04+ JDM tail light mod -- EASY!
Originally Posted by 0 4 P S M W R X
+1 for figuring out a QUICK and painless way to do it.
+2 for posting the tutorial.
i love my taillights even more now =]
THANKYOU WRXBABY, her 'awesome b/f and genius cousin'!
+2 for posting the tutorial.
i love my taillights even more now =]
THANKYOU WRXBABY, her 'awesome b/f and genius cousin'!
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,607
From: Spokane, Washington
Car Info: 1993 Impreza L sedan. USED TO BE a 2004 WRX sedan.
Originally Posted by Onizuka
In my own defense: it was experimental and the reason it took 3 hours is trial/error and rewatching Option videos. Accumulated time = 3 hours. Nice job on the mod Bryann, and thanks for trashing me. Boo.
Edit: BTW, be sure you cut some parts of the plastic fitting, or else you're going to have a hell of a time removing them if you have to change the bulbs.
Edit: BTW, be sure you cut some parts of the plastic fitting, or else you're going to have a hell of a time removing them if you have to change the bulbs.
I'm just merely trying to save people time and money.
Ain't no shame in that.
If anything, thanks for pioneering this sik-lookin' mod. Rob and Jonathan just happened to find a quicker, easier, and cheaper way to do it. Heaven forbid I share that with the rest of i-club!
Yeah, that's right. I said "
"YWIA!
Last edited by WRXBABY; Sep 23, 2005 at 08:55 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 635
From: Marina Del Rey, CA
Car Info: 2004 WRX
Might I suggest the following addendum?
I noticed 2 things while trying this:
1. as the mod stands by WRXBABY - the outside light is a little brighter than the round light when the brake pedals are depressed. I was a little worried about this cause from a safety standpoint, I would like the round bulbs to light up the brightest since they are "in the following driver's face" so to speak.
2. when you shift the inside (round) bulb socket to the outside location, it can be very hard to remove again... not sure why this is since they look like they're the same shape and size.
So I thought about this for a sec and figured out the following - (CLICK ON THE PICS TO SEE THE CAPTIONS)
Instead of switching it as WRXBABY suggests, I removed the stock location middle socket bulb and just switched the inside and outside socket locations (see pics)
This still allows the round bulb to light up when the lights are turned on, but then when you press the brake pedal, the round bulb gets brighter (see comparison pics)
The problem with this is that the stock wiring is not long enough, so you have to do a little soldering. I leave it up to you guys to decide which way you like better... <shrug> but like I said, the brake lights are there for your safety really. Granted if you have the 3rd brake light, that should get the driver's attention, but still...
Form + Function. just my 0.02
-C
[NOTE: the stock outside bulb socket is BROWN in color, the stock round bulb socket is GREY in color - the last pic shows the sockets in their new positions]
I noticed 2 things while trying this:
1. as the mod stands by WRXBABY - the outside light is a little brighter than the round light when the brake pedals are depressed. I was a little worried about this cause from a safety standpoint, I would like the round bulbs to light up the brightest since they are "in the following driver's face" so to speak.
2. when you shift the inside (round) bulb socket to the outside location, it can be very hard to remove again... not sure why this is since they look like they're the same shape and size.
So I thought about this for a sec and figured out the following - (CLICK ON THE PICS TO SEE THE CAPTIONS)
Instead of switching it as WRXBABY suggests, I removed the stock location middle socket bulb and just switched the inside and outside socket locations (see pics)
This still allows the round bulb to light up when the lights are turned on, but then when you press the brake pedal, the round bulb gets brighter (see comparison pics)
The problem with this is that the stock wiring is not long enough, so you have to do a little soldering. I leave it up to you guys to decide which way you like better... <shrug> but like I said, the brake lights are there for your safety really. Granted if you have the 3rd brake light, that should get the driver's attention, but still...
Form + Function. just my 0.02
-C
[NOTE: the stock outside bulb socket is BROWN in color, the stock round bulb socket is GREY in color - the last pic shows the sockets in their new positions]
Last edited by cannibal869; Sep 24, 2005 at 01:17 AM.
Great write up cannibal. On WRXBABY's we went for the "JDM" look that Charlie came up with on his where the round light doesnt light up at all with the lights off, and is the only one lit when the lights are on. When you press the brake it doesnt light up like in the first pic with the lights off. And youre right, she does have that massive 3rd brake light to help too.
Cool to see you tried it and game up with your own way...you have some sick ps arrow drawing skills like me too
Cool to see you tried it and game up with your own way...you have some sick ps arrow drawing skills like me too
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 128
Car Info: 03 RS- aspen white, 5 speed
02-03 owners beware... while you CAN do this mod, the only bulb that will show up from the side of the car is the outside brake light... so...
UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET T-BONE'd AT NIGHT, MAKE SURE AT LEAST ONE RUNNING/PARKING LIGHT IS IN THE OUTSIDE POSITION!
UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET T-BONE'd AT NIGHT, MAKE SURE AT LEAST ONE RUNNING/PARKING LIGHT IS IN THE OUTSIDE POSITION!