Thinking of adding a third dome light for the third row seats -- feeler

[dieseldriver]

I am thinking of adding a 3rd dome light for illuminating the third row passenger seating area and saw some used ones probably from junk yard for sale on eBay. Since I have the headliner off right now, wiring it up shouldn't be that difficult but does require cutting the headliner to fit it like the middle row one.

It should have the appearance of the factory one and most people probably will think that it came from the factory as such. What do you guys think?

 

[twintrbo]

I think if you can swing that, why not?! Wire it into the cargo light switch so it comes on when you open the hatch too. I thought about doing that as well so let me know how it works out.

 

[dieseldriver]

Yeah, I didn't think of that. It would probably a good idea to tap to the rear as I'm already tapping the middle one for the overhead DVD player, don't want to draw too much current from the same factory wire run.

I think if you can swing that, why not?! Wire it into the cargo light switch so it comes on when you open the hatch too. I thought about doing that as well so let me know how it works out.

 

[tefloncandi]

How about the glove box, has anyone added a light to theirs??? I wanted to add one, trying to find some info. Look forward to seeing your post I would like to add a third light also.

 

[dieseldriver]

Yeah, that would be nice too. Not sure why Mazda had cut corner on the glove box light... That would be rather easy to wire up because the fuse box is right next to it.

How about the glove box, has anyone added a light to theirs??? I wanted to add one, trying to find some info. Look forward to seeing your post I would like to add a third light also.

 

[tefloncandi]

Do you know if any of the 5's have a light source in the glove box? I wonder if the 3's glovebox light can interchange to the 5's? Can any electrical guru's outhere help us out with this?

 

[twintrbo]

I'm sorry, am I nuts? I could swear there is a light in there. I just took down the glove box for the alarm and disconnected a light. Or do you guys mean to have a pin switch so it comes on when its open?

 

[DKaz]

Guys, the Mazda 5 HAS A GLOVE BOX LIGHT! The problem is in my three years of owning it I can count with one hand the number of times it's worked!!! lol. I think the engineers came up with some seriously flawed logic on when that damned light should come on.

 

[dieseldriver]

Light source meaning a prewired runs? I don't think so, I didn't see anything when I removed the glove box. It's not that bad though, you want to wire it up to the accesory fuse so that if you accidentally leave the glovebox opened when you leave the car, it does not drain the battery.

Do you know if any of the 5's have a light source in the glove box? I wonder if the 3's glovebox light can interchange to the 5's? Can any electrical guru's outhere help us out with this?

 

[5zoom]

My 08 has a glovebox light and it works most of the time.

 

[Davicho]

First gen MZ5 have a glove box light. I don't know about the 2nd gen. The problem with ours is that the glove box light will go on when the parking/headlamps are turned on. It is not activated by a switch as most others. So the tiny peanut sized bulb burns out frequently. That's why it seems like it sometimes works. Anyway my 06 does have one.

 

[DKaz]

Huh I thought it was with a door switch. But wait, if the bulb is burned out, why does it come on intermittently? Like every six months? lol. I do notice that it's only on at night when the engine is on (ie. automatic headlights are on).

I'll probably replace the bulb with an LED.

 

[Davicho]

Maybe the bulb is loose or the bulb is indeed out but at times the filament makes contact and turns on. I was planning on putting a momentary switch in between the two wires running to the bulb and mounting it on the frame of the glove box so that it only goes on when the glove box is opened (of course while the headlamps are on). Simple and cheap fix to something I think Mazda should have done to begin with.

 

[tefloncandi]

Guys, I must be crazy, however, I just looked and my 2009 does not have a glovebox light

 

[dieseldriver]

That sounds like a good idea. Also, I was thinking of just getting one from another Mazda at a junk yard. Can't justify paying the dealer for something like this. Also take a second dome light as well.

Maybe the bulb is loose or the bulb is indeed out but at times the filament makes contact and turns on. I was planning on putting a momentary switch in between the two wires running to the bulb and mounting it on the frame of the glove box so that it only goes on when the glove box is opened (of course while the headlamps are on). Simple and cheap fix to something I think Mazda should have done to begin with.

 

[rat240]

just buy some smd light strips
http://www.supplierlist.com/photo_images/213808/5050_SMD_RGB_LED_Strip.jpg

 

[Silentnoise713]

@dieseldriver - If you are going to do this, may I suggest putting a switch in the front that controls individual or all lights? I've though about doing something like this mainly b/c the hatch lighting is pitiful. I was also thinking more of flood lighting (not sure if that is the right term) than a direct lighting where the bulb does not blind you and actually illuminates the space (example, covering the light directly and let side light illuminate the space).

 

[Davicho]

I'll tell you what I wished my MZ5 had that my CX9 has. On my CX9 the front dome/map light also controls the two other dome lights. It has a three mode switch (OFF DOOR ON) when switched to on all three dome lights go on. Perfect for checking on the kidos at night. Oh well...

 

[golftango]

My 09 has a glove box lamp.