The birth of Orange Krate...

[Orange Krate]

Today I installed my new AAC LED P13 Daytime Running Lights (DRL). I am not a mechanic but have dabbled on quite a few cars over the years. If I can do this anyone can. Before I post the photos and my version of how I installed the LEDs... I must say the lights are everything I expected and more. The effect is good and I do enjoy night driving more now that there is even more front proximity light. This is due to the harness (jumper) install supplied by manufacturer.

A comment about the packaged goods. All came very well wrapped and protected in a large cardboard box. However, whoever did the packing for the harness left out two of the four needed T-Taps. Not worth calling AAC and waiting for a shipment. I went down to the local O'Reilly's Automotive Store and picked up a package of T-Taps which are good to have in your toolbox anyway!

To make it easier I decided to combine tasks. I needed to detail my wheel wells and front brake calipers and wheels so I put the car up on a jack stand and did each side one at a time.

For you first timers... always use a jack stand if you use a jack to lift your car to work on or under. The car should be on dry, level, hard ground, asphalt or concrete...not lawn! The car should be firmly on the jack stand and not weighted on the jack. Block the wheels if there is any chance of movement or rolling.

After removing my front drivers wheel I put the wheel cleaner on and let it soak while I removed the inner wheel well of the drivers side with the #15 Torx bit. There are three (3) torx screws holding it in place towards the front of the wheel well opening. It is not necessary to remove the whole wheel well liner. Be careful not to bend it too hard but you can gently fold it back behind the front of the suspension components to give yourself room to visualize the DRL and sidemarker wiring (which I will address later).

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW AAC INSTRUCTIONS! Their xerox copy was hard to see so I looked at their online color instructions and video, although their video doesn't show the harness (jumper) connection.

DRIVERS SIDE - Identify the sidemarker positive (+) wire that is purple. Attach a T-Tap to that wire. I used a crimping tool to gently squeeze the T-Tap together. Be careful not to pull on the side marker wire as it may be possible to dislodge the sidemarker lamp from its socket. I did this on the passenger side and I had to invoke my wife's little hands to put it back in place! (Thank you Erica!) Then put a T-Tap on the blue positive (+) wire of the DRL. Finish up by connecting the harness (jumper) between the two T-Taps. I used black electricians tape to gently and securely wrap the T-Taps and the harness to the existing plastic wire shroud that runs to the DRL. Note... MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT TOO FAR APART BETWEEN T-TAPS!

Now it is time to go scrub the wheel and rinse it off! Wipe down water spots and let finish drying while you test and button everything back up!

Turn on your headlights and make sure the new LED powers up before you replace it in the socket and button everything up. Nothing worse then having to remove the inner wheel well a second time because you didn't check! My passenger side caused a bit more angst because I had a loose T-Tap connection. Re-crimping fixed that. If you have a good connection and the light works in the DRL mode and Headlight On mode you are good to go. Finish inserting the LED into the DRL lens assembly. Replace the wheel well liner and tighten the three (3) #15 torx screws.

Replace tire/wheel and torque to specifications with a torque wrench. (I avoid impact guns on chrome lugs.)

PASSENGER SIDE: Repeat process of wheel removal. And three (3) #15 Torx screws from inner wheel well plastic liner. The passenger sidemarker light has a brown positive (+) wire. Install a T-Tap on it and then a T-Tap on the Blue positive (+) wire on the DRL. Connect the harness between the two. It should look identical to the drivers side configuration. Check for power to the LED, use electrical tape to secure the T-Taps and harness to the plastic DRL housing. Let the light burn to make sure there is no infantile failure.

Now go scrub and rinse your second wheel. Wipe it down and let it finish drying.

Turn off the headlights and finish plugging in the LED to the DRL lens assembly. Secure the inner wheel well liner and tighten the three (3) #15 torx screws.

Reinstall front passenger wheel and safely lower down to ground and make sure wheel is torqued to specifications.

Now take a couple of minutes to bask in a successful modification to your car and snap a few photos for posterity and Camaro5.com and of course enjoy the beverage of choice! You earned it!

Hope this helped and I want to thank AAC again for a great little mod that is not only an improved safety feature but a rather inexpensive eye catcher!

ORANGE KRATE LOVES HIS NEW EYES! Motor on!

[speedster]

Nice writeup Jim. Thanks.

You always do such pristine work and take great pics !!

Thanks a bunch and hope you have a nice day out in Simi Valley.

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by speedster

Nice writeup Jim. Thanks. You always do such pristine work and take great pics !! Thanks a bunch and hope you have a nice day out in Simi Valley.

Thank you sir! Someday maybe I can make a buck doing it! HA HA!!! When I was a kid I always wanted to be a photo journalist. Got side tracked when I became a paramedic. Ended up being a part of the news as opposed to writing about it. As a kid one of my heroes was Stan Chambers the reporter for KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles. He was a true pioneer in TV reporting and journalism. A TRUE consummate professional.

[aarpdlnkqnt]

Krate, it's a dang shame you can't get paid for the concise info you provide here. Like Speedster said, always great pictures and content. May you have some satisfaction in knowing that you are helping others who attempt these mod's, and others you've shown us. Take care! Hope you have a great weekend!

[aarpdlnkqnt]

By the way, I covet your cobblestone driveway. Nice!

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by aarpdlnkqnt

By the way, I covet your cobblestone driveway. Nice!

Thanks AARP! I wish I had done more of it in the front yard to park more toyz! I need to do more work around the house and ad more mods but both of my daughters are in college so things are tight. My eldest daughter got her AA degree and starts nursing school in January so it will be even tighter around here for a couple of years. At least I will have someone to take care of me when I am recovering from the big one!

[LED Crazy]

This is awesome!

Originally Posted by Orange Krate

Every year at this time we look forward to celebrating the life of one of our favorite people on the planet! This unflappable spirit is my GREAT AUNT LOIS!Today she celebrated her 96th birthday!!! What made this particular birthday special was the fact that it was the first one she had where she got to feel, touch, smell and ride in Orange Krate!

Before the cruise and power run Auntie modeled her Lakers Championship hat and in photo #5 got a bit daring for 96 years and showed a little leg! HA HA She will always be a SUPER STAR in our hearts.

We took photos and a quick couple of video bursts to capture some of the fun. Unfortunately I did not have the camera in the car to capture the power run! But she was a good sport and at 96 got a little thrill in the 1st to 2nd power band! Go Auntie!

We got back and it is fully documented... 96 year old PERMAGRIN! Auntie is very healthy, vibrant, extremely clear of mind and thought and so very happy and positive. She knows Orange Krate was produced up in Ontario, Canada where her great grandmother was from so there is a bond. She says hi to all the folks at Oshawa.

Auntie Lois (as we call her) was born at Spirit Lake, Iowa on August 21, 1915! We wish Auntie a very happy birthday with many more, surrounded by family and friends. We will see you here at 100 Auntie!




.

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by LED KING

This is awesome!

Thanks Blake! We are hoping for a wonderful birthday bash for my Aunt's 100th birthday. Auntie doesn't look a day over 70, thinks like a 40 year old and as sharp as a 20 year old! She wants a Chrysler 300 but she was impressed and loves Orange Krate! However she still thinks fondly back on her Plymouth Fury. That car was a runner!

[Lycanine]

Hadn't checked up on you in awhile, just watched the video of your Great Aunt Lois It's amazing how our cars can make people of all ages smile
Congrats to her on turning 96 years young!
Oh, and I hope Orange Krate is doing well too

[Orange Krate]

Originally Posted by Lycanine

Hadn't checked up on you in awhile, just watched the video of your Great Aunt Lois It's amazing how our cars can make people of all ages smile Congrats to her on turning 96 years young!
Oh, and I hope Orange Krate is doing well too

Lycanine... Thanks for dropping back in! My Aunt is so awesome. Hard to imagine that she could be my grandmother because I am 55! She is as sharp as a tack. A little hard of hearing but no loss of memory that I can tell.

I had to drive Orange Krate to work today! DARN! 120 mile round trip! He hit 7500 miles at almost a year old. He will be 1 year old in a couple of weeks and we are having a birthday party! HA HA

My daily driver is a VW diesel turbo Beetle with 170,000 and the turbocharger grenaded so he is getting new lungs! HA HA I should be back in "Kermit" the cyber green machine by Monday. At least he gets 47 MPG!

Take care!

[Orange Krate]

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY CHEVROLET!

Congratulations to Chevrolet for winning yet another coveted award for the Camaro at the 2011 SEMA Show! How befitting and deserved. Also a special thanks to the Camaro design team and Oshawa Assembly plant for producing such an awesome automobile and living up to the legend of Camaro. You have truly given us a vehicle that runs deep!

Finally... thank you to my wife, Erica, for continuing to support my obsession with Orange Krate and knowing how much pleasure the car brings. People are attracted and love Orange Krate!

Orange Krate's 1st birthday is just around the corner! I am looking forward to celebrating with the TPW 11/15/10 Group as we chat about what we were going through last year waiting for our babies to be born! We have hung together for over a year now!

Congrats one and all! Cheers!

JIM

[Orange Krate]

It is pouring like a son of a gun here at Orange Krates house! WOW! Sounds like we are going to float away. More to come on todays events.

[aarpdlnkqnt]

Originally Posted by Orange Krate

It is pouring like a son of a gun here at Orange Krates house! WOW! Sounds like we are going to float away. More to come on todays events.

Krate,
Think the remnants of that system are supposed to be in Memphis by tomorrow. But that's okay. We could use it and it's during the work week. Next weekends supposed to be another good one. Hope it's the same for you!

Michael

[Orange Krate]

It has been too long since I have perused my favorite online site! I have been doing the Facebook thing under the OrangeKrate2011 screen name, and working like a mad man, so I need to post up some new stuff here. First off let me say Happy BELATED Thanksgiving! Already been out shopping with the wife tonight late and she and my daughter are STILL out and it is 1 AM! UGH.

My PC (I had three) is dead so I ordered a couple of new ones and they should be delivered in 7-10 days.

But...the most important news... Orange Krate is getting a new mod added very soon. I am working the final details now.

Only hint I am giving... It is a factory piece and not commonly seen on the 2010s and early 2011s. I am anxious to see how it adds to the car's _________ (fill in the blank).