CBI bumper license plate light upgrade

[JWaldz]

Ever since I got my rear CBI bumper I was never really crazy about the chrome housing license plate & halogen light. Before the bumper, the lights at the factory license plate location had been changed to LED's, as are most of my other accent lights on my truck. I wanted the license plate light to match again. So, Instead of swapping out the halogen light for a LED bulb I looked for a complete replacement. I went this route mainly b/c I didn't really care for the chrome housing or the clouded lens cover. I finally found one after a little research.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007V8WBPQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This new light contains 6 bright white LED's and a clear lens cover. The mounting holes on this light were just a tad off from the pre-drilled holes and the wiring comes out of the middle instead of being offset. So, I drilled a new hole for the wire as well as widened the current bolt holes. The included bolts from the previous light were a snug fit but they worked. I probably could have gotten smaller diameter bolts but oh well. I love the look now and the description claims it's 100% waterproof. Guess we'll see how well it holds up. The title also claims that it is a warm white color, but they are not. I already could tell this though from the other customer pictures and reviews.

I also though it was worth mentioning that after taking the provided license plate light off I opened it up to see what kind of bulb it was. I noticed that the terminals were all gunky and so was the bulb. Seems that water/moisture and debris found its way into the housing. Considering the short time I've owned the bumper, I didn't think it was good that it was already leaking into the housing. I'd be interested in what others find as well.

Phone camera really doesn't do this thing justice. It lights up the whole ground below. With the black housing it blends in with the bumper a lot better.





I did talk talk to Nathan about maybe starting to include something like this instead of the current product they use. He said they are actually testing a new light very similar to the one I got and they hope to start including them once testing is done.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

I ordered one of those lights after I saw you post this idea in your build thread. Mine's supposed to be delivered on Friday.

I had been looking for a replacement for the light on my CBI for a long time. First, because of the reasons you mentioned: the chrome housing, and the opaque white cover over the bulb. The opaque cover really cuts down on the light output.

I can also relate to the CBI light getting full of gunk. A month or two back I was looking at the back of my rig at night, and I noticed the license plate light was very dim. I thought the bulb was on the way out, so I removed the light to have a look. The cover was FILLED with mud, and the terminals on the light are all rusty. The included light is by NO MEANS waterproof. Also, when I was shopping for a replacement, I checked the towing sections at several auto parts stores and found lights identical to the one that CBI includes for about $5.

Thanks for doing the leg work on this one.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Good info on the light. I plan on building a swing-out tire carrier in the future, and will be relocating my license plate. I was wondering what to do for a light. Now I know. Thanks.

 

[NateMob]

At least y'all got one, I just found out last week after calling Cbi that I was supposed to get one, no instructions included kind of left me in the dark. Literally.

Probably follow your lead and just do it right the first time.

 

[TCMach]

I'm thinking you scored a home run on this one. That chrome light has always bugged me but I never took the time to look for something else.

 

[JWaldz]

It took a little bit of time to find it, mainly cus I didn't know what the light style was called. Then when I did find one they were on some site I had no clue whether or not they were legit. When I found this one on amazon I immediately knew it was the one, and considering the reviews, I went for it. You guys MIGHT be able to get away with widening the mounting holes on the actual light to fit the pre-drilled holes from CBI.. but I figured since I have to get the drill out to drill a hole in the middle for the new wire anyways, I might as well widen the original holes with a uni-bit. Then just shot it with some semi-gloss black.

[MENTION=44220]BigFishAllDay[/MENTION] got a link to the light?

[MENTION=88391]NateMob[/MENTION] That sucks lol, just order the led one and wire it up instead of doing the job twice.

[MENTION=55891]Bandit Runner[/MENTION] & [MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] Go for it!

 

[BigFishAllDay]

BigFishAllDay got a link to the light?

Yup! I'm pretty sure it's this one that comes with the CBI's.

Blazer International - Product Info / Videos - Products

Blazer/2 9/16 x 1 x 1 3/16 in. chromed plated housing interior utility light (B461) | | AutoZone.com

Blazer B461 license or utility Light-1 each : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

[JWaldz]

So, that's an exact replacement? I thought you got an LED one?

 

[BigFishAllDay]

So, that's an exact replacement? I thought you got an LED one?

No, no...you mis-read my post. I ordered the same one that you did on Amazon.

When I went on to say:

Also, when I was shopping for a replacement, I checked the towing sections at several auto parts stores and found lights identical to the one that CBI includes for about $5.

I meant just that... I found the same lights that CBI includes with their bumpers being sold at the auto parts stores. The links I provided are links to the light that CBI provides.

 

[JWaldz]

lol, gotcha :thumb3:

I'm at work, brain is being pulled 100 different directions!

 

[rideexileex]

lol, gotcha :thumb3:

I'm at work, brain is being pulled 100 different directions!

Getting paid while at work to look at 4runners... olice:

(guilty myself, ha)

 

[JWaldz]

Getting paid while at work to look at 4runners... olice:

(guilty myself, ha)

lol.. shhhhhh, my boss will hear you

 

[jmildoc]

think i am going to use these for step/rock lights!!

 

[ameining]

Ever since I got my rear CBI bumper I was never really crazy about the chrome housing license plate & halogen light. Before the bumper, the lights at the factory license plate location had been changed to LED's, as are most of my other accent lights on my truck. I wanted the license plate light to match again. So, Instead of swapping out the halogen light for a LED bulb I looked for a complete replacement. I went this route mainly b/c I didn't really care for the chrome housing or the clouded lens cover. I finally found one after a little research.

I ordered one of those lights after I saw you post this idea in your build thread. Mine's supposed to be delivered on Friday.



Thanks for doing the leg work on this one.

I never wired my light, because I never could figure out how people were wiring these into the brake light wires. Can somebody help me with photos of how these were wired? Nathan shot me a couple emails, but I can't figure it out what he means and from what I can put together the wire will be exposed and slide inside the tail light....which I was not very excited about.

Thanks!

 

[JWaldz]

You'll need to run some 2 conductor wire along the back side of the swing arm in some wire loom (attached with zip ties). Take the passenger side light out and use some wire tap clamps to tap into the driving light circuit. You can find them and the wire loom at any auto store. I can't remember what color the wires are. You can pretty much do process of elimination. You obviously wont tap into the reverse light circuit and you'll know if it's on the brake light circuit if your license plate light only comes on when the brakes are pressed lol. Your wires and wire loom should stay put if you tuck it in behind the light and when you screw the light back on it will keep it snug. Just make sure there is a little slack so you can open/close your swing arm. The loom is pretty stretchy already.

These are the taps I used

 

[gs300tt]

I do not have any pictures of it open that I can find but in this one you can see the wire loom in the corner going in to the car. I also ran the reverse light wire up to a cheap Harbor Freight light it works great at night to help you see.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

I recently followed [MENTION=58830]ARKRWLR[/MENTION] 's lead on this one and upgraded the light on my CBI. When the package arrived I found the light in a little plastic baggie that listed the manufacturer's info on it. The actual manufacturer of these lights is PilotLights.net. See the link below for details on the light:

LED Convenience & License Plate Light - 6 LEDs - Waterproof | PilotLights.net

The part # on the baggie was LPLATE-06WW-12V

Highlights:

* Surface mount convenience and courtesy LED light.
* Six (6) Bright Warm White LEDs behind a fresnel panel - LED position and eyebrow directs light downward
* Six (6) high power 3528-type LEDs. Light output: about 30-35 lumen
* Color temperature: natural white
* 2.5" x 1.25" - 12 Volt DC
* # 6 mounting holes with attach hardware
* Very low power consumption (0.1mA). DOT approved as a license plate lamp.

Product Description

This compact courtesy LED lighting fixture is ideal as a compact lighting source inside boats, aircraft, automotive, RV and truck applications. The surface mount configuration directs lighting downward and is ideal for lighting vehicle interiors including footwells, walkways, map tables and other areas. This lamp is also DOT approved as a license plate lamp on vehicles and trailers. For interior applications, the six (6) bright warm white LEDs are dimmable (see our other items for 12 Volt DC PWM dimmers) and have extremely low power consumption (0.1mA).

Here's the two lights side by side. The new LED light on the left, and the light that CBI provides on the right. I terminated the wires on each with spade connectors, they don't come like that.

I cut the shroud back on the new light to allow the light to escape the fixture at a wider angle, and widended the mounting holes on the light to match up w/the holes on the CBI bumper, as ARKRWLR suggested.

Next up, like ARKRWLR mentioned, I drilled the CBI with a new hole for the light's wiring. The wires come out @ center on the new light, versus offset to the left on the old light. You can see the old and new holes below..

Finally, although the light is advertised as waterproof, I wanted to make sure that is true. LED's don't like water, so I took some RTV silicone and sealed the light where the lens meets the base plate. There was already some glue there to provide a seal (which is why they can claim it to be waterproof), but it was a very thin later and it was hard and brittle.

RTV on the mating surfaces, and then I put it back together...

Same thing with the entry point for the wiring...

With RTV....

Old...

New...

 

[JWaldz]

[MENTION=44220]BigFishAllDay[/MENTION]

Hell yea man. Makes a world of difference doesn't it? You did do more detail, I just threw mine up there and hoped for the best lol. I am kind of interested in seeing how long this light lasts as is. If it lasts a while then great! If not then at least they're not expensive lol.

Good job :thumb3: