Replacing the Interior Lights -- (How I did it)

[BLHTAZ]

OK...after looking around for a few weeks, I came across these lights in an Advance Auto Parts store. They are made by Optronics, but I have not found them on their site...only at Advance. The package it came in looks like this.

 

 

You will need to remove the clear cover and drill new mounting holes as the ones provided will not work.

 

 

You will also need to modify the hole in the B-Pillar panel to allow the fixture to move up slightly to be able to put the screws in.

 

 

I used a dremel bit in my drill, basically a 1/2" round piece of sand paper, to make the modification needed.

 

 

Then you simply put some male spade connectors on the ends of the wires on the new light fixture and plug them in to the apprpriate connectors on the wiring harness in the Jeep. The red wire is the hot and the black with white stripe is the ground.

 

 

Then you hold the new fixture up in place, drill the needed holes for the mounting screws and put them in place... :D

 

 

[Mitch]

nice work, that looks to be a clean install.

 

Do they only turn on and off with the door?

[BLHTAZ]

nice work, that looks to be a clean install.

 

Do they only turn on and off with the door?

Thank you... I am happy wit hthe way they look 8) .

 

Yes...they work just as if they were meant to be there...both come on with either door just as designed ;) .

 

They are a little bigger than the others as you can see how they slightly cover the little round screw cover above them, but that is no big deal to me. I guess in hind site, I could have dremeled the bottom of hte original hole and moved it down just a little instead of up.

[KYMJ]

Nice.

[jared]

very classy man, how much were they?

[BLHTAZ]

I threw the receipt away, but I believe they were about $3.50 each. I bought several things at the same time, so I don't remember the exact price, but I know that is close.

[mjeff87]

Sexy....nice clean install too.

 

:cheers:

 

Jeff

[Rokhound]

nice man

[Oizarod115]

used em at night yet? how bright would you say they are?

[BLHTAZ]

used em at night yet? how bright would you say they are?

I just ran outside in the cold & rain to check and they work very nice. They definitely provide an adequate amount of light :thumbsup:

[Oizarod115]

nice, i came real close to buying those exact ones from an autozone i think it was. maybe ill go back and buy them now.

[A-man930]

I need to do this!

[A-man930]

I need to do this!

[SuperWade2]

No AAP Stores out here on the Left Coast... anyone found an on-line source for these?

 

SW2

[CWLONGSHOT]

I did this same thing last summer!! Same lights same positions. GREAT FIND!~!~

 

They are OK as far as briteness, not great but better than the stock ones that works occasionally...

Another GREAT MOD, if you don't have them is the XJ kick panel lights. The wiring for them is already in your truck, just get the lights and plug them in!!!

 

CW

[DrThunder]

where is this wiring for the xj kick panel lights

[mjeff87]

the connectors are tucked in behind the dash in both corners. I've got a pic.....lemme see if I can find it. BRB.

 

Jeff

 

here:

 

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[CWLONGSHOT]

Thnaks Jeff,

Yup thats it!! :cheers: :cheers:

 

CW

[DrThunder]

ohhhh, thank you, thank you, thank you, never new about that. y didn't they come like that from the factory? i will get on top of this one

[Tonedef131]

This is the best thread ever, I will be doing this very soon.

[mjeff87]

why didn't they come like that from the factory?

 

Dunno, but the pigatils for the lights are there, as are the little holes in the dash to screw the brackets thru. Just go find an XJ in the boneyard with them and snag them (don't forget the little brackets). Also, if you want, there is a light for the ashtray (it's blue), and the pigtail for it is tucked up under also. Grab that light also.....it's Plug and play.

 

Like CW said, those kickpanel lights REALLY make a difference.

 

Jeff

[JeepcoMJ]

 

you can see how much they actually do light up. the bulbs are the same as your corner marker bulbs and gauge bulbs.

 

you'll need to get the lights and harness from 1989 and earlier if your truck is earlier than 89, or 1990 to 1994 if your truck is a 90 through 92. the harness is different.

 

I have a spare set from 1990 if anyone wants them[/img]

[Tonedef131]

I just put some kickpanel lights out of an XJ in my comanche and they are on all the time. Does anyone know why these wouldn't be turning off?

[JeepcoMJ]

2 things

 

check your door switches, and also turn the headlight knob to the right. you may have the "interior lights on" function turned on (i.e. headlight switch turned to the left)

[Tonedef131]

It was the second thing, thanks!