Add map light/ sunglass holder to S model. Need help with basic question.

[jangelj]

I've got an 09 S and bought the sunglass/ map light overhead console on ebay. Can someone with an SL that has this already in their car tell me where and how many plugs attach to this thing. I don't need the bluetooth part, just the lights. I don't think the V is prewired for this, so I'll run my own wires. I figure I'll just need + - and door switch. But the console I bought does not have any wiring harness with it. Can you tell me where on yours the wires plug in and verify that if it has 3 wires? By the looks of it, it may have 2 3-wire connectors, not sure.

Thanks,John

[jangelj]

BTW, here is link to the auction if anyone is curious.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...%3AIT

[Bjudd454]

Ya id like to know too. I was thinking about doing the same thing to mine as well.

[Promise Land]

I don't have an SL, but from what I can tell it's 3 or 4 connectors to it.

Are you cutting the headliners to fit the console into since it's supposed to sit flush?

[akatrauma]

I was going to buy that myself, but chickened out at the last minute. I have a '09 S that I was going to custom make an iphone mount into.

[jangelj]

yeah, I'll cut the headliner to fit the console. I just don't know if the wiring is already in place, or if I am going to have to wire it myself. I'll take before and after photos and post them when I do the install. Not sure when I'll get around to it, but hopefully this weekend.

the thing I am not sure about is if the map lights are supposed to turn on when you open the door. the wiring diagrams aren't clear (or I can't clearly interpret them).

John

edit: someone on my other post says that the map lights do NOT turn on when you open your door. that makes more sense

So I think all this thing needs is ground and constant 12V. should be relatively easy.
Modified by jangelj at 8:35 AM 2/13/2010

[jangelj]

sorry to keep replying to my own thread, but someone may find this info useful in the future.

I pulled down my headliner just enough to look between it and the roof. The 09 S definitely does NOT have the wiring in place for the map light/sunglass console. there is a plug under the passenger sun visor that provides access to a plug. I think that plug provides constant +, constant - and door switched -. I'll confirm this when I do the install (eventually).

I am a little nervous about cutting my headliner, esp. when I am not sure how the unit will mount to the metal roof. I think the console I got on ebay had a little of the mounting plastic cut or broken.

j

[iluvmyVersa08]

Do you have lights in your passenger sun visor? That could potentially be the plug that is there (as mine has lights for the mirrors).

[Promise Land]

Please do a tutorial if you can. I'd love to add it to the new Versa Tech site coming out this Spring.

[jangelj]

My visors do not have lights. there is a connector in the headliner above the passenger visor i can tap into for power and door trigger.john

[iluvmyVersa08]

Oh okay ...

My visors have the lights in them.

Be sure to post up pictures of the install !!!!

[Codelicious]

sorry to keep replying to my own thread, but someone may find this info useful in the future.

I pulled down my headliner just enough to look between it and the roof. The 09 S definitely does NOT have the wiring in place for the map light/sunglass console. there is a plug under the passenger sun visor that provides access to a plug. I think that plug provides constant +, constant - and door switched -. I'll confirm this when I do the install (eventually).

I am a little nervous about cutting my headliner, esp. when I am not sure how the unit will mount to the metal roof. I think the console I got on ebay had a little of the mounting plastic cut or broken.

j

Isn't that plug for the auto dimming rear-view mirror?

Please make a tutorial for the new tech site! Seems like a lot of people are interested.

[mdamatas]

Any luck with this? I would really like to add this to my car as well...

[jangelj]

I have the part, just haven't installed it yet. Someday I'll get the time, but it might be awhile.

[jangelj]

I finally installed this. It went great. I'll post some before and after pics another time if anyone is interested. I don't know how the map lights work in a stock SL. Do they turn on with the doors? Only when pressed? Do they have power when the key is not in the ignition?
I just wired mine up to a switched circuit, so they only have power when the car is on. That is fine for me. I don't need any more door lights. I did mount a small led in one of the holes in the overhead console. There are 2 holes in it. One is for the bluetooth mic, not sure about the other. I just glued a white led and connected it to door trigger. So when I get in the car, there is a small light from there. The map lights just turn on when you press them (if the car is on).

One thing to consider. If you are going to install one, make sure that the hole you cut in your headliner is far enough towards the center of the car (away from the windshield) because there is a bump of metal near the windshield on the ceiling of the car. The sunglass part of this console fits right next to it. If the opening you cut is too close to the windshield (as mine was) the console won't sit flush. Luckily I had made the hole a tad too small, so was able to shift the whole console up about 1/2 inch.

[iluvmyVersa08]

I have a SL model with the map lights/sunglass holder.

To answer your question; our map lights come on when we press them. And they can be turned on even when the car is off.

[jangelj]

I figured they'd turn on with the car off, but was unsure how to wire that up. Since there wasn't an existing wiring harness in the headliner, I was afraid to wire to an "always on" circuit. I would worry about leaving a light on and draining the battery. In the SL, I'll bet there is some kind of timer circuit so that if you leave a maplight on, it turns off after some period of time.

Thanks for the info, though!

PS. I also wired them so that when you press one, they both go on. It was just easier to do it that way since I didn't have the correct wiring harness. That's fine for me. I don't drive a lot at night, and I don't use the map lights much while driving.