While cruising the junkyard for various parts my cars have needed (VW Cabriolet trim, Subaru wheel hubs), I ran across these map lights found in Mk3 Volkswagen Jetta and Golf from 1989 to 1993.
These light assemblies are small and very versatile. I cut off the quick disconnect pigtail as far into the VW's headliner so it is easier to graft to the new target car wiring. My primary use for them is as reading lights for my kids in the back seat. You press the lamp face to turn it on and off.
For my Subaru Legacy, I installed two of these over the rear seat in the headliner. This won many points with the family because the kids could use the lights individually over their seats without having to use the main overhead dome lamp.
I tied the power for these lights to the rear tail lamp. This allows the lamps to be turned OFF and on with the ignition switch. This method is important since kids don't turn things off by themselves and would inevitably kill the battery. When the key is removed, the lights turn off.
Glare from the assemblies is minimal since the lens generally aims the light to the seat - perfect for reading at night.
I use the original 194 incandescent bulbs since the high power LED bulbs for W5W and 194 are usually too big to fit in this little module.
I obtained another set from the junkyard to install on my NBS Suburban on the third row. The second row already has reading lights on the main dome lamp fixture. But there is no lighting at the third row. A dome lamp exists over the rear cargo area behind the third row - but this is not useful as switchable reading lighting.
This was tied to the dome light since the GM interior lighting automatically times out after 20 minutes to preserve battery life if left on. This was a huge hit with my kids for the third row where they sit when we are hauling other guests in the second row.
There is not a lot of science to these little lamp assemblies. Once you figure out the wiring for the lights from the existing car wiring, the only decision let to make is where to install the lamp assemblies on the headliner. You can practice the hole cutout shape on a sheet of cardboard. Then you can move on to the real headliner to make the new hole to the correct size. It is a press-in fit, so some precision is necessary - but you would be surprised how much tolerance the lamp assemblies have to their original counterparts.
Which brings me to my latest implementation of these VW Mk3 map lights......I intend to install them on the third row of the Mazda5 I just got. This addressed the least hospitable row in the car with a previous nice upgrade.
The second row benefits from an existing dome light fixture. I might get around to adding yet another set of these assemblies to the second row later. Just need to find another wrecked Mk3 VW to harvest the parts from.
The headliner does not have many places to provide meaningful space between the headliner and the metal ceiling of the Mazda5. So I might stick the second row lamps right beside the existing dome lamp assembly where there is a useful contour to the headliner I can use.
For the third row, the Mazda5 headliner is dead on against the car's ceiling. I have been able to squeeze these assemblies behind the flat headliner on the Suburban - but GM give all kinds of room in the ceiling anyway which may not be as generous on the Mazda5. My intent is to tie the power to the 12V accessory port in the rear cargo area. This allows the lights to be powered on and off with the car key (again to prevent a dead battery if this kids leave the switch on after everyone gets out of the car.
I will post install photos shortly. It costs very little money, yet provides a lot of satisfaction to the occupants in the third row on those long trips where there isn't enough reading light.
These light assemblies are small and very versatile. I cut off the quick disconnect pigtail as far into the VW's headliner so it is easier to graft to the new target car wiring. My primary use for them is as reading lights for my kids in the back seat. You press the lamp face to turn it on and off.
For my Subaru Legacy, I installed two of these over the rear seat in the headliner. This won many points with the family because the kids could use the lights individually over their seats without having to use the main overhead dome lamp.
I tied the power for these lights to the rear tail lamp. This allows the lamps to be turned OFF and on with the ignition switch. This method is important since kids don't turn things off by themselves and would inevitably kill the battery. When the key is removed, the lights turn off.
Glare from the assemblies is minimal since the lens generally aims the light to the seat - perfect for reading at night.
I use the original 194 incandescent bulbs since the high power LED bulbs for W5W and 194 are usually too big to fit in this little module.
I obtained another set from the junkyard to install on my NBS Suburban on the third row. The second row already has reading lights on the main dome lamp fixture. But there is no lighting at the third row. A dome lamp exists over the rear cargo area behind the third row - but this is not useful as switchable reading lighting.
This was tied to the dome light since the GM interior lighting automatically times out after 20 minutes to preserve battery life if left on. This was a huge hit with my kids for the third row where they sit when we are hauling other guests in the second row.
There is not a lot of science to these little lamp assemblies. Once you figure out the wiring for the lights from the existing car wiring, the only decision let to make is where to install the lamp assemblies on the headliner. You can practice the hole cutout shape on a sheet of cardboard. Then you can move on to the real headliner to make the new hole to the correct size. It is a press-in fit, so some precision is necessary - but you would be surprised how much tolerance the lamp assemblies have to their original counterparts.
Which brings me to my latest implementation of these VW Mk3 map lights......I intend to install them on the third row of the Mazda5 I just got. This addressed the least hospitable row in the car with a previous nice upgrade.
The second row benefits from an existing dome light fixture. I might get around to adding yet another set of these assemblies to the second row later. Just need to find another wrecked Mk3 VW to harvest the parts from.
The headliner does not have many places to provide meaningful space between the headliner and the metal ceiling of the Mazda5. So I might stick the second row lamps right beside the existing dome lamp assembly where there is a useful contour to the headliner I can use.
For the third row, the Mazda5 headliner is dead on against the car's ceiling. I have been able to squeeze these assemblies behind the flat headliner on the Suburban - but GM give all kinds of room in the ceiling anyway which may not be as generous on the Mazda5. My intent is to tie the power to the 12V accessory port in the rear cargo area. This allows the lights to be powered on and off with the car key (again to prevent a dead battery if this kids leave the switch on after everyone gets out of the car.
I will post install photos shortly. It costs very little money, yet provides a lot of satisfaction to the occupants in the third row on those long trips where there isn't enough reading light.
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