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I've been toying with the idea of getting an overhead console for my GTA. It currently only has a regular dome light (T-Top model). My wuestion is, does it need any additional wiring to run, that my car may not currently have? Thank you all
Nope...Everything you need is already there.You can either splice in a pigtail or get the complete harness to power it.I have a few t top consoles in various shape if your interested
I always thought the overhead console was kinda interesting, back before everyone started swapping then into everything. Put one in my old 91 beater, and the novelty wore off fast. Only good thing I have to say about them, is that they help hold a really cruddy t-top headiner up. Maybe if the pouch had fresh elastic sewn in... And if a person could think of anything that would fit, look better, and be more useful than the playground tic-tac-toe reminder wheels. I don't know, it's a fairly useless map light, a redundant dome light switch, a useless pouch (all your stuff put in it will end up in the backseat), a really really REALLY useless and cheesy 'flash light'... Hmm, that's it. Oh, I forgot those damn useless reminder wheels. Oh well... It's almost an insult to flash lights to call the overhead console flash light a flash light. An obsure light bulb, some corroded brass strips, and two leaky Duracells would be a more accurate description. It's about as useful as those single led lights that were on keyrings for about 5 minutes in the year 2000. Which is to say, it's completely useless for providing light. You'd be further ahead to rub your finger tips together until one of them combusts.
I have one of the full length Astro/Safari overhead consoles in my hardtop. It's the earlier style without the engine monitor, but does have the digital outside temp and compass heading, plus 4 movable map lights (2 front seat, 2 rear seat), dome light, and 3 storage compartments; forward most is for a garage door opener (can be repurposed), middle is sunglasses holder, rearmost is for CD's or other large items. It was a fairly easy install and not a bad fit in the hardtop cars, although it is a little wide for a T-top. I installed it so my daughter could have reading lights without having to drive with the dome light on. I don't have a headliner in my car currently, but I don't see why this wouldn't work with one. I haven't decided if I will keep it long term or revert to the factory correct dome-only setup eventually, but for now it works great.
There is also a smaller version available in S15s that has only the outside temp/compass and a single set of lights and storage. Whichever you go with make sure to get the outside temp sensor, usually mounted in front of the condenser on the hood latch support, and as much pigtail as possible. There are lots of walkthroughs on the wiring, but ignore the VSS input, not needed.
I found the leather packet to be not only useless, with the worn out elastic, but unattractive, as well. It’s not difficult to remove, and actually looks pretty nice gone. I did find the overhead console handy for hiding the microphone and associated wiring for my hands free phone, though.
I have one of the full length Astro/Safari overhead consoles in my hardtop.
Originally Posted by Galaxie500XL
I did find the overhead console handy for hiding the microphone and associated wiring for my hands free phone, though.
See, those kinds of ideas make sense, or I've seen people install a garage door opener or a radar detector into the space normally filled by the wheels. Anything with a practical function makes sense. I just know from personal experience that a pair of sunglasses, garage door clicker, pack of smokes, a cassette tape, anything would fly into the back seat when I'd wood the gas. Everyone that ever rode in the car asked what the roller reminder wheels "did" and kinda said "oh... neat..." with disappointment when I'd show them all the goofy features.
I'd have a hard time justifying putting one in my cars again. I've still got one complete T-top version left, with a few extra parts. Really should sell em off, but who has time to market and sell thirdgen parts?
04-14-2019, 08:53 AM
