The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Dome Light - From Socket to Switch

I've seen lots of threads concerning wiring from the headlight switch to the dome light, but my question is in reverse:

I have a dome light, a proven bulb, and wires at the socket, but I don't find those wires at the switch. Once they disappear towards the driver side, how do they route to the headlight switch?

Thanks,
Bill

I wouldn't think it goes through the light switch. You don't need the light switch on for the dome light to work. I'm betting it feeds off of the ammeter. Do you have door switches for the dome light or a manual switch on the light itself?

wires do go to the headlight switch, no other switches involved - they run behind the metal panel over to the drivers A pillar and down that to the light switch area - one wire [orange] goes to the D terminal on the switch and the other [white] goes to the GRD terminal by the dash light rheostat - when the light switch knob is turned all the way to a click, the dome light comes on

I should also point out the light socket must not be grounded, the ground from the light switch energizes it, meaning the socket is always hot

Bill

Perfect, Bill. Thanks.

Two items to clarify:
Wires go "around" the roof/headline towards the region between the headline and the drip rail, or does it make a straight line from the light fixture straight to the A pillar?

It will go down the A pillar, past the end of the dashboard, and then I should see it peak out between the kick panel and the dash?

I ask this because I have wires at the socket, but not at the switch, and I'm not sure where to look for those wires. If I can find them, then I'll save the trouble of having to run new ones.

Thanks for your expertise. As always, GREATLY appreciated.

Bill

any I've seen are tucked under the metal around the side of the roof, behind the rubber headliner retainer - and yes, if you get under the dash and poke around the bottom of the pillar you might find them, although you might find they've been broken off by someone trying to pull them out - if gone at the pillar you need to feed them up or down there, which can be a bear as the pillar is 3 pieces spot welded together, need to use a fish tape of some kind to drag the wires thru

Bill

Understood. I'll focus my search at that area around the vent, under the dash and the A pillar. If I can't find them, then I'll take on the fishing job as a winter project.

It sounds like a real chore, with few knowing just how troublesome it is unless you've done it.

(Fast response! Thanks! )

Bill

OK, I keep forgetting you guys have these new fangled trucks with dome lights that are turned on my the light switch.

I use an old speedometer cable or a piece of weedeater cord as a fish tape. Once you get it threaded through the A pillar, tape the wires to one end of the fish tape and GENTLY pull it through. a little slippery stuff on the wires like Vaseline or Crisco helps.
Jerry

I blow a piece of nylon string through with compressed air.