Luggage Compartment Light

[Rick Turpin]

I wonder if anybody could help me.

I thought I needed to change the bulb in the luggage compartment and after finally managing to get the holder out I found that the holder was not connected to any wire / plug.

After spending a considerable time looking around where the holder is housed I could still not find any connection point.

Any ideas ?

Thanks,

Rick.

[Raistlin]

There must also be a switch that activates the light when you open the boot, find that and you will find half the wiring then trace it back to the bulb holder.

[Mooly]

First thing that comes to mind is that perhaps work has been done in that area in the past and the plug has not been refitted. Maybe its dropped down or dangling somewhere.

[tavy]

Hi Rick and welcome to forum !
The lamp has a back cover, black colour; after the whole lamp is removed (glass and cover) you can see the connector. Unplug it and dismantle the lamp in order to get acces to bulb. Bulb is C10W type (festoon bulb). I changed the bulb at my Auris and I put a SMD bulb; I was not happy with the light in trunk and I fitted an extra lamp in right side of the trunk.

[Rick Turpin]

Thanks everybody for the advice, very kind of you all.

That's what I was fearing, work may have been done in this area and somehow the wire has dropped down somewhere, its really awkward to look into.

That might be another option to try and trace the wire.

Hi Tavey, thanks for the welcome, I've managed to get the black holder out and the bulb out but its the connector to the holder that appears to have disappeared and I cannot see it anywhere inside.

Thanks once again guys.

[Truthseeker]

Try using an old wire coat hanger. Cut at one bend, straighten out, then make a 1" hook with a pair of plyers. Then try "fishing" for the connection behind the trim via the light hole. I have done the same thing many times when I have dropped something behind a panel, and this trick usually works.

[tavy]

Then you have to remove the plastic shrouds in the trunk in order to get acces to that cover who contain the lamp, for easy finding lamp wires and connector. I removed mine, both left and right, it's not so complicated but I don't remember now dismantling order.

[Speed_Chaser]

Hi and welcome!

You can remove the plastic covers which you take off when you need to change some of your rear lamp bulbs. Look through that hole and you should see in the upper side the wiring which is isolated with black material. It is routed there and should be visible, it goes to the trunk light. Then you will be able to route it to the trunk light hole and connect there to the trunk lamp.

Tavey, did you use the original lamp on the other side? How did you manage to attach it? I think someone else has done this too, probably northernlite on this forum, but he used glue so might have problems when he needs to change the bulb. I made smaller hole but this means the lamp is not totally inside the plastic, the edges are "on top" of the plastic which is not a problem but still bothering me sometimes. Would need to trim the plastic around the hole to make the edges follow the shape and level of plastic.

[Miseryguts]

I bit off topic but I purchased a Boro scope from M*****s a few months ago.

They are the things doctors use to look up your back bottom!!

Its waterproof with a 3ft flexible shaft etc etc and a LCD screen and lights on the camera.

Its perfect for getting into places that are hard to reach or see into (hence the post)

Cost me about £65, a bit pricey, but you will be surprised what you can use it for (some things can't be mentioned on open forum :-))))

[Raistlin]

I bit off topic but I purchased a Boro scope from M*****s a few months ago.

They are the things doctors use to look up your back bottom!!

Its waterproof with a 3ft flexible shaft etc etc and a LCD screen and lights on the camera.

Its perfect for getting into places that are hard to reach or see into (hence the post)

Cost me about £65, a bit pricey, but you will be surprised what you can use it for (some things can't be mentioned on open forum :-))))

You had me at waterproof...

[tavy]

Tavey, did you use the original lamp on the other side? How did you manage to attach it? I think someone else has done this too, probably northernlite on this forum, but he used glue so might have problems when he needs to change the bulb. I made smaller hole but this means the lamp is not totally inside the plastic, the edges are "on top" of the plastic which is not a problem but still bothering me sometimes. Would need to trim the plastic around the hole to make the edges follow the shape and level of plastic.

Nor the original one neither Toyota, a friend of mine gave me a VW trunk lamp,

it's a little bit smaller than original one, but it was very easy to fit inside. I made a rectangular hole in that plastic cover, new lamp fitted perfectly and stay firmly in its position due to its clamps. Then I removed all the covers in trunk in order to get acces for routing the wires, and I connected the wires to existing lamp wiring, I put all covers in their places and that's all, result is great.

[Rick Turpin]

Thanks guys for all the advice, I shall give all the suggestions a go at the weekend.