Lift back interior light

Just in case you didn't know, that is the cover that goes over the emergency release. I can't say that I've ever needed to open it from the inside of the vehicle, but that's what it's there for.

Is there not already a light on the left of the cargo area?

If not, is there not a cover that's meant for one?

 

most people put a big led strip light on the lower portion of the inside hatch door. not sure if there is a live wire in there, or if the car has to be on

 

All you need to do is splice into an existing wire that powers an interior light and then run that wire through the same path that all the other wires travel to the back of the hatch in and then bolt the negative wire to the body and you're done. Happy wire fishing!

 

Mine has got a light. Left side I think.

 

More to the point, a good way to go about this is to buy a new/used cover and take your time building a really solid bluetooth controlled full spectrum every color in the rainbow kind of light w/USB port and then when it 's perfect you simply swap panels and connect the wires. That way whenever that hatch goes up, the dance party begins!!!

 

That would be the perfect place for a darkroom (red) light for a telescope field, work-station that I am designing for my Prius Camper. I have been trying to figure out how I was going to do this, and I think you just gave me the solution:

Modify or clip an LED light fixture (or LED array) to the panel itself, and splice it into the existing cargo light wiring - switched 12vdc (citiprius mod). For my application I would need two LED lights (one red and one white) with an additional switch to select between the two. For your application, you just need a single white bulb fixture with no additional switch. I would also install a captive chain to so that when you had to remove the panel to use the emergency release, the panel would remain attached to the hatchback, hanging from the trim by the chain (instead of hanging by the wires). You could also use the modified panel as a captive flashlight in the event that you need to access the emergency release in the dark. Care would be needed so that you didn't accidentally crush the modified panel when closing the hatch. I would also enclose the light fixture for the modified panel in a plastic housing and use braided sleeving to protect the 12vdc/gnd wires and prevent accidental shorts. The chain and wiring would be all internal to the trim so that it would not be visible when the panel was in place. If you use a fixture that is integral to the panel, you would need to ensure that the bulb fixture and wiring doesn't interfere with the internal trim structure and emergency release mechanism.

That's the only problem that I can see: You would want to be careful to ensure that any wiring/chain does not interfere with access to the emergency release. The rest should be fairly straight forward.

Thanx for the idea!

 

After reviewing your photos, I don't think a light fixture integral to the panel is possible (there is not enough room behind the panel). Any light fixture would have to be mounted externally to the panel. You could probably run a sleeved 12vdc/gnd wire pair through one of the lower square clip holes and route it away from any release mechanism(s) - securing with tie-wraps. I would also use a modular connector so that the 12vdc/gnd wires could be disconnected.

 

Even better!

 

And it's a miserable old-school incandescent light bulb in it.

I just changed my bulb out for a LED one, and probably got about twice the light output - which sounds like a lot, but it really isn't. The OEM incandescent bulb was so dim that twice the light is still not really a satisfying amount of light to work by in the dark.

The site I used to reference the light bulb also listed the door and map lights being the same bulb, so I ordered two more (driver's side door, and driver's side map light), but I haven't yet figured out how to open either of those lights up yet. I'm guessing they are pry-to-open as well, but they are so tight that I don't want to do it wrong.

 

Incandescent light bulb in Gen 4 Prius?!!!

 

I saw an LED light that fits into the space where that blank plate sits on Amazon Japan.

I am fairly sure the same one is available in the Priuschat shop in the 2016 section.

 

Here you go:

Rear Hatch Trunk Luggage LED Lamps for 2016-2020 Toyota Prius - PriusChat Shop

 

Nice. I am trying to come up with a hatchback darkroom light so I can use my tailgate as a workstation for my 18" telescope.

If I put a red lens over it, the Hatch Luggage LED Lamp should work just fine.

Thanx post posting this.

 

Nice - but $79.00?

This would probably work fine http://tinyurl.com/qvjxmyj and you can buy FOUR for only $11.99.

 

Not sure how different Gen4 Prius cargo area is compared to PRIME. But this OP did an excellent job installing bright LED on both sides of cargo wall, and IIRC, later on hatch door for top light as well.

Prius Prime Plus - Trunk additional LED lighting | PriusChat

Edit: Here is the same OP doing the overhead LED on PRIME
Overhead cargo light | PriusChat

 

Yeah, the price is harsh. It's available elsewhere for half that. I'm not trying to sell it, I only linked for illustration purposes.

A battery operated stick on light is definitely an option as per the first few posts, but not for me. Something that big would be a dog toy within seconds.

I'll be doing something hard wired to the current light. Apart from the crazy price I prefer the look of the light I linked to. It would look more integrated/OEM.

It's just a question of preference.

 

Most bulbs on the Gen4 are incandescent, yes.

It's ridiculous.

 

Don't forget it was released in 2015 - yes, LED lights were available, but so design was happening during the previous years - things which are of little consequence wouldn't have been updated.

 

I bought a 2019, and it was re-designed for 2019. Toyota is relatively lazy - that's all there is.