I know this was optional but I want to install a rear cargo lamp. Does anyone know how to give power to this wire? Is there a fuse I must install? 87 so it didn't have the option.

Thanks.

 

You're saying your car doesn't have the light at all, or just doesn't have the switch?

The OE light gets power from the same fuse and wire that powers the hatch pull-down. It gets grounded by the pull-down in the up position, or by a separate switch to ground.

 

No light at all. I just have the white wire and it's dead.

 

My 87 has it. I'd have thought they all had it, but it looks like it was part of the Lamp Group option TR9.

The first picture shows the light and the switch in the rear interior panel. The second picture shows the two connectors(circled) and the wires: orange, black and white.




Connector for the light has the orange and white wires: orange wire comes out of the main harness that goes up to the front of the car and provides power to the light; white wire comes from the switch and provides the ground. Connector for the switch has the black and white wires: the switch is grounded to the chassis through the black wire, then provides the ground to the light through the white wire when switched, completing the circuit and activating the light.

If your car's harness doesn't have these hanging back there, then it seems like it would be easy enough to re-create, just power and ground.

 

I intend to install one in my car, but I plan to power it from the dome light circuit...

 

I have a light fixture if you need one it has Gray trim,
PM me if interested

 

Where does the light even mount?

 

The picture in my previous post shows the backside of that rear panel, where you can see embossed areas for cutting out the spaces for the lens and switch. Obviously, nobody was too concerned about accuracy when punching out the holes. And notice that the hole for the lens isn't as large as the embossed area, so cut your hole slightly smaller than the embossment. You can always make it larger if necessary.

 

I do not have orange portion of the harness, just the white wire.

Thanks for picture. I'm going with a aftermarket LED.

 

The white wire (and small black connector) circled in my picture below? It's not related to the light. So if you don't have either of the other two connectors with their combinations of wires (orange and white for the light, black and white for the switch), then you'll have to run your own wires. One for power to the light. One for a chassis ground to the switch. One for ground between the light and the switch.

 

What is the white wire for then?