This came up recently in a post I put up in mods regarding how to hook up the rear map lights as a mod for non-Verada 3rd gens. A couple of members wrote in saying they only had a map light on one side.

So which trim level and model of Verada had map lights on both sides? Anyone???

My KJ1 Ei has them on both sides. If mine has them then i would say any Rada above mine should have them as well.

My KH Ei had map lights both sides.

Why on earth would they only be on one side :nuts:


(I want rear map lights in my TL :()

Why on earth would they only be on one side :nuts:


You're asking me! My KF Ei only has it on the right hand side :(

I'm thinking people have got dodgies that have been replaced at some point, mine has both and you don't get any further back than a KE in 3rd gen radas. There's no logic in only having one.

both, kj s2

as above, someone probably did the dodgy :P

just wondering for cars with the reading lights standard is the trim velour or plastic?

just wondering for cars with the reading lights standard is the trim velour or plastic?
Plastic in the rear

Plastic in the rear

thanks i thought they only came in velour

I have a KJ (series I) Ei Verada - lights both sides of rear seat, in plastic trims.

Raided wreckers on a visit to Sydney, claimed trims with reading lights to graft into TJ (II) Sports, and a TJ Exec (all trims from wreckers had lamps in plastic, on at least was from some species of TL).

I've got as far as replacing the trims into my TJ Sports, haven't done wiring (yet). NOW, on one side only, the exisiting loom had a plug taped back which suited the Reading lamp. However, attaching this to the stray loom didn't give me a working reading lamp. No sign of any useable loom plug on the other side of the car.

Haven't swapped the trims in the TJ Exec yet. I need to scour the wiring/configuration diagrams and see what (if anything) I can do to get the exisiting plug going, and how to wire in the opposite side - for both Sports and Exec. Wouldn't surprise me if Exec loom has no plug on either side.

I can't imagine why they would build a car with only one lamp fitted, but then again I seem to be driving a car with a loom for one lamp but not the other. In the wrecks, too, it wasn't like an extra piece of loom went from one side to the other - the plugs for reading lamps went into major looms (I got as much wire as was easy with the lamps/trims).

Didn't even know there was Velour C-Pillar trims - might have to ask caine at Mitsi Clearance Centre if he has any in Beige or Grey.

I found the same problem Elwyn is having, but couldn't be bothered trying to make the plug work, so I ran my own wiring down the side of the car from the footwell lights. Because they run permemant power you only need to find the correct earth to make the light work with the button. Easy as

I think only Xi Verada's came out with the material covered pillar trims. I have all six covered to match the roof lining from factory.

Also, perhaps the plug on one side only is not intended for the map/reading lamps. Maybe it is for something else. perhaps a sub-loom connection point for the boot maybe? But, i reserve the right to retract the above statement depending on it's wrong-ness lol

Also, perhaps the plug on one side only is not intended for the map/reading lamps. Maybe it is for something else. perhaps a sub-loom connection point for the boot maybe? But, i reserve the right to retract the above statement depending on it's wrong-ness lol

possibly i suspect its for the high mount stop light do peeps with the single plug have a factory spoiler? :think:

I might take mine off to have a look, I'd like to replace those trims with the Verada ones (along with a Verada roofliner/interior light). The stock TL light is just pitiful.

I agree that the stock light is el-cheapo. First thing i did was to put Additional lights in my TE. I had all of the Rada ones plus the centre rubbishy one. Daytime occured when i opened the door lol.


I'd like to replace those trims with the Verada ones (along with a Verada roofliner/interior light).

Try to get the Xi ones as it makes quite a bit of difference to have all of the trims matched to the roof lining. They look quite expensive though. I'd say Mitsu Spares would still be wanting after you payed with all 4 limbs.

I might take mine off to have a look, I'd like to replace those trims with the Verada ones (along with a Verada roofliner/interior light). The stock TL light is just pitiful.

Mitch, go to picknpay asap, they have another verada in. Get the headliner/lights. They offered me the leather for 1000 today, out of my budget though :(

Hmmm, TJSports may be onto something. It's a good while since I swapped trims in, and rear courtesy lights have been a low priority since. However, my TJ Sports has the boot-lid spoiler with LED Brake lamps, so there is no hig-mount Stop-lamp in parcel shelf.... maybe that's what the stray plug is for, after all.

Have a couple of days off from this evening, might have a play around if I find the time. Might also attack the trims in parents' TJ Exec - which has the high-mount Stop-Lamp on Rear Shelf.

Maybe I can end-up with a coutesy lamp on one side whenever I hit the anchors - LOL!

I have a TJ Exec and there is no stray plug on either side behind the C pillar trims. I wonder if they could just be connected with wires run down to those rear door black buttons thingys that trigger the interior light.

Oct 03 KL AWD - i have the rear curtosy lights on both sides, with plastic trims.

just thougt i would add mine to the list hehe :)

i also have a high mount stop light (no wing on my car)

I have taken the following Pics. I hope these will help you. I'm sorry I wasn't really that keen on diassembly so this is as far as I got.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/mcstannard_bucket/DSCF2068.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/mcstannard_bucket/DSCF2069.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/mcstannard_bucket/DSCF2073.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/mcstannard_bucket/DSCF2074.jpg

Ive had a KE Ei (May 97 Build) which had rear lights on BOTH sides.

My KJ Xi (Sep 01) has the lights on BOTH sides aswell...

yeah KF rada Ei has both.....id suspect the c pillar trim was replaced at some point with a magna one and they coldnt be stuffed cutting the hole for it.

I found the same problem Elwyn is having, but couldn't be bothered trying to make the plug work, so I ran my own wiring down the side of the car from the footwell lights. Because they run permanent power you only need to find the correct earth to make the light work with the button. Easy as
So if that worked for your car, then to wire mine (no footwell lamps, remember) would the best thing be to run the postives to the middle roof lamp and then just earth the c pillar map lights by screwing a wire to the metal c-pillar panel (behind the trim)??

yeah KF rada Ei has both.....id suspect the c pillar trim was replaced at some point with a magna one and they coldnt be stuffed cutting the hole for it.

Bastards!

So where would one find a piece of trim with the hold cut out and the lighting harness etc?

Mitsu spares?

My TW VRX has them in both rear sides standard if that helps any

Bastards!

So where would one find a piece of trim with the hold cut out and the lighting harness etc?

Mitsu spares?

just any wrecker that wrecks magnas/veradas just keep trying.

Bastards!

So where would one find a piece of trim with the hold cut out and the lighting harness etc?

Mitsu spares?
I am just going to cut it out of the plastic, don't think a harness would work unless you get the complete Rada body loom. I just run the 3 wires from the centre light in my TH, luckily the plug is in the front for the Rada map lights, as written in the mods section.

Okies, got stuck into parents' Tj Exec today. I had bought full C-pillar trims with courtesy light units, and as much of the loom as I could get out of the wreck easily - about 30cms on each side.

Thanks to lots of suggestions and advice from members in these forums, n this thread!!

TJ Exec - didn't have the "likely-looking" spare plug behind the trim, which my TJ II Sports does have. TJ Exec had one run of wiring up passenger side C-pillar - green wire/black wire - this is for the high-mount LED stop lamp at top of rear window.

I removed the grab handles above both rear doors, removed the high-mount stop light unit at rear edge of headlining, and removed the central room lamp. Decided dropping the headlining was too much hassle.

In the end I crimped a spade lug on each of the "earth" wires from the courtesy lamp units, and used a self-tapper into a convenient screw-hole behind the C-pillar trim, near the cut-out panel which accomodates the courtesy lamp.

I extended the power wire (red) and "door-switch earth return" (red-white) from the passenger side across to the drivers side - joined wiring using those tube-like crimp joiners. I tried to take this extra wiring as far forwards as I could - about 15-20 cm from rear of headlining.

On drivers side, I joined the drivers and passengers courtesy lamp wiring in a Y-junction, with wires continuing forwards on the drivers side. I popped the B-pillar trim loose (not right off) on the drivers side, ran a screwdriver along to pop headlining out of door rubbers, and tucked the extended "power" and "door switch" wires up a few inches. Be esp careful near the rear driver-side grab handle area - get the wire well above where the grab handle screws down, to avoid squashing the wires.

I then detached the drivers A-pillar trim, and tapped into the wires for roof lamp - these are red (power) and red-white (door switches) in this TJ Exec. I used those wire joiners where you lay the wires side by side and squash a metal tab into a plastic housing using a pair of pliers - dunno what they are called properly. By "staggering" these joiners under the A-pillar trim it it easy to fit these under the trim - one join nearer top of trim, the other wired runa few inches longer down trim and joined there. In the A-pillar, I also had to seperate the red wire and red-white wire from each other - they were joined as a 'figure-8' cable.

Just looking at it in this car, seemed easier to run the power and "door switch" wires along drivers side and tap into room-lamp wire at the A-pillar - there was no spare cable to work with at the centre lamp.

Popped all the trims back on, tucked headlining under door rubbers etc and it all works sweet as.

Now I guess I need to get white LEDS in the rear courtesy lamps, as they glow distinctly yellow compared to the excellent (tho expensive) 4x3 LED array we have in the centre-lamp (courtesy of Jaycar - its sold as a 12 LED panel in 3x4 format, with 3 various adaptors to suit bayonet, festoon, or wedge bulb base).

Having hacked around in mum n dad's car, hopefully I'll have refined my technique to attack the same job in my TJ (II) Sports - I've had the panels and lamps sitting in-place for months, but never got to the wiring.

EDIT: Sorry no in-progress pics - hope the description makes sense.

KE, KH and 2 KJ's have both sides.

Yeah i would recon they were all both sides and if you only have one on one side then the pillar has been replaces without a light.

There cant be any reason why there would only be one on one side.