Overhead console

[shanebo]

I think im going to shoot for wednesday or thursday to pick it up.

[vangremlin]

Both look good for me.  I'm supposed to go up to Evergreen on Tues to check out that well-worn SX/4

[68AMXGOPAC]

I think this was an excellent idea and thought of doing it to the MoneyPit II , till I remembered it had a sunroof : (.

[Prafeston]

Was thinking about this project today and came back to the thread....then I was looking at the pics of the final project and I just keep thinking that all that plastic on there makes it look a little too modern or something.

Was curious what it would look like if you could find some like semi matching woodgrain vinyl and put some accents on certain places on the overhead...maybe that would just be too tacky, but something I thought I'd through out there.

[vangremlin]

Was thinking about this project today and came back to the thread....then I was looking at the pics of the final project and I just keep thinking that all that plastic on there makes it look a little too modern or something.

Was curious what it would look like if you could find some like semi matching woodgrain vinyl and put some accents on certain places on the overhead...maybe that would just be too tacky, but something I thought I'd through out there.

Hmmmm, i hadn't even thought about it looking too modern, so I hadn't even thought of adding some sort of accents.  I'll think about it, but I'm probably going to swap out my radio bezel for a 1985 model, which doesn't have any woodgrain, so woodgrain may not be the way to go.....but there might be something else that would be a nice touch.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[mojobean]

I'm loving your overhead console!!!!  while it might be slightly more modern than the usual Eagle... i still think it almost looks like a factory option. Maybe a LATE 80's option. But regardless... IT LOOKS GREAT! May do it to mine in the future, with full credit given to you of course!

[vangremlin]

I'm loving your overhead console!!!!  while it might be slightly more modern than the usual Eagle... i still think it almost looks like a factory option. Maybe a LATE 80's option. But regardless... IT LOOKS GREAT! May do it to mine in the future, with full credit given to you of course!

Thanks!  And that's what happens when I have too much time on my hands - I start inventing projects lol.

[Prafeston]

...but there might be something else that would be a nice touch.

Yeah, after I made the post I was thinking maybe the vinyl woodgrain would be a bit overboard. Painting/Staining the plastic to a closer shade of the tan/brown headliner would look nice too.

[vangremlin]

Camo!!   

[DaemonForce]

Yesterday I pulled one of these overhead console units from a pink 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and I looked at the wiring and determined that this is overcomplicated. I don't have the TSM for this vehicle and I forgot the mounting bracket but I at least managed to figure out that from the red plug, red(1) is hot and black(5) is ground. My console doesn't have the cute little round dome near the back but it is one of the longer units that has four overhead lamps. What is the computer in front and how do I get that working?

Is the rest of the wiring from the red plug necessary? I have one of the legacy passenger side sun visor mirrors I just wired up but it's not part of the wiring configuration that you see on the late model Jeeps. What do I need other than the mounting bracket?

[vangremlin]

What is the computer in front and how do I get that working?

Is the rest of the wiring from the red plug necessary? I have one of the legacy passenger side sun visor mirrors I just wired up but it's not part of the wiring configuration that you see on the late model Jeeps. What do I need other than the mounting bracket?

I did not wire in the computer.  I believe the part that is in the console is just the display, fed by a computer someplace else in the car.  I believe you can see things such as fuel economy, distance to empty, etc, on the display which are probably based off digital feeds from the fuel guage, speedometer, etc, all of which are absent in Eagles.  I took the display out and have been considering what I want to put in its place, but haven't decided on anything yet.

I did not use the mounting bracket from the Grand Cherokee.  There is a hole for a screw in the front, which lines up nicely with a hole that was already in the Eagle, underneath the middle piece of the windshield trim.  If you want a really good fit, you should trim the tube for the screw.  You can also trim the console itself so it fits better, but that will require you to re-cover the console.  On the back end, I originally fabricated a bracket that went over the cross piece of the console which happened to line up well with the Eagle dome light so there was a spot to screw it in.  The upholstery guy who actually did the installation riveted a cross piece in the right spot and screwed that in the dome light screw holes.  The rear insert part of the console was originally screwed into the main console piece from the top.  In order to install it in the Eagle, you have to pop the insert in after you screw the main console in at the dome light location.  However the insert pops into place very securely, and can be removed if you need to take out the console, work on the wiring, etc.

In terms of the wiring, you can get a positive feed and a switched ground feed from the current overhead light in the Eagle.  Then you just need to run an un-switched ground so you'll be able to turn the lights on whenever you want to.  I didn't write down the exact wiring but its not too hard to figure out.  On my console there were four wires associated with the lights (if I recall correctly) - black, yellow, grey and pink.  You don't need any of the other wires.  If I get a chance I'll look at the spare console I have and try to figure out what goes where.  Good luck!

[vangremlin]

vangremlin, just an idea, but maybe one of them cool little backup cameras that mounts on the license plate bracket? mount the little screen where the display was? not that you need one in a kammy. lol. would be neat tho!!

I've thought about that, not for where the original display was, but perhaps mounting it in the flip down spots that were for sunglasses or the garage door opener.  ONe of those new wireless ones would be really sweet.  And some of those are set up to be a video monitor for DVD's, ipods, etc, then switch over to the backup camera when you put it in reverse.

[83Eagle!]

I like the idea of a back up camera.  I want to get one on the motor home for the sher fact that people follow too close and I can't see them.  One would be extremely handy in the Eagle now too.  With the full size spare on the back it limits the view somewhat behind my wagon, so a back up camera might be useful.  WIsh I could find one of those consoles cheap around here.

[demonicdragon]

hey im doing your overhead console idea and im stuck on the wiring. black is ground ik that.. i thought pink and yellow would be constant power and the pea green being switched power.. not working whatever way i do it. if you can pass a tip that would be great

[demonicdragon]

nvm. i figured it out finially. lol. thanks though