Dome light info (of interest to standard cab guys)

[Wicked_Sludge]

if your interested in "upgrading" your dome lights.

for gen 3 rangers (and possibly other years, i dont know for sure), ford had 3 different interior dome lights:

a single bulb, used in base model pickups only

a dual bulb, used in most standard cab pickups

a triple bulb used only in super cab pickups.

the dual bulb and triple bulb fixtures use the same base, and are wired into the trucks the same. so if youve got a dual bulb fixture, you can swap in a triple bulb from a super cab and it will function without changing anything electronically. there is a plastic alignment tab that needs to be snipped off the back of the super cab fixture in order for it to bolt up...but this is the only "mod" required.

i discovered all this after i broke my dual bulb fixture while attempting to clean the map light switch (which i never use anyway ). so i figured id order me up a triple bulb fixture to add a little more light to the inside of the truck.

dual and triple beam fixtures. they are the same aside from a plastic tab on the back which is located in the "wrong" spot on the triple beam model. and of coarse the extra bulb socket.

installed. while i was at it i threw some LED's in there. the map lights are 194 replacements and the center is a 1watt LED map light replacement.

perty

 

[RobbieD]

That's a simple mod that's nice. Great info, Wicked.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I'd put that in submissions for the tech library. I just might do that because it kind of sucks to have light on one side but not the other. and it looks pretty easy.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

good call...i made a linked post there in case someone thinks its tech library worthy.

something i forgot to mention: the triple beam housing was half the cost of the dual beam housing from the dealer (figure that one).

 

[Ranger44]

What'd it cost you Wicked? I've been looking for a better light for my cab, this might do it! Thanks

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if memory serves, the 3 bulb fixture was under $30 from the dealer. it comes with 3 incandescent bulbs, so you could bolt on and go if you want. the 194 LED's were $10 for the two. the 1-watter was around $25...its a bit more expensive because it comes as a universal "kit" with 3 sockets...plus its a high power LED, not a standard one like most LED replacement bulbs use. i think i payed about $25 for it.

 

[Ranger44]

Ok, thanks Wicked. What year or application would I ask for? I think I need an upgrade. I'm pretty sure mine's the single bulb.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

just ask for a triple beam dome light for your '93.

i dont have access to any single beam equipped trucks, so i havnt gotten the chance to check out the single beam fixture...i dont know if it uses a similer base or bolt pattern as the double and triple beams. if you took yours off and took some pictures of the back side i could probably tell you if its the same.

 

[Ranger44]

I'll do that and have them up soon

 

[Ranger44]

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

it looks to me like the mounting area on the cab is almost the same...but the wiring is different. the dual and triple beam fixtures have 2 wires (12v constant and 12v signal from door/headlight switch) and a ground. the 12v signal wire is attached to that empty squarish hole in the upper left corner of your cab.

it looks to me like you could bolt the triple beam fixture up, but you wouldnt have use of the slider for turning on the dome lights individually (they would all 3 come on when you opened the door). you might also want to install a plastic blind nut in that empty hole so you can use all 3 screws to hold the larger fixture up.

 

[Ranger44]

Hmmm mine only has one of those connectors that yours had, like you said one for constant and signal. If anything, if I get motivated, I may be able to swipe the wiring out of my junkyard donor truck. Thanks for your help Wicked.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

good luck and thanks for the pics. i was wondering if this swap would work for single bulb fixtures, and now we know

 

[Ranger44]

Thankyou! Glad to help!

 

[Jim Oaks]

Wicked,

I saw the link in the tech article. I want to add this info. Can you get a part number for that fixture?

Also, I saw (2) tech articles here that you obviously don't realize.

Some of us older guys don't realize you can get LED's to replace existing bulbs. That could make a great tech article. Just doing a quick search I found a page to look up all the bulbs in a vehicle:

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerPro.../LampReplacementGuide/AutoLRG-ModelSelect.htm

It would be interesting to have an article on what LED's could replace what bulbs and what type of difference it makes. Advantages, etc.