Author Topic: Failed attempt to add Cargo Light switch (Read 2054 times)

BNASTY · « **on:** September 29, 2007, 05:52:33 PM »

I wanted for a long time to add a switch or pin that I could activate the cargo lights from the bed vs. walking all the way to the front of the truck and then repeat to turn off.

So, I acquired a pin switch from work and tore apart the bed of the AV to gain access to one of the ( 2 ) 1 Rt and 1 Lt cargo lights. I read in a forum that all that was needed was to "tap" into the cargo light wires and basically ground the wires at an added switch.

The project was going along good until I noticed that when I grounded or turned the switch on the light that I did not tap into would only go dim not completely off like the light I tapped.

My questions are.....

What did I do wrong?

Does this only apply to the 2003 and up without the Extra light trucks?

Do I have to tap both lights in order to make this work correctly? ( if so It ain't gonna happen )

Any Technical support would be greatly appreciated.

B

BNASTY · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2007, 06:07:07 PM »

I should have never tried to do this from memory.

I found out that I tapped Both wires from the light and only needed to tap one.

The good news is I left the wires connected to the light and all I need to do now is just not use one of them.

This will have to wait until another day. The wife is already complaining about me "wasting" ( can you believe that ) my day off.

B

WB · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2007, 07:24:13 PM »

This will have to wait until another day. The wife is already complaining about me "wasting" ( can you believe that ) my day off.

B
[/quote]

BOY!!! Have I heard this line from my wife before!!!

They just don't understand when we're playing with our toys!!!

I think it's a control thing!!

Sounds like you got it figured out though!?!?!?

justJR · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2007, 07:23:38 PM »

And eeeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrryyyy one is wondering why I'm gay?

MY wife doesn't complain about "wasting"

time on my truck!

MoAv · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2007, 09:12:31 PM »

And just remember-not all wives are that way. I get in trouble for "spending more time with that AV " than my hubby. I can't help it-it was dusty

And needed to be polished, and vacuumed, and interior detailed, etc...I thought it was a GREAT way to spend a Sunday?!!

yndio · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2007, 08:19:18 PM »

Quote from: BNASTY on September 29, 2007, 05:52:33 PM

I wanted for a long time to add a switch or pin that I could activate the cargo lights from the bed vs. walking all the way to the front of the truck and then repeat to turn off.

So, I acquired a pin switch from work and tore apart the bed of the AV to gain access to one of the ( 2 ) 1 Rt and 1 Lt cargo lights. I read in a forum that all that was needed was to "tap" into the cargo light wires and basically ground the wires at an added switch.

The project was going along good until I noticed that when I grounded or turned the switch on the light that I did not tap into would only go dim not completely off like the light I tapped.

My questions are.....

What did I do wrong?

Does this only apply to the 2003 and up without the Extra light trucks?

Do I have to tap both lights in order to make this work correctly? ( if so It ain't gonna happen )

Any Technical support would be greatly appreciated.

B

Hey bro, this has been on my to do list, but the problem is I think you need to get access through the saddles. If this is true I will have to take off the snugtop. Let me know, maybe I'll get someone to help me this weekend.

Yndio

BNASTY · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2007, 11:41:21 PM »

Yndio,
No need to take off the snugtop. I removed ( lots ) of push type pins in the bed on one side along with the 2 left hook / hing things at the back ( 15mm bolt ) and the light ( 3 Phillips screws )

After all is removed just pull the plastic panel away from the bed.

The hardest part is getting a tap on the light wire ( streamly short ) not much room to work with.

When you do get connected to the correct wire ( not BOTH like I did ) ground it to check if the lights will come on. I then ran my tapped wire down the side of the bed between the metal and plastic. Used Black duct tape to hold it in place ( no rattles ) and out the back to your switch / pin.

Let me know if you need better instructions.

Keep you top on.

B

BNASTY · « **Reply #7 on:** October 02, 2007, 03:11:25 PM »

Cargo light pin switch is complete. :woot: :woot:

I'll snap some photos later or just show you at the Lamberts GTG.

B

yndio · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2007, 08:45:34 PM »

Hey B, went out to the av and didn't see how I could get the plastic piece off to get to the lights let alone the wiring without having to take off the camper. Let me know. Thanks.

Yndio

BNASTY · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2007, 02:00:00 AM »

Yndio.

Drop your tailgate, climb into the bed, locate the light ( it should be held on by 3 screws ) the plastic that the light is screwed to is what I removed. There are approx. 12-18 small, round, pushpin type plugs that are very easy to remove. ( round cap with 3 small cutouts in it about the size of a dime ) Poke something small into one of the 3 holes in the pin and pry it out of a larger housing ( about the size of a quarter ) Once the pin is out the outer ring will pull out of the plastic side panel with a simple tug.

Fold your bed mat in half to give more Clarence at the bottom.

Corner drain cup is held on with 2 different type push pin clips, similar to the side panel ( but different, don't mix )

Grab the drain rail at the top of bed wall and pull down. ( about 8 metal push clips hold it in also very easy )

Remove the 2 hinge / hook things near the tailgate ( 15mm bolt ) after bolt is removed, pull hinge up to remove.

One plug between the 2 hinge / hook things that just popped off with a little prying.

All of the fasteners are out, the drain rail and cup is out, the entire plastic wall should be loose and you can pull it away from the bed side, Pull from the bottom ( with the bed mat folded away its easier )

You should be able to access the light and be able to run any wire you wish.

Good luck Bro. Let me know if you need more help.

( If I was a professional moder I would have taken pix along the way for ya )

B

bluedevil · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2007, 12:28:19 AM »

BNASTY · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2007, 02:36:24 AM »

Yeah, Yeah, Blue.

Your not gonna' get a picture, you were posta' see it in person Saturday at Lamberts.

B

MoAv · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2007, 06:52:49 AM »

Quote from: BNASTY on October 05, 2007, 02:36:24 AM

Yeah, Yeah, Blue.

Your not gonna' get a picture, you were posta' see it in person Saturday at Lamberts.

B

We get to see it first!!!

bluedevil · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2007, 03:42:53 PM »

You didnt make a "how-to" on this did ya?

BNASTY · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2007, 10:16:50 PM »

I didn't make a "how to" because of the numerous threads spread around the sites.

Leave it to me to get it wrong on my first attempt. I was working from memory.

B

yndio · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2007, 08:37:22 PM »

Hey B, what size push pin did you use?? What wire was it you tapped into?? I'm thinking, might as well do the toppers overhead light, cargo lights, tailgate cup mod lights, and bumper step lights to all turn on at same time with push pin. Yea baby. Let me know.

Yndio

yndio · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2007, 11:16:59 AM »

Got a huge question here, started taking off all of those little tabs on the passenger side and then took off the screws for the cargo light and it fell in. I thought the pastic piece I'm taking off was the entire piece by the light so I would have a lot of room for modding. By looking in I see there is another interior plastic piece so it doesn't make sense to take off the interior wall or am I wrong here?? Let me know before I take out the cargo supports that are on the front bottom, top and rear bottom and tops???

Yndio

yndio · « **Reply #17 on:** October 31, 2007, 01:59:27 PM »

Mine's all finished up, just have to install a pin switch and I'm ready to rock. Now have to run wiring, etc for the tailgate and bumper cups and we're in it to win it!!

Yndio

Sunburst05 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 04, 2007, 11:29:10 AM »

Didit and I did mine yesterday and everything turned out great, I gotta admit GM should have given a little more lead in the light, it was pretty tight getting a jumper in there. Here is a pic of the switch as I didn't have my camera when we were doing it. Mike found this switch at I believe a camping trailer supply store and it looks factory.

yndio · « **Reply #19 on:** November 10, 2007, 09:38:11 AM »

Finally finished up yesterday morning. Guess what, I started thinking about the pin switches they use for alarms and a huge light turned on in my big ole head

"Shouldn't I have an extra pin switch from your clifford matrix alarm install??" Yep, so went to the basement and fished out a brand new pin switch. And it's adjustable at that so I made a small enough hole on the front gutter on the drivers side slid the back end in, attached the negative from the cargo lights to the body of the pin switch then plugged in the negative to the other end of the pin switch and whoila we have glow!!!!!!!!!!! Now just have to wire the snugtop light to turn on with the cargo, tailgate cup, bumper cup lights !!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, no pics, but MoAV took some I think last night.

Yndio

justJR · « **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2007, 08:34:10 AM »

I'll have to see if i can come up with some pic's of Spicolli's setup from the Colorado club.
He did a switch to turn on the tailgate to turn on the cargo lights when it is open with a manuel override like you all are hooking up.
It's a pretty cool mod!