DIY: Side mirror turn signals on the cheap!
Thread Starter
Rotormaniac
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Florence/huntsville alabama
DIY: Side mirror turn signals on the cheap!
Hey guys... One thing I've always really liked was turn signals in the side mirrors... and rather than spend the money on something pricy, I thought I would just do it myself. Assuming everyone has electrical tape, some kind of splicing tool, and some wire, this mod will only cost you 15$ at autozone.... now before I go any further.... Don't flame me for buying something at an autopart store... they're really not that bad! Alright to begin... you need to go to Autozone, advanced... wherever... pick you up a pack of the Small LED strip... I think they were 5", but not sure. I used the amber color... but they have white, blue, and red too. You'll need to use this DIY to remove the door panel and mirror and other crap:
http://www.puddlelights.com/manual/puddlelights.pdf
You'll notice they're also showing how to wire in puddle lights.... well pretend the leds you bought are those puddle lights but dont wire them in where they tell you. and here we go:
STEP 1- Remove your front wheels and wheel wells. ( You do not have to remove the bottom front part of the wheel well... just everything from the corner light up and around.
STEP 2- once you have that off. you can look back towards the door through the well and see through where the door is open... you're gonna run your wire through there. Reach up where the headlights are and disconnect the turn signal from its socket (counterclockwise and pull) It has a green and black wire coming from it. you will splice your wires into them. (pics at bottom)
STEP 3- once tapped in, run the wire all the way to the door (itll run behind the fender vents) pull back the rubber seal and run it underneath and into the door panel. now if you follow the directions from the other DIY just use the wire you just ran as your 12v and ground. and thats all there is to it.
This was my first time removing the door panel, and it took me a few hours to do the whole job, as I'm easily frustrated and like to take breaks, so its a small ad simple job, and I really like the outcome!
P.S. the picture doesnt exactly do the lights justice... They're pretty damn bright at night. Scared the crap out of me first time I went to turn
http://www.puddlelights.com/manual/puddlelights.pdf
You'll notice they're also showing how to wire in puddle lights.... well pretend the leds you bought are those puddle lights but dont wire them in where they tell you. and here we go:
STEP 1- Remove your front wheels and wheel wells. ( You do not have to remove the bottom front part of the wheel well... just everything from the corner light up and around.
STEP 2- once you have that off. you can look back towards the door through the well and see through where the door is open... you're gonna run your wire through there. Reach up where the headlights are and disconnect the turn signal from its socket (counterclockwise and pull) It has a green and black wire coming from it. you will splice your wires into them. (pics at bottom)
STEP 3- once tapped in, run the wire all the way to the door (itll run behind the fender vents) pull back the rubber seal and run it underneath and into the door panel. now if you follow the directions from the other DIY just use the wire you just ran as your 12v and ground. and thats all there is to it.
This was my first time removing the door panel, and it took me a few hours to do the whole job, as I'm easily frustrated and like to take breaks, so its a small ad simple job, and I really like the outcome!
P.S. the picture doesnt exactly do the lights justice... They're pretty damn bright at night. Scared the crap out of me first time I went to turn
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,549
Likes: 8
From: Las Vegas, NV
Pretty cool indeed. It will be nicer if it's standard on all Mazda lineup. The only auto maker with all their vehicles equipped with side mirror turn signal lights, that would be awesome.
Thread Starter
Rotormaniac
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Florence/huntsville alabama
Yeah i could have haha. I'm dull when it comes to stuff like that... I always just head for the visible source. The fue box would have been simpler I suppose, but im not the best at making wires disappear. I'll post a vid sometime this evening!
Thread Starter
Rotormaniac
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Florence/huntsville alabama
Thread Starter
Rotormaniac
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Florence/huntsville alabama
I actually really like the chrome. Since I dont have any body mods on it, I think it looks kinda bland without something. my plan is to eventually start getting stuff put on like M-1 speed kit and definitely new fenders cause some pos side swiped me in a parking lot and ran. I originally had done the rims one weekend anticipating new rims soon, but got bogged down with speeding tickets haha. Thanks for the flame, but I enjoy what I've done with it for now :P
Thread Starter
Rotormaniac
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Florence/huntsville alabama
*also, another idea I had about the turn signals would be to place them behind the mirror to produce a kind of glow behind it... idk just an idea if you didnt like the exposed strip.
Love the blinker idea, mad props for that. +1 for added safety as well.
The rest of your car................... well.............. to each his own. But either way you get points for coming up with something cool no one else has done on a 8.
The rest of your car................... well.............. to each his own. But either way you get points for coming up with something cool no one else has done on a 8.
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