Probably one of the easiest mods to do with minimal knowledge of electrical engineering.
Step one, Pop out the side markers (see page 260 in your manual) note - the plastic scratches easily.
Step two, Pop off the intake tube on the driver's side for easy access to the turn signal bulb.
Here is the turn signal bulb you'll be using:
Unsheathed to show 3 wires, we'll be splicing into the Green/Red w/Silver dots.
Using a quik-splice, to connect the wire with the wire leading to our side markers:
Wrapped up in electrical tape and put back in its place!
Cut the black wire on the side marker and strip the end. Do the same with the wire we spliced into the turn signal.
Now, connect the wire from the turn signal to the wire on the side marker and it's done!
Pop the side marker back and repeat the process on the other side.
Notes:
It takes about 10 minutes to do the whole job.
When the headlights are on, the side marker turned blinker blinks in sequence with the turn signals on the headlight adssembly. When the headlights are off, the side markers blink in unison with the headlight blinkers.
Hope this helps!
The mod doesn't affect the side marker coming on with the parking lights.
The mod doesn't affect the side marker coming on with the parking lights.
The mod doesn't affect the side marker coming on with the parking lights.
The mod doesn't affect the side marker coming on with the parking lights.
Thanks for such great instructions. I would have never made this modification if someone hadn't provided step-by-step instructions. The pictures also made a world of difference.
The only issue I had was not knowing what gauge stranded wire to buy when at Home Depot. I ended up buying 14 gauge wire which I hope will not be a problem. When actually doing the mod, it seemed like the 14 gauge was kind of overkill but it seems to work just fine.
I second that Shen, Thanks!
Heads up. Don't make the same mistake I did.
Having never used the 3-slot crimps before, I cut the wire to the headlite bulb first.
DOHHHH!
The only wires that need cut are the black to the side marker and the new wire you use to go from head light to side marker!
Great mod. Cost $6 and change, and well worth it if it keeps someone from hitting me because they didn't see my turn signal!
still unsure if this mod will change the sidmarkers normal function. does it stay lit solid and then only blink when the blinker is on?
or does it stay out and blink with the blinker
i would hope it stays on all the time and just flashes with the blinker
Next best mod since the A/C-off-in-defrost Easter egg.
Here's my observations/opinions:
(1) The best way to remove the side markers is to put your fingernails in the top, push down and out at the same time. Pops right out! You should not have to take out the splash shield.
(2) Soldering is better. On the blinker bulb, you only have to expose a 3/8" section of the green wire insulation. I did this by using wire strippers, two places 3/8" apart, to separate the section of insulation without cutting the wires. Then I used an exacto knife to cut a slit between the two cuts and push off the insulation. Point the new wire from the center of the car toward the connector to twist and solder it in.
(3) Heat shrink tubing is a no-brainer on the side marker because you can slip it on the wire and cover the whole connection. I used electrical tape as well On the inside, since you're doing a 3-wire connection, electrical tape is the only option. I started with tape around the solder joint, and wrapped it around the wires toward the connector. When I got to the connector, I paused my wrap to put the plastic harness wrap back over all the wires. Then I wrapped outside the plastic wrap back about 3 inches or so, pushing the new wire into the plastic wrap most of the length. Ain't no way water is getting near the joint!
(4) I had a multi-pack of rubber sheet metal grommets from Radio Shack on hand. Before I passed the wire through the frame, I put a properly sized grommet in the top of two holes near the blinker connector. Now vibration or tugging will not wear through the insulation, and potentially short out the hot circuit to the frame. Follow the white wire, you'll see it in this picture:
What do you do with the black wire you cut on the markers? Just cap and tape it? The last pic shows the jumper from the marker to turn signals taped up and the black wire is just sitting there. Am I missing something?
i know someone earlier asked, but not sure it was answered... but what about at night? does the side marker stayed illuminated when the turn signal is not activated and then just blinks when you do it active the turn signal?
It still blinks. The way it's wired, if the parking lights are off, the marker blinks with the turn signals, when the parking lights are on, the marker blinks opposite the turn signals - marker on when turn signal off, marker off when turn signal on.
This morning I went through and checked every fuse in the fuse box, as well as the box under the dash.. no blown fuses... I'm honestly stumped as to what could be happening
Did you check with a tester or replace with known good fuses? Just looking at Mini-ATO fuses for blown links is not reliable.
After re-verifying the fuses, be sure to retrace your steps. If fuses aren't it, then you probably made the same mistake on both sides, and took both sides down.
One thing to try - do the emergency flashers work?
The way this mod works is to "float" what would normally be a ground connection for the marker. You need to especially make certain that you connected the proper end of the cut wire from the marker to the turn signal - connect the wrong wire end, and you've just grounded your entire turn signal circuit. Oops.
ok I physically checked all of my fuses and none of them were blown..
near as I can tell everythign is the same as the "walkthrough" except I don't have any quik splices, so I'm using the connetor that was used for the side marker to hook all 3 wires togeather on the main blinker.. not sure but that might be the cause...??? BTW none of the blinkers work at all including emergency ones
It's going to be hard to diagnose this without seeing what you've done for myself. I still tend to think you may have picked the wrong end of the wire that you cut, the one that goes to the marker.
Do you have a multimeter? We're at that point where we need to play electronics tech. If you don't, I recommend you do what you can to put things back to the way they were, see if it's back to "normal" and be prepared to buy a six-pack for any buddies that might have messed with car electrics and can give you a little assist.
well I've returned everythign to "stock" and yet still have no blinkers.. I'll probablly bring a multimeter home from work tomorrow and diagnos some more. it's really odd since no fuses blew and everything is back to normal...
OK i've got a multimeter and Ive been going over the wires and everything seems to have voltage but I'm still not sure what I'm looking for as fat as a drop in V or a short...
OK i think I may have located the problem... I'll let you all know tomorrow when I go buy a new blinker ctrl box (the little black box that clicks when your blinkers are on)
I tried the mod over the weekend and followed the instructions exactly as written. When I put on my turn signals, my turn signal fuse under the dash went. When I tried my flashers, the fuse under the hood went too. I checked a number of times to make sure all were connected correctly and it was. After I replaced the fuses and restored the wiring back, everything worked normally.
Just did the mod this afternoon. Works as advertised.
I was not able to remove the side markers as Einstein recommended; I had much better luck by pressing UP on the markers.
I too used grommets in the top of the two holes on each side as shown in Einstein's pic. I also took a few pix ... only to later discover the camera had no card. Doh!
Installing the grommet in the driver-side was more involved. The big airbox doohicky intrudes into the side marker area; I couldn't get my hand in there like I could on the passenger side.
So:
I removed the two 10mm bolts that secure that big box. Use a socket and ratchet --- a wrench won't get in there. To get to one of the bolts I removed the fusebox from its clips, just enough to get to the bolt. You'll use a flatblade screwdriver to free it from the clips but don't hamfist it and gouge it up or the next time your dealer sees it he might not "like it." Similarly, I didn't remove the big airbox doohicky; I just needed a half-inch or so more wiggle room inside the side marker area.
Although this mod has plenty of room to route the wires I'm very glad I took the time to use grommets. They were a pain to put in, and you might drop a few into neverland (but luckily I didn't) due to poor leverage in those areas.
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