DIY Tom's Taillights Install

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by etherealfall

`1

Cool, thanks.

[BlueDubbinTDI]

Getting the flasher mod disconnected/reconnected is deceptively challenging...my right hand received 3 bloody scrapes before I finally succeeded

[chanomatik]

Thanks for the write up. That flasher relay was the worst part, but not impossible. I also had a bunch of connectors tied to it from my previous foray when installing the LED side mirror turn signals. I found it easier to deal with if you remove the two bolts attached to the plate that covers the "neck" of the steering column.

[Deep Six]

Thanks for the detailed write-up, looks like Santa left me a set last night. Mine have an SAE and DOT cert on the housing so I assume these would be plug n play?

Still want to get the Prova D steering wheel once the dust settles from Christmas!

[Deep Six]

Install was just a 15 minute job and they work perfect out of the box. The flasher relay comes out very easy if you insert a straight blade screwdriver into the slot above while sliding the unit towards the seat.

[jsc1234]

i have a USDM tail light and my car is in asia but my toms dont light up right?

[RallySport Direct]

Originally Posted by jsc1234

i have a USDM tail light and my car is in asia but my toms dont light up right?

What is happening exactly? Do they light up incorrectly or not at all? If the car is the JDM model and you are using the USDM specific tail lights you will want to re-pin the connectors so everything lights up correctly.

Thanks,
Rick

[rgt]

Question - i have searched multiple threads and can't seem to find the answer - but when the LED bulbs eventually go out inside the tail light housing how do you replace them?

[jlugo711]

Originally Posted by rgt

Question - i have searched multiple threads and can't seem to find the answer - but when the LED bulbs eventually go out inside the tail light housing how do you replace them?

Was wondering the same thing but wasn't sure where to ask!

[Burrcold]

I'll admit that I have had the same concern.

[Andrew025]

Originally Posted by rgt

Question - i have searched multiple threads and can't seem to find the answer - but when the LED bulbs eventually go out inside the tail light housing how do you replace them?

Same thing you do with the stock tails (if you're not under warranty)
It's not an LED bulb, just LEDs.

You would have to replace the whole thing.

[chanomatik]

Pretty much. If they go out in a few years outside of warranty, it's up to you to determine if they're worth purchasing again or not. I see it all the time with the Audi headlight LEDs. I wonder what they do when they go out? I would NOT want to purchase a new Audi headlight. However, these tails for around $450 wouldn't be the worst repurchase if I rocked them for several years with no issue except for dead LEDs.

That's probably just me, though. I expect electrical things to be replaced frequently, OEM or not. Mechanical things, less so.

[The Sentinel]

Installed mine in my brand new BRZ when it was les than a day old. Not too challenging, but I do have some cuts.

What I'm concerned about is the gaskets. I don't have a torque wrench but tightened the studs up as tight as I felt comfortable without risking cracking the plastic. There seems to still be a little slack in the gaskets though and I'm nervous about water making it through.

Have we come across any issues thus far?

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by The Sentinel

Installed mine in my brand new BRZ when it was les than a day old. Not too challenging, but I do have some cuts.

What I'm concerned about is the gaskets. I don't have a torque wrench but tightened the studs up as tight as I felt comfortable without risking cracking the plastic. There seems to still be a little slack in the gaskets though and I'm nervous about water making it through.

Have we come across any issues thus far?

@Beyer Subaru and I discussed it in his build thread, I believe. The best thing to do is to order the 2014 BRZ gaskets because they're revised and thicker. I plan on doing it soon. This came up because we both have experienced condensation, although nowhere near as badly as the stock tails. When removing my stock tails there was TONS of gunk and water buildup in the gaskets. I did get a quote from Toyota for the 2014 FR-S gaskets, assuming they were revised also. I was quoted $22 each side.