micl9
Well-Known Member
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UPDATED 5/9/21
Well I am at it again. This time getting rid of the night time camera glare coming off the License Plate Lights. Idea started from this thread: Rear cam vs. License Plate Lights and @Venator68 idea to use a module available in Germany that shuts the lights off when vehicle is in reverse.
Some may say we are bitching about and I am solving a problem that does not need to be solved. BUT for me its the thrill of the chase.
The German module is really just a relay in a waterproof box. So I started thinking that I have some marine grade sealed connector relays I could use, tap off the reverse wire at the tail light and splice the relay into the Lic Plate light wire. After taking a look under the bumper I decided that cutting and splicing into this wire in this location was not the ideal solution. I am sure I could make a watertight splice, but....
The next place to do this is at the BCM where both the reverse light and Lic Plate light wires originate. And as I had already tapped into the reverse light for my Cargo Lights as Back Up Lights mod I am 1/2 way there. I poked around and found the Lic Plate wire, a yellow-violet wire, and its got easy access behind the Vent trim piece. And enough slack to cut and splice in wires, more importantly enough room to splice the wire back together in case something goes wrong to bring it back to stock.
I will say that I don't know the laws regarding having your license plate illuminated while in reverse, but I assume it probably reads in motion at night. So I have come up with 2 plans; 1) Shut the lights off in reverse and hope no one ever notices (get your inspections done during the day!), 2)Dim the lights by reducing the voltage supplied while in reverse. I will start with just shutting the lights off and add dimming later.
After some experimenting I don't think dimming is worth the trouble. In fact I wonder if this is a problem in need of a solution! Pictured below is with LED lights and with lights unplugged. You decide
I will leave the info below for those that still want to try this. I will probably still do this as I have all the parts and just need to cut the Lic plate line and run wires to the relay <10inches a way.
Wiring will look like this for shutting the lights off.
And like this for dimming. Tom_C gave me some great advice to make this less complicated and use just a series resistor. I had some on hand and 4.7k seems to decrease the brightness alot. We shall see how it looks.
I would welcome any additional input on this!
Wires come off of these connectors at the BCM. Follow the harness and look for the wire color. Reverse can be found to the left of the BCM and is Green with Brown tracer. Lic Plate wire is Yellow with Violet tracer located above the BCM behind the vent trim piece.
I will add more detail after I do this myself. But the above pretty much covers it.
Well I am at it again. This time getting rid of the night time camera glare coming off the License Plate Lights. Idea started from this thread: Rear cam vs. License Plate Lights and @Venator68 idea to use a module available in Germany that shuts the lights off when vehicle is in reverse.
Some may say we are bitching about and I am solving a problem that does not need to be solved. BUT for me its the thrill of the chase.
The German module is really just a relay in a waterproof box. So I started thinking that I have some marine grade sealed connector relays I could use, tap off the reverse wire at the tail light and splice the relay into the Lic Plate light wire. After taking a look under the bumper I decided that cutting and splicing into this wire in this location was not the ideal solution. I am sure I could make a watertight splice, but....
The next place to do this is at the BCM where both the reverse light and Lic Plate light wires originate. And as I had already tapped into the reverse light for my Cargo Lights as Back Up Lights mod I am 1/2 way there. I poked around and found the Lic Plate wire, a yellow-violet wire, and its got easy access behind the Vent trim piece. And enough slack to cut and splice in wires, more importantly enough room to splice the wire back together in case something goes wrong to bring it back to stock.
I will say that I don't know the laws regarding having your license plate illuminated while in reverse, but I assume it probably reads in motion at night. So I have come up with 2 plans; 1) Shut the lights off in reverse and hope no one ever notices (get your inspections done during the day!), 2)Dim the lights by reducing the voltage supplied while in reverse. I will start with just shutting the lights off and add dimming later.
After some experimenting I don't think dimming is worth the trouble. In fact I wonder if this is a problem in need of a solution! Pictured below is with LED lights and with lights unplugged. You decide
I will leave the info below for those that still want to try this. I will probably still do this as I have all the parts and just need to cut the Lic plate line and run wires to the relay <10inches a way.
Wiring will look like this for shutting the lights off.
And like this for dimming. Tom_C gave me some great advice to make this less complicated and use just a series resistor. I had some on hand and 4.7k seems to decrease the brightness alot. We shall see how it looks.
I would welcome any additional input on this!
Wires come off of these connectors at the BCM. Follow the harness and look for the wire color. Reverse can be found to the left of the BCM and is Green with Brown tracer. Lic Plate wire is Yellow with Violet tracer located above the BCM behind the vent trim piece.
I will add more detail after I do this myself. But the above pretty much covers it.
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