MrAdam5

Hello all. I recently came into possession of my own RX-8 (finally!) and it had underglow installed by the first owner. The guy I bought this from said it did work and he had it working not too long ago but we couldn't get it to work when I picked it up. What I mean by that is the lights wont turn on but everything else seems to be in order. I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he had been pretty honest and kept the car in very good condition.

So, either something went ka-put on it recently, it just never worked, or I'm just a big ape and can't figure it out. It says "Redline" with a speedomiter-ish logo on the controls. I was curious if anyone might have experience with this kit or may know what the problem could potentially be?



Thats the main control. There is a power cord that goes into the cirgarett lighter, and when its on there is a red light in the center of that. The top buttons are options like solid glow, pulse, ect.



This is under the seat. It appears the wire goes in the floor and under to the lights.

Any ideas? It would be so much easier to do it myself than to take it into a shop. Any help is appreciated.

c0ldf1ame

iTrader: (5)

good opportunity to take it out and trash it IMO, sorry i got nothing constructive to say

ZumnRx8

My underglows work perfect...what kind of underglows? Pics of them under the car would help....the line has to have a fuse somewhere....look for it and that may be it...When i first put my underglows I blew like 2 fuses, then i got some higher quality fuses and been good for like 2 months...

power cord in the cigaretter lighter doesnt sound right...lol....more pics of every neon and etc...should help me help you.... it cant be the neons or underglows burnt out....usually the underglows connect to 1 transformer...and that transformer to the main power/battery...so....pics will help..

even if 1 underglow burnts out or cracks or etc....(which my have not), the others still should light up....

MrAdam5

A burnt out fuse is hopefully all it is, however I have no idea where it would be. I did some poking around just now and I assume that black box is the transformer. That silver/white wire (2nd pic) goes into that then a black and red wire comes off that and disappears (can't see without ripping up the carpet).

Underneath there are 2 tubes, one on the driver side and one passenger side. Driver side one is cracked. Theres a wire coming off the rear end of the tube and goes along and I lose site of it when it reaches the rear wheel. Then theres another wire coming off the other end and goes along the same but turns in toward the center of the car before it reaches the front wheel. I can't tell if its going up into the engine/dash or just meeting up with the other tube. This is the same for both sides.

I also cannot see anything coming up and connecting with the battery that shouldn't already be there (probably why it has that lighter plug). Thats all the info I have for the moment, I'll try and get pics up tomorrow for these descriptions.

ZumnRx8

Well I do know this....just like connecting a amplifier for subwoofers, the wire that carries the power has a fuse "in-line" from the battery or "its power source", same goes with the underglows.. wherever it gets its powersource it should have a "in-line fuse" or somekind of fuse a bit after its "power source"......This is what mine looks like

edit: what kind of kit do you have? is there any kind of name of some sort on the transformer or anything like a company who makes it....? pics would help....1

MrAdam5

I wish I could check the fuse, but I'm still having a heck of a time trying to find it. Really sucks when there was no manual or anything for the underglow.

Like I said in my first post, the only branding on it is the word "Redline" with a speedometer-looking logo. I tried googling a couple variations of "Redline" and underglow but couldn't come up with anything. This system is probably 4 years old now as well so theres a possiblity that company went under?

Anyway, heres some pics for the tubes and visible wireing under the car. I highlited some of the wires to where I begin to lose them.





This last one is looking at it from the rear of the car. I lose sight of it here, but it may conute on with that black one thats in the background and then crosses overtop of the front-most one.


Under the seat, thats as far back as I can see the wire going without taking out the seat and ripping up carpet. The transformer is on the right.




Thanks for your help so far. Its starting to make sense for me. If I could just find the fuse...

edit: just a check, you can see my pictures, right?

Socket7

Blown fuse,

shorted wire.

maybe he took the bulbs out when he sold it to you.

You're going to have to trace all the cables and check for damage to them and verify they are all hooked up correctly and there are no blown fuses. This is an excellent time to add a multimeter to your toolkit.


Are those wood screws holding the controller box in place?

MrAdam5

Unfortunately I think so. The more I look at this, the more it seems like a cheap kit and a shotty job.

Anyway, I opened up the fuse box and found a loose red wire with a connector end and the other end a little further in (see pic) that looks much like yours, ZumnRx8.



Sorry for blurryness, but thats the first end I found hanging out there. You can see the other red wire just behind it and kinda disappears off the to side.

Could this be it, or is this possibly for something else in the car? There is an On/Off switch just above this as well, so I guess this could be my missing link for that.

So at this point, to try it I need a fuse. Any idea what kind? I really know nothing about fuses.

adviceinst

That is a fuse holder just like Zumn's so it most likely is a 10 amp round glass fuse.

I will say this if it is a actual neon set up and not an LED setup. I would be willing to be it is no good. Only because your first picture you can see the plastic tube is cracked.

Now if the tube is still OK and only the housing is cracked then cover the end of the tube with some kind plastic and tape over it and keep the water out.

Now once you replace the fuse if it still does not work and it is a neon tube; There is a transformer under the seat.

If that is bad, once again rip them out and get some LED ones.

That protects the neon tube inside. Usually once that is broken you are done for. Rip them out and get the LED ones.

Either way it looks to be a pretty bad install. Any time you have wire running over the top of the carpet and trim rather then under it mean someone did it themselves or they had a shade tree installer do it for them. ( you know the guy, he uses a steak knife as a wire stripper) LOL

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

omg. He used wood screws??!!?!?!!

Did you buy this from a blind mexican. I really think you should take it all out and try to salvage the damage. Not only does the idea of neon make people have less respect. But that controller is uglying up the interior as well...

Juansito

iTrader: (5)

Holy **** that car looks messed up. Where the hell is your foot rest?!?!

Just REMOVE ALL OF THAT and then buy some new underglow and have it professionally installed WITHOUT THE WOOD SCEWS!!

The person who sold it to you probably messed up a lot of your wiring.....

MrAdam5

I actually just took that off, there is one haha. I was trying to see where the wiring came up from and had to take it off to lift the carpet.. and then I noticed the fuse box.

So yeah, I got a fuse and tried it out. It works now, in lovely red. Only problem is the fuse connector wont go together. It seems like it broke, or someone broke it, trying to make it not work. My guess is because they are illegal here to some degree. I've been told they are straight up not allowed, and then I've heard by mouth that I just can't be driving with them on.

I assume its neon, and just the tubing is cracked. The light works perfect. Thanks for the suggestion to tape it up though, I probably wouldn't have thought of doing that.

The only wires running over top are those silver/white ones and they're only visible for about 1ft. down the side of the driver seat. Everything else is quite well hidden. Just for the record.

Overall, its not totally terrible. Not to say it couldn't be better of course, because it defiantly could be. I have other things to touch up first (like the taillight fogging up...) before I even bother with removing this one and getting a new light setup professionally installed. This is just kind of a bonus if it works. Also, paying for something I'm only going to use none of the time isn't money well spent...

Well thanks everyone for your input! Helped a bunch!

PSTNLSS

iTrader: (3)

That was really installed like crap. I'd say pull it out and redo it. If you really want it, the best kits out there are 200 bucks about. Certain things are worth it to do it right.



From the pics it seems that there are both interior and exterior underglows?

Are they supposed to be led or neon tubes. One tube i saw in your picture was cracked. If it is neon, then if a tube cracks and the tubes are in circuit that may be your problem. I have the OPTX by streetglow kit of leds. I know it'll work with cracked tubes.

Plugs into cigarette lighter and all crazy connections.... Pepboys special?

MrAdam5

Wouldn't totally doubt it, this is coming outta Calgary, Canada...
The thing I don't understand is why spend 40K on a car and skimp out on the aftermarket? Oh well.

Anyway, if anyone wants to check out my ghetto underglow:


Rear and both sides, but not the front...

Flashwing

It's a sign from the rotary god...

ZumnRx8

Imma check my fuse a tomorrow, its night time right now, but it sure seems the same fuse holder like mine....the fuses are like $7 for like a 4 pack.....Ill post the type of fuse tomorrow.