How exactly does the jeep know to turn on the dome light when the door(s) are opened? I'm used to seeing a button/switch, but don't see a thing now. Am I overlooking something?
Tim
Tim
How does the Jeep know to turn the dome light on?
- Thread starter JKTimmah
- Start date
The switch is built into the latch, which is the same for the tailgate.
Turn the inner knob on headlight switch all the way back, it turns off dome lights off entirely.
Turn the inner knob on headlight switch all the way back, it turns off dome lights off entirely.
OP
Yeah, I know how to work them. I just didn't know where it was getting the signal that the doors were open.
My JK is pretty plain, having just a dome light. I plan on adding footwell and cargo lights and I'm trying to figure out the best way to wire it up.
Thanks!
Tim
Oh yeah, you might have to look for wiring diagrams to figure that one out, but I get what you're saying
OP
But the harness for the doors has to complete the circuit somehow, right? Otherwise the interior lights would always be on with doors off.
Dr. Vinnie Boombatz
New Member
Hey Chris, follow-up question. If I turn the dome lights off entirely, as you’ve described, does that eliminate any/all power draws if I take my doors off?
This was always a PITA on my 87 Wrangler. I tried taking the door off a few times, but could never rig up anything to efficiently hold the pin switches in while driving. I tried pulling the fuse but it was tied in my the aftermarket car alarm system I had installed, right after I bought it new.
Yes, you shouldn't have any power draws whatsoever if you take your doors off in that case.
On my TJ I just pulled the number 4 fuse which disabled the dome light entirely. That did the trick and I never minded it. Still, the JK solution is much better than what we used to have to do on our older Wranglers
OP
At first glance, I didn't notice anything under there. I plan on tackling some of it this weekend, so we'll see!
Tim
Tim
Dr. Vinnie Boombatz
New Member
Good luck. Is your jk a base model? I just recently found out that some don't come pre wired.
417Willyz
JK Enthusiast
Oscar-Mike
JK Enthusiast
You are overthinking not overlooking.
Sensors my friend, works with instrumentation. I could not explain it in a simple term though.
I think the question is: What wire in the door harness controls power to the dome light? The yellow wire, the yellow-white wire, the orange wire, etc.? Because once we know the color, we can tap into it and run wire for footwell lights. So, anyone know the right color wire? Thanks.
When I wired in my cargo light and used my rear dome wiring I just used a test light to see which one came on and stayed until the dome went out.
OP
I will have to double check, but I'm 90% sure it was the yellow w/ white stripe. Driver side, I tapped into the same wire at the instrument panel. Passenger side, I hit the harness at floor level. They work great! Green LEDs for floor and one in dome!
Tim
Tim
OP
It's the yellow with a white strip in the big bundle in the right corner under the dash. But for some reason it doesn't show up yellow in my picture, it's the one with the red connector on it.
