after trying to clean out my 4runner in the dark with only the front and rear dome lights im about fed up with how dim they are. has anyone replaced the bulbs in their stock dome lights for something that puts off a decent amount of light?

 

i put a 16 array in the 94 and it was unbelievable--
http://www.oznium.com/thin-led-domelight

 

There are several sources of LED replacement bulbs that are brighter as well as "Hyper-white" regular bulbs.

One way to improve the output of you existing lights is to make the housing more reflective. To do this carefully pry off the cover as you would to replace the bulb and undo the screws holding the housing to the roof. Unplug the light and remove it. Take out the bulb and clean any loose dust/dirt off the fixture.
Get some Testors Model paint in Silver and a model paint brush and carefully paint all the plastic surfaces that are behind the lens cover but make sure that none of the paint comes in contact with the metal strips the paint has metal in it and may cause a short if it contacts the metal.
The paint will increase the reflectivity of the housing allowing more of the light produced to get out of the hosing.
Allow the paint to dry overnight and check it in the morning... if the paint is touching the metal strips anywhere scrape it off using an exacto knife. Replace the bulb reconnect the plug and screw the housing back in, test the light if all is good snap the cover back on and enjoy.

 

I had the same issue with my 4Runner's cargo light, so I did a custom job and stripped out the incandescent stuff. The stock incandescent cargo light draws 5 watts and puts out around 50 lumens of light. The modded dome light uses the equivalent of 3.8 watts and puts out around 200 lumens, so the LEDs save a bit of power but puts out far more light. It's bright enough back there now that everyone comments how bright it is as soon as I open the cargo area...I mean everyone, even my 86 year old grandparents.



Note the difference in intensity between the LED cargo light and the stock dome light:


I should also note that I when I tried to take this very same picture with the stock cargo light turned on, there literally wasn't anything to see in the photo--too dark.

I liked this enough to add a light where there wasn't one previously, in the rear hatch. This particular single LED pulls 1.7 watts and puts out 150 lumens of light. It turns on when you open the rear hatch...the switch is simply so I can turn it off if I want.

Here's where I installed it:


And here's what it does in 100% darkness:

 

That cargo light is what I need, where'd did you get that?
Thanks,

 

Yes, more info on the Led's please !!!

 

i can get the LEDs but from whence didst thy hatch light comest?

 

Paddlin... SOLD!!! Ill buy it for a dollar, Any who you mind PM me with the detials on how you made that light?

 

Dude, you need to do a write up on how you did that cargo hatch light mod with the multiple LED's that is so what I need! Please post how you did it with any pics if possible, this is a really great self done mod. also the one on the lift gate is gr8 add as well. Please post !!

 

no update or write up? i am an avid camper and hate trying to find crap with those damn dark lights. I put a led in there but its maybe 5% better.

 

Bump for updates, write up

 

A write up would be sick, with pictures too great ideas

 

I will be doing the upgrade on a friend's 4Runner in the next couple of weeks, so I will take pics this time-around. My old picture links are dead thanks to off-road.com dehosting everyone's photos.

 

Looking forward to the write up.

 

subscribed.

I don't want to reinvent the wheel so to speak- just copy the best idea out there. I've mooched off you guys before... just tell me what to buy and plug and play is the idiot proof method I need as much as possible.