CCFL Afterburner Taillights Install Question

[Don O]

I'm installing the AAC CCFL afterburner taillights. I have the first side sets of lights taped in place and the wires routed out the vent hole. The problem is the inverter cable connections are way too short to directly connect and lengthening the wires from the lamps is not recommended. So for those of you that have done this CCFL install how did you get the connections to the inverter to work with the as delivered wire length? Did you drill your own holes out the back of the housing or lengthen the wires?

Don O

[chozn4service]

Wish I could help you my friend. I'm at the same point where you are only I haven't got the wires fed back thru the vent hole that's covered with tape. I need to glue the light rings in place. I was wondering how to get the wires fed back thru. I was thinking of feeding a wire thru from the back and taping the wires and pulling back thru. I haven't seen how long or short the wires are. Hopefully I can follow this and we both can get ours working. I have all 4 lights opened up, clean and ready to glue the light kits in tonight or tomorrow.
I also emailed Justin with AAC on a few questions but he hasn't emailed me back or PM'd me. KISMYSS did the install and I've been in touch with him on some things about this install but he said I was on the right track. He never said anything about wires being too short. He did say he drilled a hole thru the reflector to get the wires back thru and to the vent holes. I'm not too cool with that but again, I haven't tried it yet, just knew it looked like there was no way to get them back and thru, though I never tried to, just a casual observation. I'll have to look closer tomorrow. I'm at work now and may be too tired eye to look tonight. Keep me posted though and I don't see why additional wiring can be added to the wires coming out from the back of the light to the converter, I don't know, I'm not an electrian. Did you read that some place?

[Don O]

I drilled a 3/16" hole next to the rear lamp opening to get that side's wire out. This way one wire comes out the vent hole and the other out my new hole. Also the wires are now no where near where the rear bulb will be (read melting the wire if it was there).

The lamp to inverter wires run high voltage. CCFLs need high voltage to excite the gas in there. I see no way other then to cut the wries between the inverter and one of its connectors and extend it. I quit for the night but will probably do that tomorrow useless Justin or someone else who's done an install chimes in.

Where did you epoxy your lamps at? I'm a little disappointed that there are no instructions for the CCFLs, just the LEDs.

You can run the wires through the small opening in the clear diffuser, see the picture.

Don O

[Bone]

This happened to me too. Problem#1: I tried to pass the wires thru the vent slots. Not happening. So I drilled a 1/8" hole is the clear lense next to the base of the ring (the white ends CCFL model) pushed wire thru. Problem#2: Feeding the wires thru the vent hole does not work. (wires to short) vent hole on opposite sides. So I drilled another 1/8" hole in top of light housing. feed wires thru then sealed w/silicon. Now I have just the right length in wire to hook it all up. After that it was smooth sailing. Just follow the instruction for electrical hook up. And make sure you secure the inverter so there not bouncing around back there. Last but not least. Afterburner Lights looks better if you cut the running light wire as shown in the instruction. I tried leaving the running lights on, Much better off. Overall. This MOD is Frek'in awesome. I also added the plate light LED's. Real Cool. Looking forward to receiveing the interior upgrade I purchased. Blue LEDs Dome and Blue Foot well CCFL tube lights. I feel like kid again...

[Orange5thGen]

Guys do not cut the wires and make them longer.... They are designed with the lenth of the wires to make the tubes glow at the correct level. If you add or subtract from the wires it will effect the lights brightness.

The wires are in a tough spot, but the drilling idea is a good one. It is tough but please dont cut into the wires, just my 2 cents.

[Don O]

Originally Posted by Bone

This happened to me too. Problem#1: I tried to pass the wires thru the vent slots. Not happening. So I drilled a 1/8" hole is the clear lense next to the base of the ring (the white ends CCFL model) pushed wire thru. Problem#2: Feeding the wires thru the vent hole does not work. (wires to short) vent hole on opposite sides. So I drilled another 1/8" hole in top of light housing. feed wires thru then sealed w/silicon. Now I have just the right length in wire to hook it all up. After that it was smooth sailing. Just follow the instruction for electrical hook up. And make sure you secure the inverter so there not bouncing around back there. Last but not least. Afterburner Lights looks better if you cut the running light wire as shown in the instruction. I tried leaving the running lights on, Much better off. Overall. This MOD is Frek'in awesome. I also added the plate light LED's. Real Cool. Looking forward to receiveing the interior upgrade I purchased. Blue LEDs Dome and Blue Foot well CCFL tube lights. I feel like kid again...

Thanks Bone, I'll give that a shot tomorrow. You'll love the blue interior lights.

Don O

[chozn4service]

Don O, I haven't secured the light rings yet. I cut my lenses with a dremel on yesterday and got them all set to do the surgery. I bought extra tails cause I didn't want to have a new car sitting without lights not knowing what I was going to run into, setbacks, delays etc..... none the less, it's not as simple as we would think. The video is not for these lights which I don't care for but I understand. I wish it was for this particular mod, on a C5 and not some import having HID's added.

I'm tired so I probably wone mess with mine until tomorrow. I'm going to see if I can get the wires fed before securing them to the clear reflective lens. I'm not sure exactly how much wire I'm working with but probably no more than you or Bone had to work with. I'll see what tomorrow brings. Did you use the glue in the kit? I was told my Kismyss not to use it as it sucked! I don't know but what I do know is I don't want them to (the light rings) to come off once I get these lamps back together.
Again, I'll know tomorrow and I appreciate any and all suggestions and or info you two can provide and I'll do the same. Still haven't heard from Justin.

[Don O]

I understand what Bone did to get the wires out of the housing. But the wires would still have to run to the back to clear the opening on the car. I'm thinking I need to drill some small holes on the top of the insert where the housing slides into the car to get them out of the top when installed in the car. That's about the only way I see to make the existing wires work.

Don O

[chozn4service]

Originally Posted by Don O

I understand what Bone did to get the wires out of the housing. But the wires would still have to run to the back to clear the opening on the car. I'm thinking I need to drill some small holes on the top of the insert where the housing slides into the car to get them out of the top when installed in the car. That's about the only way I see to make the existing wires work.

Don O

If you do, can you take a pic for me plz!

[Don O]

Originally Posted by chozn4service

If you do, can you take a pic for me plz!

Will do. I think I'll put the housing back in the car and drill both at the same time to line up the holes.

Alos, I started with the dremel but found using a utility knife was actually a lot easier for those thinking of doing this.

Don O

[Bone]

Well here what I did. After drinking, I mean cleaning the lense with alchol. (let dry) I positioned the ring. I taped (blue painter tape) the ring to the lense. I used the epoxy that was supplies. Mixed correctly. I used a tooth pick to apply the glue. In a tear drop size glob, I applied both white plastic ends to the lense. Then I added a third drop to the bottom of the ring. (also applied to the bottom side of the ring) if you apply it to the top side of the ring. It might be visible thru the lense. Don't worry about the white connector ends. They are hidden by the reflector at the top of the tail light. Cool eh! You can pm if you would like me to help you kinda walk thru it. Hell, I might need help installing my foot light wells.

[Bone]

Originally Posted by Don O

I understand what Bone did to get the wires out of the housing. But the wires would still have to run to the back to clear the opening on the car. I'm thinking I need to drill some small holes on the top of the insert where the housing slides into the car to get them out of the top when installed in the car. That's about the only way I see to make the existing wires work.

Don O

Your right. I forgot to tell you about the holes required to the plastic bumper housing. try to line them up with the light housing holes. that way the wire feed straight up thru both the light housing and the bumper housing. This will allow you to connect all the wires up to the inverter. Last, securely fasten the inverter, so it does bounce around..

Any help I can be. Here a new pic


Bone

[Don O]

Originally Posted by Bone

Well here what I did. After drinking, I mean cleaning the lense with alchol. (let dry) I positioned the ring. I taped (blue painter tape) the ring to the lense. I used the epoxy that was supplies. Mixed correctly. I used a tooth pick to apply the glue. In a tear drop size glob, I applied both white plastic ends to the lense. Then I added a third drop to the bottom of the ring. (also applied to the bottom side of the ring) if you apply it to the top side of the ring. It might be visible thru the lense. Don't worry about the white connector ends. They are hidden by the reflector at the top of the tail light. Cool eh! You can pm if you would like me to help you kinda walk thru it. Hell, I might need help installing my foot light wells.

The key to the foot well lights is connecting into the gray wire (pin #1) on the connector at the base of the steering column, this is the dome light switched power. I mounted both lights and the inverters without having to drill any holes.

Don O

[ttexxan]

Glad I had an installer her in DFW to do mine....Paid 75 and did my LEDs