Installing a cargo light

[cav5k]

It was just a dome light, can't remember what model Kia it came out of.


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[1990new]

When I connected the blue ground wire to cargo light, it would not come on when I grounded the blue wire in the hatch.
I checked continuity on it and there was none. I then disconnected the 4 wire connector behind the left tail light (taped to the side of the body)
and there was continuity from the male connection to the light but no continuity from the female connector to the hatch.

Next step was to consult our forum wiring expert, bravekozak.
His suggestion was to pull the boot out of the roof and the hatch and look in there for a broken wire.
Here is a picture of what I found.

The blue wire was broken and two other wire were on their way to breaking too.

For Festiva wiring problems, brave is definitely to the goto man on the forum.

[Huli]

Anyone come up with better switch ideas? I am renewing my rear hatch and thought I should visit this question.

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[1990new]

I used mercury switches (from 90's Lincolns, Mercurys and some Crown Victorias).
There are really easy to find in the junk yard.
I installed the trunk latch with the ground wire in Trixie, but I used the mercury switches in Nellie and Bessie.
The mercury switches are really easy to attach with a nylon zip tie. There is a screw hole in the hatch sheet metal that I used
to attache the switches.
I removed the bulb, took a short piece of 12 guage coppe wire, bent it into a u shape and put it in where the light was.
Then run a wire from one of the connectors to ground, and the other to the blue wire.
It works great as long as that blue wire is not broken somewhere like one of mine was.

[crazyrog17]

I too have used the same mercury switches. The one in my hatch has been in there for years and works great.

Now if you'll excuse my shameless plug:
I've got prebuilt mercury switches for $10 shipped. I assembled them from the guts of those factory trunk/hood lights described above. Install under any bolt in the hatch with the 'wire' down so the the circuit to ground is completed when the hatch is open. Then strip and connect the blue wire in the hatch to it.

[Gomez]

With about 15-20 minutes of massaging I got a latch from a 91 XR2 to work in my Festiva. I took the blue wire off the Capri latch and worked it onto the stock Festiva latch. The biggest thing was getting the tab bent just right. But it has been in for a couple months now without any issues. Dime a dozen at jy's across America. LOL

[Röster]

Installing a cargo light

Hello all, new to the forum here, and thought I'd put in my 2˘. I used an aspire door switch mounted on the body, where the hatch stops come in contact. I used the factory white/red power wire and left the body/switch as ground. Then just used some stick-on LEDs from auto zone. Pretty happy with it so far
-Röster

[likeJIF]

I like that Roster, good find and good job.

[Röster]

Thank you, put one on each side, next will be footwell lighting.

-Röster