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View Full Version : Installing trunk light strip


Metal Wing
05-16-2018, 08:20 PM
So... I want to do something and I have no idea what I am doing. It is possible that either me or my car will not survive this.
Any help is appreciated.

I bought the following trunk light strip: http://a.co/5UfDmrh

I think I more or less know how to pull off the trim and access the harness for the lights. Splicing isn't really a problem either.

But here is the question (and you thought you've heard it all! Bet never anything this dumb!) - do I need to disconnect the car battery for this mod?
From what I researched, all tutorials for backup camera say that you should disconnect the battery. But in theory... if the lights aren't on... then I assume no power is being supplied to them. Therefore it should be safe to splice into without disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery?

Or am I doomed with this project?
Noisy Crow
05-17-2018, 02:17 PM
You are probably okay without doing it, but I'd pull the fuse.
Metal Wing
05-18-2018, 02:49 PM
That does make sense... :o I'll do just that! Thank you! :)

On a side note, now I am wondering if that mod is street legal at all? :/ I figured so long as I don't connect the blue light at the back, then having it as a break light/flowing signal light should be okay...
shawnmcw
05-18-2018, 04:10 PM
I've seen plenty of trucks with a similar light at the rear of the bed under the tailgate that do the flowing signal and brake light stuff, so can't see it being illegal. Might be worth it to check with a cop though just in case.
Metal Wing
05-18-2018, 07:31 PM
I've seen plenty of trucks with a similar light at the rear of the bed under the tailgate that do the flowing signal and brake light stuff, so can't see it being illegal. Might be worth it to check with a cop though just in case.

Yeah, that's what I figured more or less. Definitely seen tucks with tailgate light bars.

If only there was an easy way to check this info with law enforcement. I don't think I ever saw a police officer unless its on my commute to work (I never leave my house otherwise, which is probably why).
Drew_82
05-19-2018, 01:46 PM
Always disconnect the battery as a safety precaution! Is there a reason u don’t want to disconnect the battery or just trying to be lazy? Lol
Noisy Crow
05-19-2018, 07:29 PM
Pulling the fuse for the circuit does the exact same thing without trashing the radio setup or the ECU learning.

As for being lazy: how hard is it to type "you" rather that "u"?
muchikori
06-14-2018, 10:08 AM
Curious if you've already installed it... wondering how it looks! and would you be able to post a video of it working? :)