Outside Dome Light

[RagingCajun]

Has anyone of you guys installed a toggle switch to control our outside dome light (Truck Bed). If so which wire is it (color). I get tired of having to turn on the inside dome light every time I need to get something out of the bed of the truck.



I know I need to invest in a Service Manual, maybe on my next weeks allowance.

 

[illflem]

Maybe someone else will chime in on the wire colors but you can easily figure it out with a volt meter or probe light. Just trade the dome light wire with the cargo light wire on the back of your light switch. The cargo light will then come on the first click with the dome off.

 

[RagingCajun]

Ha, great idea! I never thought of that tell you mentioned it. I'll give it a try. So you think just by switching the wire will do the trick?

 

[illflem]

Worked for me and many others here. Now you have to buy a service manual to find out how to remove the dash front though.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

It has been about a year since I did mine, but when I did it I found that the power was constant up to the lights and the control from the headlight switch was a ground. If I remember correctly it was a black wire with an orange stripe. I wound up doing mine after I had to replace the switch and found it was twenty dollars cheaper to buy the switch that doesn't control the bed lights. Go figure, huh? Anyway, mine is a 99 also so I would think they would be the same.



Jon

 

[illflem]

Jon is correct, don't know which year it happened but many of the controls changed from a switched positive to a switched negative. Apparently trading the wires on the light switch still works though.

 

[Un-Hemi]

I think the reason the factory decided to have the dome light come on before the bed light is... that it would be really difficult to forget to turn off the bed light when the dome light is on. In this part of Kanada, it's illegal to drive around at night with a white light showing to the rear. Not that the cops are gonna charge outa the donut shop to give chase, but... ... .



Just my $. 02. (that's $0. 033CDN)



BTW, the dash bezel just pulls off. Tilt the steering wheel down, put the gear selector in neutral (assuming you have an auto trans), and tug the bezel gently. It'll pop right off!