Putting the red bumper lenses to use

[greasefingers]

Nice job guys. I am still pondering the idea of using this Mod for additional backup lights. I am never happy with the amount of reverse light shed from any vehicle I have owned. Having two kids it

 

[bryancos]

Greasefingers,
You can refer to this <A HREF="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2179&highlight=backup+lights"> thread</A> regarding <A HREF="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2179&highlight=backup+lights">aux. backup lights.</A> JGRIMBALL installed a nice set of aux. backup lights under the rear bumper and they look/work great.

Photos of what they look like are on his website at: http://www.grimtek.com/4runner/

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

what are these clear JDM back up light like the one we mod but red you guys are talking about? I went trough the japan 4R gallery and did not see any with clear leans on them? they all have red one just like our..

 

[cdoyle]

OK I found some wedge bulbs and socket from a Honda i use to have and took out the 4R light and drill the hole to fit the light socket and use the blue speaker connector and gray speaker wire to wirer them . \

I could not have drill the hole any better! The socket fit perfectly and snug without and glue or anything to hold them in place! after I did that I install the light back on and wirer them to the green and white wire on the back trailer plug for parking only. The lower parking light match the top parking light perfectly and these bulbs are only 5w /12v a piece!! The best thing about this mod is that it did not cost me a penny! found everything I needed laying in the garage! :artist:

TRD04RUNNER, since you just had these out. Do you know if the Red lens part can be detatched from the rest of the unit? I have an idea with LEDs that I might try later on, but I need to know if I can open these lights up and get inside of it.

I really dont' want to cut them open, but if they come apart easiliy, then I might try it.

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

TRD04RUNNER, since you just had these out. Do you know if the Red lens part can be detatched from the rest of the unit? I have an idea with LEDs that I might try later on, but I need to know if I can open these lights up and get inside of it.

I really dont' want to cut them open, but if they come apart easiliy, then I might try it.

yea, they are glue on just like any other light. just stick them in the oven and they come apart.

 

[cdoyle]

Great!! That's what I needed to know

Chris.

 

[Fro-Runner]

There are people running it that way. 'twas discussed somewhere in this thread...was a while back, tho.

I've reread all of the pages in here also and have not found a single soul using just the tail/stop lamp setup. I do NOT need another turn signal on the rear of the vehicle. There is already a bright amber turn indicator built into the rear lamp assembly. I don't want to confuse other motorists with amber and red blinking turn indicators.
I would prefer just to have the parking and stop lamps. If there is someone who wired theirs this way.........please answer with the wires that you tapped for JUST the parking/stop lamps and not the turn indicators. Thanks!

 

[Fro-Runner]

Items fitted before final assembly along with custom wire terminals:

Mr. Kmvreter,
Thanks for the excellent recommendation and writeup on using the front DRL sockets for this mod. I purchased the items today from the local Toyota dealership (connector $5.32 each and housing $7.26 each). I have almost finished the drilling and grinding of my lens housing for the perfect fit.
My question to you is: What/how did you accomplish the attachment of three wires. Did you get the tiny female connectors from Radio Shack, automotive store, etc....or did you make them by hand? I have to work tonight and plan to finish the mod tommorrow. Your answer would be much appreciated.

Also.....do the 4157 bulbs match the light output of the stock upper lamp lens. Are they much brighter or closely matched. I am also awaiting an answer from anyone who has just the stop/tail lamp mod......w/o the turn signal. I like the amber only turn signal on the rear of the 4 runner!

 

[00328]

I agree, I also think it would look wierd with red and amber turn signals blinking at the same time, but that's just me.
What bulbs are people using to deal with the heat issue? LEDs?
What LED bulb #? Again, I'm just looking for a bulb that will work with tails and brakes.
I posted earlier that I was just interested in tails only, I keep going back and forth. But, I know I don't want turns.

 

[iFORCE]

any bulb works as long as you have the right connectors. When you buy the connectors, buy bulbs that fit those conenctors and make sure they will fit the hole you will make in the lenses. LED is the best way to go as they fire backwards towards other drivers.

 

[Kmvreter]

Mr. Kmvreter,
Thanks for the excellent recommendation and writeup on using the front DRL sockets for this mod. I purchased the items today from the local Toyota dealership (connector $5.32 each and housing $7.26 each). I have almost finished the drilling and grinding of my lens housing for the perfect fit.
My question to you is: What/how did you accomplish the attachment of three wires. Did you get the tiny female connectors from Radio Shack, automotive store, etc....or did you make them by hand? I have to work tonight and plan to finish the mod tommorrow. Your answer would be much appreciated.

Also.....do the 4157 bulbs match the light output of the stock upper lamp lens. Are they much brighter or closely matched. I am also awaiting an answer from anyone who has just the stop/tail lamp mod......w/o the turn signal. I like the amber only turn signal on the rear of the 4 runner!

fo'runner,
PM'ed you about the connectors. I thought I gave the info earlier in this thread but it is actually in the Map Light mod thread (sorry, don't know how to link to it here.) [edit: removed sentence about turn signals]
Yes, the 4157 bulb I used is closely matched for output (21W/8W.)
Also, no heat issues that I can tell.
Hope this helps.

 

[kglueck]

I've reread all of the pages in here also and have not found a single soul using just the tail/stop lamp setup. I do NOT need another turn signal on the rear of the vehicle. There is already a bright amber turn indicator built into the rear lamp assembly. I don't want to confuse other motorists with amber and red blinking turn indicators.
I would prefer just to have the parking and stop lamps. If there is someone who wired theirs this way.........please answer with the wires that you tapped for JUST the parking/stop lamps and not the turn indicators. Thanks!

my bad. I could have sworn I remembered someone talking about it...my bad. I'll dig out my wiring diagram and take a look at it for ya... :

 

[Fro-Runner]

my bad. I could have sworn I remembered someone talking about it...my bad. I'll dig out my wiring diagram and take a look at it for ya... :

I would much appreciate that as the diagrams here only show the stop/turn signals coming off the same brown and red wire of the trailer harness.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Mr Kmvreter,
I received your PM's after I picked up the connectors. It just happened that many of the great minds here on T4R.org think alike (see your pm). I got the connectors wired up to my liking but I am still working on getting just my tail/stop lights to work without the turn signals. Thanks for the response!

 

[Kmvreter]

...but I am still working on getting just my tail/stop lights to work without the turn signals...

fo'runner,
Brake lights without turn signals on this mod is possible but easier said than done. Do you have access to the wiring diagrams (if not, search the posts; there is a place to download them as pdf's; I think from GoodTimes link)? You need to locate the Towing Converter Relay (not sure how accessible it is, near the Power Inverter, in the rear driver's side quarter.) Disconnect the T14 connector from the relay and remove pins #3 & #9 (blue-yellow & blue-black wires.) This stops the turn signal input to the relay. I would tape these up seperately because they can go live when you signal. I would also suggest not permanently cutting them at this time in case this doesn't work.
Can anyone here tell us how accessible the Towing Converter Relay is?
Good luck.

 

[Fro-Runner]

Alright folks! Here's the deal on display just TAIL and STOP lamps!!!

I purchased the same Toyota 4 runner fog lamp connectors as Mr. Kmvreter did...(please refer to page #8 for his excellent photos). The connector/housing does NOT come with the wiring. You will have to assemble your own wiring. I purchased some GM 150 Metri-pack female connectors (stock #85335) from Pep Boys. Radio Shack-u-up for cash, Kragen and Wally World didn't have anything I could use.
I then seperated the inner white piece (the female receptor housing) from the connector. This allows you to work easily when sliding the small metal female part inside of it. Solder 18 ga. wiring to the female ends using a small amount so this end will fit back into the wiring housing. I used 3 different colors of wiring cut at approx. 36 inches. Reassemble white part and connect to housing.....the male plug ends will fit perfectlly. Next, I installed the 4157 NALL clear bulbs (Wal-mart) and tested each wire lead using a 9 volt battery to find the brightest filament (#3 pin), #2 grd, with #1 for tail lights. I removed my 4Runner's tail lamp housing and installed the rear fog lamps. Go ahead and tighten them up....it's easier to reach the fog's nut with the tail lamps off the vehicle. Next, run the wiring under the tail lamp which is surround by soft foam that will keep the wires from vibrating against metal.
Then I used some small Male metal slide connectors on the end of the tail-#1 and stop-#3 pins. Trimmed the sides so that they would slide into the backside of the Runner's harness. The two wires from the tail light harness plug are green w/gray and green w/yellow I believe. Please use a test light to make sure! Slide your trimmed male probes into the back of this harness....they will fit snugly and stay put. Lastly, I used a 5/16" wire ring connector on both grnd wires and slipped them over the TOP tail lamp assembly bolt then screwed on the nut. I stessed TOP because I used the lower bolt on one side and that side worked for the tails but wouldn't light up for the brakes. After testing leads with the light, I figured out the lower nut didn't give me a sufficient ground...I don't know why but it just didn't. Also...be careful when removing your interior plastic square covers to access the tail bulbs. You will marr your plastic if you use too small or two large of a screwdriver. The hardest part of this mod is install the female/male pins to the fogs and tail connectors. They look soooo nice! Kmvreter was RIGHT; the lamps match perfectly. Go to the bank or mall at night after they close, back up so the rear of your runner is facing glass window/door and watch your stop/tails reflect gleamly!

 

[Fro-Runner]

Mr Kmvreter,

I removed the trailer harness from beneath the vehicle and toyed with the thought for a few hours. I KNEW that I didn't want turn signals so I put the darn thing back on the truck.

Just wanted to let everyone in here know that if you want to do the turn/brake/tail mod; then they should follow your direction of removing the trailer harness. It would be a heck of a lot easier to tap the wiring with it off the truck. I just wanted to add the fact of being careful when trying to separate one of the connectors from the white plastic frame holder. It has a tricky removal slot......much like the DRL relay mod holder. You have to stick something small and flat in the slot (from the correct side) before the slider will release.

I LOVE this mod........just as much as the Scion radio addition!

 

[00328]

Great write-up, Thanks!
Has there been any heat issues with the 4157 bulbs?
Probably to soon for fo'runner to tell since he just did this mod, but I know others have tried this bulb.

 

[Kmvreter]

Great write-up, Thanks!
Has there been any heat issues with the 4157 bulbs?
Probably to soon for fo'runner to tell since he just did this mod, but I know others have tried this bulb.

No heat issues with mine using the 4157. Sharivan just confirmed in another thread that the stock rear fog light bulb on the Japanese OEM version (the SURF model) also uses 21W so we should be OK.

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

Why use 21w when 5w will do??