Glove box light

[jnd14401]

i dont think so, did you have the car on or off yourself or atleast the radio.

[Jarhead]

Originally Posted by jbsrace1

I use my glove box allot and wanted a light in it.
So when I got a Oracle LED light kit for Christmas & only changed the dome light I had a extra cool LED light. So I decided to do a glove box light mod.
Other than the a little wire and a light bulb you only need 2 parts.
A switch and a light socket. I used a door jam switch for a 94 Chevrolet truck & a marker light socket. Less then $10. @ Advance auto parts.
The part numbers are s1067 for the switch and 8581608598 for the socket.

My camera is crappy so forgive the bad pictures.

The switch has 3 terminals but you only need the outside 2. ignore the one in the middle. You may can order a pigtail or get one out of a salvage yard but I just used 2 small spade connectors and some epoxy to hold them in the switch.
Hot melt glue would also work.
Wires for the switch


Wires installed in switch


Then I removed the glove box door and drilled a hole for the switch. (A 5/8 drill bit was just a hair to small. I used a box cutter to trim just a little more for the switch to fit).




Above the glove box is a plastic cover that is held in by 5 torx head screws. 3 in the front along the opening of the glove box and one on each side close to the rear. At the rear on each side it has fittings that snap into place. After you remove the screws just give it a little pull and it will pop lose.




Again with the 5/8 drill bit I drilled a hole for the light socket.

The plastic is real soft so I warmed it up a little with a heat gun and pushed the light socket in. Once it cooled it locked in real tight.


Here it is with the LED bulb installed


I was going to run a separate wire to the fuse panel but after looking around there is a constant 12 volt power wire directly above the glove box. In the harness that runs above the glove box you can see 2 large red wires. One has a black stripe and is larger the other is just red. I spliced into the smaller one without the stripe.

I am running it straight to the light socket so I am not really worried about it shorting out so I did not put a fuse on it. (A fuse would not hurt)

I ran one wire from the switch to the light socket and the other I ran up and over the glove box with the factory harness to a ground on the other side.



This is basically how I have it wired.


Here it is without the glove box door

Put the glove box door back on and it is good to go





You have to lay in the floor and look up to see the bulb but it lights up the glove box Great and is up high enough I don't believe anything will ever contact it.


Here you go.





It is not that hard and makes it real nice finding stuff in the glove box at night

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips and the part number for the switch. I did this mod today except I used a flat pad LED instead of the bulb. It looks like a 4x3 grid of LEDs with double sided tape. Super easy to install and works great. Looking at your pics and how mine came out you cant see any difference.

Thanks for the info and great idea.

[saabsonic]

Did this today, and it works great, many thanks for the excellent step-by-step directions! Wasn't sure how to take out the glove box, but discovered you can easily release the tensioner cord on the right by just pressing down on it. The door itself unhinges from the car after you first squeeze in both on sides of the glovebox, allowing it to drop an extra inch or two. Very cool mod!

[aldaran]

Originally Posted by Fishdadddy

Seems like a lot of work for something GM should have done in the 1st place

GM stopped putting lights in the glove box for a while now. My 2000 Camaro has one, but my 2005 Silverado does not. In 2003 the under the hood light was removed from Silverados as well.

[427Carl]

Just got my car in Sept.... Was complaining about glove box TODAY!! Will wire it up next week! Thanks AGAIN lol

[jagan323]

Very nice mod, i might do it sometime =D

[13lade]

Great DIY! This one is now on my to-do list. Thanks!

[rydahog]

guess i got the wrong led...:( its dark as hell! i should have check it before i installed it,, my bad,,, will get larger bulb at later date..

ok waited till dark,, changed my assessment of this...picts dont do it justice..now i am happy man!! ))
here are some picts// LOL...hey i can change my mind no! hahhah

[rydahog]

i tried

[ZaBeast07]

Plan to install tomorrow!!! Thank You for posting the part numbers and detailed instructions. A few questions...Where did you get the spade connectors?? And what brand is the epoxy you used? Is it an epoxy for electronic connections or what?? Again Thanks for the help!!

[webslinger408]

you the man!!!!

[rydahog]

Originally Posted by ZaBeast07

Plan to install tomorrow!!! Thank You for posting the part numbers and detailed instructions. A few questions...Where did you get the spade connectors?? And what brand is the epoxy you used? Is it an epoxy for electronic connections or what?? Again Thanks for the help!!

For my install, in the switch are 2 slats? little cuts on side, i stripped the wire about 1/8/ inch and then slipped the wire through the slits in switch and then made contact with prong and HOT GLUED them like that..held really good..

[CamaroNewb]

Thanks for the write up. I now have a new project for this weekend. I have a question though and i'm obviously confused since it is working, but why would the switch not be before the 12V source? I understand electricity has to flow to ground but it just seems like the "break" in the circuit would come before the light itself.

[ZaBeast07]

Originally Posted by rydahog

For my install, in the switch are 2 slats? little cuts on side, i stripped the wire about 1/8/ inch and then slipped the wire through the slits in switch and then made contact with prong and HOT GLUED them like that..held really good..

Ok Cool! I just wasnt sure about the glue working. I didnt know if there would be some kind of problem with not conducting the current because of the material of the glue of not. But thank you!! I am heading over to Advanced Autoparts to pick up the switch (had to order it) and I'll let you guy know how it comes out!! Thanks Again for the help