Fit Extra Dome Lights

[Roger's Fit]

Ok boys and girls, here's another installation of Make the Mod Cheap and Easy, by Roger's Fit

I did the mod on my Suburban. I hate how there is never enough light inside from the dome light. They never wire the dome light into the map lights. So, for $2, I will show you how to do this.

You need 3 feet of speaker wire, wire cutters, wire strippers, a flathead and phillips screwdriver, 2 diodes (Radio Shack Catalog #: 276-1143, IN5402), a soldering iron and solder.

Start by removing the map lights. Use a flat blade screwdriver to remove the lenses.



Remove the light with a phillips, and disconnect the connectors.



Do the same thing to the dome light:



Take them to the workbench and warm the iron.



Solder each speaker wire to the terminals as shows. Make sure to pay attention and get the right terminal:



I soldered my radar detector wire at this point as a extra bonus:


Now, on to the dome light. Solder 2 diodes to the light as shown. The white bands of the diodes must be closest to the terminal for this to work.



Use a stiff wire to fish the speaker wire through the headliner:







Reconnect the connectors on the map light and microphone (if equipped), and reinstall the phillips screws, and the lenses.

Now, the dome light:



Solder each wire the the free end of a diode. Put something below you to prevent dripping solder on your fit. Have a helper to hold the dome light and wire.



Reinstall the dome light. Test.


This one has no side affects. If you open the door and the dome light is in the "mid" position, all 3 will come on. If the switch is "off", none will come on. If you are in the car, and all doors are closed, and you switch the dome light switch to "on", all three come on.

[dmckean]

The pictures aren't working.

[projekz]

What are those map lights you speak of? I don't gots none!!!

[Virtual]

Originally Posted by projekz

What are those map lights you speak of? I don't gots none!!!

Canadian Fits don't have them.

[Roger's Fit]

Originally Posted by dmckean

The pictures aren't working.

Fixed .

[JDM_DOHC_SiR]

Interesting.....

[niko3257]

very nice. i like it.
might just have to do it. one of these days.
+rep

[713_fit]

wow smart idea...i do wish all 3 lights on my came on at the sametime..i just might have to do this to mines too

[dman]

Nice mod! +1 rep!

[chyperX]

Thanks again rodger for a great post, just one question can the two front map lights still be turned on seperate with out the centre dome light coming on while driving if passenger needs to do something without effecting driver to much.

+rep 4 u

[Roger's Fit]

Originally Posted by chyperX

Thanks again rodger for a great post, just one question can the two front map lights still be turned on seperate with out the centre dome light coming on while driving if passenger needs to do something without effecting driver to much.

+rep 4 u

Absolutely

[jrlnc]

It looks good, just about this.

[TKZ12NO1]

Thanks Roger! I have to see if I can do this with mine but with the big sunroof in the way I might not be able to fish the wire. If I can I"m doing it... my dome light's all the way in the back now and I get no light on the cockpit.

+1 rep for you.

[Roger's Fit]

Originally Posted by jrlnc

It looks good, just about this.

It does still have the dim effect

[GUESTO]

I have a US Spec, 09' Sport model. My map lights look different from yours. There's two big lenses that take up the entire panel, instead of lens, plastic piece & lens. Is yours US spec too?

[Roger's Fit]

Originally Posted by GUESTO

I have a US Spec, 09' Sport model. My map lights look different from yours. There's two big lenses that take up the entire panel, instead of lens, plastic piece & lens. Is yours US spec too?

It is US spec, and I have navigation. The center is the microphone. It will still work, you just have to connect to the right terminals.

[S0L_GT]

Great post! I was hoping someone would out line this... between this and the upgraded console, I will be even happier with my FIT after this weekend.

[GUESTO]

Man, that's cool. I'll definitely will be doing this. The center dome light is too dim.

Also, I was wondering. The microphone part of your map lights, from DIYHonda.com Video Podcasts there was a show about swapping out these pieces with homelink. Can anyone confirm if it'll fit?

[S0L_GT]

Thanks again for the guide on the light mod. Everything was straightforward and the parts were easy to find at radio shack. The only trouble I had was getting the dome light to hold onto solder, no matter how much i sanded or cleaned it, even tried two different types of solder. Aside from that, everything went together flawlessly. Lights work as promised, dimming and all.

[BakedCookies]

looks good, but I would have definitely recommended some heat shrink over the connection points to the diodes.