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Topic: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps (Read 182 times) previous topic - next topic
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Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Hi all!

We’re going to be heading out in a month and I’d like to address the following two issues before going. I installed a radio & backup camera a month ago, but the camera is “always on” as the wire for the reverse light was not found to be the right one (or I couldn’t get it to work). I’d like to take care of both of these at once:

-   power the backup camera from the wire at the reverse light “can” so it’s on only when it’s in reverse
-   upgrade the tail lights to LED

From what I’ve read, this shouldn’t be too difficult. The Companion & other posts have provided helpful comments and links to materials. I just wanted to run these steps by you who have BTDT to make sure I’m not forgetting anything. I’ve listed the steps and added questions at each step. I’d love to hear what I’m missing or what’s not accurate.

1.   Open the access panel from the inside, cut holes out of the fiberglass with a Dremel tool. Is the panel the same on the passenger side or do I need to cut a hole to access the cans from the inside?
2.   Remove the old cans and license plate bulbs.
3.   Install the license plate bulbs. Use sealant to keep them in place? Is the white goo in the photo 3M 5200? 
4.   “Dry fit” the new assemblies (mounting grommet and light) into the cans, shaving the edges of the assemblies as needed so they fit.
5.   Connect the 3-pin connector to the existing wires (black to black, white to white). LD’s use white as negative, so is this correct? Does the red wire go to each light? I can’t see it easily and the rig is offsite. Once connected, plug into the back of the light. Screw assembly in from the outside of the rig. Use sealant to plug any holes.
6.   Connect the electronic flasher for the tail light to the 3-pin connector. Do I need one flasher for each side? Do I use the 3-pin connector that I purchase with the tail light assembly? The 3-pin and flasher connectors look different. The ones for the lights are round and the one for the flasher is flat. What do I do here?

View in the image is driver's side.

Thanks in advance for any other advice!
Ray
2003 MB
Formerly 1997 TK
Re: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Reply #1 –
Hi Ray;  The Mid Bath floor plan is pretty easy to work on.  Both the tail light end of the storage compartments on both the passenger side, and driver side have removable panels to cover the inside. The driver side had small screws. The passenger side may have had staples. The staples can be pulled out, replaced with screws also.
     A lot depends on which bulb, light assemblies you use.  Years ago, I bought stainless rings that snapped onto the bulbs.  The rings were just slightly too large for the end cap holes. I bent the edges over just a little (1/32") sanded or filed the edges, and fitted them. Today the lamp assemblies look to be one piece with an integrated trim ring. It may fit in ok. More than likely the outside diameter may need to be adjusted also. The end cap holes are tapered to release from the mold properly. Not cylinders.  The lights are too shallow. I didn't want to push on the lights, cleaning them for instance and have them pop out of the trim rings and fall into the hole. So I cut and fit some polyethylene closed cell foam behind them. It is impervious to water. These lights with built in trim rings may not have that problem.   Round LED Truck and Trailer Lights - 4" LED Brake/Turn/Tail Lights w/...     . The bad part is the connector shell has to stick out into the storage compartment. So you need to cut a hole in the fiberglass, aligned so the LED's in the assembly are horizontal. It is tough stuff.
    White is ground, connects to white. Black is the running light, (brown on LD). Red is the brighter brake light, and connects to Green.  Ford, and American cars in 2004 used the brake lights, and flashed them for turn signals.. The Left (driver side) were signified as Yellow, but were also the brake lights.  Green signified the Right (passenger side). 
The license plate lights hooked to the light brown running lights. White is still ground. Remove the LD license lights. Clean up the hole and these    1-1/2” Round LED License Plate Light - Chrome Housing - Pigtail Connection |...  fit the same size hole. You will need two.  The center wire of the old lights go to the brown wire, white (ground) to white of the license plate lights.
   The plugs can wiggle their way off with vibration. I used a squeeze tube (10 oz.) of DAP bathroom caulking and sealed them in place. There is a water proof grease in the connectors. (silicone I think).
    The LED lights aren't good reflectors. You need to put reflectors on the bumper to be legal in Ca. and some other states.  Some new lights now have better built in reflectors. My original post detailed these. I don't trust stick on tape in hot weather, so I drilled through holes (2-56, and tapped them, with ss screws, lock washers and nuts on the back. A dab of sealant too.
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Reply #2 –

Hi Ray;  regarding  #3, use stainless Phillips head screws about #8 or #10, pan head. Whatever size come out. I like stainless better.  Maybe 1" long. I forget, it's been a while. They go in the same holes. The bottom will be marked 'Top'. LD did this so water would drain out of the light bulb socket.  These units are sealed, but might as well use the same holes.
   #5;  White to white (Ground).  Red of the wiring plug to green on the driver side, Red of the wiring plug to Yellow on the passenger side.  Black of the plug (running light hot) to the brown wire, and to the brown wire of the license plate lights.
   #6;  Just one flasher controls the turn signals, and the hazard lights. A Grote 44892    Amazon.com: Grote 44892 3 Pin Flasher (North American (JSO) Pinout) : Automotive   Will work in your 2003 Ford. This is the one I used. Others will work. I have no experience other than the Grote.
   It plugs into the standard three pin Ford connector under the dash at the base of the steering wheel. It has nothing to do with the other three pin connectors other than having three wires.
   The back up, reverse light in the middle (hot lead) can be used to run the camera also. Of course it will only work while in reverse.  This is great if the camera is at the license plate. Mine is mounted just below the center marker light above the window. I paid the factory to put in a camera, and that wiring is connected under the dash at the steering wheel. It goes on and off when in reverse, or can be switched on manually. I've found it still on weeks later if I forget to turn it off. (Solar takes care of that via a triklstart).
   This all took me a few weeks to do, but I didn't keep track of the hours.  The center brake light is a bit complicated, in mine because I had to make it thin because I have a tire there. In a midbath with no tire, the one in the picture, I added a trailer towing connector below the bumper, removed and sealed off that connector inside the tire cover and repurposed a wire to run a decoder module mounted in that space, to run the center high brake light.   19” LED Stop, Turn, and Tail Light Bar - Truck and Trailer Light - 11 LED -...   I connected all of the lights together, since I didn't need more turn signal lights. More complicated to drill holes in the tire cover. Especially now that that part may not be available, and if you could get one, may not be painted. I guess that an aluminum bracket could be made to mount that light just above the tire cover with VHB tape.  RonB
   Just for the record, I don't have any connection to super bright. It's just who I used, years ago.

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RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Reply #3 –
Thanks Ron, your two posts, in addition to one from about a year ago are both super helpful. I've been using M4 but the SuperBrights look really nice too. I'll add the reflectors to my shopping list, I remember that from the other post. Looks like I will get started after vacation to make sure I have enough time. I'll post results once complete!
2003 MB
Formerly 1997 TK
Re: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Reply #4 –
When you remove the old light cans, before cutting the wires, grab onto them with locking forceps or small needle-nose pliers. LD leaves little extra wire when installing the tail lights, the cut wires can snap inward and disappear inside the wall, possibly never be seen again.
LED taillights-Cholula Red | Flickr

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Reply #5 –
Thanks Larry - this was one of my fears, but I thought that it wouldn't be an issue with the MB since I have access via the storage area. I guess I missed that.
2003 MB
Formerly 1997 TK
 
Re: Tail light LED install & backup camera re-wire steps
Reply #6 –
Hi Ray;  Other floor plans don't have access from the back of the bulb wiring.  The Mid Bath, and the TK do have easy access from the back, so there isn't the 'short wire problem Larry was mentioning.
   I included a picture of the 'TK access with cover and insulation temporarily removed.  (it wasn't finished yet)  RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB