Wire courtesy lights to dome light

[Jay11]

1998 Ranger 2.5 Regular Cab
I want to wire door courtesy lights to the dome light, that will light up exactly the same. I see a green, yellow trace (GY) and a black, blue trace (BB) wires at the dome light. I was wanting to tap into the wire loom on driver side, behind the seat, just before where it goes up the wall to the dome light (pic 2). So I tapped a test light into the same wires. Even though the dome light is working just as normal, my test light isn't working. Can somebody assist, what am I missing?

 

[RobbieD]

Put your test light clip to ground. You should see constant +12 volts on the Grn/Yel when probed.

Ford switches positive to the courtesy light. Test light clip grounded, you should see + 12 volts on probing the Blk/LBlu wire, when the doors are open.

 

[Jay11]

I had 5 minutes when I got home this PM, placed the tester on the B/B wire and boom, it worked flawlessly.

Now then just for better understanding as my 2 brain cells could not follow what you wrote here.

Put your test light clip to ground. You should see constant +12 volts on the Grn/Yel when probed.

Grounded, tried the tester on the wire's spliced part behind the driver seat, tester light never came on. Even tapped the yellow screwed part on the dome light + a ground, no joy. If I understand correctly, this should make the tester light up constantly disregarding if door is open or closed. Correct?

Ford switches positive to the courtesy light. Test light clip grounded, you should see + 12 volts on probing the Blk/LBlu wire, when the doors are open.

Now I half get you-the Black/LBlue is the switched positive, thus, the tester mimicking the dome light with door action. And that's the holy grail of this pursuit.
After this install I gotta do the same on the F150. Think I was told to look for a purple wire along the driver side door sill.

 

[Jay11]

Am back, because been thinking about this before I call it a night and it's a head scratcher. Is the B/LB wire a switched positive or negative since it's black (ground maybe?) If it's a -ve why does the test light work when it gets grounded to the truck? If it's a switched +ve why doesn't the tester work when connected to the G/Y wire that is a constant +ve?


EDIT:
Came across this bit and it gave me a better grasp of the wiring design...

"The actual dome light circuit is B/LB. This is the wire that switches on and off with the doors.

From my understanding, the door switches themselves are switched grounds. The B/LB wire however is +12. The dome light relay's 86 and 85 pins are connected to the battery saver circuit and the door switch, opening/closing the relay as necessary."

 

[RobbieD]

Grounded, tried the tester on the wire's spliced part behind the driver seat, tester light never came on. Even tapped the yellow screwed part on the dome light + a ground, no joy. If I understand correctly, this should make the tester light up constantly disregarding if door is open or closed. Correct?

Correct. Grn/Yel is a constant +12 volt wire to the dome light. This circuit is what turns on the dome light if you reach up and flip the switch on the dome light, regardless of door open / closed, or ignition on / off.

That wire should be power at all times, so check your fuses first. If it's not a blown fuse, you'll need a schematic to trace the circuit for other possible failure points (I don't have schematics for your year model; sorry).

Is the B/LB wire a switched positive or negative since it's black (ground maybe?) If it's a -ve why does the test light work when it gets grounded to the truck? If it's a switched +ve why doesn't the tester work when connected to the G/Y wire that is a constant +ve?

The Blk/LBlu is positive switched; opening a door causes it to have +12 volts. "Black" isn't always ground.

I know the older trucks fairly well, but I've never owned anything newer than '94's. But Ford is at least consistent, for the most part, with wiring color codes. Grn/Yel is constant power, and Blk/LBlu is the courtesy (dome) light circuit.

On the older trucks, 1983 through 1994, a pin switch in the door jambs switched power directly to the dome light. Starting with the 1995 year models, Ford started using a body control module, called a GEM (early; Generic Electric Module) or SJB (later; Smart Junction Box) and changed the door switches to grounding types within the door itself. These newer style door switches switch ground to the body module, which then in turn has a relay to send power to the dome light.

I'm afraid that I'll not be much help on a newer model like yours.