best method for overriding the dome light?

[jT]

not sure if my title is misleading...

what i want to do is (without removing the bulb [which is actually my LED array, not bulb]) be able to prevent the dome light from turning on when i open the door(s)

whats the best method of achieving this?

most cars have switches to keep the light off, i guess thats a super duper fancy thing since i/we dont have it

the only things i can think of is putting a switch somewhere that would cut the power to the dome light, but there really is no good place for a switch...

also hacking up and modifying the door switch/sensor but i dont really want to do that either

suggestions?

[badgett]

That light is the fuse for the door jam switches. I'll bet if you disconnect it your odometer will say " FUSE " or " DOOR ".

[Wenuden]

not sure if my title is misleading...

what i want to do is (without removing the bulb [which is actually my LED array, not bulb]) be able to prevent the dome light from turning on when i open the door(s)

If i may be so bold as to ask, why do you want to do that? the only purpose i've ever figured out to do that is to not be identified when doin cruddy/illegal shit in the car such as drug transactions. depending on what kind of bulb it is, you might be able to replace the stock lamp with a 12 volt low amp glass fuse.

[JRM]

not sure if my title is misleading...

what i want to do is (without removing the bulb [which is actually my LED array, not bulb]) be able to prevent the dome light from turning on when i open the door(s)

whats the best method of achieving this?

most cars have switches to keep the light off, i guess thats a super duper fancy thing since i/we dont have it

the only things i can think of is putting a switch somewhere that would cut the power to the dome light, but there really is no good place for a switch...

also hacking up and modifying the door switch/sensor but i dont really want to do that either

suggestions?

Duct tape over the switch in the door.

[Paul56]

My 1999 Camry had the ability to switch off the dome light.

What I find really annoying about my Neon is how long the dome light stays on after I get into the vehicle and close the door.

I suppose I'm easily annoyed.

[Panhead]

haha, i just recently took out my bulb.

[jT]

If i may be so bold as to ask, why do you want to do that? the only purpose i've ever figured out to do that is to not be identified when doin cruddy/illegal shit in the car such as drug transactions. depending on what kind of bulb it is, you might be able to replace the stock lamp with a 12 volt low amp glass fuse.

even if it were to do illegal/cruddy shit would that change your answer? :p

actually, its because i do security work, and i need to be able to get out of the car without lighting up the whole area.. its bad enough that i cant make opening and closing my doors silent, but i dont need the light to go "hey, i'm right here"

dealing with a lot of car break-ins where i work so on the off chance that i am in the right place at the right time i need to get out of the car as covertly as i can... and assert my authority... lol.

[OverDrive418]

I went to AutoZone in the rice section and got one of those colored rubber headlight bulb covers (they come in red, blue and green I think) and put a blue one over the bulb. The light will still come on but you hardly get any light out of there at all. The bulb cover is larger than the bulb but the light cover kinds squishes it up there and holds it in place.
Black electrical tape on the bulb (or inside of light cover) works well too if you want absolutely no light.
Don't know what your LED array looks like but I'm sure you could figure out a way to make either of these ideas work for you.

[jT]

yeah that would work, but then id have to remove it when i wanted the light.. heh

im thinking of somehow incorporating a 3 way switch like most cars have

im no electrical genius but if the dome light IS a fuse for the door/whatever then wiring up the 3 way switch so that +12v only goes to the light in switch position 3 (or whatever) but still goes through to create the loop in all the positions shouldnt be hard.. just where to put the switch.

i may just have to resort to covering it up cuz i dont really feel like trying to do all this just to accomplish a simple thing. hell i can just put a black sock over the light when i need to :p

[OverDrive418]

Oh, wasn't sure if this was a temporary thing or not. In that case you should be able to put a switch right next to or in the light housing like most cars with that feature do, your wiring task will be a lot easier that way.

But if you decide to use a sock just make sure it's a clean one!

[badgett]

I'm no electrician either but this might work for you. Could you splice a wire into the door jam switch wire and run to a toggle. Then from the toggle to a ground. The door jam switch grounds when the door is open. This way you could flip the toggle and keep the ground open so the light doesn't come on. Flip the toggle the other way and it works normally. Ok wiring experts, will this work?

[OverDrive418]

If you go to Radio Shack you can get a small (less than 1/4") round push button type that you can use so it's hidden in your housing. I have one in my kick panel for my alarm to re-engage the starter after the alarm goes off.