Just bought these aftermarket tail lights

[DaJo]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

I was under the impression that hyper flashing was illegal for some reason, but i'm most likely wrong. haha I thought it would get the attention of people more effectively too.

Problem is that I don't know the wiring yet. You're right, it's probably fixable.




By watching the video, one can only assume that they weren't meant to function that way. What someone would think would be the turn signals are on when I turn my headlights/running lights on, and when I turn my signal on, my red/running light blinks. I'm pretty sure driving around with yellow tail lights at night that are only red when i'm braking would get me pulled over or worse.

They were advertised as "used" in the description but in the listing's title it clearly said "NEW! LED tail lights" blah blah blah, so I contacted the seller and he/she said that the tails were "NEW!". I took their word for it and bought them right after that, thinking that there was just a problem with their listing. Now i'm starting to think that there's something fishy going on.

I think by "new" they were referring to it as an introduction of a new taillight design.

[JPxM0Dz]

If I remember correctly, japanparts sent me a link showing the tails in action and describing the function of each led when lit up.
I believe they are wired correctly according to their design, so you would need to modify the wiring to your liking if you want a different look

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[BuBlake]

Originally Posted by JPxM0Dz

If I remember correctly, japanparts sent me a link showing the tails in action and describing the function of each led when lit up.
I believe they are wired correctly according to their design, so you would need to modify the wiring to your liking if you want a different look

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

If that's the case, and they're legal, I think i'm fine with it. The yellows are plenty bright at night for showing the tail end of the vehicle, and that's all that really matters.

[JPxM0Dz]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

If that's the case, and they're legal, I think i'm fine with it. The yellows are plenty bright at night for showing the tail end of the vehicle, and that's all that really matters.

Post a quick video of some night action if you get a chance

Also, in all fairness, your previous video seemed to have some direct light on the smoked tail when you were doing a side by side comparison against it and the stock tail. Stock is definitely brigter, however there seemed to be more light hitting the smoked tail making it look less effective

Thanks

[MmmHamSandwich]

But they're not legal like that, that's the point.

For one, they are yellow whereas they must be red, two they probably don't meet the surface area requirements, and three they definitely don't meet the requirements for rear running lights to be visible from the sides. I still maintain they wired them wrong from the factory. Personally I'd resolder the wires. Maybe you'd get lucky and find when wired correctly the yellows flash at the proper rate.

Barring all that, they still fail the rear and side reflector requirements. Are you handy with a soldering iron?

[BuBlake]

Originally Posted by MmmHamSandwich

But they're not legal like that, that's the point.

For one, they are yellow whereas they must be red, two they probably don't meet the surface area requirements, and three they definitely don't meet the requirements for rear running lights to be visible from the sides. I still maintain they wired them wrong from the factory. Personally I'd resolder the wires. Maybe you'd get lucky and find when wired correctly the yellows flash at the proper rate.

Barring all that, they still fail the rear and side reflector requirements. Are you handy with a soldering iron?

I was afraid that the yellow running lights were illegal... Now I have to fix them, great...

I could easily fix them if the case wasn't sealed shut around the circuit board. I'm afraid that I would damage it and make them useless if I tried to disassemble the casing.

Swapping the running light wire with the signal light wire sounds possible though, as someone else mentioned. I think I could take a volt meter and figure out which wires are which.

[BuBlake]

Originally Posted by JPxM0Dz

Post a quick video of some night action if you get a chance

Also, in all fairness, your previous video seemed to have some direct light on the smoked tail when you were doing a side by side comparison against it and the stock tail. Stock is definitely brigter, however there seemed to be more light hitting the smoked tail making it look less effective

Thanks

I noticed that as well with the lighting. Unfortunately they do seem less visible in direct sunlight, as I noticed when I unlocked the car while walking back to it today.

I don't think i'll be taking another video until I get them fixed. I definitely don't want more attention from the police or worse, an accident.

[JPxM0Dz]

Originally Posted by MmmHamSandwich

But they're not legal like that, that's the point.

For one, they are yellow whereas they must be red, two they probably don't meet the surface area requirements, and three they definitely don't meet the requirements for rear running lights to be visible from the sides. I still maintain they wired them wrong from the factory. Personally I'd resolder the wires. Maybe you'd get lucky and find when wired correctly the yellows flash at the proper rate.

Barring all that, they still fail the rear and side reflector requirements. Are you handy with a soldering iron?

If you want to get technical, how many guys are running illegal mods on their cars everyday without even realizing it, let alone running tails that may or may not meet safety or legal requirements.

. Loud exhaust, hi-flow catt, headers etc [Emision Laws some States]
. Tinted windows, Headlights etc
. Modded indash multimedia while driving
. Radar detectors [Some States and Provinces]
. Led lighting [Interior/Exterior - Flashing Red & Blue]
. Aftermarket HID's [I've seen guys get nailed for them here]

I mean the list goes on and on, so to single out these tails seems be redundant, unless of course your prepared to rid your car of all other illegal mods
I get what your saying and agree that they may not meet certain safety specs, but where do you draw the line ?

You could draw up a thousand scenarios of all the above mentioned mods and show how unsafe they could be under certain conditions, but what's the point ? Guys are gonna mod their cars, with or without meeting every law on the planet

It sure as hell won't stop me and other enthusiasts

Speaking of Laws, Speed Limit is 110Km here on our highways, I almost never drive the speed limit, how many do ?? If I had to guess, I would definitely say the percentage of people that do is very small. No suprises here...
Now I'm not saying people should go and break every traffic law out there or mod their cars beyond recognition, but people are gonna do what they wanna do and will usually accept the logical consequences of their actions, whether it's breaking trafiic laws or running ilegal mods on their car if and when they get pulled over

Example Window Tint: "Sorry officer, I didn't realize window tint was illegal on my from windows No problem Son, this is just a warning, so get it removed and check back with us when it's off. Will do & thanks Officer!" Remove tint and check back with officer for inspection, good to go! Two weeks later, tint is right back on there LOL

Lot's of people here run complete tint front and back, have loud exhaust and other questionable mods. But usually never get bothered, assuming your not driving around like a retard looking for attention

[BRZranger]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

There's only one way to plug them in, so this can only mean one thing: They were wired incorrectly from the shop or wherever they came from in Japan.

Couldn't you remove the wire harness connectors from both your stock and new brakes and switch them?

[ttknf]

If you're not proficient with a multimeter/voltmeter, a 9v battery and a couple pieces of wire can help trace out which leads do what on the new lamps.

[MmmHamSandwich]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

I noticed that as well with the lighting. Unfortunately they do seem less visible in direct sunlight, as I noticed when I unlocked the car while walking back to it today.

I don't think i'll be taking another video until I get them fixed. I definitely don't want more attention from the police or worse, an accident.

You will have to excuse me as I am not intimately familiar with the back of our own tails, but the pictures you posted of the backside of the taillights, were those of the stockers or the aftermarkets?

If they are the aftermarket ones it looks like the wires are exposed enough to stick an iron in there, though I am guessing the pictures are of the stock configuration and as you say the aftermarket ones are totally sealed.

If they are sealed, you can go a different albeit less pretty route. Once you have isolated which wire is which, you can simply cut, strip, swap, solder, and shrinkwrap the wires.

Originally Posted by JPxM0Dz

If you want to get technical, how many guys are running illegal mods on their cars everyday without even realizing it, let alone running tails that may or may not meet safety or legal requirements.

I'll agree, but I do think there is a difference between an illegal mod that skirts the law, and one that blatantly affects safety.

In the case of these tails, they're tinted, which decreases light output but also means they have a strong appeal to people with gray and black cars such as in BuBlake's case. Secondly, there are no reflectors. This is kind of a big deal, because our tail lights are the ONLY reflectors on the rear of the car. (No, the rear fog assembly, contrary to popular belief, is not a reflector) Lastly, as wired, the only rear running lamps are relatively dim turn signals. This is a problem both for reasons of visibility, and compliance not just with the law but with expectations. If you are driving down the road and see a car with its hazards stuck on it is likely to be confusing. In addition red is a color that grabs attention more readily than yellow which enhances visibility. Lastly rear turn signals on this car only face rearwards so, other than your front fender side markers, you have no other visibility elements on the rear 8/10th's of the car either in the form of reflectors or lights.

So what you end up with is a dark car with no retroreflectors running dim yellow lights as the only visibility enhancement. If you think this is an acceptable risk then we can agree to disagree. Part of my job is to deal with the aftermath of accidents and I've been to fatal rear enders. One thing I wholeheartedly believe is modern tail lights are much safer because they are brighter and larger. You can see this readily when driving on the roads and ahead of you is a new car and one from 20 years ago side by side. I personally would rather curse someone's loud exhaust any day than have them get creamed because no one could see their car in time.

If anyone were to purchase these lights I would strongly recommend altering the wiring scheme to what is no doubt the intended operation. Pretty sad the manufacturer botched it on production.

[Gixxersixxerman]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

I was afraid that the yellow running lights were illegal... Now I have to fix them, great...


Swapping the running light wire with the signal light wire sounds possible though, as someone else mentioned. I think I could take a volt meter and figure out which wires are which.

You are putting way to much thought into this.. but as im an electrical tech i find something like this easy.. in your field of work, you might find it easy and me difficult..

all you need is a multimeter, or test light.. ground one lead, then with the car turn signal on test each connector until you get a signal on the meter or the light lights up on a test light.. then turn off the blinker turn on the parking lights and repeat. once you have those two figured out, on the light itself look in the plug and you'll need a slim small flat tip screw driver, or a tool for electrical connectors, found at harbor fright for cheap, you'll slide that tool in between to lift a clip inside and the wire slides right out.. do it for both wires and swap them around.. it takes longer to type this then it would to swap them.. really easy

[JPxM0Dz]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

I noticed that as well with the lighting. Unfortunately they do seem less visible in direct sunlight, as I noticed when I unlocked the car while walking back to it today.

I don't think i'll be taking another video until I get them fixed. I definitely don't want more attention from the police or worse, an accident.

According to this guy, your lights are connected wrong... http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22971

I've only seen his brakes lights on, but when asked about yours, he confirmed they are connected wrong

Just waiting for confirmation from him and asked him to post a pic of tails with headlamps on full

[RAN94A]

Originally Posted by BuBlake

I noticed that as well with the lighting. Unfortunately they do seem less visible in direct sunlight, as I noticed when I unlocked the car while walking back to it today.

Originally Posted by JPxM0Dz

According to this guy, your lights are connected wrong... http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22971

No question about it they're wrong....

(unless you guys have weird light standards over there...) In Aus its a generic convention

Soft Red - Parkers
Bright Red - Brakes
Amber - Indicators


so in this case:
Outer shell - Parkers
Inner Shell - Brakes
Inner Inner "Fins" - Indicators.