I want to add some auxiliary lights to the rear of my 02 1500HD and switch them on and off with the cargo lamp switch. I figured the easiest way to accomplish this would be to go straight to the hot wire off of the switch in the dash. I pulled the switch and there are 5 wires going into the switch, one of which is black so I'll assume that's the ground.

With the switch (and the cargo lamp) on, none of the wires are hot. When I push the switch off, one of the wires (dk. blue) is hot. An orange wire is hot when the headlights and fog lamps are on (the fog lamp is controlled by a different button within the same switch assembly). I couldn't find any combination of cargo/fog lights on/off or key on/off that made either of the two remaining wires (purple, gray) hot.

I pulled the light assembly itself and the wires going to the two cargo lamp bulbs is lt. green w/ orange stripe, but it's not practical to tie in there because the harness to that assembly goes straight forward across the middle of the cab above the headliner. I have found the dark blue wire behind the driver's side A-pillar cover and it goes off when the lamp comes on, just like the switch.

What would be the best way to wire my new lights into this circuit?

 

what kind of truck? year make model. all details please.

 

Ummm....02 1500HD.

 

i have a switch for my amplifier and tapped into the same switch as you are talking about. i have an 04 1500. when i turn the cargo lights on my switch gets turned off. let me go check and see what wire i tapped into and i will get back to you.

 

i tapped into the blue wire with the white stripe on it.

 

But I want the lights to come on when I turn on the cargo light, not go off.

 

tomorrow i will take out the switch and see if i can find a hot wire with the switch on. sorry for the misunderstanding.