PDA

View Full Version : Lexus type license plate light mod

Bluek24a4
03-01-2007, 05:04 PM
Copied from my write up on Gen7

Well a while ago my friend wanted me to put a led tube on top of my license plate, and I figured it would look stupid and the tube was blue anyway. I had a white led in there and it was good for a while but would flicker with the car off. I wasnt happy about that to say the least. After seeing what Joe did I was inspired to do it knowing that it would look good. Credit to him for doing it and telling me which lights he ordered. Heres the write up:

These are the lights:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1287.jpg

Got them off ebay, have to cut the computer power plugs and the on/off switch off so you have just the positive (yellow) and negative/ground(black)wires. These are the wires that we are going to work with.

Next open the trunk, take out the stock light and its harness, and start to work the plastic piece out of its spot. Theres two tabs to take the lights plug out, and then two more on the clear plastic piece. Take your time and wiggle it out:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1289.jpg

Get it like this:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1290.jpg

Unplug where the stock light pluged in to so that you have just the little male connector.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1291.jpg

Pull back the shrink tubing on the wires going into the male connector, and find out which wire is which. Red is positive, so we will connect it to yellow, and black goes to black.

Ok heres where me and Joe differ: He plugged his wires in to one of the stock plugs. I tried that but wasnt happy with how the wires were staying in, and dont want to have to worry about them touching each other and messing up the lights or more importantly the cars electrical system. I cut off the stock connector, and stripped a little bit off each wire, and twisted the cars power wires and the lights power wires together and same with the ground wires. I will solder it tomorrow when I find my Iron, and I put heat shrink tubing over it to insulate and protect it.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1292.jpg

Much better in my opinion, but some may not feel comfortable doing this. If you choose to do it this way, be careful to not cut through the wires because there isnt much length of it to work with.

Tuck and hide the wires:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1295.jpg


Next, take the little box that came with the lights, and put some two way tape on the back of it. You can see where I placed mine in this pic:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1296.jpg

Do it so that the two places for the lights to plug into faces down and the yellow and red wire go up if you closed the trunk.

I cant stress this enough. IF YOU USE TWO WAY TAPE, CLEAN ALL SURFACES WITH ALCOHOL!!!!!!!!

That is why people hate on two way tape, because it susposedly doesnt hold, but they dont prep the surface the correct way. Its all in the prep people.

I used two way tape to hold the lights on, again, CLEAN THE SURFACE. Then position them how youd like, I think it was brighter by father away from the plate:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1297.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1298.jpg

Snap the plastic piece back in and your good to go.

This is my first write up, howd you guys like it? Thanks again to Joe for the help and the pics showing how good it looks. Im going out to take pics of mine right now because it is finally dark.

Heres more pics:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1302.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1304.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1303.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1306.jpg

And a slightly blurry one from the other end of the driveway:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Bluek24a4/IMG_1307.jpg
mnkyman
03-01-2007, 06:14 PM
like i stated on gen 7:


AWESOME WRITE UP MIKE! :banana:



only thing different i woudl do is use a single 12" tube, to get a consistent light over the whole plate
Bluek24a4
03-01-2007, 07:26 PM
Thanks again mnkyman. The 2 fours are nice, I can fit another two, but I will probably just leave it like this for now. I think you could also fit two 12s under there too. Ill test it out for you with my 2 12 inch led tubes.
VTECaddict
03-02-2007, 12:09 AM
2 12's would be overkill imo. the dual 12" white ones in my trunk light up like the entire area behind my car when he trunk is open.
Bluek24a4
03-02-2007, 10:09 AM
Yeah I am probably going to leave the two 4" for now. Im pretty happy with it.
faboloso
03-02-2007, 06:02 PM
wow..
Bluek24a4
03-07-2007, 12:52 PM
As a little update these are weather friendly, its been snowing all day and theyre good, and I the cars been plenty wet. Also, last night I looked at them, and they looked like when I had just the led light in there and that pissed me off, but after the cars been on and they warm up (like xenon headlights) they were very very bright.
avexnsx
03-07-2007, 08:09 PM
sweet mod blue, i've seen the same thing on acruazine, but the guy put the CCFLs inside, but their trunk has 2 lamps to begin with, so it's the same setup as you.

I might do the same as soon as i find me some CCFL tubes.
mnkyman
03-07-2007, 08:26 PM
sweet mod blue, i've seen the same thing on acruazine, but the guy put the CCFLs inside, but their trunk has 2 lamps to begin with, so it's the same setup as you.

I might do the same as soon as i find me some CCFL tubes.


ebay, cheap and fast
thesteve151
03-07-2007, 08:27 PM
autozone has them to
Bluek24a4
03-07-2007, 09:26 PM
sweet mod blue, i've seen the same thing on acruazine, but the guy put the CCFLs inside, but their trunk has 2 lamps to begin with, so it's the same setup as you.

I might do the same as soon as i find me some CCFL tubes.

Thanks man, deff give it a try and contact me with any questions.


The steve - How much are they in the store? I paid $11.25 on ebay and it was the fastest shipping ever.
thesteve151
03-08-2007, 08:51 AM
i am not sure how much they are. ebay is probably cheaper :yes:
avexnsx
03-08-2007, 10:20 AM
mnky -- I'm an ebay n00b... I dun feel quite safe to order there, and plus I'm in Canada, I think it would be better if I find something local... I found @ directbuycanada for around $6 for 2x12"s, I might get those instead.

blue -- I think I should be fine, but i'll definitely ask if I need help. Plus, I think I will try to run 1x12" CCFL instead of dual 4"s. I will most likely install some in the trunk too.
thesteve151
03-08-2007, 01:24 PM
you can't beat $6 that is a good deal :thmsup:
i think blue ones might be illegal you might want to check. :dunno:
mnkyman
03-08-2007, 03:05 PM
mnky -- I'm an ebay n00b... I dun feel quite safe to order there, and plus I'm in Canada, I think it would be better if I find something local... I found @ directbuycanada for around $6 for 2x12"s, I might get those instead.

blue -- I think I should be fine, but i'll definitely ask if I need help. Plus, I think I will try to run 1x12" CCFL instead of dual 4"s. I will most likely install some in the trunk too.

well, the seller bluek24a4 bought from is a reputable seller, but i understand what your saying

heres a diy for cathodes in the trunk: http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9635
Bluek24a4
03-08-2007, 05:39 PM
Blue would be really nice for the plate, but it is probably illegal. One 12 would be nice too.
VTECaddict
03-08-2007, 06:36 PM
blue lights are illegal. red lights anywhere except tails is illegal too.
Bluek24a4
03-08-2007, 06:53 PM
Damn laws.

White turn signals are illegal too right?
VTECaddict
03-08-2007, 07:10 PM
that one depends on state. california allows them.
Bluek24a4
03-08-2007, 08:14 PM
Howd you find that out, I would like to see if NY allows them too, because then I would be all over them.
VTECaddict
03-08-2007, 08:17 PM
flip through the new york vehicle code. :D
billinaz
03-08-2007, 08:50 PM
that one depends on state. california allows them.


Allows them... or just doesn't enforce it?

White in turn signals are not one of the federal DOT allowable lights. ALl states take Fed money for the roads and typically adopt those federal lighting requirements.

Definately not legal in AZ.
VTECaddict
03-08-2007, 09:46 PM
allowed in front:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24953.htm
avexnsx
03-09-2007, 07:58 PM
thesteve -- blue, no way, it's gotta be all white!! the only blue lights i have are my footwell ones, I was gonna go white but figured it'll be too bright for night time driving..

mnky -- i dun think he posted his seller, did he? and also, I dun wanna get hit with customs when getting shipped from the US. Canadian tax system sucks! we get taxed left, right, and center!
thanks for the DIY...
Bluek24a4
03-09-2007, 10:24 PM
No doubt, I thought I did post the sellers name, but I didnt see it. His name is cool-cases-usa. And hahah, no white for me, its all blue unless itll be illegal.
faderrific
03-12-2007, 03:52 PM
Here's a nice page with what is illegal in California
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/streetlegal.html

I have the white turn signals in the front. I hate orange with a passion.
Bluek24a4
03-12-2007, 04:42 PM
Just read that, wow, that sucks, my car would get raped over there. I had illegal lights under the car, the license plate light shines a white line on the floor, which is light off the vehicle, I have blue tinted license plate covers, and 20% tint on every windo except the windshield.

What about ny though?

Im not too worried, I think I found a solution.
berg
11-27-2008, 07:15 AM
Attack of the "white" but actually are blue lights again.lol
victorden
11-27-2008, 05:39 PM
cool.