Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: MOCAJ on November 12, 2005, 08:10:48 PM

Title: TJ rear light
Post by: MOCAJ on November 12, 2005, 08:10:48 PM

Apparently, US TJ's have a transparent part to the bottom of the kerbside rear light cluster to illuminate the number plate  :wink:

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Post by: Manda on November 12, 2005, 08:14:30 PM

MOCAJ - you can buy a kit called lite'n' boltz from 4wd, or buy a small light from a camping shop. I just have a small high powered LED. Have you got a bike sized plate?

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Post by: MOCAJ on November 12, 2005, 08:23:06 PM

already seen the litezenbolz in 4wd, they look cool. They were my original plan, however.

Reason i asked the question is there is a guy on e-bay selling US style holder and plate.

He gave me the info on US lights, so that will save me messing about with wiring etc.

Will i fail the MOT if the plate is a bike one, it is due end of month  

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Post by: Hoodoo on November 12, 2005, 08:27:19 PM

It won't fail. Basically, there are two sizes of plate/letter font allowed. Without going into actual specs., one is what is regarded as the standard plate, and the other is what is regarded as a 'bike' size. Both are legal.
 Regards,

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Post by: isle of man on November 12, 2005, 08:33:00 PM

the usa rear light has a clear bottom lenz but is configured different to the uk....


peter henry

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Post by: MOCAJ on November 12, 2005, 08:37:09 PM

IS anyone selling them over here or is it totally different and will not work

 :?:  

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Post by: isle of man on November 12, 2005, 08:40:27 PM

it would be more cost affective to put a LED light as manda stated.....
found this......
http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin01 ... &checked=Y (http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=55213+100&UREQA=1&UREQB=2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=00&checked=Y)

peter henry

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Post by: Anonymous on November 12, 2005, 10:45:03 PM

Why can't a UK Jeep supplier come up with a kit?

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Post by: Mike Pavelin on November 13, 2005, 08:11:38 AM

Here you go......

(http://http://snap20.photobox.co.uk/990993685da56eaf483455ccd22dcdf2c12ec919361800b384c1d10e.jpg)

Us spec rear plate mount with US size plate trimmed to make space for trailer no. plate lamp from Halfords for a few quid.

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Post by: Mort on November 13, 2005, 02:41:18 PM

Sorry, but a bike sized number plate isn't legal (unless yours is an import) - and I've researched this very carefully 'coz the Plods around here take this sort of thing very seriously.  There are specific font sizes and spacings for car number plates, and these are different to the font sizes and spacing for bike plates, and they also differ according to the year of manufacture.  Take a look here http://http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_current_requirements.htm for more details.

On my TJ, with a J33 Pxx plate, I can fit everything onto an 8" x 8" plate with fully legal spacing.  If you have more characters then your plate size will increase proportionally.  The biggest problem that I found was finding a supplier who will make up a smaller than average plate.  Most suppliers said that a legal square rear plate had to measure the standard 11" x 8", which is rubbish.  I eventually found a supplier who would make up a plate to the smallest legal size, with the BS number and his postcode, which makes it fully legal.  Speak to Craig at http://http://www.craigsplates.com/.

As regards the number plate light issue, I also researched this through my dealership.  There is a different part number for the US N/S tail light, but no full description.  It's also 3 times the price of the UK tail light, and has a different lens, so not worth pursuing.  You could make a cut out in the bottom of your existing light cluster, and custom-install a light, or you could do what I did, which was to buy a couple of 3-LED number plate lights for a bike (which were rated for a bike-sized plate) and splice them into the N/S rear light circuit.  take a look in my album if you want to see what it looks like (although I've changed things a bit since then).  If you want me to, I can post a closer photo of what it looks like now.

Sorry for the length of this post, and hope this helps.

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Post by: MOCAJ on November 13, 2005, 05:01:00 PM

Cheers for the info, will phone craig tomorrow and see what he can do for me.

Going to go with the LED's option as well.

 8)

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Post by: Hoodoo on November 13, 2005, 05:03:09 PM

My apologies for referring to the second size permissible for cars etc as 'motorcycle' sized. What I meant was that there are two sizes available for cars, the second being approximately two thirds the size of the 'traditional' size. This second size should do the trick, and any authorised supplier should be able to accomodate you.
  Front and rear should be the same size font.
 Regards,

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Post by: Mort on November 13, 2005, 07:34:18 PM

Quote from: "my other cars a jeep"

Cheers for the info, will phone craig tomorrow and see what he can do for me.

Going to go with the LED's option as well.

 8)

Mine were made by a company called Pyramid, p/n 08029.

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Post by: Anonymous on November 14, 2005, 10:52:58 AM

I did this yesterday :)

Used a boltlight in the bottom of the cluster and spliced into the loom near the conenctor you pull out the back. Bit of vulcanizing tape over the hole I had to make in the wire sleeve to keep everything nice.

Was worried if it would be bright enough, but had a look in the dark last night and it seems fine.

 

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Post by: Code3TJ on November 16, 2005, 07:35:12 PM

The bottom of the US-model light housing is a clear plastic which allows the bulb to shine down on the plate. It's somewhat difficult to get a picture of, but here are a couple and sorry for the funny angle on the first one.

(http://http://www.jeephorizons.com/code3tj/brake_light.jpg)

(http://http://jeephorizons.com/tech/led/ledinstall.jpg)

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Post by: Mort on November 16, 2005, 10:22:02 PM

Interesting pics Code3TJ.  

Looking at your photos it's easy to see the differences from the UK spec.  Apart from the fact that we have orange indicator lights, it seems that the US version has the reversing light at the top, and the tail light at the bottom - so the tail light bulb can be used to illuminate the number plate through the clear panel at the bottom.  

On the UK spec it's the other way around, with the reversing light at the bottom of the cluster, and the tail light at the top.  so even if we had a clear panel at the bottom we'd still have to fit another bulb.

That's cleared things up nicely - thanks!  

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Post by: tanner2 on November 17, 2005, 03:15:13 AM

I have a set of those litenboltz for when I do my back LED install.  $wd parts has them as stated in a earlier post.  I should have them install probably next weekend.  I'll post pics when done.

Tanner2

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Post by: RichT on November 17, 2005, 08:55:08 AM

Hi

Presumably you could order a couple of US spec light clusters and rewire them, I notice that the reverse light is uppermost.

Or could you turn a UK spec cluster upside down and cut the slot out, then cover with suitably bent perspex.

Cheers

Richard

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Post by: Anonymous on November 17, 2005, 09:26:24 AM

MountainJacks do those nutlights cheaper than 4WD!

There's only 4 wires to the rear cluster! so re-wiring is easy if you wanted to... or, you drill three new holes and bolt the light in upside down. The downside of that is that the original holes have captive nuts, drilling three new holes would mean removing the lining and holding the nuts up there (Or araldite them in place???) if you have the same problem as me where you can't remove your rear mudflaps, then getting the lining out is a problem too! I have only put one nutlight in at the moment, but I may add the second one to make things a bit brighter down there.

EE

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Post by: Mort on November 17, 2005, 09:59:29 AM

I considered ordering a US Spec light Cluster Richard, but was put off by the price.

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Post by: monkeybiz on November 18, 2005, 08:09:13 AM

ed where is the pic's???
i take it it all went ok.....
im going to do the XJ with them...... well when i have the time to start the XJ project, i sux having to do other peoples jeeps daily when mine is sat waiting to be done

anyone got a fuel pump for a V6 carb cherry ???

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Post by: Anonymous on November 18, 2005, 09:31:13 AM

I'll try to take some today if I get a chance.... Bloody work is ruining my life at the moment.... am at home today, so will try to slow down a bit! I've actually seen daylight today :)

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Post by: Anonymous on November 18, 2005, 10:51:58 AM

Okay, a few piccies are at.....

http://http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/2145491

Yep, that is CheapFest mud still :) Still got a hosepipe ban here.

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Post by: Anonymous on November 18, 2005, 11:07:16 AM

Looks realy good Ed, gives it that GGRRRRRRRRRRR factor!
Ganna have to do somthign about my bumpers at some stage!

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Post by: Mike Pavelin on November 18, 2005, 03:21:17 PM

If you use UK spec YJ ones, they're the other way up and you can cut a hole in the bottom for a license plate window.

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Post by: Mort on November 18, 2005, 06:07:23 PM

D'oh   Wish I'd known that earlier.

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Post by: Anonymous on December 06, 2005, 11:09:47 AM

Got a set of brand new US spec rear lights for sale - pm me if your interested

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Post by: MOCAJ on December 06, 2005, 06:07:24 PM

Litezbolts or whatever they are called are ordered

To quote Mort-

D'oh,  Wish I'd known that earlier

Hope santa makes it from the states before xmas  

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Post by: kizer on December 23, 2005, 10:45:36 PM

I just did this myself.
(http://http://www.links4jeeps.com/writeups/ledtaillights/DSCN0114.JPG)

The license plate braket has a red LED on the outside and there is 3 white LEDS that shine down to light up the license plate.

Im going to be cutting in 2 2-inch lights for reverse idicators soon that will sorta look like this. Its amazing what duct tape will do to help out a picture.
(http://http://www.links4jeeps.com/writeups/ledtaillights/DSCN0107.JPG)

If they are needed I have a pair of US style rear lights that well I just took off. I cut the harness to wire up my round LEDS, but nothing a little splicing couldn't fix. I'd be willing to send for free, but the shipping would be the killer. Either way speak up or forever hold your piece. Actually they are probably just going to go into a pile with all of my other junk that Ive taken off for one reason or another.  ;)
http://www.links4jeeps.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2452 (http://www.links4jeeps.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2452)

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Post by: Mort on December 24, 2005, 09:13:23 AM

Looks good Kizer.    

I thought about mounting my number plate on the spare tyre too, but it was much simpler to wire it up the US position.  I was also worried about the plate being stolen - as it would have to be removable to get to the spare.  Have you got some sort of anti-theft device fitted, or are folk  just a lot more honest out your way?