Central Dome Light Install on 2007?

Tasha125 · Jun 25, 2008

i could have sworn there was a topic on this already, but i did a search and couldn't find one.

i desperately want to install (or rather, have the dealer do it as i am mechanically challenged) a central dome light in my patriot. it is very annoying trying to SEE back there at night. i know the 2008's already come with this but my poor little 2007 does not have one.

i just have a few questions for those who have done this already...

1. how much did it cost?
2. approximately how long did it take?
3. is there any other information/previous threads you can point me in the direction of?

i personally feel like chrysler should do a recall of all 2007 patriots and put those suckers in for us. it is so absurd that they didn't come with central dome lights! :wow:

stingerbtry · Jun 26, 2008

I don't have any specific information as mine has a central dome light but it should be simple to mount and tie into the wiring or the existing dome light. I'm sure that no matter how easy it is (or not) the dealership will probably charge you steeply for the install. Where exactly are the dome lights on the '07s? I don't have a sunroof so all I have is the center one and then one in the rear where other models have the flashlight/dome. I've actually been thinking of looking into installing the front dome/map light setup myself.

Tasha125 · Jun 26, 2008

on the 2007 we have one in the front center (by the rear-view mirror) and one way in the back where the flashlight is. neither of which reach far enough to light up the back seat...

stingerbtry · Jun 26, 2008

Tasha125 said:
on the 2007 we have one in the front center (by the rear-view mirror) and one way in the back where the flashlight is. neither of which reach far enough to light up the back seat...

That's kinda weak. I wonder who thought that was a good idea?

UN4GTBL · Jun 26, 2008

stingerbtry said:
That's kinda weak. I wonder who thought that was a good idea?

...beancounters...who else to blame? same genious idea as only having the drivers window switch light up and no front windshield wiper defrost lines...

daguno · Jun 26, 2008

Hey Tasha,

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2128

Here is the post I am using to have one installed at my local dealer. Cost is kind of steep at between $170 to $200, but we have a new 4 month old son and it is too dark in the rear seat at night.

Tasha125 · Jun 26, 2008

daguno said:
Hey Tasha,

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2128

Here is the post I am using to have one installed at my local dealer. Cost is kind of steep at between $170 to $200, but we have a new 4 month old son and it is too dark in the rear seat at night.

damn... that is kind of steep, but i guess it makes sense considering the amount of work that probably goes into this. do you know how long they're going to need to keep the car for to do the installation?

i might just end up waiting a bit... but man is this frustrating! :doh:

matty13 · Jun 26, 2008

Guess it's time to trade her in and get an 09!

cadavev · Jun 26, 2008

cant be that hard to do it yourself i'll look into it. Cause id like to have a center dome light

Wheezy · Jun 26, 2008

I thought about getting the center dome light installed on my '07 as well... But I got the sunroof so I imagine it would be a royal pain in the ass if it even were possible on vehicles that already have a sunroof installed.

daguno · Jun 27, 2008

Tasha125 said:
damn... that is kind of steep, but i guess it makes sense considering the amount of work that probably goes into this. do you know how long they're going to need to keep the car for to do the installation?

i might just end up waiting a bit... but man is this frustrating! :doh:

They said that I would have to leave it in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon.

quasimodem51 · Jul 3, 2008

I bought a portable LED light that has a sticky tape base. At the back of center console I just stuck the LED light right there and voila, a lit up rear seat. Total cost: $2.99 (and I got three of them!

Dmentd_Dan · Jul 3, 2008

The post was by Nearly Normal Jimmy
Here is his website where he gives you a template to make the cut out in the headliner.
http://www.nearlynormal.biz/jeep/patriot_info.html
I am feeling to lazy to search through his post to find it but if you do then he has pics and the whole nine yards of the install. Hope this helps

Here is his link and the cost breakdown
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2128
There are pic of his work (scroll down to get to them)
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2097
Its even better than the 08's because it is the same as the up front light that can be turned on at the touch of a button by the rear seat occupants.

wwworth · Jul 4, 2008

Why can't you run power from the rear light if the sun roof is in the way?

stingerbtry · Jul 4, 2008

wwworth said:
Why can't you run power from the rear light if the sun roof is in the way?

That's what I was thinking. Just run them in series. It should work in theory.

jepstr67 · Jul 4, 2008

Tasha125 said:
i could have sworn there was a topic on this already, but i did a search and couldn't find one.

You used the "bait" search engine and not the secret search engine didn't you?

It is like Homer Simpson, the Stone Cutters and 912.

Next to the box, it says search Jeeppatriot.com, so naturally you type what you want to find in the box and figure you are searching. Right?

WRONG. That is the fake, bad search engine.

The real search engine is accessed by looking right above that. In the green bar, there is also the word "search". Click on that. A box will open where you can type your query and it will actually find the threads you want. It lets you pick to search by thread name or by individual posts.

GB1 · Jul 8, 2008

Tasha, Whezzy - I had the exact issue with my 07 Pat and had an 08 dome light installed. The dome light itself was, I believe, about $33 and like I mentioned you have to order an 08 since the 07's don't have one. I also have a sunroof.

I found a custom car stereo installer here in San Diego who put it in for only $50. The sunroof was no problem for him. It took all of 15 minutes and looks perfect (we originally agreed to $50 if it was prewired and $100 if not, but he insisted that he couldn't charge $100 for 15 min work).

Btw, Jimmy shot me the service manual PDF and it appears to show that the 07 Pat was pre-wired for the center dome light due to export considerations. But the fellow who put it in for me said it wasn't there on my Pat.

Hope this helps. Oh yeah and you would not believe how much better it is to have that extra light back there - no more using a flashlight in my backseat to see

G

Central Dome Light Install on 2007?

Tasha125

stingerbtry

Tasha125

stingerbtry

UN4GTBL

daguno

Tasha125

matty13

cadavev

Wheezy

daguno

quasimodem51

Dmentd_Dan

wwworth

stingerbtry

jepstr67

GB1

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