Procedure for increasing the delay of the dome light. after shutting
the door(s), in my '90 corrado the stock delay is 5 secs. Total work
time: approx. 30 mintues.
- pry out the dome/map light module
- it will now be hanging by 5 wires which are joined to a connector
- remove the connector from the dome/map light module by pushing in
the connector clip and pulling it off. now the dome/map module can
be removed from the car.
- lay the module with the lens side down...pry off the protective sheet,
it is only held on with tabs and slots.
- now you are looking at the circuit with the component side down...
Carefully remove the circuit board by releasing the three tabs,
at the same time you must pry off the bronze connectors which are
located on the bottom side of the circuit board...there are two sets,
one for the dome light switch and the other for the map light switch
They are interlocked U shaped connectors, you will prying metal from
metal ... NOT metal from plastic
- lay the circuit board with the component side up (bulbs facing up),
the dome light switch's three bronze connectors will be on the upper
left and the map light's two bronze connectors will be on the upper
right...
+----------------------+ +----------------------+
| U U U | | U U |
| hella | | B2326 |
| +------------------------+ |
| c1 |
| | \ / | | | ---- - r - | | + - |
| d X | B | | | ---- - d - | r r --- |
| | / \ | | | | ---- | | | | C |<---+
| | U | | | | |
| | X bulb | | --- | |
| r L - c - r r | | | |
| | X | | d r | |
| B - c - X | | | |
| | |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ |
|
U : bronze U shaped switch connectors |
|
- d - : diode --- |
| C | : capacitor to swap ------+
- r - : resistor | |
---
- c - : capacitor
X : transistor
- identify the capacitor which is responsible for the dome light
delay, it
is the far top right capacitor labeled C1 and is the only component on
the board with + and - leads labeled. my stock one was wrapped in blue
with 35V 22uF written on it.
When current is sent to the module (ie. a door is opened) the dome bulb
is lit and current is also sent to and stored in this capacitor...when
current is cut (ie. a door is closed) the stored current in this capacitor
is released allowing the light to remain lit until the stored current is
exhausted...
Swapping in a capacitor of a larger value, greater uF (or MFD), allows for
more current to be stored which allows the light to remain lit longer.
- radio shack has capacitors for < $1US, you are looking for an
electrolytic
capacitor with radial leads, 35WVDC. i used one with 47MFD, thus doubling
the stock 22MFD...my dome light now stays lit for approximately 12 secs.
after the doors are shut. you could get a capacitor with about 70MFD
making the delay about 20 seconds. this triples the stock component, i
don't think you should go much higher than this since you might damage
other components on the board.
