Dome light swap from 97 to 04 type, possible...?

[oldskool73]

Um, can't remember, it was a year ago, haha! Guess it would have been in the car side, as I just plugged the 3 pin connector into the light side then put male spade connectors onto the ends of the connector wire and stuck them into the slots in different combinations until it worked

One thing I never got working 'properly' is the little yellow LED, mine just goes on and off with the main light. Not sure if you can get this working so it's on all the time when the ignition is on, but I didn't bother looking into it too much.

[PaulDash]

Originally Posted by oldskool73

One thing I never got working 'properly' is the little yellow LED, mine just goes on and off with the main light. Not sure if you can get this working so it's on all the time when the ignition is on, but I didn't bother looking into it too much.

If I remember, I had to short the ground and "constant 12V" to get it to work. Then rethinking it, I used the little switch as an on/off instead of intensity switch...

...and for over a year it's stayed off as it's not really all that useful.

[KevinH1990]

Thanks. My part is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, so I'll have an opportunity before the weekend to see if anything I have on had will fit in the connector. If not, I'll probably start contacting the folks who are parting out Boxsters and asking if they will cut the connector and a bit of wire out of their cars. I think the part design changed at some point in the 2001 MY. So I may have to check 2002-2004 cars to be sure I obtain the connector.

[particlewave]

If you still need assistance once the part arrives, take a picture of each side of the circuit board and I'll be able to tell you what to connect to what.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by particlewave

If you still need assistance once the part arrives, take a picture of each side of the circuit board and I'll be able to tell you what to connect to what.

Do these show you enough? I probably won't receive the connector from the car until the weekend.

[KevinH1990]

Thanks - I'm likely to need some guidance. I think I still owe you a favor for your assistance with my litronic project.

[KevinH1990]

The company that sold me the light assembly told me that they were also going to send me the connector from the car. I'll post some pictures when I receive it. Looking at the part may help explain how the part works.

[particlewave]

Almost...can you pop the circuit board out and get a picture of the other side (with bulb out) so I can trace the circuits?

[Pdwight]

But what is the advantage ??

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Pdwight

But what is the advantage ??

1. I couldn't find the part like the one in my car for a reasonable price.
2. The newer part has a metal clip that holds it securely in place. The original part had plastic tabs. Mine broke when I took it out to change the bulb. The two sellers I contacted told the lights they had also had broken tabs.
3. There is an LED on the newer part that provides "ambient illumination." Not a big deal, but I always like novelty.
4. My old one is held in place with double-sided tape and it shakes loose after about 30 miles of driving. Living with that would start my car on the path to becoming a "beater."

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Almost...can you pop the circuit board out and get a picture of the other side (with bulb out) so I can trace the circuits?

I'll try tomorrow night.

[particlewave]

Never mind...got it.

In your first picture:

Top pin = 12V+ constant (the existing wire from your old light, red with black stripe).
Middle pin = switched ground ("" brown with yellow stripe).
Bottom pin = constant ground ("" brown wire).

[particlewave]

BTW, your new connector will have the same color coded wires in the correct orientation. Just match up the colors.

[KevinH1990]

Thanks - I was hesitant to pull it apart.

[KevinH1990]

My connector arrived yesterday courtesy of the nice folks at SpecializedGerman.

Particlewave and Oldskool's guidance was very helpful. I just cut off the connector, matched the wire colors, and used solder and shrink tubes to connect everything. I pulled the fuse (on my car it as in position C3) for the interior lights before cutting wires. Here's a picture of the light assembly showing the connector and wires:



Here's the connector and wiring in the car. I cut off the brown connector:



It's probably hard to tell due to the lighting, but the updated light and the original connector in the car have black/red, brown/yellow and brown wires. They are in different orders, but as Particlewave noted, just match the colors and it will work.

Here's the result with the "ambient lighting" LED switched on:



I'll experiment a little with switching it on and off. I doubt that it draws enough current to have a major effect on the battery. If anyone else runs into a problem with a broken "dome" light I recommend this upgrade.

Thanks to all who provided comments.

[1096369fred]

I would like to do this upgrade in my '98 and picked up a used dome light off an '08...... What is the best way to mount the electrics.... I understand the connector is different.... So I guess I'm asking where can I locate the correct connector to make The '08 light work in my '98.


Thanks!
Fred

[boxfix]

I JUST Put an LED light in there.

[oldskool73]

@1096369fred : it's a pretty simple 3 pin connector, I used one from a motor that came with an Arduino kit I had lying around, you could try taking it to local hobby/rc/parts stores and see what they have that would fit.

[mikesz]

Not trying to be a ahole but why do you want to do this? What is the difference in lights? Just asking because I am a diy'er so always interested in what others are doing to upgrade their cars. I have a 99.

[oldskool73]

@mikesz - if you look at the pics in the first post I made, the original ones are held in with little plastic tabs that break easily when you try to pop them out to change the bulbs (or just over time). The new ones have metal tabs. That's the main improvement.