How to change Map Lights
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,503
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma City OK
How to change Map Lights
I have seen many threads about how people love or hate this, but I cant find any install instructions. (Yes Ive searched)
Anyone point me in the right direction?
Anyone point me in the right direction?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,954
Likes: 261
From: Greensboro NC
2015 C6 of the Year Finalist
It's not that hard once you figure out how to do it. I changed mine out to LED bulbs and LOVE it.
First you have to take out the plastic lens covers. They have a notch in the side towards the mirror stem (if I remember correctly). You can use something small and pointy to pry them out.
I found that the best way to get the stock bulbs out are to get some SMALL needle nose vise grip pliers. I found some at my local Habor Freight store for $6.00. I'm sure Home Depot or Lowes would have them as well. You cannot get your fingers in there to pull out the bulbs, thus the need for the pliers. Adjust them until they barely clamp down on the bulbs. Be careful that you don't apply enough pressure to BREAK the bulb. Also, I found that there is a little play in the bulbs as far as how far they stick out. You need to pull them out as far as possible so that the Vise grip pliers can get a good grip in the stock bulbs. Once I did this I was able to pull them right out in a couple of trys. Then just put in the new bulbs and replace the plastic lens covers.
First you have to take out the plastic lens covers. They have a notch in the side towards the mirror stem (if I remember correctly). You can use something small and pointy to pry them out.
I found that the best way to get the stock bulbs out are to get some SMALL needle nose vise grip pliers. I found some at my local Habor Freight store for $6.00. I'm sure Home Depot or Lowes would have them as well. You cannot get your fingers in there to pull out the bulbs, thus the need for the pliers. Adjust them until they barely clamp down on the bulbs. Be careful that you don't apply enough pressure to BREAK the bulb. Also, I found that there is a little play in the bulbs as far as how far they stick out. You need to pull them out as far as possible so that the Vise grip pliers can get a good grip in the stock bulbs. Once I did this I was able to pull them right out in a couple of trys. Then just put in the new bulbs and replace the plastic lens covers.
Last edited by ncvette_1FUNRIDE; Dec 18, 2009 at 06:26 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
Likes: 9
From: Rushsylvania Ohio
Similar to above, but I use a very small pair of channel lock pliers. With channel locks, you can adjust the jaws so they are parallel to the sides of the bulbs and get a very good grip on them with very little pressure, which you can not do with needle nose type pliers. The bulbs came right out with these pliers when I too changed to LED's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 939
Likes: 38
From: Riva MD
You can also do it with dental floss, if you don't have the correct tools or the time to go get them. Make a small slip knot loop, tease it over the bulb, and pull it tight until it is snug around the small part of the bulb then pull down on the floss. You may have to make several attempts to get it positioned right. Be advised that the bulb will pop out, seemingly like it was rocket propelled.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
You can use your fingers. I don't have the smallest fingers (women reading this? - LOL!). You can pull the bulbs out. The trick I found is don't be afraid of twisting the rearview mirror around to make it easier. Once you twist the mirror around to get a better grip, it's pretty easy to pull the bulbs out. It's harder to put the LEDs in! Once they're in (with correct polarity), they look great!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,503
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma City OK
That had to be the easiest thing I've done next to putting gas in the car... Thanks for all the help. I will take some pics when it gets dark.
I getting a little glow when the power is off. Ive heard some say its bad some say its not...
any definitive answers?
I getting a little glow when the power is off. Ive heard some say its bad some say its not...
any definitive answers?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Sunny So Cal
You can also do it with dental floss, if you don't have the correct tools or the time to go get them. Make a small slip knot loop, tease it over the bulb, and pull it tight until it is snug around the small part of the bulb then pull down on the floss. You may have to make several attempts to get it positioned right. Be advised that the bulb will pop out, seemingly like it was rocket propelled.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,954
Likes: 261
From: Greensboro NC
2015 C6 of the Year Finalist
If they are still glowing at all after a minute, there is a problem. Mine go completely off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
Regarding LED glow, just a thought about this. LEDs can dimly "glow" with only micro-amps of current. The circuits that drive the maplights were designed to use bulbs and bulbs don't "glow" with only micro-amps of current. I say this simply to show that there may be a dim "glow" from the LEDs as the normal use of the circuit assumed a bulb and the designers didn't have to worry about glow with a small amount of leakage current.
Also, each LED assembly may or may not glow. This is because the LEDs are very sensitive to current flow at the current (micro-amps). Some may glow and others may not glow.
It's only micro-amps we're talking about, that's millionths of an amp. It will not cause damage. It will not cause DBS (dead battery syndrome). There is no problem at all.
Also, each LED assembly may or may not glow. This is because the LEDs are very sensitive to current flow at the current (micro-amps). Some may glow and others may not glow.
It's only micro-amps we're talking about, that's millionths of an amp. It will not cause damage. It will not cause DBS (dead battery syndrome). There is no problem at all.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
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2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Plastic zip ties work well on getting the bulbs out.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,954
Likes: 261
From: Greensboro NC
2015 C6 of the Year Finalist
I got mine from JWMotoring.com. He has a thread on here about them. Yes, I did all of my interior lights (map lights, foot well lights, and glove box light) as well as my license plate lights and back up lights (these are a different bulb).
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
The easiest way to remove the map LEDs is with tubing. Used a piece of plastic tubing, slipped it over the bulb they pull right out. Use a small screwdriver to depress the tabs. Took more time to type this than it did to change them out using this method.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 98
From: York PA
I just did mine 3 days ago…… took a piece of duct tape, squished it up in the cavity ( after taking the lens off of course ) pushed it around the bulb, left enough of a "tail" of duct tape to pull on with needle nose pliers and it popped right out….. quick and easy!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
What number is the OEM bulb and what size tubing did you use on it?
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 13
From: Martinez California
I got mine out by tying a slip knot in dental floss (I would try fishing line), pressed up and tightened it as high up around the bulb that i could then gave it a tug and out it came. I was scared to use grips in fear of bulb breaking.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
I'll have to double check, but the tubing is from my homebrew beer setup and is soft tubing commonly used with the racking cane. The bulb was factory original and replaced with an LED. Pretty sure the tubing was 3/8ths. It helped that the bulbs were warm and I didn't try to remove them and just flipped ends of the tubing for the other bulb. Playing twister to get in position to get the footwells out was more difficult. And for the LP lights I went through the brake hole.
