Overhead console for light switches?

[hot_rod_hooligans]

Anyone out there make an overhead console fore the XJ? After market or has anyone used stock consoles from other cars that have been swapped in and made work well?

 

[h2opete987]

I just put in a stock overhead console....

not all came with them, but they can be swapped in with less work than one from a different vehicle.

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoOverheadConsole.htm

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

XJ's had an overhead console as an option, you could find one and modify it.

 

[userbmx1315]

how easy are they to mount? id like to get one. is it only 84-96 then 97-01? or will they all fit?

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

how easy are they to mount? id like to get one. is it only 84-96 then 97-01? or will they all fit?

i will answer you truthfully, i do not know. i don't have one.

 

[h2opete987]

i am going to assume that you are mostly looking for a place for switches, and not the electonic goodies inside it.

96- are easier to retrofit to 96- vehicles, but a 97+ is possible. the main differences are the orientation of the rear mounting bracket, and that with the 97+ console, you would also need the visors from a 97+ (the visor clips are part of the console rather than separate pieces).

there is a wire harness inside your passenger side kick panel, most likely with a red plug. this will have all the wires you should need to be able to run the lights on the overhead console. if you don't need the elctronics, you don't need to run any extra wires up the a-pillar at this point.

if you remove the computer unit from the console and add a plate to where it used to be, you should have plenty of room for 4-5 small toggle switches, depending on how you set it up. run a bundle of wires for your switches down the drivers side a-pillar (because it contains no wiring stock-more room), and hook them up as need be. this is what i will be doing after i finish a few half finished projects.

let me know if you need any help figuring anythign out. i should still have all the diagrams i used around somewhere.

 

[Starboard M]

Someone did a write up on here awhile ago on how to make your own switch box that mounted between the sun visors.

Turned out very very clean. VAFinch or something like that was the person screen name. Sorry I dont remember exactly who it was.

 

[BlueGerbil]

Someone did a write up on here awhile ago on how to make your own switch box that mounted between the sun visors.

Turned out very very clean. VAFinch or something like that was the person screen name. Sorry I dont remember exactly who it was.

http://fitchva.com/jeep/?page_id=24

 

[mecompco]

We mounted my three ARB switches where the garage door opener area is on the stock overhead console. They look nice there and are up out of the way (I especially didn't want our dog to hit them by accident).

 

[hot_rod_hooligans]

http://fitchva.com/jeep/?page_id=24

Thats what I'm looking for, thanks!

 

[90Blue_XJ]

We mounted my three ARB switches where the garage door opener area is on the stock overhead console. They look nice there and are up out of the way (I especially didn't want our dog to hit them by accident).

Got any pics? I want to use that space to mount some switches as well. I have no garage door opener so that would be an ideal area to mount switches and leds, otherwise it is wasted space.

 

[mecompco]

Got any pics? I want to use that space to mount some switches as well. I have no garage door opener so that would be an ideal area to mount switches and leds, otherwise it is wasted space.

I don't, but will try to remember to take some tomorrow.

 

[Plays For Jeeps]

Isn't it true that when you are taking the over head and using the computer you also have to pull the temp sensors from the donor jeep so that the computer will have a outside temp input?

Or did all jeeps come with all the sensors and out-puts to make this swap a plug and play?

 

[h2opete987]

that is correct. you will need a temp sensor from a cherokee or a grand caravan. the sensors are the same, but the harnesses are different.

 

[userbmx1315]

Originally Posted by BlueGerbil
http://fitchva.com/jeep/?page_id=24

thats a nice set up there man. i like the write up, i'm going to be trying this on my 98 also. do you have any problems with it heating up? because the cat-5 wires are small?

 

[userbmx1315]

BlueGerbil

do you have a write up on wiring the switch box its self?

 

[FitchVA]

Someone did a write up on here awhile ago on how to make your own switch box that mounted between the sun visors.

Turned out very very clean. VAFinch or something like that was the person screen name. Sorry I dont remember exactly who it was.

lol, close. 1 letter off

 

[FitchVA]

Originally Posted by BlueGerbil
http://fitchva.com/jeep/?page_id=24

thats a nice set up there man. i like the write up, i'm going to be trying this on my 98 also. do you have any problems with it heating up? because the cat-5 wires are small?

nope, the cat-5 wires are perfect for signaling the relays. i can't remember the exact figure, but the power needed to activate a relay is very very small. so the cat-5 works flawlessly and w/out issue.

 

[BlueGerbil]

Originally Posted by BlueGerbil

thats a nice set up there man. i like the write up, i'm going to be trying this on my 98 also. do you have any problems with it heating up? because the cat-5 wires are small?

That´s not my setup - but I like it very much! Great work!

 

[FitchVA]

BlueGerbil

do you have a write up on wiring the switch box its self?

here's basically how it's wired up...

and how it looks in real life:

the only missing wires are the power and ground lead wires. (and the connected cat-5)