Anyone know the part number for a brighter dome light for a 1st Gen runner? Even with the light on it is hard to see me hand in front of my face. Also the deck lamp in the rear is there any way to safely make it brighter. I understand a hotter bulb will melt the plastic and I do not want to do that but I would really like to be able to see what I am doing when the lights are on.

 

I'd venture a guess that these would be brighter http://autolumination.com/festoon.htm

You can customize your colors too

Erich

 

I would check the battery to see if it is putting out around enough voltage and also check your battery cable clamps to see if they are corroded. My dome light was pretty dim and would flicker slightly until I cleaned the cable clamps with a terminal brush. I also took off the dome light cover and that also helped make it a little brighter inside.

 

I'm planning on installing one of those NAPA tractor lights in the back to have a better source of light than that puny stock one.

Someday when I have the time *sigh*

 

I put a high watt bulb in mine and it melted the clear cover! I ended up finding a map light and bracket out of a bone yard 1st gen sr5 and installed it, took about 30 minutes. If you cut out the wiring clips and all from the doner truck it will go a lot faster. Its a nice cheap mod that gives you more direct light.

 

nice link, Erich_870. that festoon system looks awesome. gotta order me one.

 

Post pics if you do! I've been thinking about switching to green

Erich

 

Forget those LED festoon bulbs. I tried them and they SUCK! What size bulb is it in your 1st gen? If it is a festoon bulb that measures 1 1/4" , give these a try:



http://www.taskled.com/dome.html

They are a bit pricey (and look weird), but they put out MASSIVE light. Plus since they are luxeon LED's, they run on very low wattage. I put one in my Tacoma dome light and it is crazy bright and extremely white.

The only downside is I can't get it to stay on unless the key is on the acc power mode or the car is running. It also will come on if I turn on one or both of the front map lights. It's weird. I think the car thinks the bulb has burned out since there is such low wattage being used by the LED. I'll have to figure out something to get it to work all the time.

 

I think these might fit. The festoon bulb form in my pickup measures just over an inch -- i didn't have a caliper handy or i would have a better figure. The ones mentioned above would be too long. As you say the taskled.com product is pretty spendy. I could see spending $8 or so on a good bulb, but $30? Ouch. Thanks though for the link.

 

If your stock light is unusally dim just put a new fuse in. Fuses get week as they get old and you will notice a difference just with a fuse change. I change all my fuses every year as a new years resolution. Most people think fuses will last forever and never replace them, but they do age and they do need to be replaced. It may sound stupid but i had a problem with my BADA$$ stereo system and all it was was an old fuse! 1st gen dome lights are not much for light anyway. Also the lense cover fade with age also.

 

interesting! i'll look into that. do you think it's chemical degradation of the metal that causes a higher resistance?

 

linky to my recent post with comparison pix of LED vs. the stock incandescent. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f131/interior-light-led-swap-80732/

 

my dome light (3175) recently went out in my truck, and obviously needed a new one, but wanted somthing brighter.
I read on here somewhere that to achieve "brighter" reverse lights you can spray paint your inner tail light assembly with some reflective chrome spray paint. with this in mind i did the same with the dome light thinking it may help a little (hell its woth a try!) but couldnt tell a difference cause when i put the bulb back in it didnt work!!
so today i went to a parts store, but they didnt have the stock replacement 3175 bulb but a buncha LED aftermaket colored bulbs. not too intersted in a colored one, but still needed a bulb i purchased it and was really disappointed with the results. I went with the Red 2 LED bulb. not much more light output if any, and its red. White would have been nice. oh well. maybe i try the "festoon" bulbs being how they actually have white, and 9 bulbs are better than 2 !!
(sorry for the long post)