Adding lights to bottom of taillights on 2005

UWAdventurer · Post by **UWAdventurer** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:22 am

First post and proud owners of new 2005! I was wondering if lights could be added easily to the bottom of the tailights of the 2005? I noticed there are no lights in this area, and looks large enough to accomodate some kind of bulbs. Possibly to wire to work the same as the top red portion of the tailight, both parking and stoplights. What would be the easiest way to accomplish this and what bulbs should I use? Would it overload any circuits or the taillight switch?Base 2005, Salsa Monotone w/gold pinstripe, Graphite Interior, Moon & Tunes, Power group, Front & side curtain airbags, automatic, XM, 16" alloys, ABS

steves76 · Post by **steves76** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:18 am

Welcome hows the 05 treating you so far?

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:46 am

I was under the impression that part is just a reflector. If it's just the reflector, it'd probably be pretty hard to reconfigure it to hold a bulb..

nismo · Post by **nismo** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:49 am

The red part under the turn signal is a brake light. It is functinal. At least in my car it is.Inder

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:38 am

Quote, originally posted by TRD4reel Â»The red part under the turn signal is a brake light. It is functinal. At least in my car it is.InderI'd check again if I were you...'tis a reflector...

nismo · Post by **nismo** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:02 pm

Yeah, my bad. You're right. it is just a reflector. I don't know why I thought it was a light.Inder

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 1:16 pm

I had thought about putting a long neon tube in the back window, red one...with one side blacked out. Make it a 4th brake light or something..

satur9 · Post by **satur9** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:31 am

to those who have seen my custom cargo cover i got 2 speakers mounted on it with red light rings.they are bright as hell. and its illegal to drive with them just on but i was thinking what if i wired them into the brake lights. would that be legal.

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:07 am

Quote, originally posted by Jahntassa Â»I had thought about putting a long neon tube in the back window, red one...with one side blacked out. Make it a 4th brake light or something..I fitted two extra sockets in my 3rd brake light housing (it's fitted with a VIBE logo) and wired them to my tail light circuit; now I have a 3rd tail light!

UWAdventurer · Post by **UWAdventurer** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:01 am

Ok, Dremel for the hole, High temp sealant to hold the bulb socket in? Would like to install some kind of bulb socket that is removable to access the bulb if it burns out. Some bulbs pop into a hole and lock with a twist or ears. Wiring worries me as far a overloading the stoplight switch or the circuit.Thanks

UWAdventurer · Post by **UWAdventurer** » Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:03 am

Treating us well thanks, wife loves the car! Wish the armrests were higher though.

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:25 pm

Howdy, fellow Indiana person! I've done this before. Years ago, I had a '95 Corsica which only had two bulbs in the tail lamps. The older models had three (2 1157's for brake/turn and 1 194 for the third light.) The third light would just light up at around the same intensity of the tail lamps themselves (not used for brake/turn signals.) Seeing that I had a place in the tail light housing for the bulb, I went ahead and hacked 'em up. Where the third bulb should have gone, there was a cross-shaped raised up area that matched the pattern of a 194 socket. So, I went to AutoZone and bought two 194 sockets. I didn't have the forune of owning a dremel, so I had to make do with drills, files, saws, whatever to cut out the opening. Wasn't the prettiest, but I was able to stick the bulb in there and twist it into place. Luckily, the socket was a bit rubbery, so it was flexible enough to fit inside the imperfect holes I added securely. Wired in the bulb, and I had all three lights on each tail light, and those I added could be removed when the bulbs blew. I haven't looked around to see how much work would be involved with the Vibe's setup back there. If you could find a place to mount the bulb, a 194-type would probably be easiest. That would give you probably the same light you would get with just the tail lamps on. I don't think you would have an issue with too much current should you go that route. If you want a larger, dual-filament bulb for brake and tail lights, that will probably be doable as well, just depends on the socket you get, the shape of hole you hae to add, and how much room you have. Not sure if the added current to the circuit from a larger bulb will be bad news or not...I do think we need another bulb down there under the turn signals... That's a good idea!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:31 pm

I just can't see this project working...The reflector is surface-mounted with the lens...if you dremel through, I sense you'd be looking at the bulb...But hey, if someone makes it work, I'd be interested in this mod myself...I'll have to take a closer look at the entire assembly tomorrow...

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 7:13 pm

Yeah, I haven't looked at anything back there close enough to see if this *would* work... I haven't even had to change a bulb yet back there.

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Nov 22, 2004 1:05 am

Technically, it wouldn't be too hard to add bulbs to the foglamps that are tied into the brakes...just get red bulbs and drill a hole in it..

Adding lights to bottom of taillights on 2005

Adding lights to bottom of taillights on 2005

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