Best $2 Mod Ever (DA Dual Maplight Install)

Did this today took 2hours and $2.

Followed the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Method

Remove Headliner (please tell me you can atleast do this)
Measure, Mark, and Cut so that DA light falls into place. I cut so close to perfect that the light snapped in and I couldnt get it out.
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I then used metal strap (man I love this stuff I always have some in the garage) to hold it into place. I ran 10mm bolt through the strap and into the map light and then ran a bolt to pull everything together.
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Then I went for the overkill and added one more strap just because.
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Next came the wiring.
Two wires come off of the Map Light. One for power and one for ground. You can run the power to an spot you want. I chose a constant power source so the car would not have to be on for the light to work. And it just so happens you can go right to the white wire on your dome light for power (KISS).
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Then I found a good ground on the power seat belt bracket.
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Then put everything back together and enjoy.
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Comments

  • Old SkoolOld Skool Council Member
    Nice job.. now to remove ink from housing.. that's the tough part :lol:
  • yea I completely screwed that one up big time. I am just going to get and new cover at the junkyard. I was so pissed!! :evil:
  • Swipe'dSwipe'd Wagonist
    Okiewagon1 wrote:
    yea I completely screwed that one up big time. I am just going to get and new cover at the junkyard. I was so pissed!! :evil:


    thats what i dont want to happen! can it be done without take the liner off?
  • I only got ink on the housing of the map light not the headliner. The headliner was not damaged in any way. I traced it to get my outer dem. then work on the inner. You could cut out your headliner without taking it out and then glue in the maplight however you still have to run your wiring (which could be done by running it along the windshield just behind the rubber molding and then down the driver piller and into your chosen power and ground source). I wanted to make sure it was secure and I wanted it to be removable so thats why I did it the way that I did.
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    So I think this is one of the better mods I have seen on the forum, how secure is it though?
  • repost - this was done a while back. here is the link.

    viewtopic.php?f=10&t=5472
  • I guess I missed that one. I cant vouch for the other guy/guys who have done this mod but mine is very secure see pics. I can pull on it and its not moving. I also placed the foam backing between the maplight and roof for support. And the lights made a huge difference.
  • Marc_EE9Marc_EE9 Senior Wagonist
    can anyone send me a DA maplight?? :D



    looks great 8)
  • Okiewagon1 wrote:
    I guess I missed that one. I cant vouch for the other guy/guys who have done this mod but mine is very secure see pics. I can pull on it and its not moving. I also placed the foam backing between the maplight and roof for support. And the lights made a huge difference.
    i have also done this mode and the lighting does make a huge difference.
  • Old SkoolOld Skool Council Member
    Marc_EE9 wrote:
    can anyone send me a DA maplight?? :D



    looks great 8)

    What color are you looking for? I think I have tan and gray :)
  • Marc_EE9Marc_EE9 Senior Wagonist
    Old Skool wrote:
    Marc_EE9 wrote:
    can anyone send me a DA maplight?? :D



    looks great 8)

    What color are you looking for? I think I have tan and gray :)[/quote:1pealio1]



    beige or grey, for my EE9
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    So how would I do this with my headliner gone?
  • Marc_EE9Marc_EE9 Senior Wagonist
    might be a stupid questions...

    but what are the two gaps around the lights>rooflining on the maplights, on the left hand corners?
  • Marc_EE9 wrote:
    might be a stupid questions...

    but what are the two gaps around the lights>rooflining on the maplights, on the left hand corners?
    black permanent marker
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    Swipe'd wrote:
    can it be done without take the liner off?
    yep, i did...
  • just picked one up at the local pick'n pull... (Pomona Ca)

    $4...

    they had prob 10 DA's there
  • Old SkoolOld Skool Council Member
    Marc_EE9 wrote:
    Old Skool wrote:
    Marc_EE9 wrote:
    can anyone send me a DA maplight?? :D



    looks great 8)

    What color are you looking for? I think I have tan and gray :)[/quote:15bff7ym]



    beige or grey, for my EE9[/quote:15bff7ym]
    I hit the wrecker today and got da rear seats for my 89 rt and a few map lights :lol: 7 gray and 2 beige
  • rezistk20rezistk20 New Wagonist
    nice diy
  • 91awd91awd Wagonist
    Yea did 2 of my wagons just got to do my wifes now...
    I didn't remove my liner to much bs......
    So much eaiser without removing it.....
    So much better lighting works great....
  • projekt_manprojekt_man Band Wagon
    shits dope!!
  • atefcrxatefcrx Band Wagon
    Thanks for the nice write up and the pics are very detailed too.
  • wgnwgn Band Wagon
    nice write up, thanks.... did one in my wagon as well and I love it, defenetly worth it. And I did not have to remove my headliner. Total time... about 30 min :)
  • Dash-N-CarsDash-N-Cars Senior Wagonist
    Did mine as well, my ole lady looooves it. Definite brownie points with your girl!

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  • Old Skool wrote:
    Nice job.. now to remove ink from housing.. that's the tough part :lol:
    I know this is kinda an old post but acetone would probably clean that black marker off of there. Maybe some of the some of the color of the bezel too though... :x
  • Rubbing alcohol works just as good too.
  • im about to buy one of these. from a volvo v70


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    [url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
    ViewItem&item=130377478613&ssPageName=ADME:X:eRTM:MOTORS:1123#ht_3330wt_1140[/url]

    looks like the right shape. i asked the seller about the dimensions. he said 3" x 7" at the widest parts. perfect fit by my measurements.

    ill post pics when i get it.
  • Speed PhreakSpeed Phreak New Wagonist
    I also knocked out a 90-93 map light conversion....

    Being that I used to work in the car audio/video business, I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to suspending/mounting items in the headliner. I didn't have to pull down the whole headliner to mount my map light... call me lazy. An easier way to hang things is to throw a couple pieces of thin wood(1/4" works well) above the liner to secure the map light too. You basically end up sandwiching the headliner between the map-light and wooden planks. Pre-drilling a couple holes in the wood helps.

    I cut the opening based on the reverse side of the maplight and eyeballed it in there.
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    Note the small wooden slats to either side of the opening, the picture shows the map light hanging from one screw I already set into the above headliner wood slat. I also reused the foam block that is right above where the map light goes to maintain headliner rigidity.
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    Map light mounted
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    Here is the wiring; I tagged 12v power from the blue/white wire at the dome light, except I grounded off of the same position as dome light with a ring terminal.
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