Clearance Lights??

[Brian Lidgard]

So I got here a 17 3500 6.7 tradesman, 8ft bed, not dually and I'm wanting to add the cab clearance lights on the roof of the cab. Anyone done this? I have to layout and drill and seal the lights and my main question is power hook up. I'm told some models have a pre run wire harness going up the side of the windshield under the oh **** handle /trim. The drivers side is the only side which has wires running up from the dash to the headboard. The only wiring harness I see is just above the headboard in the front and the harness is already connected to something...picture attached. Do I need to splice into these wires above the headboard or should I find the wires coming from the headlight switch and use those? Videos online show the installs with trucks which already have the clearance lights harness sitting there next to the windshield.
I don't see that at all maybe bc it's a tradesman package. Anybody know where best to get power for these lights??

 

[AH64ID]

I added them to my '18. I've never heard of the harness by the grab handle.

I used the MOPAR kit, and those instructions have you tap into a module on the firewall. Let me tell you that it's a PITA to get to!

I used a voltmeter on the headlight switch, but nothing provided a 12V source with just the parking lights on...everything is computer controlled these day.

So, I'd suggest the MOPAR kit and just plan on the single wire splice taking 80% of the install time. I had to remove the stereo amp, and parking brake bracket to get to the proper module for the splice.

 

[gsbrockman]

Some good reading here

https://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/...944-cab-clearance-lights-10.html#post12760186

Up through post #128

Power is easily sourced at the passenger front side of dash.
#ad

 

[dieselshadow]

Mmmm, fail. Never use a green wire for power. That is the universal color for ground. That and yellow/green.

 

[EZeis]

Mmmm, fail. Never use a green wire for power. That is the universal color for ground. That and yellow/green.

Not at all. The 7-way uses green and it's not ground. Only time I saw green as a ground standard is in AC wiring. If you look at wiring harnesses you will see lots of green wires that aren't grounds.


Earl

 

[dieselshadow]

Not at all. The 7-way uses green and it's not ground. Only time I saw green as a ground standard is in AC wiring. If you look at wiring harnesses you will see lots of green wires that aren't grounds.


Earl

Good point. Still wouldn’t do it. Old habits die hard my friend.

 

[EZeis]

Use a Mopar kit, don't screw with aftermarket stuff. Mopar comes with everything including the template for the roof. Also the instructions. If you're not up to it, have the dealer install them.


Earl

 

[EZeis]

Good point. Still wouldn’t do it. Old habits die hard my friend.

The mopar kit is all green wiring by the way. Lol


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

Mmmm, fail. Never use a green wire for power. That is the universal color for ground. That and yellow/green.

That’s the MOPAR supplied wire color.

 

[dieselshadow]

Still wouldn’t use it.

 

[AH64ID]

Still wouldn’t use it.

Haha. Yea 12V is quite different.

I don’t like using black for the load in 120V.

 

[Ozymandias]

Use the Mopar Kit, you get quality there.
Leaking (aftermarket) Clearance Lights are no fun.

 

[dieselshadow]

Haha. Yea 12V is quite different.

I don’t like using black for the load in 120V.

Eh, I don’t want to muddy up the OP’s thread, so I’ll be short and drop it.

Power is power. AC or DC, doesn’t matter. I’ve worked with many many harnesses that were all the same color with no wire markings at all. It seems that even with that, most industries have moved to some single standards. The automotive being slower because it’s so vast and worldwide. And like I said before, old habits die hard, even for industries. I think it’s coming as a standard for the automotive OEMs, just hasn’t happened quite yet. It’s not very common to see a green wire these days used in auto wiring. But there are standards as mentioned before that use green as a current conductor.

So for me personally, green is only ground if I’m installing anything. It’s a good rule to follow and pretty much universally understood.

Back to topic, I would absolutely use the Mopar kit. It was designed to go right in. And yes......I would probably quietly use the green wire.


.....nah. I’d fab a new wire.

 

[mfurrh55]

I just went through a spell of blowing fuses over the Green wire, supposing it for the ground, after finally googling Dodge trailer plug wiring diagram, I realized it was the power wire, (not ground)

 

[EZeis]

Wire color means nothing, use your meter! Trailer wiring has always been white for ground, but again, use your meter to check polarity, don't assume!


Earl

 

[mfurrh55]

Wire color means nothing, use your meter! Trailer wiring has always been white for ground, but again, use your meter to check polarity, don't assume!
I was following the schematics on back of new trailer 7 way plug(wrong), never again

Earl

 

[mfurrh55]

I was following schematics on back of new 7 way trailer plug(won't do that again)

 

[Randomrunner12]

Wire harness is under passenger a pillar. Its a grey 2 wire plug near the bottom of the windshield. I used a T-tap when i installed my recon cab lights a year ago and haven't had any issues. I even made my own wire harness so that I could easily change out just 1 if I ever needed to.