Barchetta boot light

You will need:

Cross-head screw driver
Trim clip removal tool or flat-head screwdriver
Multi-meter
Wire cutters
Approx 1 meter 5 amp wire
Various electrical connections
In-line fuse holder with 5 amp fuse
Interior light with bulb

Time required: approx 1 hour

Disclaimer: I am not an electrician and take no responsibility if you injure yourself or your car!

Step 1:

Unscrew the four retaining screws on the black plastic panel surrounding the lock mechanism at the rear of the boot. Remove the panel but leave it connected to the wiring loom via the push switch.

Unscrew the retainer behind the tail light cover on the right hand side and remove the cover.

Remove the retaining trim clips holding the two moulded panels in place at the right hand side of the boot. Remove these panels to reveal the electric antenna. Note: even if your barchetta does not have an electric antenna it will have an electrical feed for one. If it doesn’t have one, perhaps this is a good time to add one!

Step 2:

With the wiring exposed use the multi-meter to identify the permanent live feed to the antenna. On my barchetta this was a red and white striped wire. This is the power source for the boot light.

Again with the multi-meter identify which of the two wires leaving the push switch on the black plastic panel already removed is the switched earth. On my car both of these wires are black so you will need to mark the one that earths only when the switch is not pressed (i.e. the boot is open).

Step 3:

Cut a hole in the black plastic panel to accommodate the light fitting you have chosen. I found a boot light from a mk 3 golf at a scrap yard that does the job well. As long as it’s relatively small and doesn’t have a switch it should be fine. I marked out the hole (2.5 x 4.5 cm in this case) on the right side of the panel as the push switch housing takes up space on the left. Cut out the hole with a sharp stanley knife.


Step 4:

Disconnect the battery. Connect the wiring as shown. Using a connector that joins a wire to an existing wire part way along its length, connect the inline fuse to the live feed at the antenna. From the other side of the fuse connect a length of wire to one connection on the light fitting. Connect a wire from the other connection on the light to the switched earth wire from the push switch identified earlier.

Step 5:

Reconnect the battery. The light should be working and stop lighting when you press the push switch. Ensure that the electric antenna and warning buzzer still function correctly. Fit the light unit to the back panel and reassemble the panels lining the boot. You now have a boot light in your barchetta!