DIY- AAC BowTie On with Headlights; OFF with Brake

[anglwngss]

I got the green bowtie LED from AAC on my custom painted bowtie (from Gary's Customs). I DID NOT opt for the dual illumination and I DID NOT opt for the dual color.

I wanted to have the bowtie light up all the time except when I pressed the brake pedal. Instead, I was able to light up the bowtie when the headlights are ON. When I press the brake, the bowtie LEDs go OFF.

I didn't want the bright red brake lights mixed with the green LEDs, plus, if my brake lights are on, I don't want any distractions for the drivers behind me.



Anyway.. Here's how I did it:

Start with the original bowtie.



Use a heat gun and fishing line. Carefully remove bowtie.
I used the blue painter's tape so I'd know where to put the custom bowtie on the trunk.



My Camaro is a 2011 and didn't come predrilled. So, I had to drill a hole.



I forgot to take pictures of the next few steps, sorry.. Remove the trunk lid liner. There are 10 plastic tabs. Guide the wires in the hole. Run the wires down the trunk. I ran mine near the wires already going behind the trunk lid liner. They are near the right hinge of the trunk lid.

My wires ran from the bowtie, down behind the trunk lid liner, and near the right trunk hinge. Then they go inside the trunk, and into the hole drilled near the tail light harness. (Coming up in the next couple of steps.)


When you're ready to attach the bowtie to the trunk, remove the backing. Press and hold for 30 seconds.



How it looks in the daytime.





Since I wanted the bowtie to go off with the brake lights, I tapped into the third brake light. Put the backseat down, then on the left hand side, pull up on the plastic side piece.


This is a close up of the connector that goes to the third brake light.


I used t taps and added a red positive wire to the stock white positive and added a black ground wire to the stock black ground wire.


Next, I moved the liner that runs along the side of the trunk so I could hide the wires. There are three plastic connectors to remove.


These are the wires I connected to the third brake light. They ran under the liner. Later, I used electrical tape and taped them to the wire already there for a cleaner look.


I drilled a hole from the inside of the trunk to the outside of where the taillights go. (This is the hole I mentioned in one of the earlier steps.)


This is how all the wires look together.


Final Result:



I used a 5 pin relay for this project like this:
Pin 30- the positive wire from the parking lights (this wire is brown and white)
Pin 87A- the positive wire from the bowtie (this wire is red)
Pin 85- the positive from the third brake light (this is the red wire I tapped from the connector behind the backseat)
Pin 86- ground wire (all my ground wires were tapped into each other. I had two; one from the bowtie and one from the third brake light. These were connected together and tapped into the ground wire from the parking brake harness)


Steiger, Thank you for all your help. I couldn't have done it without you!

[The Stig]

For the visual learners and not a problem. I was glad to help.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Nice work.

[anglwngss]

Thanks!

[The Stig]

Higher res image

[jjjaroscak]

You don't have to drill into the tail light area, you can tap into that wire in the trunk where you removed the side liner. If you get in there and look up you can see a bunch of wires all running towards the break lights and through that rubber gromet you see in your picture. Just find the right wire and you're good to go without another hole.

[anglwngss]

Thanks, good to know for future use

[2011 Camaro V6 LS]

looks great

you should change your license plate lights to green to match

I have no clue if that is legal though you might want to check

[anglwngss]

My luck, it'd be illegal. I would like to change it to the nice white light, though.

[The_Bosnian_Synergy]

What did you use to remove the leftover glue from the bowtie?
Btw that looks amazing, way to go on synergy hehe

[anglwngss]

I just picked off the heavy stuff with my fingers. Then I used Goo Gone for the rest of it.

[The_Bosnian_Synergy]

Ah ok so far Goo Gone is winning and that's what I will get, thank you for the fast response.

[anglwngss]

Yeah, that's the only thing I've ever found so far. Just keep in mind, it's not immediate. I spray on, let it set, usually rub it in with my fingers, then try to get the adhesive off. Sometimes (especially with the bowtie) it takes several applications, but it does work.

[Ivan @ Southwest Speed]

Awesome write up!

You missed the hardest part....getting the old adhesive off. LOL That to me is the hardest part of the entire ordeal!

Love the AAC Bowties...recently did a Pink one for a local Camaro!
Ivan