DIY: Trunklighting with an LED strip **EASY!!** - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

PAUL SS · 09-16-2010, 07:29 PM

I liked this idea so much I decided to try it my self but I used a different method of tapping into the factory light. The way I did it there is no soldering and this mod can be undone with no evidence it was ever there.

I pried up the two tabs, stripped the ends of the wires (short) and positioned them under the tabs and then pressed the tabs back down capturing the wires. I gave a tug and they held so I went with it. I hope the photos convey my method.

Also there is an opening to either side of the stock light position where the new wire can be snaked through.

winston2ss · 09-17-2010, 12:37 AM

PAUL SS, I don't have a man crush, but, you're awesome. LOL. thanks for the pointers.

PAUL SS · 09-17-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winston2ss

PAUL SS, I don't have a man crush, but, you're awesome. LOL. thanks for the pointers.

Thanks, I hope I was clear enough. I had a bad time taking good enough pictures to post otherwise I wouls have put more up.

13lade · 09-18-2010, 06:14 AM

Just a word of caution to you Paul SS... Connections that seem to hold well on the bench don't always do so under the vibration of the road. This is why the good stereo/autostarter shops never use t-taps and solder all connections.

As I said, this is one of the easiest mods to do to learn soldering... Practice on some spare wire a few times first and you'll get it. Once I did that, it took me 3 minutes to solder the wires to the housing of the trunk light.

Regardless of how you do it, I hope you guys found it as useful as I did.

PAUL SS · 09-19-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13lade

Just a word of caution to you Paul SS... Connections that seem to hold well on the bench don't always do so under the vibration of the road. This is why the good stereo/autostarter shops never use t-taps and solder all connections.

As I said, this is one of the easiest mods to do to learn soldering... Practice on some spare wire a few times first and you'll get it. Once I did that, it took me 3 minutes to solder the wires to the housing of the trunk light.

Regardless of how you do it, I hope you guys found it as useful as I did.

I will be checking those connections from time to time, if I see that it is not secure I will go to plan B. Pry the tabs up again, drill a small hole to insert the bare wire below the tab, insert the wire and push the tab back down to create an interference fit.

Toasty · 10-18-2010, 10:50 PM

This looks like an awesome idea, but I have another idea on wiring it up. autolumination.com sells (and likely found elsewhere) sell 194 empty bases for LED use... all you need is 2 short solid wires (heck, a small gauge paper clip would be good) to solder to the stranded wire and feed into the base, then you have a complete plug and play solution.

Jocoo26 · 10-26-2010, 08:23 PM

I have a stupid question. Is the trunk light ALWAYS on? It's not connected to any kind of pin switch? Has anyone else noticed this?

Jocoo26 · 10-26-2010, 08:41 PM

Nevermind, I figured out what I did. I told you it was a stupid question. Lol

rick14649 · 12-07-2010, 04:53 PM

I googled AAC and couldnt find the website. Could someone please provide the web address?

ShadoChaser · 12-07-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick14649

I googled AAC and couldnt find the website. Could someone please provide the web address?

I believe it's http://www.advancedautomotiveconcepts.com/

rick14649 · 12-07-2010, 05:27 PM

Thank you!

patrickt · 12-07-2010, 10:54 PM

Awesome mod man!

rick14649 · 12-18-2010, 03:07 PM

Ok, I tried this mod today. I soldered just like picture, wire with grey stripe going on the side the red wire comes in. My problem is the light won't work. The trunk light won't work either as long as the LED strip is plugged in. The LED connector has a 4 wire bi-directional plug that will plug either way. I tried it both ways and still the trunk light will not work with it plugged in. I ordered the Zenithxenon 12 LED strip. Could it be the wrong wattage strip or what? Please help......

13lade · 12-19-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick14649

Ok, I tried this mod today. I soldered just like picture, wire with grey stripe going on the side the red wire comes in. My problem is the light won't work. The trunk light won't work either as long as the LED strip is plugged in. The LED connector has a 4 wire bi-directional plug that will plug either way. I tried it both ways and still the trunk light will not work with it plugged in. I ordered the Zenithxenon 12 LED strip. Could it be the wrong wattage strip or what? Please help......

As I mentioned in your PM, I would be sure that you have a good wire to start with by testing it either with a 9volt battery, or a 12v DC power adapter. It sounds like you have a short in there somewhere.... either in the strip, in the wire, or a stray strand of copper crossing somewhere.

I tested all of my strips before i installed them, and I tested the circuit with the strip by taping it on the housing before I soldered them, so I know that the circuit works well.

If you have another strip + wire, I would try those on the housing and see if you can get it to work.... i bet that its a bad wire or a bad strip that is your problem.

09-16-2010, 07:29 PM	#15
PAUL SS The Mark of Excellence Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS RS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Smallest State in the Union Posts: 8,690 View My Garage	I liked this idea so much I decided to try it my self but I used a different method of tapping into the factory light. The way I did it there is no soldering and this mod can be undone with no evidence it was ever there. I pried up the two tabs, stripped the ends of the wires (short) and positioned them under the tabs and then pressed the tabs back down capturing the wires. I gave a tug and they held so I went with it. I hope the photos convey my method. Also there is an opening to either side of the stock light position where the new wire can be snaked through. __________________ BMR, CAI, DynoMax, Elite Eng., Hurst, Jannetty, Clear Image Headers & Hi Flow cats, Jet Hot, LSR, TSW, VMax, Vredestein Last edited by PAUL SS; 09-16-2010 at 07:49 PM.

09-17-2010, 12:37 AM	#16
winston2ss YDLYLB Drives: Cgm 2ssrs Join Date: May 2010 Location: bossier city la. Posts: 1,163 View My Garage	PAUL SS, I don't have a man crush, but, you're awesome. LOL. thanks for the pointers. __________________

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09-18-2010, 06:14 AM	#18
13lade Drives: '11 SIM 2ss/rs LS3 #13363 iom seats Join Date: May 2010 Location: NoDak Posts: 262	Just a word of caution to you Paul SS... Connections that seem to hold well on the bench don't always do so under the vibration of the road. This is why the good stereo/autostarter shops never use t-taps and solder all connections. As I said, this is one of the easiest mods to do to learn soldering... Practice on some spare wire a few times first and you'll get it. Once I did that, it took me 3 minutes to solder the wires to the housing of the trunk light. Regardless of how you do it, I hope you guys found it as useful as I did.

10-18-2010, 10:50 PM	#20
Toasty Custom User Title :D Drives: 2011 Summit White 2LT/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bolingbrook, IL Posts: 2,342	This looks like an awesome idea, but I have another idea on wiring it up. autolumination.com sells (and likely found elsewhere) sell 194 empty bases for LED use... all you need is 2 short solid wires (heck, a small gauge paper clip would be good) to solder to the stranded wire and feed into the base, then you have a complete plug and play solution.

10-26-2010, 08:23 PM	#21
Jocoo26 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New York Posts: 82 View My Garage	I have a stupid question. Is the trunk light ALWAYS on? It's not connected to any kind of pin switch? Has anyone else noticed this?

10-26-2010, 08:41 PM	#22
Jocoo26 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New York Posts: 82 View My Garage	Nevermind, I figured out what I did. I told you it was a stupid question. Lol

12-07-2010, 04:53 PM	#23
rick14649 SIM 1SS/RS 6/1/2009 order Drives: 2010 Ram Crew 1500 4x4 Hemi Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vilonia, Arkansas Posts: 48	I googled AAC and couldnt find the website. Could someone please provide the web address?

12-07-2010, 05:27 PM	#25
rick14649 SIM 1SS/RS 6/1/2009 order Drives: 2010 Ram Crew 1500 4x4 Hemi Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vilonia, Arkansas Posts: 48	Thank you!

12-07-2010, 10:54 PM	#26
patrickt Drives: still saving! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 6,227	Awesome mod man!

12-18-2010, 03:07 PM	#27
rick14649 SIM 1SS/RS 6/1/2009 order Drives: 2010 Ram Crew 1500 4x4 Hemi Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Vilonia, Arkansas Posts: 48	Ok, I tried this mod today. I soldered just like picture, wire with grey stripe going on the side the red wire comes in. My problem is the light won't work. The trunk light won't work either as long as the LED strip is plugged in. The LED connector has a 4 wire bi-directional plug that will plug either way. I tried it both ways and still the trunk light will not work with it plugged in. I ordered the Zenithxenon 12 LED strip. Could it be the wrong wattage strip or what? Please help......