Chevrolet Malibu Forums banner
Cancel

Adding Rear Seat reading Lights

1025 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  brimac1970, 
F
5
I recently purchased a 2021 Malibu RS. Love the car but was disappointed when I saw that GM removed some options that I had in multiple generations of the Malibu. I decided to tackle the rear seat reading light first and purchased a set off of EBay for $20.

the process was quick and easy. There are some pictures below

1. Remove the light lens with plastic wedge tool
2. Remove the decorative cover piece of the assembly located in front of the old lamp assembly
3. Use a plastic pry tool at the back of the old light assembly until two mounting tabs are relocated below the headliner
4. With some additional force and the plastic pry tools pull down until the two snap in tabs of the roof become detached
5. Rotate the lamp assembly towards the front of the car
6. Depress the locking tab on the electrical connector and your done
7. Reverse the process with the new lamp assembly contains the reading light and switches

The new lamp assembly part number is 92280240

Attachments

See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
campb292
Nice work on that!

Such a strange list of things GM strips from the L/LS/RS. Rear switchable reading lamps were always LT and Premier. Another strange cut I found out early on was the extendable sun visor. I had a LS as a rental a few times and can't believe someone thought that was acceptable to strip. The driver windows are pretty long and the fixed sun visor only covers about half of the window...
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
DrivenDaily
campb292 said:
Nice work on that!

Such a strange list of things GM strips from the L/LS/RS. Rear switchable reading lamps were always LT and Premier. Another strange cut I found out early on was the extendable sun visor. I had a LS as a rental a few times and can't believe someone thought that was acceptable to strip. The driver windows are pretty long and the fixed sun visor only covers about half of the window...
Click to expand...
But, isn't driver safety a primary consideration? I mean, it has to meet NHTSA! So, you're saying that NHTSA doesn't test sun visors, and GM doesn't care until they're forced to do it? Aw, come on! I thought GM was always out for the owners, not themselves.

Oh, wait. I just woke up. Was I dreaming? Having a nightmare? Did I say that out loud? :D
Reply
Save
Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 2
campb292
DrivenDaily said:
But, isn't driver safety a primary consideration? I mean, it has to meet NHTSA! So, you're saying that NHTSA doesn't test sun visors, and GM doesn't care until they're forced to do it? Aw, come on! I thought GM was always out for the owners, not themselves.

Oh, wait. I just woke up. Was I dreaming? Having a nightmare? Did I say that out loud? :D
Click to expand...
No functional sun visor in a rental but an elephant can sit on the roof. 🦃
Reply
Save
Like
T
They're not the only one guys. You need to check what is missing in some of the import 'darlings'.

My GM cars had the telescoping visors in the 80s but my 2005 Mazda 3s, the top-line model at the time, didn't even have tinting or some shade/blocking paint in the area above the rearview mirror, blinding you when the sun was low in the horizon (my GM cars blanked that area out). And no way to extend the visor either to cover it.

The visor didn't even cover the entire width of the windshield area in front of an occupant, much less have telescoping ability. All car makers cheap out in some way. My mom's 2019 Camry is full of a lot of cheap-think stuff I noticed off the bat and this was an upper-end model.
Reply
Save
Like
brimac1970
I did this early on in our '21 RS with led bulbs to match the front along with extendable visors, auto dimming rear mirror, vents in center console to back seat and center armrest in backseat. Barely cost me anything so why not?
Reply
Save
Like
F
brimac1970 said:
I did this early on in our '21 RS with led bulbs to match the front along with extendable visors, auto dimming rear mirror, vents in center console to back seat and center armrest in backseat. Barely cost me anything so why not?
Click to expand...
I’d like to do the automatic rear view also. Was there a mating connector? If not what did you tap into for power?

thanks

fierojo
Reply
Save
Like
brimac1970
fierojo said:
I’d like to do the automatic rear view also. Was there a mating connector? If not what did you tap into for power?

thanks

fierojo
Click to expand...
I ran a fuse tap from an unused one on the driver's side that was hot only with ingnition on. The oem mirror and a connector I bought on Ebay.
Automotive lighting Font Audio equipment Cable Technology
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Chevrolet Malibu Forums
Chevy Malibu Forum is the best place for owners of the sedan to connect with the community and discuss MPG, mods, and more. Join now!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Gen 7 Problems/Service Issues/Troubleshooting Gen 7 General Discussion Gen 5 & 6 Problems/Service Issues/Troubleshooting Gen 7 Modifications Gen 8 Problems/Service Issues/Troubleshooting
Top