extra backup lights

alex2929 · July 3, 2006

i have a 2000 silverado 1500 Z71. I have two 55watt tractor lights mounted on the rear....i'm not quite sure how to wire them. i was thinking of just wiring them through the fuse box in an empty spot and then just put a switch on them. I'm not even sure if that would work. i also read somewhere about using a relay and a 3 position switch....on off on. then they would come on when you were in reverse...be off....or be on manually. Can anyone help me with this.....

asilverblazer · July 4, 2006

Both of those ideas sound like they would work to me. I'm still trying to figure out how to wire mine on with the cargo light.

J45p3r · July 4, 2006

Here's my schematic.

http://www.j45p3r.net/truck/circuit.bmp

This runs the backup lights in reverse OR when you turn on the cargo lights. I also added an aux cargo lamp under my toneau cover.

The catch for you guys would be that I don't think pre-2003 trucks had the MBEC box under the dash, so you'd have to find a way to tap the wires elsewhere.

number9 · July 4, 2006

I did this on my '02 (which is same as 00-02 I am pretty sure) and used the GM Aux Lamps factory switch in the dash to make it a clean stealth mod. They only come on with the button so I can use reverse without blinding someone if needed. Probably some rule against it, but to keep from going there and copying every post on my install to here, search the Avalanche forum for "backup lights" and you will see many - look for the one with me "Number9" posting in it for the switch, harnesses, dash pod and diagram I used for my install.

Here are some pics

linky 1

Linky 2

alex2929 · July 4, 2006

i'm real curious how you did this....although i searched and can't find anywhere that you posted about backup lights. Did you just wire them through the fuse box and switch or did you have to use a relay too?

2004GMC1500CC · July 4, 2006

i'm real curious how you did this....although i searched and can't find anywhere that you posted about backup lights. Did you just wire them through the fuse box and switch or did you have to use a relay too?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Use a relay. Use either the cargo lamp, the reverse lights or both as the trigger for the relay. Make sure you run a new wire all the way to the battery and use a fuse.

firefighteremt3100 · July 6, 2006

number9 any way you can repost it here? I also cannot find the post you are refering to. I'd like to see your parts list with #'s and pictures if you wouldn't mind. A friend of mine wants to do this to his 99 Blazer. And now the more I think about it, I may do it to my 2004 Silverado. Thanks.

-Brian

number9 · July 7, 2006

Here is the wiring diagram I made when I was doing my install. However, the LED on the "Aux Lamps" switch would not light up when the switch was ON - a guy on the Avalanche forum emailed me and told me "You must reverse the "C" and "F" leads. Have 12v power on F, and the appliance on C; then

the amber LED will illum only when switch is 'on'." and it works great now.

Here are the parts I ordered:

15040484 4-switch Pod

15734687 Blanks for switch pod - # needed will depend on your current dash buttons or Onstar in the dash pod

15722980 Aux Lamps switch - Left side mount

15305931 Harness for Aux Lamps switch - 6 Leads

15306105 Connector for Position C9 on the MBEC

Here is one link I found http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcn...ic,50475.0.html

Feel free to ask any other questions and I will try and help as best I can. The wiring directions in this post are for 99-02 trucks/SUV ONLY - there was a complete vehicle electronics change in 03+

***EDIT - for some reason I am not getting the option to add Attachments to this post, so I will have to figure out some way to give you guys the wiring diagram I made.

firefighteremt3100 · July 7, 2006

Here is the wiring diagram I made when I was doing my install. However, the LED on the "Aux Lamps" switch would not light up when the switch was ON - a guy on the Avalanche forum emailed me and told me "You must reverse the "C" and "F" leads. Have 12v power on F, and the appliance on C; then
the amber LED will illum only when switch is 'on'." and it works great now.

Here are the parts I ordered:

15040484 4-switch Pod

15734687 Blanks for switch pod - # needed will depend on your current dash buttons or Onstar in the dash pod

15722980 Aux Lamps switch - Left side mount

15305931 Harness for Aux Lamps switch - 6 Leads

15306105 Connector for Position C9 on the MBEC

Here is one link I found http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcn...ic,50475.0.html

Feel free to ask any other questions and I will try and help as best I can. The wiring directions in this post are for 99-02 trucks/SUV ONLY - there was a complete vehicle electronics change in 03+

***EDIT - for some reason I am not getting the option to add Attachments to this post, so I will have to figure out some way to give you guys the wiring diagram I made.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any electronics techys or anyone redo this for a 2003+ Full size Silverado? (Im assuming the 2003,04,05s are all the same?)

number9 · July 7, 2006

Any electronics techys or anyone redo this for a 2003+ Full size Silverado? (Im assuming the 2003,04,05s are all the same?)

Search the Avalanche forum and dieselplace forum for "backup lights" or "Aux lamps" and other phrases you can think of with backup lights in mind - or even search for a few of the part #'s I listed above. This is how I done mine. I searched those boards for days copying text, links, pics and then piecing together a plan for my install. They can get confusing at times because of the electronics changes made to the trucks/SUV's in 2003+ so be sure and look at people sigs to see what year truck they have and decide if the info they are giving will work for you.

J45p3r · July 7, 2006

Here is the wiring diagram I made when I was doing my install. However, the LED on the "Aux Lamps" switch would not light up when the switch was ON - a guy on the Avalanche forum emailed me and told me "You must reverse the "C" and "F" leads. Have 12v power on F, and the appliance on C; then
the amber LED will illum only when switch is 'on'." and it works great now.

Here are the parts I ordered:

15040484 4-switch Pod

15734687 Blanks for switch pod - # needed will depend on your current dash buttons or Onstar in the dash pod

15722980 Aux Lamps switch - Left side mount

15305931 Harness for Aux Lamps switch - 6 Leads

15306105 Connector for Position C9 on the MBEC

Here is one link I found http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcn...ic,50475.0.html

Feel free to ask any other questions and I will try and help as best I can. The wiring directions in this post are for 99-02 trucks/SUV ONLY - there was a complete vehicle electronics change in 03+

***EDIT - for some reason I am not getting the option to add Attachments to this post, so I will have to figure out some way to give you guys the wiring diagram I made.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any electronics techys or anyone redo this for a 2003+ Full size Silverado? (Im assuming the 2003,04,05s are all the same?)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you just want to use the existing cargo light button and not another button you can follow the schematic I posted above.

hoorders · July 7, 2006

i have a 2000 silverado 1500 Z71. I have two 55watt tractor lights mounted on the rear....i'm not quite sure how to wire them. i was thinking of just wiring them through the fuse box in an empty spot and then just put a switch on them. I'm not even sure if that would work. i also read somewhere about using a relay and a 3 position switch....on off on. then they would come on when you were in reverse...be off....or be on manually. Can anyone help me with this.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just ran a new switch...............didn't want to mess with the factory wiring or try and follow any schematics(im pretty mechanically inclined...but electrical diagrams seems to puzzle me).....so a new switch was a no brainer.......just power and ground.......and I turn the lights on only when I need them.

kdm101 · July 7, 2006

There is a very quick and easy way to do this, but it requires that you have the trailering provisions. The center pin on the 7-pin connector is actually a backup light circuit for the trailer. You could simply wire your lights to that.

Otherwise, the solutions above will work. I've rigged up lights myself that will engage either by switch (manual) or will come on with the regular backup lights as well.