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Deck Lamp Button

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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 03:29 PM
  #1  
rocklover's Avatar
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From: Parker, CO
Deck Lamp Button

Hey everybody I have a 1987 toyota and have been wondering what light the deck lamp button is supposed to turn on. I only see that one tiny light in the back alongside the quarter panel thats burnt out but it surely cant be that can it?
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 04:10 PM
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Mine is burned out also, but yes I think that is it.

I think this would fit under the "what's broken on your rig" or "you know you're driving a Toyota when..." threads LOL

Last edited by Buck87; Apr 5, 2011 at 04:14 PM.
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 04:43 PM
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I believe that switch is suppose to turn the your light on the back of your cab but it only works when your lights are on.
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by huntersk2k5
I believe that switch is suppose to turn the your light on the back of your cab but it only works when your lights are on.
Winner!! You have to at least has your parking lights on to test it. That is, if it hasn't been messed with. I tacked an LED strip into it and attached to the rollbar. My build up thread has pics. That stock light is all but worthless, IMO.
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 05:40 PM
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This pretty much explains it for you

You know, it is that tiny light behind the factory roll bar on the driver's side, that doesn't seem to work. Took me a while to figure out that you needed to have the parking lights on (it is fed from the main exterior light relay). Kind of useless though, for example if you are camping or sleeping in back and need some light, you have to run around to the front, turn on the parking lights, all to have a puny 3W light in back. Add to that the the deck light is essentially "on the deck", so if you have anything in back, the light will likely be blocked. The only cool thing about the deck light is that it has both front and rear switches, wired up like you would have in a hallway with a switch at each end. Turn the light on with one switch, walk down the hall and turn the light off with the other switch. So, while this deck light is sort of lame, it has promise.
here's what I did for a bit more light in the back:
Flex LED ribbon
switch panel and "rear porch light"
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 05:44 PM
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Also if you still have that little handy work light that came from the factory, it also works from that switch. There should be a small two prong outlet next to the fuel door linkage.
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 05:57 PM
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Corax, that switch panel is pimp.Love the factory window switch.

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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 06:18 PM
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Thanks, actually wasn't too hard to make with my Dremel either - cost was only a few bucks

Originally Posted by Bassmastry101
Also if you still have that little handy work light that came from the factory, it also works from that switch. There should be a small two prong outlet next to the fuel door linkage.
Really? Do you have a pic? I've never heard of or seen that. I know early Supras had this little magnetic light in the center console with a 2 pin connector . . .
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Bassmastry101
Also if you still have that little handy work light that came from the factory, it also works from that switch. There should be a small two prong outlet next to the fuel door linkage.
i think mines messed up then it works with out the switch .. always hot.

corax heres the light .. i just recently found a mint one ..
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f161.../#post51636481
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by RMA
i think mines messed up then it works with out the switch .. always hot.

corax heres the light .. i just recently found a mint one ..
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f161.../#post51636481
That's it! I'm at work now but I can run out on my break and snap a pic of the light and outlet for it.
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Old Apr 5, 2011 | 08:23 PM
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Freshly taken for your viewing pleasure


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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 07:10 AM
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Noo kidding . . . . that's slick. I assume only certain years or trim levels had that, I don't think my '88 even has an extra hole in the fuel door release bracket. Thanks for the link and pics, learn something new every day
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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 07:45 AM
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was hoping this tread was gonna include the wiring for that switch. I had picked up a deck lamp switch to use for my fogs. So are you guys saying the only way that switch will work is if I wire it into the parking lights? If that's the case, almost reminds me of a relay more than a switch.
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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by xxxtreme22r
was hoping this tread was gonna include the wiring for that switch. I had picked up a deck lamp switch to use for my fogs. So are you guys saying the only way that switch will work is if I wire it into the parking lights? If that's the case, almost reminds me of a relay more than a switch.
it's just a SPDT toggle switch, it'll work however you want to wire it - ignore the red lines in the diagram below

Last edited by corax; Apr 6, 2011 at 10:01 AM.
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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Bassmastry101
Freshly taken for your viewing pleasure


That light was an option on 84-88 trucks and runners but in my experience is somewhat rare in NA, seems common on Aussie trucks from what I've read in mags and on the web. FWIW similar period GM trucks had a 12v worklight type thing on a reel in the engine compartment (attached to the hood I think) it can be found in the yards sometimes. I think you can even still buy the GM one at pep boys and such places.
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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 02:31 PM
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Cool stuff thanx guys.
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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Bassmastry101
That's it! I'm at work now but I can run out on my break and snap a pic of the light and outlet for it.
yea was feeling a little lazy ..

heres the diagram for a 88 (inspection socket at center)


and to the op .. im with everybody else that lights pretty much useless .. heres mine .i ended up putting a panel for the invertor where the light was .. and a light up top , always hot with its own switch.

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Old Apr 6, 2011 | 07:18 PM
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^^ nice little combo outlet, where did you find something like that?
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 09:29 PM
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just had to

So Corax..i loved your switch design so much i had to make one for myself.

I just started on it this morning. It's not finished yet since I still need to go junk yard hopping for the window switch and the work light port, but u get the idea. I'm going to add a 12v outlet also. But let me know what you think so far!


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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Bassmastry101
So Corax..i loved your switch design so much i had to make one for myself.

I just started on it this morning. It's not finished yet since I still need to go junk yard hopping for the window switch and the work light port, but u get the idea. I'm going to add a 12v outlet also. But let me know what you think so far!

Looks good

Isn't it funny how $2 worth of extra hardware can turn something (like a switch panel) from plain-jane to bling?
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