Cargo light wiring
 

Hey new here. so after tinkering with mine I saw it wasn’t wired with the option for a cargo light. With that being said I do know the cargo light and interior map light are wired into the same switch, with that being said would it be possible to split the wire from the map light attach another wire too it and use it for the cargo light? Seems easy enough to do, but everyone else I’ve seen is saying run a whole new wire and I figured there was a reason no one was doing that

So you want to cut the interior light off the Headlight Wheel Switch Circuit, and use the Headlight Wheel Switch for the Cargo Lights that are part of the 3rd Brake light ? Is that correct !

Yes, it can be done but how will you light the interior light ? That will in turn need another switch and wiring !

The Door Switches will light the cargo as before but not the interior light, that is probably why people are saying to wire a new switch and wiring for the cargo lights.

You could cut the wires to the cargo lights, add some wire back to the dash and add a switch to shut off the Cargo lights but then you would need to turn on the Wheel Switch and the extra switch.

Just be careful, I think the Interior Light and thinking the Cargo Lights use a Ground Switched Circuit, you may need to separate the cargo lights completely from the Interior light circuit and then start a new circuit for the cargo lights. Simpler to just add some new bed lights with a switch by the tailgate that you can turn on when you need them.

I changed my Cargo Lights to Directionals, and will be adding Bed Light on the sides of the bed... BUTT with new wiring and switch, I still need to figure what tailgate switch to use IF ANY !

Ltr

Welcome to the forum

You can run a wire from dome light to add cargo light, and both would come on when dimmer control was turned on all the way, most Ranger cargo lights were wired that way although a separate wire was run from dash to 3rd brake light, not from dome light, and inside light came on and cargo light came on at the same time
Its usually a 10amp fuse so no issue with that

That'd how I did mine, 1 wire from the power side of the dome light, and tapped into the ground wire on the third brake light.

Acarrillo,

I know you have heard it before BUT why not just add one additional wire and switch and then can add two to four LED Lights to each side of the bed and have all the light you will need in the bed, with or without a cover.

As an option you could have the switch by the tailgate and turn on the bed lights as needed from there.

I for one don't want my bed lights coming on each time I open my doors.

Ltr

so I did it, but the light stays on constantly with or without the switch or doors on, but all I did was tap the dome light power wire, should I now go from that wire to the ground on the 3rd brake light, or the ground on the dome light?

Then your Dome light is GROUND activated, so yes run a second wire from the dome light's ground to cargo light

And we are talking about a Dome light, NOT a Map light which is operated by a switch on the light fixture

I think the problem is the ground switch circuit AND I ASSUME you ran a new power wire to the Cargo Lights. WRONG !

IMHO...The Interior Light Control System, i.e. Headlight Sw Wheel, and the Door Switches, are too problematic to make a good reliable circuit and what IF you want to just turn on the lights to get something out of the bed.

You need to separate the Cargo Lights from the Interior Light Circuit or add new bed lights, and add an additional wire and a dash switch or tailgate switch for Bed Lights.

It will take more time to get the circuit together but the outcome will be far better than playing games with the Ford Based Grounding Switch Circuits.

Just run the extra wire and get it over with.

For Bed Lights you can use LED Strips or LED anything Light, what ever floats your boat.

Mine are just LED License Plate Lights, they give off a lot of light and are shielded; they aren't installed as yet but I have pockets on the side of the bed and that is where they will go and in the tool box !

Good Luck on figuring out the Interior Light Switch... think of how much time you would have saved if you just wired in a new switched circuit !

Ltr


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