Fitting a Glovebox light

ProjectPuma

Help Support ProjectPuma:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Dal

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 3, 2007
Messages
14,816
Glovebox light installation

Guide Overview:

This guide will hopefully explain the basic principles to install a glovebox light, if you find any inaccuracies then please let me know.

(Please read the entire guide before attempting)

Difficulty: 1/5

Time: 1/2 hour

Required Tools:
  • 10mm socket (For the battery nut)
  • Cross headed screwdriver (for glovebox latch removal)
  • Side cutters
  • Wire strippers
  • Small flat blade screwdriver (for connector block)


The Puma didn't come with a glovebox light as standard, yet there is a hole specifically made to accept one (As the Puma dash is the same as the fiesta dash, which sometimes did have the glovebox light.)

Procedure:

1st of all get yourself the light assembly:
Gloveboxlightassembly2.jpg


They are very often on ebay as "Fiesta / Escort / Puma glove box light upgrade" or something similar. Should only be a few pounds. Or a scrap yard. You could even go to Ford. Part Number 6114331. shouldn't be more than a fiver. (Although you'll then need to get some wire and connectors to connect it to the lamp assembly)

Then, as with all electrical work on the car - Disconnect the battery.

Now open the glovebox to find the bracket / latch. Remove it by removing the screw at the back and sliding it out.
GloveboxBracketandscrew.jpg


Fit the lamp assembly as shown below:
Gloveboxlightassemblyinbracket.jpg

Note : it only goes in one way due to the copper connector shown in the 1st photo above.

Now feed the wires up through the gap in the top of the glovebox and out towards the centre of the car. Reach up from the area below / to the left of the ashtray to feel the wires. Pull them out.
Lightwiringroute.jpg


The next step is for pumas with a seperate cigarette lighter in the ashtray. For later models with it in the heater facia, a live source can be found from either the radio connections, or the clock.

Remove the ashtray. You'll see 2 fairly thick wires going to a connector behind the cigarette lighter.
Plugbehindcigarettelighter.jpg


Remove the connector, and cut the wires about 6" from the connector.

Now connect the 2 glovebox light wires in with the cars existing cigerette lighter wires into a connecting block after stripping back the insulation to show 8-10mm of bare wire. Ensure the connecting block is rated to at least 20 amps, as the lighters fuse rating is 15 amps. *
Connectorloomtolight.jpg

Ensure the wires are well secured, without stray wires.

Now connect the connector end, again, after stripping approx 8-10mm of wire.
Connectortoloom.jpg


For peace of mind, it is a good idea to completely cover the wires and block with electrical insulating tape. This not only acts as an insulator should a wire come out, but also gives the wires some mechanical strength to stay in place.

Give another check to ensure the wires are securely fitted. Refit the connector to the cigarette lighter and re-insert the ashtray. Ensure the connector block is not fouling anywhere as you open and close the ashtray.

Reconnect the battery. Now when you open your glovebox, you should have a nice little light.

light.jpg



* Do not use the common 'scotch lock' type connectors to make this connection. They are not rated sufficiently enough to accept the 15-20amps that can pass to the cigarette lighter.
 
Great guide mate. I may well invest in this idea!

And yes they weren't fitted due to cost cutting at the Ford Motor Co. Undoubtedly.
 
Similar to the guide I did several years ago on the 'other' site ;)

A couple of mods I did though, ran power from the feed to the stereo (12v feed when the lights are on). Later Pumas have less accessible cigar lighter sockets. Also used aluminium tape above the bulb as a reflector to make the bulb more efficient. Finally make sure the light actually switches off with the glovebox closed, mine didn't so I added a small piece of rubber on the lid to push the switch in better.
 
It's not exactly difficult Richard tbh! Let us know how you get on.

*Smug member of the glovebox light members club number 1*

:funny:
 
Light in the boot is the same sort of thing, except it plugs straight in so its even easier.
 
I just picked one of these up from the scrap yard, £3 for it and a boot release switch :grin: Will be fitting when I get time!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top