Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Topic: Rear Turn Signals/brake lights (Read 2015 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

October 01, 2007, 10:53:34 PM

Okay guys, i have a question for you all. Thunder Chicken will probly answer it though LOL

As you all know,(On an 88 thunderbird) only the outer two lights flash when using turn signals, or when applying brakes. I dont want sequenced lights, i just want all three to come on when i apply the brakes, and when i put the turn signal on. Any Ideas on how to do this?

I know that you sell the light socket needed to put a dual filiment bulb in that third tail light Thunder Chicken, But is that something I can find localy to me? And if so, what kind of re-wiring am i looking at to get this to work?

Thanks in advance

Kevin:D

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #1 – October 02, 2007, 12:10:47 AM

sounds like what you are saying would work. you just have to track your functions and jumper them to the respective location then convert the socket to double filiments. The diagram shows several single filiment bulbs along the tail.

I just cant imagine what goofy shiznit would happen if you did modify wiring and create a double filiment circuit,,,then hit the turn signal ,, then hit the brakes. It could all go funky on you.

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #2 – October 02, 2007, 02:47:37 AM

Discussed a long time ago, maybe here, maybe the "old" board. It's just a matter of carving out the hole for the socket (as if you're doing the sequential conversion), and wiring the inner socket to the one next to it. However, since car makers (yes, even Ford) make things as cheap as they can, the rest of the wiring all the way up to the brake light switch will be just barely capable of running two bulbs without melting, and adding another bulb just increased the load on each side by 50%.

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #3 – October 02, 2007, 03:35:45 AM

Hmmm. I could run a relay to power everything, but would that really be a necessity? I could run LEDs with load balancers to solve the problem, but thats a little farther than i want to go. Plus all the replacement LED bulbs that ive seen for the tail lights look like ass.

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #4 – October 02, 2007, 08:51:51 AM

Quote from: MasterBlaster;180173

Discussed a long time ago, maybe here, maybe the "old" board. It's just a matter of carving out the hole for the socket (as if you're doing the sequential conversion), and wiring the inner socket to the one next to it. However, since car makers (yes, even Ford) make things as cheap as they can, the rest of the wiring all the way up to the brake light switch will be just barely capable of running two bulbs without melting, and adding another bulb just increased the load on each side by 50%.

thats why the tail light sockets are so mushy and ,,well, just worn out. i didnt know this.

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #5 – October 02, 2007, 09:30:49 AM

Masterblaster is correct - it's a very simple swap. You will need two new electronic flashers (Tridon HD12 or equivalent) otherwise your turn signals and hazard lights will flash too fast.

The stock wiring is sufficient for the one extra bulb per side, but no more than that. I burned the wire going to my brake light switch up because I have the extra bulb/socket per side, plus I added a trailer, which added yet another bulb/socket per side (for a total of four extra bulbs on the brake light circuit. I cured that problem by installing LED lights on the trailer.

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #6 – October 02, 2007, 09:33:17 AM

You should be able to get those sockets at the local parts store. I know many brands make replacements. For the wiring using a relay sounds like a good idea but then you need to get the right flasher to flash the right speed with the load you have on the blinker/hazzard circuit. You would most likely need to do that with LED's also.

Damm I guess I should have hit post sooner

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #7 – October 02, 2007, 05:05:47 PM

So....

Lets see. I need to either find a replacement socket that will fit, or get a lead and carve out the existing one. Then i need to splice into the corresponding wire off of one of the other two three wire sockets. And then I need to replace the flasher unit with a heavier duty unit (Tridon HD12 or equivilant.)

Correct?

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #8 – October 02, 2007, 05:36:15 PM

Ok. Scratch all of that. I just looked at my tailight sockets.

The outer two lights take a larger dual filiment bulb, but the innermost light (Round, Red) takes a smaller 194 or 161 bulb. there doesnt appear to be any way to modify the socket with another lead or anything. Any suggestions now?

or are we carving the taillight assembaly to add a different socket to it? and if so, how hard is it to do that?

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #9 – October 02, 2007, 10:15:03 PM

Quote from: Birdman;180327

Ok.

or are we carving the taillight assembaly to add a different socket to it? and if so, how hard is it to do that?

I did it when I installed the sequencers. Just put a grinder bit in the old Dremel and make the hole bigger. Cuts right through the plastic :hick:

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #10 – October 07, 2007, 07:31:57 PM

Quote

are we carving the taillight assembaly

Yup. I can't remember whose site has the official instructions (it's one of our guys), but I do have pics of the carving sequence.

1 - Measure the big hole, so you know what you're shooting for.

2 - Carve/drill/sand the little hole to match the round diameter of the big hole.

3 - Cut/file/grind/gnaw some notches into the new hole to match the stock hole.

If you do it carefully, your new hole (pic 3) will look just like the factory version (pic 4).
.

Rear Turn Signals/brake lights

Reply #11 – October 08, 2007, 03:51:07 AM

Thanks for the pics! that will help a lot!