What's the difference between a dome light and a map light?

 

There is no difference. Same thing just a different name.

 

wrong. a map light is aimed from arround the rear view mirror to the lap of the driver or passanger. a dome light is usually in the middle of the car and is intended to light up the entire car which it does poorly in all cars. Another thing to add. the wireing for the map light isn't there if you don't have it. I've pull it down and nothing up there but metal.

 

Yeah but on our cars do we even have a Dome light then?? I only know of the thingie above the centre console, near the windshield, before the sunroof. (if you have one)

 

your car must have came with a sunroof then huh? unless its a RD1 thing cuz mine is a dome light...its in the middle of my roof where the middle-back of your sunroof is...o screw it ill just take a picture



this is the dome light...a maplight is usually on the rearview or right above it....

BTW you see my big @ss gash on my roof? it came that way...is there anything i can do to get rid of it?

 

Well bend me over and suck me sideways! I had no idea that there was such a device. Guess this is a classic example of how you learn something new every day. 02.gif

 

Yeah, the dome light is situated over the back seat, behind the moonroof in my RD2. Next to useless because it's so far back and so dim. I'm going to try those ebay LEDs I guess. I'm pretty sure the stock bulb is only 5w, and the 10w bulbs available at Pep Boys might not be a good idea.

I've been looking at rear view mirrors with built in LED map lights, but they're not cheap, close to $200 on ebay since they have lots of other nice features like auto dim. This one looks nice: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...7945091221&rd=1

Of course, my budget is more like $20, not $200. I might try to find an oem one from another manufacturer that will fit. OEM lighted autodim mirrors often go for $20-30.

BTW, my brother's '97 Tib FX has both a dome light and map light installed in it. That's what I need...



Thanks for that info. Although it still might be a project if I ever find a junked Tib that I can cannibalize.

 

if you dont have a sun/moon roof then it lights up adequetly enough...i dont know what im going to do lateron when i get a moonroof...maybe see if they can move my light...

 

Yea... that bulb is used in alot of other cars too. I actually just bought one like last week from autozone. No more then 10 bucks. Just take the bulb out and go 2 autozone they will hook you up w/ the blub you need.

 

it wouldn't be hard to tap the wire from the dome light to install a map light. it's got constant 12vdc power.