Help installing a dome light in a 97 TJ

Matt Darsow

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
13
Location
Yucaipa, Ca
Hi guys, just got a used 97 tj. There is no dome light. The "buzzer" does not sound when doors are open. I would like to wire either a sound bar, or a small dome light to the roll bar. I have not been able to figure out how to read the wire diagram someone sent me. I need the dummy down version. Is there anyone here that could tell me how to wire this dome light. I would like it to work just like stock if possible. On with headlight switch or qhen a door is open.

Thanks
Matt
 
Are you saying that there is a dome light but it doesn't work? If so, someone more than likely pulled your #4 fuse behind the glovebox, which is what most people do to keep the dome lights from staying on when the doors are removed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KCsTJ
Are you saying that there is a dome light but it doesn't work? If so, someone more than likely pulled your #4 fuse behind the glovebox, which is what most people do to keep the dome lights from staying on when the doors are removed.
No sir.. There is no dome light at all. There also isn't wiring for a dome light that I can find. I do have the door switches, so I am to believe there at one point was some kind of light? I would like to put one in.
 
No sir.. There is no dome light at all. There also isn't wiring for a dome light that I can find. I do have the door switches, so I am to believe there at one point was some kind of light? I would like to put one in.

Ohhh! I'm horrible at wiring, so I defer to someone else on this one. I'd tell you to read through the factory wiring diagrams in the FSM... but I can barely understand them myself.
 
Ohhh! I'm horrible at wiring, so I defer to someone else on this one. I'd tell you to read through the factory wiring diagrams in the FSM... but I can barely understand them myself.
I was sent the factory wiring diagram, but cant make heads or tails of the thing.
 
Would a po strip out dome wires, hope not.
Maybe if you poke around they are still there?
If not buy some automotive wiring, and wire the dome yourself, its just 2 wires so it will be a.fun project.
You may even figure out how to wire a 2nd dome light, it would be nicer with 2 domes, like the later tjs.
 
Do you have a sound bar?

This is a picture of the sound bar from the factory in a 97 sport.

15434463672022175415989877245535.webp


The wires run up from the mail harness driver side

15434464736514304448164940313670.webp


I would check to see if maybe someone cut the wires if the removed the sound bar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KCsTJ
Do you have a sound bar?

This is a picture of the sound bar from the factory in a 97 sport.

View attachment 65528

The wires run up from the mail harness driver side

View attachment 65529

I would check to see if maybe someone cut the wires if the removed the sound bar.
I do not have the sound bar, dont know if there was ever one in it. Do you happen to have a little bit wider view of the last picture so I can go look in that area. I sort of did already, but may have missed something.
Thanks
 
It runs from the floor up the roll bar and splits. The main harness continues under the rail to the rear. The sound bar harness runs under the padding for the roll bar.

I had to walk away from the jeep but i can get a better picture later if you can find where it was cut. To the best of my knowledge all jeeps had a sound bar from the factory. (Im probably wrong)
 
It runs from the floor up the roll bar and splits. The main harness continues under the rail to the rear. The sound bar harness runs under the padding for the roll bar.

I had to walk away from the jeep but i can get a better picture later if you can find where it was cut. To the best of my knowledge all jeeps had a sound bar from the factory. (Im probably wrong)

There is no section that has been cut on mine. This is the picture of the only wires running down drivers side to rear of jeep.

20181128_153200.webp


20181128_153214.webp
 
Would a po strip out dome wires, hope not.
Maybe if you poke around they are still there?
If not buy some automotive wiring, and wire the dome yourself, its just 2 wires so it will be a.fun project.
You may even figure out how to wire a 2nd dome light, it would be nicer with 2 domes, like the later tjs.


Pretty sure there aren't any in there.

But yeah, thats kind of what I want to do. Run new wires, but I would like them to function like they do when stock. Open the door, lights come on.. Not sure how/where to tap in to do that.

Worse case, im just going to wire up a toggle style for a dome. But id rather do it the stock/better way.

Any idea on how to do that?
 
Ok i found out there is a separate harness that goes from a connection at the drivers foot well to the sound bar.

When my class is over i will find it and take a picture of the connection.

You should be able to get that harness at a junkyard. Or just tap the wires in that connector.
 
Ok i found out there is a separate harness that goes from a connection at the drivers foot well to the sound bar.

When my class is over i will find it and take a picture of the connection.

You should be able to get that harness at a junkyard. Or just tap the wires in that connector.


Sweet perfect!!!

Thanks so much
 
@Matt Darsow
There is a junction box right underneath the driver side Dash on the left side the factory sound bar wire harness plugs into it. I cannot tell if it's the bottom or second to the bottom. Assuming they remove the harness with the Soundbar it should be wide open see attached photo
20181128_200142.webp
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowranger
@Matt Darsow
There is a junction box right underneath the driver side Dash on the left side the factory sound bar wire harness plugs into it. I cannot tell if it's the bottom or second to the bottom. Assuming they remove the harness with the Soundbar it should be wide open see attached photoView attachment 65595
Perfect. Thank you so much!! From other threads ive read the dome light wired are yellow/pink. So looking at that red harness on the bottom. There are yellow/pink wires on the bottom and the 4 on top look like speaker wires. Guessing that's it..

Thanks a ton!!!
 
connect it to the courtesy light in the driver's side (the one under the dashboard that shines on floor run the wire along floor up the rollbar and hook it to the center of the bar i used a license plate led light
 
connect it to the courtesy light in the driver's side (the one under the dashboard that shines on floor run the wire along floor up the rollbar and hook it to the center of the bar i used a license plate led light

I don't think I have those courtesy lights, at least they aren't working. I will look under there tomorrow in the daylight, but pretty sure there arent any.