How much hassle is it to install cab lights?

[ERohloff]

Son just bought a new '04 2500 (leftover). Is interested in installing clearance lights like the 3500's.

1. Does one need to drop the front of the headliner to do the install? How difficult is this? Any special tooling needed?

2. The OEM set is $70. Is it a plug in install?



Anybody done this. Have any leaking issues?

Appreciate the input... .....

bob r...

 

[MFenza]

clearance lights

The dealer told me that the harness for the lights is already there from the the factory and the lights are plugs ins also the dealer told me they were about $150. 00 to install by them. hope your son has many happy miles with his new truck. Matt 2004. 5 Silver Dually Laramie 4x4

 

[SRadke]

It's not a big deal but you do have to drop the headliner. Do a search on my name and "headliner" there is a thread about it. The harness is nt plug and play but there will be an unused plug behind the passenger side pillar to get switched power from.



-Scott

 

[MDietrich]

I put them on my '03 a couple of months ago. I got my set though the local Dodge/Mopar dealer. They were a little more than $70.

I looked at SRadke's posts before I started my project. The headliner is the worst part of the job. I didn't have the right tool to get the seat belt loop removed and really had to crank on the liner to get past them(I think the liner craked a little). Other than that the jobs not bad. Don't use a 7/8in bit like I did, it makes a nasty hole. Get a hole saw or another kind of drill bit. I followed the instructions and ran the wire to the fuse box under the hood and tapped into the harness.

The lights are not the same as the factory ones, just a difference of screw placement and the template is slightly different also. The center light is forward of the rest. Probally would not be a big deal to move the center light to factory placement( I didn't).

The trucks been through the car wash and a few heavy rains with no leaks.

I would do this project again.



MD

 

[DocDetonancour]

Had a local aftermarket vendor do the job. Would do it again. No leaks and like the look. Doc

 

[ERohloff]

Install w/o dropping headliner?

Thanks for the info. Thought i read someplace where someone installed the clearance lights w/o dropping the headliner. Carefully drilled holes, fished the wiring to the pillar ??????

Not sure where I saw this. Anybody familar w/ this? Or maybe just bite-the-bullet and drop the headliner?

bob r...

 

[JStieger]

I dropped the headliner and I would do it again this way. When you drill the holes into the roof it can suck the drill bit in pretty quick and far. Also, it will give you a chance to vacuum all the shavings up. The hardest part is drilling the first hole into a perfectly good roof ! Measure 10 times and drill once!



Also, instead of using those cheapo inserts that came in the Dodge kit, I used well nuts. Well nuts are rubber with a metal thread that when you tighten down on them they squish against the surface. I also put clear silicone in the lens mounting holes. 2 years so far with no leaks.

 

[mysteryman]

clearance lights....bad idea

putting clearance lights on the roof is a real bad idea! They all leak water and end up rusting out the interior panels above the windsheild sooner or later. If you live in a heavy winter salt area it will be sooner. Water will not be seen leaking inside the cab. It leaks and runs down the inside of the panels and out the drain holes. By the time it starts leaking inside the passenger compartment it is too late. .

The only reason they are put on 3500's is because the DOT requires ithem on 10000 lb and up trucks . If you like only the look of them . Put them on with double sided 3M trim tape and save your roof.

Son just bought a new '04 2500 (leftover). Is interested in installing clearance lights like the 3500's.

1. Does one need to drop the front of the headliner to do the install? How difficult is this? Any special tooling needed?

2. The OEM set is $70. Is it a plug in install?



Anybody done this. Have any leaking issues?

Appreciate the input... .....

bob r...

 

[ERohloff]

Definitely 'Food for Thought'... ... I have a 3500, which has them. Maybe I'll pull one off and see what maybe can be done to better seal them from potential leaking. Like making a rubber gasket or adding a more generous dose of silicone. Can't be that hard. There's an awful lot of non-leaking holes in auto roofs these days.

... ... ... Anybody got any good ideas?

bob r...

 

[SRadke]

Permatex on mine, no prob after 18 months in the rain. No salt here though.



-Scott

 

[805gregg]

buy a 3500 and they are free

805gregg