GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

This is Phase ONE of my attempt to convert all my rear lights in my car to LED without my S.O. knowing. Ok, so I finally got around to getting LED license plate lights, and got them in the mail today. I have pics, but they are a little blurry(sorry I have a crappy camera that does not like low light situations)Ok so, onto my how to.My how to is basically how to purchase and install LED lights WITHOUT your wife or significant other knowing. See, my wife hates when I modify or change something on my car, and when I say hate, I mean she DESPISES it to no end.So, here are a few steps in securing some new lights without her knowing. Now first off, I will state a small disclaimer. What I am about to type should in no way mean that 1) you should attempt this 2) are going to get away with it if you do 3) will not get in trouble if you get caughtSo proceed at your own riskOk before you attempt this, there are a few things that you MUST either have control of, or can hide.#1 - You must have control of the finances - meaning that you can either hide the transaction as buying a pack of smokes, or in my case going out for lunch with co-workers (I love bank of america and the ability to rename transactions)#2 - You must be the one who checks the mail or have a seperate PO BOX - failure to do so can result in said S.O. obtaining package and then ripping your package from you(if you get my drift)If you do not control or posses the ability to control either of the two above, DO NOT ATTEMPT!!!Ok, now for the stepsStep 1Go on-line to your favorite LED shop. Mine happens to be http://www.frickinbrite.com/catalog/Step 2Pick out your favorite set of lights. Mine were http://frickinbrite.com/catalo...W.jpgStep 3Purchase said lights and then proceed to watch the bank account for the posting and update the transaction with whatever cover story you so chose.Step 4Check your mail DAILY!!!! Keep on it or else it can be hazerdous to your health. In my case I always get home before my wife so, there is no excuse.Step 5Once package is received, open it to make sure everything is there. Here are a couple of shots (for size comparison) of what the new lights look like.Old light with new lightI will say that they fit perfectly, no problem what so ever. Step 6Begin by removing the cover on your hatch. This can be accomplished with a flat head screwdriver and a paper towel (to aide in not scratching the plastic)Step 7Remove the bulb holder from the assembly by rotating it counter clockerwise (for you time challenged people who have never owned an analog watch, that means to the LEFT!!!)Step 7.2 (optional)You can either disconnect the entire bulb holder (as you see I did above) or leave it connected. I will say that it is easier to remove the old bulb if you disconnect the holder as you are not having to reach over your head for it.Step 8Remove old bulb and replace with new LED bulb. Reconnect holder(if you removed) and then turn lights on to test. These lights only work in one polarity so I had to remove the lights and flip them around to work.It should look something like this - both bulbs dangling from harnessNow repeat steps 7 through 8 for the other bulb. Step 9Reinsert the bulb holder into the socket(it will only go int one way so do not force it in). Once inserted, rotate the holder clockwise (if you have not already figured out the difference between clockwise and counter-clockwise, you need to seriously consider giving up on ever having a life or career for that matter) Do this for BOTH bulbs.Step 10Once both bulbs are back in and secure, place the plastic cover back onto the rear hatch (note - each side of the cover has different size tabs. The smaller tabs go toward the glass side of the hole, while the longer tabs are toward the latch side)Step 11Make sure that the lights are working before you call it a day (double checking now can avoid the smokies later)If both lights are on, then you are in great shape. Your final thing to do is to get rid of ALL evidence that this has occurred. This means, trash the envelope, the old bulbs, and shred the receipt (this company keeps track of your purchases on their website and you can request a new receipt if need be as it was issued through Paypal)Now all you have to do is sit back, and make a post this long while your S.O. is in the kitchen directly behind you without a clue as to what has occurred or what you are typing up currently. (damn I am ballsy hehehe) Phase ONE complete - onto Phase TWO (might take longer cause it was easy to hide $13, not so easy to hide $30+)

looks awesome..and a great how-to..even though it's a pretty straight forward thing but none-the-less

+1 I love my LED hyperwhites in my license plate. I got them from http://www.superbrightleds.com for like not even $10. Gave it a pure Lexus look and no more yellow out the back end.

Quote, originally posted by WaveAction »looks awesome..and a great how-to..even though it's a pretty straight forward thing but none-the-lessWas not meant to be a real how to, was meant more as a comedic effect and for the possiblity that I might get caught.

LED's are the way to go

those look really good why does she despise car modification?? next time she acts up, tell her she can't buy makeup again. ever. or you could show her this:i might be goin out on a limb here, but...if she thinks spendin extra cash on your ride is stupid (like a lot of females do), next time you're at the store with her, don't hesitate to slap the $20 bottle of face wash out of her hand as soon as she picks it up. then give her the same type of attitude and reasons why she shouldn't spend the extra $$ on that bottle, when regular stuff will do. see how she likes it. you could also tell her it's better than spendin the money on hookers

Man, must be ruff if you have to hide everything... I'm usually like check out what I just got for my bike/car... then she's like I want that.I feel for ya man, I wonder how you would hide a set of wheels from her? have one of theose storage garages w/air compressor and before you go out for the day stop swap wheels, drive around, then before coming home swap back...

You forgot to say an never ever for any reason see your post!

Also this thread just added to the HOW TO Index!!

Quote, originally posted by MRCN RCE »those look really good why does she despise car modification?? next time she acts up, tell her she can't buy makeup again. ever. or you could show her this:i might be goin out on a limb here, but...if she thinks spendin extra cash on your ride is stupid (like a lot of females do), next time you're at the store with her, don't hesitate to slap the $20 bottle of face wash out of her hand as soon as she picks it up. then give her the same type of attitude and reasons why she shouldn't spend the extra $$ on that bottle, when regular stuff will do. see how she likes it. you could also tell her it's better than spendin the money on hookers She already gets the Walmart generic brand of stuff. Only when she finds a coupon for the more expensive stuff will she buy it(my wife is very froogle) She used to get $50+ haircuts and I put a stop to that. I told her that if a $15 haircut was fine for me, it was fine for her.Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »Also this thread just added to the HOW TO Index!!hahahaha Ok guess I have to take better pics of the install now. I will od that when Phase 2 is being done (which BTW should be this week) I ordered my LED brake lights last night. Dual intensity goodness.

How did you manage to get the HID's w/o her noticing? and the Two PSW112C 100 series Alphasonik Subs w/ enclosureOne PMA2150A 440 Watt x 1 @ 4 ohms Amp??Didn't she notice the increased BOOM in the trunk? Sorry man, just giving you a hard time!

Quote, originally posted by Kamikaze »How did you manage to get the HID's w/o her noticing? and the Two PSW112C 100 series Alphasonik Subs w/ enclosureOne PMA2150A 440 Watt x 1 @ 4 ohms Amp??Didn't she notice the increased BOOM in the trunk? Sorry man, just giving you a hard time!HID's were purchased with my birthday money. It did not come from our account. SHe still hates that I did it even though they look awesome.THe subs were done without her knowledge about a month after I got the car. I told her that I was not going to modify the car and then my sister called me with the deal on the subs,box,amp and wiring kit that I could not pass on and I got it. Suffice it to say, I did not get any for about a month after I came home with the stuff, and had to go about a week without any after I finally installed them.I have paid the price for those mods already, and to this day I still am. Everytime I want to get something for the Trix, she brings up how I have alrady modded the car without her knowledge.The LED cupholder lights caused me to have to take her to a musical when ever she wants now.

hahahahahahahahaernesto, man, great write up! totally killed me!!!!i'm definitely going to do this to the vibe. AND i wanna see if i can do the rear lights too!

Hi 98ex,Can you go into greater detail on how to remove the cover on the back hatch to get at the licence bulbs. If I can see a potential for much scratching of the plastic the way I am going. There must be a trade secret or something

That is a funny write up 98EX! The LEDs look great too! I just put 12 LEDs in my Corvette to replace the washed out dim look in the fog lamp, window, driver info and traction control switches. Looks great and cuts down on the heat. My instrument cluster light is already Xenon in the Vette so now these LEDs match that way better then the incandescents did! You should do the shifter light next! I was thinking about that on the Vibe. One LED I did upgrade on the Vibe was the one green drivers side window switch LED. I had the door apart for something else and decided to check this LED out. Took the switch apart and luckily I had a small red LED in the old parts dept so I unsoldered the green and soldered in the red LED. Now that one switch is a little bit brighter and red like all the other dash controls!

Awesome Mod! Nice write up. Look forward to seeing the taillights when you are done.

yesss I am very curious as to what the brake lights will look like with leds....

any chance we could get new pictures that arent blury?

Quote, originally posted by xmasguy »any chance we can get any pics at all? I totally side with Xmasguy. Need current legible pics I'm experimenting with several LED mods currently and would like to see what others on this forum have already done

I guess this guy wife caught him buying LEDs, & had to delete the pictures lol, anybody have pictures of the plates with Leds! & what kind of Wled they use?I'm buying from superbrightleds.com need help! ChoosingWled-x-xWled-x4Wled-x5Wled-x6

Quote, originally posted by Ls1jorge »I guess this guy wife caught him buying LEDs, & had to delete the pictures Yeah, he probably had to get back to his "honey -do" list (and still is not done ). Been there, done that Quote, originally posted by Ls1jorge »I'm buying from superbrightleds.com need help! ChoosingI'll be placing a very large LED order soon (1000 + of various colors)from one of a couple different sources. I'll keep you informed as to who and what I purchace Then maybe you'll have a better idea of what to get

^ok cool thanks!

any chance of someone doing an updated version of this with working pics?