Cargo light replacement in the v - additional rear dome light?

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by anewhouse, Oct 31, 2014.

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  1. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    Hello,
    I'm wondering if anyone has installed an additional light fixture in the cargo area. I've seen lots of threads on replacing the bulb in the existing (too-low-mounted) fixture on the side, but I'm really interested in something that lights from above so it's actually useful when there's cargo in the cargo area. I searched as much as I could, but I seem to have trouble with PC's search function... I couldn't find anything at all in the v forum, and this was the only relevant thread I could find where someone did a fairly clean install of an LED strip integrated into the existing lighting in a GenII. Am I missing something?
    I've seen a few good ideas on a Subaru Forester forum:
    Additional dome light fixture
    [​IMG]


    LED strip mounted on hatch
    [​IMG]

    (Photos are from the linked threads)


    I especially like the first one, with the very clean-looking install in an OEM fixture.
    Has anyone done anything like this in a v? Are there any wires to watch out for behind the headliner? Any tips on removing the rear trim around the headliner? Any ideas where I might find an OEM dome light fixture to match a "Bisque" v interior?
    TIA!
     
    #1 anewhouse, Oct 31, 2014
  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    #2 Air_Boss, Oct 31, 2014
  3. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    Thanks for the link! However, I am hoping for something with a switch, just like the existing center dome light. I'd like to have the option for it to be on when the hatch is open, or off altogether. In fact, I just want another one of the center dome light fixtures, but I can't find a source or even a part number. I'm not talking about the double map light up front, but the single dome light above the 2nd-row seat.
    Anyone have a part number for that? Or I might try to find one in a scrap yard, as long as the interior color matches.
    Then I'll have to figure out whether to wire into the existing cargo light, or fish up to the center dome light. Fun!
     
    #3 anewhouse, Oct 31, 2014
  4. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Putting something on the hatch, either at the front edge or the back, would be ideal. I often wish there was one already. I'd wire it to the center dome light so its controlled by the same switch. The available removable panels in the hatch are in the center, but I think the front edge is a better location.

    I wonder, do the 7-seat models offer a dome light for the back seats?
     
    #4 rdgrimes, Oct 31, 2014
  5. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    Everytime I open the hatch, I wonder how much they saved by not putting a stupid light back there. Especially now, when it gets dark early.
     
    #5 Stevevee, Nov 9, 2014
    AandMev likes this.
  6. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    #6 Air_Boss, Nov 9, 2014
  7. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    #7 rdgrimes, Nov 9, 2014
  8. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    #8 Air_Boss, Nov 9, 2014
  9. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    The hatch-mounted fixtures look interesting, but these barely-English listings make me more than a little hesitant to buy them. I'm not sure what I'd actually be getting - there are pictures of translucent LED covers surrounded by gray plastic frames, and also transparent LED covers with no gray frame. There are also pictures of both the v and the non-v.
    Has anyone ordered these and installed them on the v? Which style of fixture is included, and how does it fit in the hatch on the v? If these were $20 or so, I'd probably order it to give it a try. But for $78 after shipping, I'm not going to chance it until I see for sure what I'd be getting and how it'd fit.

    Also, the tilt switch looks interesting, but at 80mA, I doubt it'd be sufficient to control multiple or high-power LEDs like I had in mind. I think I'd rather have something that was on the same switch as the dome light, with the option to turn it off altogether.

    I'm going to try installing the one on my Forester first, and see how it goes. If it works well, and if the color of the dome light housing works well enough with the v's headliner, I'll just order another one of those.
    I'd still be interested in ordering an OEM dome light housing for the v, if I could just find a source or part number!
     
    #9 anewhouse, Nov 20, 2014
  10. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Are you planning to carve up the headliner to accommodate a rear-mounted dome light?
     
    #10 Air_Boss, Nov 20, 2014
  11. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    If I can find a dome light fixture/housing that is a suitable match, definitely! Check out this thread from a Subaru forum. Looks to me like the cleanest, "OEM-est" solution. A strip of LEDs on the hatch would be quicker, and would probably work just fine, but I'd rather have the extra dome light if possible.
     
    #11 anewhouse, Nov 21, 2014
  12. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

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    I put a battery operated LED stick-on light on the right side of my trunk in the same location the left side OEM light is located. It provides good light. The light lense is also the on-off switch. Now I'm trying to find an LED bulb for the OEM light.

    BTW, I use lithium batteries that last a few years.
     
    #12 Eric "v", Nov 21, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2014
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Don't put a single LED bulb in there, you will be disappointed. I put one of these in there, and I put a similar panel (24 LED) in the dome light position. Much more light output. They come in both cool white and warm white (my preference). The white, or cool white is bluish, so I prefer the warm white which has a color temp similar to the incandescent bulbs it replaces.

    2 x Light Panel 12 SMD LED 42mm Dome Festoon Bulbs Reading Light Warm White | eBay
     
    #13 xliderider, Nov 21, 2014
  14. Eric "v"

    Eric "v" Member

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    OK, I'll put the panel style LED in the trunk just as I did for my dome light.

    I did put single LED lights in my map lights and they were definitely brighter.
     
    #14 Eric "v", Nov 21, 2014
  15. RichardY

    RichardY Junior Member

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    I also was looking into doing this custom dome lighting in the cargo area running a wire from the existing dome light on my 2014 Prius v (lowercase v). My plan is to go to a junk yard and ripping one out for a fraction of the price. When ripping out the lighting, I can also look at the wiring from the junk car and take that as well. You can also practice taking off the headliner from the junk car before doing on your own car.

    Its quite easy to look up part numbers. Just google for "toyota part number" Then enter DOME LIGHT - 2014 TOYOTA PRIUS v in a website that pops up. The part number is 8124060060B0. YES they are the same for all 3rd gen regular prius and prius c/v.

    Regarding: Luggage Lamps for Expansion for Toyota Prius v (lowercase v) | eBay [​IMG], you can compare to your rear door slot, and those slots/panels look like the pictures on Ebay (I have replaced license plate lights with LEDs and have remove those panels to get access to my bulbs). I would assume the expansion LEDs will come with a panel that you switch out replacing the original panels for that price; that price is too ridiculous if it were only LEDs and wires because you can buy 2 LEDs only light for less than $10. If you don't want to pay that price, you can take the panels off your door, cut the squares that will match the LEDs and run wires for less than $20, but of course you would still find a cover for the LEDs.

    When I get around doing it, I will take pics/video for you.
     
    #15 RichardY, Dec 6, 2014
  16. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    +1! I did exactly the same thing in my center dome light - I used this 48-LED panel. It fits very nicely, and WOW is it bright! It looks like there's a big sunroof, as if there's daylight inside the car. Very impressed. I'd love something similar in the cargo area.


     
    #16 anewhouse, Dec 7, 2014
  17. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    I purchased the SHARE+STYLE lamp kit direct via Rakuten. It is for a v (ZVW41). Instructions are well illustrated and very clear, if you read Japanese. I am seeking a translation of the wire routing aspect. The harness appears to allow the lamps to be wired to the dome lamp circuit.
     
    #17 Air_Boss, Dec 7, 2014
  18. Native2PS

    Native2PS Member

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    This thread has inspired me!!! I ordered the OEM dome light assembly, and bought the 48 panel LED set as well, I will install it (yes, I'm going to cut into my headliner) directly above the cargo area, and tap into the middle dome light. I will post pics, and instructions when I'm done. Give me a few weeks!
     
    #18 Native2PS, Dec 7, 2014
  19. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

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    Sweet! Let us know how it goes!
     
    #19 anewhouse, Dec 8, 2014
  20. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    There's a lot of junk out there masquerading as an LED replacement for incandescent bulbs. Some of them are much, much dimmer than the bulbs they replace. Lumens are a good way to determine what you're getting; if it doesn't state lumens or current-draw, don't buy it. 800 lumens output is roughly equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent, therefore 60 lumens is roughly equivalent to a 5-watt dome light, which is very bright, but it only consumes about 1 watt. Personally, I'd err on the side of brightness, because I'm not going to be blowing any fuses with LEDs.
     
    #20 GregP507, Dec 8, 2014
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