighting, or are both of mine burned out? I've only owned it for 3 years, and it recently dawned on me that the floorboard is much darker than most cars.

Thankyou for reading.

 

[3rzrunner]

Hey Justin, Welcome to the forum

The 3rd Gen 4Runner never had lights that come on when you open the door above the shifter. They are not supposed to turn on when you open the doors.

BUT on the other hand the 2nd gen 4runner's map lights DO come on when you open the door, its a very simple mod. just get the map light assembly out of a second gen and run a wire to the door ajar circuit. I've done this in my truck and it works like a charm, I have NO idea why in 3rd gen they got rid of that awesome feature.

Next I have replaced my map dome and hatch lights with drop-in LED's and WOW what a world of lighting I was missing!

Nope you don't need to replace any of the plastic covers, they where designed that way the front map's are clear so you can read a (map)
the dome is frosted so it floods light everywhere and the hatch is a flood/spot combination.

Nope your not crazy my 97 didn't have floor board lighting either, I just got them out of a Range Rover and wired them in.

I'll try to get some pics up soon, of what I am talking about for the 2nd gen maplight mod.

Hope that helped!

 

[3rzrunner]

first pic is the map lights out of a second gen, notice the 3rd switch in the middle.
second pic is the 3rd gen one.

 

[Brilliant]

get led panels off ebay for $1, they make all the difference.

 

[riverrat44]

Hey 3RZ...

Did you or anyone ever post a tutorial on your 2nd gen maplight mod?

In particular, how do you go about connecting the 2nd gen maplight wire to the door ajar wire?

BTW, nice 4runner! I have a 2000 3RZ 5 speed. I'd love to have your build up especially the e-locker!