The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Dome lamp wiring

Need some help with wiring the dome lamp. Now that I finally got the drop axle and sway bar installed it is time to fix the little stuff. I changed out my original cluster with a nice one I had from a previous project. For some reason the dash lamps quit working along with the dome lamp. I jumped the switch and now have dash lights but still no dome lamp. I need to know if someone in here has a wiring diagram so I can fix this problem before I burn the truck up into smoke.

Thanks, Steve

this is the closest thing I could find for your truck. Should be similar. Did you change out the light switch too?

The dome light is insulated & has a hot wire going to it all the time. It grounds through the light switch when you turn the handle or through the door jamb switches if so equipt. Check for current getting to the lamp. The light switch must be grounded.

Thanks Waldo and Wrenchbender for the info. The guy I bought it from installed what looks to be an idiot brand wiring set up including the headlamp switch. I do have current to the lamp socket and replaced the bulb twice since they come in 2's. I just don't know what could have happened while just exchanging the clusters. I have also tried a toggle I found in my box but not sure it is any good. Weird that I power to the socket but no light. Someone throw me a candle like the old days.

Still looking for some help if anyone in here has experienced the same issue.

Thanks, Steve

As wrenchbender says, the dome light socket is "hot" all the time. If you have battery to the socket, that's half the battle. Now, to light the bulb, you need a ground on the other wire to complete the circuit. That ground is supplied by the light switch when you turn it all the way clockwise. It is also supplied by the door jamb buttons if your truck has them. Also, as wb says, the switch must be grounded, that's where this particular ground comes from so I'd start there - look at the ground terminal and make sure it goes to a good ground.

Well....got that darn thing...after checking it again I found that one of the springs in the socket is warn out. Thanks again for the personal help as I thought something bad happened. By the way, by chance do you have the diagram for the back of the cluster? When I changed out the clusters I did not mark where the three amp gauge wires came off. I guessed and think they are wrong. My gauge starts out about 3/4 to the right of center and when driving goes off the gauge to the right. It bounces back and forth when using the turn signals. The guy that installed the idiot wiring labeled them 1, 2 and 3. Think I may have them in wrong.

Thanks for the help again, Steve