Advice:Installation of a new map/reading dome light assembly

[purldiver]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2006 Toyota Matrix base model. It has a dome light in the center of the car, but no lights in the front of the car between the driver/passenger seats near the rear view mirror. I really miss this feature, and would like to add a map/reading light assembly. I am totally confused by everything I find in Google searches. Does anyone have advice on finding the right part, and how the wiring might work?

Ideally I would like two push button lights (one for each side), but I am willing to settle for just a single one, so I can see what I am doing when trying to gather my stuff in the dark. I wouldn't mind a light that isn't necessarily a Toyota Matrix part, as long as it looks more or less normal.

Sincerely,
Jessica in Maine

[petervivian]

Mirror inside with reading lamps? I can't find the part number, but you can find it on GM parts website by searching "Mirror inside w/reading lamps" for a first gen vibe.

[trb]

So your Matrix does not have lights on the mirror? You should be able to find a lighted mirror at a salvage yard or on ebay. Here is one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Pontiac-Vib ... 35&vxp=mtr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And here is one from a Matrix: http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-TOYOTA-MATRI ... 29&vxp=mtr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks like the run about $30 or so on ebay.

You can find salvage yards on http://www.car-part.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Maybe you can find one close by. As for hooking it up, luckily it just needs a couple of wires, one for ground and one for power. You can run them along the top of the windshield to the side trim and down below the dash, or you can tap into the lights in the center of the car for power. There might even be a plug on the wiring harness hidden in the headliner ready to plug in the mirror. This would require pulling down the headliner a bit, but it would be a cleaner install.

[purldiver]

Thanks! Those search terms helped me crack into the right stuff... I found a couple options. One I like better because it doesn't have wires hanging out, and the other is much more expensive (of course). Does anyone know where the wiring for these would attach to the car's power?

Thanks,
Jessica in Maine

This looks like the regular map light, which is attached to the ceiling: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321202373921?ss ... 1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This looks like the kind you are thinking of: http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Pontiac-Vib ... 1131031861" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[trb]

Like I said, it is likely there is a plug already in the roof area for the map lights to plug into. Most manufacturers use a single basic wiring harness for their cars, and if a particular car has the map lights selected as an option, then the rear view mirror with map lights is installed and plugged into the wiring harness. And from what I found, it looks like the same rear view mirror was used on the Vibe and Matrix, but the base Matrix may not have had the map lights, only the higher trim levels. My son is not in town, so I can't look at his, but maybe someone else can look and see about it. Worst case scenario is you would run the two wires back to the center cargo light for power. I did that on my Mustang and added individual map lights to it.

[runningslow]

This looks like the regular map light, which is attached to the ceiling: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321202373921?ss ... 1438.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This looks like the kind you are thinking of: http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Pontiac-Vib ... 1131031861" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm pretty certain that first link is to the map light for the sun roof models. If you don't have a sun roof, you'll want the lighted mirror, otherwise you'll be cutting holes in your headliner.

What you're looking for is the lighted mirror from the second link. Its the same part in my Vibe and my wife's Corolla. I would think the wiring will be hidden under the headliner. If not, it shouldn't be too hard to tap into the dome light wiring.