Dome light wiper cover question

[70 sport WA]

I've been looking through old threads. So I understand that dome lights in the wiper cover did not start until 73--I've got a 1970, so no stock wiring up above in that area. Say I want to put one in. Can I use the pigtail from the (unused) cigar lighter? They look like the same connections. Probably have to rig a switch in between if the stock light doesn't have one...and of course add wiring extension to reach up to the wiper cover.

I'm not hell bent on doing this, just thinking about a project to kill some time and add some interior light.

 

[DirtDonk]

Your '70 might have the factory "map light" wire sitting there under the dash unused. Even though it's under the dash and not up high at the wipers, it would still work properly for a dome light because it's already connected to the light switch.

And have you looked at your windshield wiring harness yet? Just wondering if they were already adding the extra wire even early by then?

Paul

 

[Slowleak]

Normally you would rotate the headlight switch counterclockwise to turn on the dome light/map light. There was not a separate switch, just a terminal off the headlight switch. You might check for that.

 

[DirtDonk]

Definitely. Most headlight switches would have that terminal so you’re probably good there. But I was pretty sure that even as far back as 66 the bronco had the map light option. Which means that the wire is probably already in the harness.

Don’t quote me on this but isn’t it a variation on a blue wire? Like either solid dark blue, or blue with a black stripe, or something like that?
Don’t have a diagram in front of me but somebody can confirm.
Unfortunately a 70 model would have the early style harness, so if it wasn’t an option before 70 then the map light circuit might not be included.
But I thought the under dash light was an option from Way back.

 

[AZ73]

If you're gonna fish a wire up there, run 3. When I rewired I ran 3 extra to use for things like dash cams, radar detectors, rear view camera power.

 

[Slowleak]

Later models had a blue wire with black stripe. I don’t know about other years.

 

[70 sport WA]

All good ideas, thank you! I know for certain there's no other wire + connector under the wiper motor cover--I've been behind there more times than I can count. I'll check under the dash to see what's there. I know the cigar lighter is but maybe there's more.

 

[Rustytruck]

There was an open pigtail for the under dash light in the passengers side foot well you could tap into. the light was grounded to the dash by its mounting bolt and the positive wire was a single pigtail that had power when the headlight knob was turned it was pretty much right under the glove box and bottom edge of the dash..

 

[70 sport WA]

There was an open pigtail for the under dash light in the passengers side foot well you could tap into. the light was grounded to the dash by its mounting bolt and the positive wire was a single pigtail that had power when the headlight knob was turned it was pretty much right under the glove box and bottom edge of the dash..

This has has been there since I bought the rig around 2005 (it's not connected to anything) and *looks* like a photo I saw on another thread of an under-dash light. But the amber color is odd. I haven't gotten under the dash to look for pigtails yet.

 

[DirtDonk]

Do you think it was originally Amber? Or could it have “faded” into that color over time?

 

[70 sport WA]

Do you think it was originally Amber? Or could it have “faded” into that color over time?

Good question...I guess it's time to disassemble and see if there are any Ford markings

 

[DirtDonk]

Got a picture from a different angle? It doesn’t actually look like the map lights I’m familiar with, but I might just be looking at it wrong.
The shape of the lens seems more flat on yours, aside from the color question.
And while you could probably have mounted them just about anywhere, all the ones I saw back in the day that were of the type installed by Ford, or the dealer, were closer to the trans tunnel.

 

[Rustytruck]

that is the right spot but it was just a zinc plated steel piece with a bulb no lens cover.

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[70 sport WA]

that is the right spot but it was just a zinc plated steel piece with a bulb no lens cover.

http://[URL]https://www.ebay.com/it...d=link&campid=5335857059&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

[/URL]

Yup, this is what came out:

 

[DirtDonk]

First time seeing one like that as an under dash light in a Bronco. Probably someone was being clever and instead of a clear light they got an Amber light to have less effect on their night vision.
That or they just liked the color.
Or just had one lying around…