light bar 'installer' recommendations in MA?...

[AtoB]

i'm thinking/wanting to add the light bar to my jeep... but really have no desire to install it myself.... the mounting looks easy enough, but anything vaguely electrical i won't go near. my dealer quoted me $400 for the install... i have to imagine there is a good independent near me in the Boston area that could do it for less... so i'm looking for recommendations.

A

 

[kjweston]

$400!!!??? wow wayyy too expensive. I'd say the hardest part is getting the balls to drill six holes in your roof. Wiring is fairly simple.. There are ways to wire it safely that aren't as complicated as the OEM harness. I'll go look for some links and send post them in a few

 

[kb0nly]

If you have the complete factory install kit then its no big deal, plug together wiring, fuse taps that just plug in at the fuse panel on the end of the dash, etc... Nothing to it.

If you don't have the factory install kit and wiring it takes a switch, a relay, a fuse and some wire.. Nothing to it. Mere childs play!

 

[kjweston]

Here's the link for general mounting.. disregard this wiring part.

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34988&highlight=light+wiring


Here's a hella wiring diagram that you can print out and follow. There should be two wires coming out of the light bar a white 12v and a black ground..

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40146&highlight=hella+wiring

that post is also where a couple guys were telling me basically what you want to know.. don't waste $400 on simple wiring. save that for other things.

 

[kjweston]

If you have the complete factory install kit then its no big deal, plug together wiring, fuse taps that just plug in at the fuse panel on the end of the dash, etc... Nothing to it.

If you don't have the factory install kit and wiring it takes a switch, a relay, a fuse and some wire.. Nothing to it. Mere childs play!

x2

 

[AtoB]

$400!!!??? wow wayyy too expensive. I'd say the hardest part is getting the balls to drill six holes in your roof. Wiring is fairly simple.. There are ways to wire it safely that aren't as complicated as the OEM harness. I'll go look for some links and send post them in a few

funny, that part doesn't bother me... anything involving wiring i stay away from.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

funny, that part doesn't bother me... anything involving wiring i stay away from.

Automotive wiring isn't anything to afraid of! read up on all the tech articles here and other sites and do it your self!
I am pretty sure you can do the wiring yourself...
I have taught people who were in the same state of mind as you and now they tackle al sorts of automotive wiring tasks with no questions asked!
Give yourself a chance and prove yourself wrong "That you cannot do it"
You would be surprised what you can do once you put your mind to something!

Cheers
Ry'
BTW, it ain't rocket science!

 

[AtoB]

Here's the link for general mounting.. disregard this wiring part.

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34988&highlight=light+wiring


Here's a hella wiring diagram that you can print out and follow. There should be two wires coming out of the light bar a white 12v and a black ground..

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40146&highlight=hella+wiring

that post is also where a couple guys were telling me basically what you want to know.. don't waste $400 on simple wiring. save that for other things.

simple to you....it might as well be written in chinese... make no sense to my eyes!

 

[kjweston]

simple to you....it might as well be written in chinese... make no sense to my eyes!

haha when I first started wiring stuff on my jeep I was in the same boat as you.. it is all kind of dificult to make sense of at first but if you read up on posts. Especially the one I sent you about the hella diagram.. the "guys" explain it pretty well the amp loads.. necessary gauge wires, fuses and relays needed. I'm 17 and figured it all out. just takes time.. (and almost burning your jeep to the ground shoving 23 amps through 16 gauge wire for almost a minute) then you'll get the hang of it.. like ryan said just take time and become educated with it.

 

[AtoB]

Automotive wiring isn't anything to afraid of! read up on all the tech articles here and other sites and do it your self!
I am pretty sure you can do the wiring yourself...
I have taught people who were in the same state of mind as you and now they tackle al sorts of automotive wiring tasks with no questions asked!
Give yourself a chance and prove yourself wrong "That you cannot do it"
You would be surprised what you can do once you put your mind to something!

Cheers
Ry'
BTW, it ain't rocket science!

not so much afraid.... i am just well aware of my limitations!

 

[AtoB]

haha when I first started wiring stuff on my jeep I was in the same boat as you.. it is all kind of dificult to make sense of at first but if you read up on posts. Especially the one I sent you about the hella diagram.. the "guys" explain it pretty well the amp loads.. necessary gauge wires, fuses and relays needed. I'm 17 and figured it all out. just takes time.. (and almost burning your jeep to the ground shoving 23 amps through 16 gauge wire for almost a minute) then you'll get the hang of it.. like ryan said just take time and become educated with it.

i saw that.... thank you for the links!
i may just pull the trigger on the light bar.. and debate how to install.

 

[kj924]

not so much afraid.... i am just well aware of my limitations!

A man's got to know his limitations.....and if you know them, well you are already ahead of the game. Wiring can be confusing to some people, and for some it comes easy. $400 is kinda high for the install, I'm sure you can find someone competent to install it for waaaaaay less. I'm figuring $150 range for the install.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

not so much afraid.... i am just well aware of my limitations!

I don't know where you are, but if you were close to me I'd walk you through the whole process and or give you a hand with the install.
You are never to old to learn this stuff Eh!
Start with a simple wiring project on your kitchen table and ask us here all the questions you have trouble with, within time you will be able to do someting bigger!

 

[AtoB]

I don't know where you are, but if you were close to me I'd walk you through the whole process and or give you a hand with the install.
You are never to old to learn this stuff Eh!
Start with a simple wiring project on your kitchen table and ask us here all the questions you have trouble with, within time you will be able to do someting bigger!

i'm in boston....i could fly you down! probably cheaper than going to my local dealer.

 

[kb0nly]

LOL... the price of an airline ticket is damn near cheaper than the dealer cost for installation on stuff like that.

If the harness is already in place its super simple, but from all the reading on here it seems its pretty rare to have that unless its an export?

The nice thing about the harness that comes with the install kit, he didn't mention if he has that or not, its just plug and play. One wire on the stud in the underhood fuse box, a relay that mounts to the firewall, and then a plug to the switch and a couple fuse taps to the inside fuse panel.

I think i could do the wiring part in like 10-15 minutes, drilling the holes and installing to the roof on the other hand is going to take longer.

 

[AtoB]

Have you checked if you don't have the wiring already in the car?

Rip out the left bezel...If you have nothing there....I need a vacation too...Boston would be nice this time of year....

you mean the 'A' pillar covering? no, but i think i read somewhere that is VERY unlikely that US models came prewired for the light bar... but it might be something i take a peek at this weekend.... it's cold and was snowing here sunday.... i'm guessing barcelona is a bit nicer... planning to go there in the next year or two.