Map Lights Work!
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 524
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From: L.Bucks,Pa.
Map Lights Work!
Every once in a while I flip the switch on the map lights to see if by some miracle they will go on.They have not worked in about two years.Wouldn't ya know it they both came on today!Don't know if I may have jiggled something while taking the hard top off.I'll see if they continue to work.If not,Where can I trace the wire to?
Thanks
Sudsrat
Thanks
Sudsrat
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
Map Lights Work!
"green powder" yuck.....copper oxide! Where does the moisture come from Steve? Or is it just condensation over many moons? I only ask in an effort to alleviate the problem prior to it happening to mine.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Map Lights Work!
Every time you step in from the rain, the water on your feet runs along the carpet under the threshhold, and down into the channel where the wire runs. Then it wicks or sloshes (as you accelerate) up the wire to that connector, and corrodes it. It's worse if you're a smoker because the ash gets washed down with the water, and ash is caustic.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 524
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From: L.Bucks,Pa.
Map Lights Work!
Thanks M.K. & Steve83,
If they fail again, I'll trace the wire,replace where corroded and cover with shrink tube.
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
If they fail again, I'll trace the wire,replace where corroded and cover with shrink tube.
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 524
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From: L.Bucks,Pa.
Map Lights Work!
Just noticed that the map lights work only when the dome light is on.I don't remember if this is the way it's supposed to work,or do I have a short in the system?
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,526
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From: Round Rock, TX
Map Lights Work!
You have a problem somewhere. Presumably, you'd have enough light to read a map if the dome light were already on.
Have you tried removing the light assembly and checking to see if anybody has done any "special" repairs to the wiring? I suspect that perhaps somebody attached a wire intended for the dome lamp to power the map lights.
Have you tried removing the light assembly and checking to see if anybody has done any "special" repairs to the wiring? I suspect that perhaps somebody attached a wire intended for the dome lamp to power the map lights.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 524
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From: L.Bucks,Pa.
Map Lights Work!
bigric,
Looks ok inside and I do remember them working independently
of the dome light.Don't think anyone has screwed with it,but I'll dig deeper.
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
Looks ok inside and I do remember them working independently
of the dome light.Don't think anyone has screwed with it,but I'll dig deeper.
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Map Lights Work!
The map lights should work ALL the time. I bet your wires have corroded together down there, because the maps & dome are on separate circuits. (Well, they're supposed to be separate! 
)
)
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: L.Bucks,Pa.
Map Lights Work!
WILL IT EVER STOP RAINING HERE IN THE PHILLY AREA?Since I don't have a garage,I need a break in the weather to work on the truck.Hopefully this week I'll get to the wiring.
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: L.Bucks,Pa.
Map Lights Work!
Ok,it finally stopped raining.Took the belt cover off and pulled back the carpet a bit.What did I find in that well? 3 screws,a nail,a paper clip,an old penny(to corroded to read the date)and a plastic bag filled with an absorbent type of material.Plus a lot of rusted metal debris,and a quarter sized hole in the sheet metal!And everything was damp.Picked up the connector with the green wire and the wire just fell out.Same with the other connector.No conn. at all with the green wire.Had a heck of a time seperating the connector,broke the clips off both,and I cannot get the broken piece of wiring out of the connector.New connectors?Or should I just try to ground it elsewhere?Now,even with the ground disconnected the map lights work when the dome light is on.Will having a good ground cause the map lights to work independently?Electrical is not one of my strong points.And inside the dome looks ok,2 srews for the 2 wires leading to the dome
and 1 screw holding the unit.
Thanks
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
and 1 screw holding the unit.
Thanks
Sudsrat
Go Fish!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Map Lights Work!
The 3rd screw in the dome light is the ground. Get some crimp butt connectors and reconnect all the wires, matching colors. Cut the original wires back until you see reasonably good copper. You may have to splice replacment wire in, so be sure to use stranded wire with oil-resistant insulation.