Challenge for Wiring Guys and Gals

[jbacker7]

Alright so I've replaced the bulbs under the dash and the dome light with red bulbs so I want the red effect when you open the doors and it looks really cool.....except....those dang reading lights. I don't want to lose the functionality of them but I don't want them to come on when I open the doors anymore. I don't see a switch so I would I make this possible?

[tenspeed]

You could unplug them so they never come on. You could cut a wire so they only come on with the local switch.

[jbacker7]

Yea I only want to control them with the switches on the rear view mirror, but also how would I unplug them?

[gobraves00]

why dont you just put red bulbs in them so they illuminate as well when the door opens

[Ryan625]

I bought red lights, i forget what number they are, but the replace the ones in there. However i cant put them in because my mirror is retarded and has insulation in it. When the lights are on they get so hot that they melt the insulation in the mirror and it smelles really bad.

Just go to autozone, thats where i got all my dome lights. They should have red and blue ones.

[jbacker7]

Yea thats where I got all my other bulbs but I don't know how to take off the covers on those lights and I'd like to have them actually function, but just with the switch. Like I switched out the 2 bulbs under the dash to red ones, the main dome to red, but I left the other 2 so if someone actually can't find something they can turn those on for a better look. So I'd like the reading lights to function as normal white light but only when the switch is flipped.

[jbacker7]

Anyone know how?

[sudden_impulse]

You could run a new power wire from the fuse box and connect that to the wire for the mirror lights instead of the one that goes to it, while taping off the original wire so nothing shorts out. Use a 10A fuse, the wire should be black/white, coming off an orange wire. You could pick up a Haynes manual, the wiring diagram for the interior lights is in section 12, page 37. This would still give you power, but the only way they would turn on is by using the mirror switches, which is exactly what you want it to do.

[tenspeed]

You could run a new power wire from the fuse box and connect that to the wire for the mirror lights instead of the one that goes to it, while taping off the original wire so nothing shorts out. Use a 10A fuse, the wire should be black/white, coming off an orange wire. You could pick up a Haynes manual, the wiring diagram for the interior lights is in section 12, page 37. This would still give you power, but the only way they would turn on is by using the mirror switches, which is exactly what you want it to do.

You have three wires going to the mirror. One is 12V all the time. One is ground. The third one varies from 12V when the light is off to zero volts when the light is on. That gives you the "theater lighting" feature.

Cut the third wire.

Cut it up in the headliner so you can reconnect later if you want to. That will let you turn the lights on with the mirror switches.

[Dave C]

if you remove your rear left c-pillar molding, you'll see a connection with five wires running to your headliner. The two larger ones are for the sunroof. The three smaller ones are for the lights... but those do the domelight as well :/

... thinking ...

you should be able to follow the wiring through your headliner if you have a sunroof and figure out which wires do what from there. sorry, thought the c-pillar thing would help until I realized it would cut your domelight as well as the reading lights. I think the rearview lights are only on the one line if I remember correctly, so you may have to cut the original connections & run new wires rather than just unplugging something.

[seanmcd]

haha... i actually just did this to my car like a week ago... but i have an aftermarket mirror, Gentex i think, with the LED lights, compass, etc..but its the same idea.?.?...all i did was test each pin by pulling out the individual wires from the connector one at a time until i finnally got the desired results... Now when i open my doors ..all my blue cathodes turn on..but not the map lights..:D.. sry i cant be more help than that..but try it..
oo.. and tenspeed already posted it...niceee