NON STOCK SWITCHES., WHERE TO INSTALL THEM?

[willy_28]

I would like to get the factory switches on my JL, but kinda pricey. has anyone added switches for led cubes, light bars, or for whatever else? on my JK i had them by the windshield, but the jl has grab handles (mine is a rubicon, don't know if they all come with grab handles on the pilar) . has anyone added switches yet? and if yes can you please post pictures. getting my DV8 front bumper install this sunday, and would like to get my lights install too.

thanks

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[lookitsadam]

Someone on here installed after market heated seats and put their buttons on either side of the dash (think next to the volume/channel scanner toggles but lower down) so you could do something like that. You could also put them near the headlight switch but I can't recall how much available space there is now.

Honestly I think the Mopar auxiliary switches are a great deal compared to SPODS and other after market options the JK had. Plus you can even get your Uconnect flashed to have all the settings for latching vs momentary, battery v ignition, etc.

 

[jnutz]

Just ordered the factory kit. Cleanest look and you aren’t going to have to drill holes in the dash. I ordered mine here for $254, everywhere else was over $300

https://www.allmoparparts.com/cat/2...remote-start-and-electronics-accessories.html

 

[gothewild]

Bump

I'm currently looking for mounting options. I don't plan on needing any more than 2 switches. I don't want any switch panels. The OEM auxiliary option is not only too expensive, but isn't even located in a convenient spot. Has anyone found any good places to mount two switches? I would ideally put them under the light control knobs, but it looks like you need to remove the entire dash just to get to that spot. Any recommendations would be appreciated, and pictures would be very helpful. Thank you.

 

[Rico1111]

A Pillar! I had mounted switches on my JK on the A Pillar and they were perfect came with the a pillar molding so all you did was cnnect and snap in place and looked totally factory. Haven't checked to see if any are made for the JL with the grab handle there maybe not.

 

[gothewild]

I ended up wiring two switches directly below the headlight/dimmer controls. It made the most sense to me to put my auxiliary light switches in this area. I only wired two switches, but it looked like there may be enough room for 1 or 2 more. There is no need to remove the entire dash to get to this area.

The headlight controller comes out very easy with a trim removal tool. You can see there's a face plate, followed by the control panel, which has 4 metal clips that hold it in place. Once you pull the panel out, you will be able to unplug the wiring harness by pushing the red tab up and pulling it apart.

I also removed the knee panel below the steering wheel so I could run my wires easier. The panel is held together with clips and comes out relatively easy. Once the headlight controller was removed, I made a template and traced where my holes were going to be. I made sure the wiring wouldn't rub on the headlight controller, once installed. You will have just enough room to wire the switches....unless you have fat hands and/or fat fingers. Good luck. Have patience.

Some tips: wire your switches from bottom to top so you have more room to work. Also if you're going to use a dremel to drill your holes, don't slip like I did and scratch your panel.

 

[iamstillvince]

Haven't checked it yet as it's winter but I have a 2 door so only 2 switches on power window panel in center. Hoping the lower 2 don't have anything behind it so I can put a couple switches below window switches

 

[Knapprd]

I ended up wiring two switches directly below the headlight/dimmer controls. It made the most sense to me to put my auxiliary light switches in this area. I only wired two switches, but it looked like there may be enough room for 1 or 2 more. There is no need to remove the entire dash to get to this area.

The headlight controller comes out very easy with a trim removal tool. You can see there's a face plate, followed by the control panel, which has 4 metal clips that hold it in place. Once you pull the panel out, you will be able to unplug the wiring harness by pushing the red tab up and pulling it apart.

I also removed the knee panel below the steering wheel so I could run my wires easier. The panel is held together with clips and comes out relatively easy. Once the headlight controller was removed, I made a template and traced where my holes were going to be. I made sure the wiring wouldn't rub on the headlight controller, once installed. You will have just enough room to wire the switches....unless you have fat hands and/or fat fingers. Good luck. Have patience.

Some tips: wire your switches from bottom to top so you have more room to work. Also if you're going to use a dremel to drill your holes, don't slip like I did and scratch your panel.

Thanks for the tips on the switch location. I'm doing something similar, but struggling with where to pass the wires through from the engine bay, back into the cab? I'd love to find a way to get them through near with window frame/ little speaker on top of the dash on the driver side.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[gothewild]

Thanks for the tips on the switch location. I'm doing something similar, but struggling with where to pass the wires through from the engine bay, back into the cab? I'd love to find a way to get them through near with window frame/ little speaker on top of the dash on the driver side.

Thanks for any insight!

There's a plastic plug located on the firewall on the driver's side. That plug can be unscrewed, giving you a hole to run wires through. I drilled a hole through the plug, reinstalled it, and ran the wires through it (so there'd only be a minor opening instead of a 1" hole). Inside the Jeep, you'll see the wires coming through up near your gas pedal. I recommend popping off the panel below the steering wheel to give yourself more room to work with. I found a photo on google showing where the plug is:

 

[gothewild]

I'd love to find a way to get them through near with window frame/ little speaker on top of the dash on the driver side.

I'm not entirely sure on how to get them up there. I do believe you will have to do some dashboard dismembering. There are some videos on youtube for swapping out the tweeters. Maybe you can find out your solution there. Good luck.

 

[rangerrotty]

I went with the 6 switch kit that replaces the cubby in front of the shifter. Works great. Only one wire through the firewall, which with a manual transmission is a Godsend.

https://www.roughcountry.com/mlc6-m...iIxtp15iTC53S-bKuTG0orBoCgzcQAvD_BwE#2521=897

 

[Headbarcode]

Eventually, I plan on installing a Switch Pros panel to the bottom of the driver's a-pillar grab handle. They have a mount specifically for that location, that doesn't impede grabbing of the handle.

 

[rangerrotty]

That hole is not present on manual transmission JLs. It is filled by the clutch mechanism.

There's a plastic plug located on the firewall on the driver's side. That plug can be unscrewed, giving you a hole to run wires through. I drilled a hole through the plug, reinstalled it, and ran the wires through it (so there'd only be a minor opening instead of a 1" hole). Inside the Jeep, you'll see the wires coming through up near your gas pedal. I recommend popping off the panel below the steering wheel to give yourself more room to work with. I found a photo on google showing where the plug is:

 

[MandKM]

If your Jeep is equipped with Homelink you can repurpose a couple switches to power lights or whatever by installing a RF relay switch. I’m using them to drive my rock lights and light bar, as well as my garage door.

Probably not what you had in mind, but food for thought.

 

[Odyssey USA]

If your Jeep is equipped with Homelink you can repurpose a couple switches to power lights or whatever by installing a RF relay switch. I’m using them to drive my rock lights and light bar, as well as my garage door.

Probably not what you had in mind, but food for thought.

I’m going to pretend to understand. lol All I got was that it’s great that you can use an existing button. So is that radio frequency? How does that work?

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