Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #15 – October 06, 2017, 10:01:48 AM leme think...i agree with softtouch................and my first thought is a single wire ran from the overhead dome light "hot" wire to............rear cpillar lamp "hot" side.open door then c pillar lamp comes on.close door cpillar lamp goes off.push button for rear cpillar lamp and light comes on.........with door open and c pillar lamp button pushed on... i dont see any harm in the bulb getting dc power from two sources.thoughts on why a single wire solution is wrong?havent looked at the evtm yet to see if there is a conflict Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #16 – October 12, 2017, 10:50:54 AM DONE! Here's how you do it: 1. Get the 3 wire light switch originally from a 1980 Thunderbird: Motorcraft SW-1581 or E0SZ-13713-B2. Remove the factory light switch at the back of the console, note the 2-wire plug. 2. Splice the new switch's green wire to the green wire on the factory 2-wire plug 3. Splice the new switch's black wire to the other wire (sorry I forgot the color) using the factory 2-wire plug4. Test to ensure you retained the reading light functionality retained with the new switch before adding the 3rd wire. (as the 1980 Tbird switch doesn't have a unique color for the 3rd wire)5. Run a power wire from the courtesy light that's under the glovebox (it only has one wire) run it under the carpet/console and up to the 2-wire plug. 6. Connect the power wire to the remaining wire on the switch, by now the switch will no longer be connected to its 3-wire plug. 7. Gently pry off the 1980's wordless button and switch it out with your "LIGHTS" button so it looks correct. Make sure the spring stays with the button. DONE! Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #17 – October 12, 2017, 11:05:17 AM well thats kinda cool..like to see a wire diagram though.......good mod!!! Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #18 – October 12, 2017, 11:06:45 AM There's really no need for a wiring diagram* once you see both switches next to each other. *says the guy that's removed his dashboard 3 times Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #19 – October 12, 2017, 04:04:29 PM Quote from: pro-five-oh;463205DONE! Here's how you do it: 1. Get the 3 wire light switch originally from a 1980 Thunderbird: Motorcraft SW-1581 or E0SZ-13713-B2. Remove the factory light switch at the back of the console, note the 2-wire plug. 2. Splice the new switch's green wire to the green wire on the factory 2-wire plug 3. Splice the new switch's black wire to the other wire (sorry I forgot the color) using the factory 2-wire plug4. Test to ensure you retained the reading light functionality retained with the new switch before adding the 3rd wire. (as the 1980 Tbird switch doesn't have a unique color for the 3rd wire)5. Run a power wire from the courtesy light that's under the glovebox (it only has one wire) run it under the carpet/console and up to the 2-wire plug. 6. Connect the power wire to the remaining wire on the switch, by now the switch will no longer be connected to its 3-wire plug. 7. Gently pry off the 1980's wordless button and switch it out with your "LIGHTS" button so it looks correct. Make sure the spring stays with the button. DONE!Cool. Glad you figured it out. I'll add this to the list of little thing I want to do to the car. Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #20 – October 12, 2017, 04:37:49 PM So I probably could just swap the switch out from my 83 as well. That's pretty cool. Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #21 – October 13, 2017, 09:08:52 AM Quote from: Haystack;463223So I probably could just swap the switch out from my 83 as well. That's pretty cool.Is yours an early 1983 build? Because I was looking at console switch/ashtray panels on eBay and the two I saw had the 2-wire switch but had 1983 part numbers. Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #22 – October 13, 2017, 04:40:07 PM Not Sure the build date, but it has lights on the side of the end of the console that come on and off with the rear lamps button that would normally go to the rear reading lights as well as the dome light.I really don't see just the dome light's, plus the under dash lights and the door locks lighting up to be too little light though. Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #23 – October 13, 2017, 05:46:44 PM Quote from: Haystack;463247Not Sure the build date, but it has lights on the side of the end of the console that come on and off with the rear lamps button that would normally go to the rear reading lights as well as the dome light.I really don't see just the dome light's, plus the under dash lights and the door locks lighting up to be too little light though.It's not too much light when you have a moonroof with the useless lights in the overhead console, even with the reading lamps on I still can't find behind the front seats. Maybe I shoulda got an earlier console too :) Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #24 – October 13, 2017, 08:32:58 PM If the moon roof takes any more head room away, id have to walk away from the car. Im 6'5 and usually sit with an inch or so above my head. Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #25 – October 14, 2017, 09:52:54 AM Quote from: Haystack;463252If the moon roof takes any more head room away, id have to walk away from the car. Im 6'5 and usually sit with an inch or so above my head.Probably negligible if you keep the moonroof shade open :) Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #26 – October 17, 2017, 12:20:43 PM Quote from: Haystack;463252 Im 6'5 and usually sit with an inch or so above my head.dang,, your prob gonna have to pay an oversize fee when it comes time to burry you!! :hick: Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #27 – October 17, 2017, 01:47:35 PM Quote from: jcassity;463353dang,, your prob gonna have to pay an oversize fee when it comes time to burry you!! :hick:Maybe not if you live long enough. I used to be 5'11'' , now I am 5'9. Quote Selected
Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? Reply #28 – October 24, 2017, 01:27:23 PM Now that it's getting darker outside sooner, I am more in love with this mod. Every time I walk away from the car... Quote Selected
Topic: Turning reading lights into courtesy lights? (Read 3981 times)
previous topic - next topic
