04 Tail light install help
#1
04 Tail light install help
Ok, before anyone freaks out, believe me when I say, I have searched for this before I posted a new thread. I know I've seen a little info on it, but not what I really need, and I need help.
I have an 04 edge, stepside, and I just bought some cheap *** smoked altezza tail lights off e-bay, so of course, they don't correctly. Bought a rotary tool, so I should be able to fix that issue and make the bulb harnesses fit (they are sideways when installed in the new ones and hit on the bed)
My main issue is, my stock tail lights have 2 bulbs, one is reverse, one is brake/turn. The new one has a slot for those two bulbs, plus an extra bulb. I'd like to make it so, I have one that is a brake only, one that is a turn signal only, and leave the reverse light alone of course.
I know I will have to run a wire from the dash or front turn signal or something. I've looked all over for a wiring diagram so I know which wires to tap into, and have had no luck whatsoever. I'm trying to avoid running it from all the way in the front of the truck if I can.
And, can I use the ground wire from the existing brake/signal light, and do I need an extra relay or anything like that to make this work? Sorry for the length, just want to get it all out.
Here are the tail-lights I ordered, if it helps
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-...item5190b93dbc
I have an 04 edge, stepside, and I just bought some cheap *** smoked altezza tail lights off e-bay, so of course, they don't correctly. Bought a rotary tool, so I should be able to fix that issue and make the bulb harnesses fit (they are sideways when installed in the new ones and hit on the bed)
My main issue is, my stock tail lights have 2 bulbs, one is reverse, one is brake/turn. The new one has a slot for those two bulbs, plus an extra bulb. I'd like to make it so, I have one that is a brake only, one that is a turn signal only, and leave the reverse light alone of course.
I know I will have to run a wire from the dash or front turn signal or something. I've looked all over for a wiring diagram so I know which wires to tap into, and have had no luck whatsoever. I'm trying to avoid running it from all the way in the front of the truck if I can.
And, can I use the ground wire from the existing brake/signal light, and do I need an extra relay or anything like that to make this work? Sorry for the length, just want to get it all out.
Here are the tail-lights I ordered, if it helps
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-...item5190b93dbc
Last edited by RLong31; 02-25-2010 at 09:08 PM. Reason: Adding link to picture of what I bought
#3
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#5
I know one wire is ground, one wire is power for tail lights (when head lights are on), the other wire left over will be brake/turn combo. Your suggestion would work if I wanted both to be brake/turn. What I want is to have one to be "Lights on/ Brake Light" only, and the other to be "Turn Signal" only. I've read somewhere you have to run wires from the front to accomplish this. I know this is the more complicated way, and obviously is more work.
Why do I want to do it this way? Because I can. It's my truck, and I want it that way, lol. If I wanted to tap into the existing wires, I wouldn't have posted this thread.
Why do I want to do it this way? Because I can. It's my truck, and I want it that way, lol. If I wanted to tap into the existing wires, I wouldn't have posted this thread.
#6
Well you still have to tap into wires at the front and find a way to run wires to the back. But either way you slice it both bulbs will be lit like markers AND flash and only one will be a brake light. By doing it the way you are saying the wire feed from the front will be from a signal, but the other bulb will still act like stock
#8
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I'm thinking the only way to do it, and make it work how I want, is to cut the stock plug wire for the brake/turn, then run a new wire from the third brake light (which only serves as a brake light) and wire that into the bulb I want to be just the brake light. (Would also serve as tail light when lights are on).
Then, I can run another wire from each turn signal from up front, and wire that into the bulb that I want to be just the turn signal. Lots of work, and lots of wiring, but I don't see why that wouldn't work.
Unless someone has an easier way, I think that might be my only solution.
My only concern doing any of this, would be overloading all these wires, and getting a dim light.... I don't know enough about wiring to know if it'll cause problems.
Then, I can run another wire from each turn signal from up front, and wire that into the bulb that I want to be just the turn signal. Lots of work, and lots of wiring, but I don't see why that wouldn't work.
Unless someone has an easier way, I think that might be my only solution.
My only concern doing any of this, would be overloading all these wires, and getting a dim light.... I don't know enough about wiring to know if it'll cause problems.
#13
As long as you have 8 (IIRC) wires going to your stock tail light wiring harness then you can just get one from a 99 and older ranger and install that and it will change you too a 3-bulb set up. That is how my 01 is 3 bulbs. I actually just got a 2-bulb tail light wiring harness and when it gets warmer I am going back too a 2-bulb set up.
#14
Unfortunately, I do not have 8 wires. I have 5. 2 on the reverse light, and 3 for the brake/turn light. I think I will just have to run a couple wires back from the 3rd brake light, or, from the brake pedal itself. Just a matter of find the best place to splice in, so I'm not running so much wire. Then I have to run more wire for the turn signals... looking at splicing in somewhere near the fuse box. Everything has to be more difficult than expected I guess.
#15
Unfortunately, I do not have 8 wires. I have 5. 2 on the reverse light, and 3 for the brake/turn light. I think I will just have to run a couple wires back from the 3rd brake light, or, from the brake pedal itself. Just a matter of find the best place to splice in, so I'm not running so much wire. Then I have to run more wire for the turn signals... looking at splicing in somewhere near the fuse box. Everything has to be more difficult than expected I guess.
#16
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