Deleting Cargo Light Button from Overhead Console

barrycburton · 2025-10-05T11:04:25-0400

I've got a 2024 cargo van that came with 2 cargo area lights around the C-pillar area. As far as I can tell there was no way to order the van without these. At any rate they are coming out as part of my conversion.

The problem is that the overhead reading light console now has this useless button that once controlled those 2 cargo area lights. I spent a lot of time on parts.ford.com trying to figure out a solution but couldn't come up with anything.

It's a good spot for custom switches so was hoping I could either replace the whole console dome with one that didn't have the cutout for the button panel or even better just source a blank panel that replaced the light button panel.

As far as I can tell all the cargo vans came with the light button there and all the passenger / crew vans came with rear climate controls there. It does seem like the dome part is also different depending on if the van came with the OEM overhead shelf (mine has the shelf).

Anyone else figured out a good solution for it?

chicagoandy · 2025-10-05T11:26:14-0400

He's some ideas.

Some people leave it (and the lights) in as a backup or secondary source of lighting.

Another option is to leave it in, but connect it to a relay that will activate your primary lights. Make it behave like a 3-way switch.

I will probably use this space for smart buttons, replacing the switch with a thin sheet of of plastic, or something I 3d print, or a thin sheet of plywood with a nice laminate in it inside the cutout. Even a thin sheet of flexible cutting board in the right color would work.

Lastly, I may just mount a proper sunglasses holder as it pisses me off to no-end that Ford must consider the cubby boxes suitable for sunglasses.

OldChubbyKnuckle · 2025-10-05T12:24:15-0400

You can have my switch as a spare

After figuring out what it did, I had no qualms about just ditching it since my own lighting setup is far better. And that area is prime real estate for other switches.

barrycburton · 2025-10-05T16:45:49-0400

Love this! Exactly the sort of thing I aspire to, though so far an air compressor is the only thing I need a switch there for but maybe I can think of some other things. A valve on the grey tank is an interesting idea for sure.

Did you start with an off the shelf carling switch mount panel and cut out the existing dome to fit it?

If I put enough switches there to fill out the existing hole that would make it easiest. Sounds like otherwise my only option may be 3D printing something to take up the space around the smaller number of switches. I'm just really slow at CAD stuff so that's not my first choice. 🤣

walwalka · 2025-10-05T20:46:06-0400

This is what I did with mine:

Scalf77 · 2025-10-06T17:03:59-0400

I have used custom switch inserts, they make the end units , middle units. You can make it 2 to X long. I started out with three toggle switches in the overhead and expanded to four. I use OTR Switch Guys a lot. Luckily I ran some extra wires to the front on the original install.

rustythorn · 2025-10-06T21:07:42-0400

like the other posters it seemed like space going to waste, though, i've not yet decided on what i'm going to put there. i'm also not sure if i'm going to use the factor lights but i figured i'd probably use the switch and maybe even the wiring it is attached to so i moved it down below where is also lots of unused space.

Captain Dave · 2025-10-07T19:04:56-0400

all the way at the rear of the top of van over the doors are two snap in spots and wire harnesses for the lights. A quick and useful place to stash them. The switch on the console can turn them on and off and will extinguish them over time if ignored

Deleting Cargo Light Button from Overhead Console

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