As several nice folks on these forums know, I'm wanting to change out the dome light in my '86 XR7 Turbo Cougar. It came with the low-end dome light that only has the single lens and turns on when the doors are opened or with the little wheel in the dash ;-( I want to replace it with one of the dome lights from a Turbo Coupe that has the map lights on the sides that you can turn on with the little switches on the dome light itself. Now....here are my questions:
1. Will any wiring need to be changed to make a dome light with the map lights work in my car and;
2. Instead of the light from a TC of similar years as my car, does anyone know if I could use this one instead and what it might involve to make it work: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180341140746&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
Thanks once again for all your wonderful insight, knowledge and advice!!
Here you go.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/DSCF2499.jpg)
All I had to do to install it was trim two of the plastic "pegs" on the back side down for clearance.Other than that,direct swapIt took about 2 minutes to swap them out.A lot more light through the dome and map lights.
I can answer question # 2
Yes you can use that light , That is exactly like the one in my car excepting the color
As far as wiring I do not know for sure if the cars came pre-wired for the map lights .
That price seems too high.I got mine from a Crown Vic cop car for $2.00. I need to grab a few and start stocking them away for these occasions.
What Vinnie said about the price is 100% correct I got mine from Pullapart for less than $5
Just a couple of screws.The fastener holes for the "bug eye" lights are the same as ours.
These dome lamps are abundant in salvage yards on numerous 1990's era Fords for real cheap... I got mine from a Taurus. Waiting for the day I redo the headliner and reinstall it.
There's also a different style used in the 1994-up Cougars/T-Birds...it's essentially a plastic version of the metal ones used on our cars:
(http://www.usacceleratorcorp.com/images/AUTO/new1/t612.jpg)
Either one will bolt right up, as mentioned, with some minor tpuppies possible on the underside. No big deal.
Are both power supply wires already in the car if it doesn't have map lights?
I had an 86 Mustang and had to run a constant power wire up to the roof or the map lights would not work unless the door was open or the dash switch was on , But the mustang never came with map lights from the factory so it may be different :hick:
That's the same question that my husband just asked!!
Does anyone have an answer?
That one caught my eye because it matches the interior of my Cougar ;-) Also, the pullapart in Nashville is all the way on the other side of town from where we live. It takes me almost an hour to get over there so I'm willing to pay a little more to avoid the two-hour trip ;-)
Got mine from a 97......no tpuppies was needed....
(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18696&stc=1&d=1235316740)
The wires are right where they need to be in the car.Nothing on the car changes,needs to be added or modified.Just trim the plastic tabs on the back (you'll know them when you see them,they will keep the light from seating flat against the headliner),and screw in the light.Direct swap.No wiring,not much thinking involved.Snip....snip...fasten....fasten....enjoy. As I said,takes just a few minutes....literally.Don't over think it.
So, Vinnie, you've got me thinking that installing this light might just be a job for a professional. If I ship my car to you, will you install it for me and send it back? :D
So a hot wire is already there that will let the maps lights work even though my Cat doesn't have map lights now? COOL!
No problem.Once the car gets here,is there anything you want me to do to it before I ship it back?
Black with light blue stripe wire for the dome light.
Light green with yellow stripe wire for map lights.
Look in there and see what you have.
If you can wait I am going to the Knoxville Pullapart soon, I can grab one for you and ship it to you . It would be way less expensive than that ebay one :D
What day are you going... maybe I'll meet you there.
Shiny Side Up!
Bill
I will Pm you when I know for sure :D
THANKS!! This will really help us out a lot!
Seems you're always helping me and my Cat out and I thank you again!! I just can't make up my mind which one would be best to change to, the correct years chrome one or the newer one that matches my interior that I found on ebay ;-( I know, I know...only a female would have a hard time making up her mind about something this little ;-)
Our cars are either correct or they're not.Once you start changing things,the "correct" part of the equation is out the door.You may as well modify and enjoy it. With the Sport,I like a lot of "factory appearing" looks to different aspects of the car,but it's by no means "correct".Get the newer light and enjoy the better glow.
The chrome one while pretty, is woefully inadequate in the illumination department :D
I'll let you decide which one you want and I will hook you up with whatever you chose.
Sounds good.... Thank you sir!
Shiny Side Up!
Bill
I agree. Besides, 95% of our cars are not even close to being rare, so have at it. I am! :D
Shiny Side Up!
Bill
Well,I think our cars are getting prety rare.....they just aren't worth anything....but,I have seen prices starting to rise slowly.Not that it matters,I'm keeping the Sport.
I've done this swap. I "borrowed" the dome light from my 86 tbird and installed it in the 82 Cougar. The issue is with the door shut the map lights won't work unless you run a second power source or by rotating the headlight switch. The dome with map lights require two power sources.
One hot all the time for the map lights and the other switching off with the doors shut.
I just jumpered the hot for the dome to the maps as I don't care if I can turn on the maps while driving. I just rotate the headlight switch to turn on while driving.
Basically I didn't want the hassle of running a hot wire to the map lights.
Nah. Supercharged '57 Thunderbirds are rare. Factory '61 Impala Super Sports are rare. '63 Z06 Corvettes are rare. asc/McLaren convertibles are rare. Our cars? Our cars are a dime a dozen.
Shiny Side Up!
Bill