I've been kicking around the idea of adding back up lights on my GT (i'd be taking out the 2 red reflectors and putting retangular fog lights in their place)
Would this be legal first of all, if not then I'll have too keep working on the idea. If it is, then how would I go about wiring them? Could I hook them up to the taillights somehow? (Im assumiong that'd be the easiest way) what gauge wire should I use etc.
I've never done much with wiring etc. before but I've been tring to get the idea together in my head as of late...
Actually, I saw a picture of this very mod somewhere on the forum in the last several days (I could have been in the archives though). I don't see how there would be any legal issues with this. Just tap into the existing backup light wires with 16 or 18 wire and you should be fine.
What makes the idea illegal is that you'd be removing the 4+ square inches of red reflecting material per side from the rear of the vehicle. The sweet thing about the fiero is that they use the reflectors for that reason and not having the reflector as part of the tail lights. This allows endless tail light modifications to be made but removing the reflectors would mean you'd have to add this somewhere else on the rear of the vehicle. That's the only downfall of removing them. As far as what lights to use for reverse lighting I guess you can use anything never heard of any laws about it.
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11:38 PM
Dec 31st, 2007
Ken_86gt Member
Posts: 574 From: WILLIAMSBURG Registered: Jan 2004
Gotta find a cop who cares first. I replaced my reflectors with back up lights years ago and no one's said anything to me about it, cops included.
I hope you never park on the street at night. Those reflectors might keep someone from ramming into your car. Of course, if someone did wreck your car becasue they couldn't see it at night, I doubt the cops would care about that either. Although you would be liable for any damages or injury to the person who hit your car, since your removal of a federally mandated safety device was the direct cause of the accident.
Some laws are there for a reason. Just becasue you don't get a ticket for it doesn't make it a good idea.
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01:26 PM
Zac88GT Member
Posts: 1024 From: Victoria BC Registered: Nov 2004
My 88GT has backup lights that are almost useless except to warn anyone behind you that you are indeed backing up. I have been thinking about installing an array of white LEDs in their place in the hopes that they'd be brighter yet draw no more current than the incandescent bulbs.
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02:38 PM
Xanth Member
Posts: 6886 From: Massachusetts Registered: May 2006
I hope you never park on the street at night. Those reflectors might keep someone from ramming into your car. Of course, if someone did wreck your car becasue they couldn't see it at night, I doubt the cops would care about that either. Although you would be liable for any damages or injury to the person who hit your car, since your removal of a federally mandated safety device was the direct cause of the accident.
Some laws are there for a reason. Just becasue you don't get a ticket for it doesn't make it a good idea.
Good point, And that I do. I live in town now... Might there be some sorta reflective material I could put on the taillight lenses (inside the clear covers) that is also translucent so the break light area wouldn't be also getting smaller?
DOT regs do not apply to our fiero's. I do DOT's on our cranes and trucks and reflectors apply there. Look at a brand new pick-up (ford, chevy, etc). they have NO reflectors. As long as turn signals and brake lights are functional, that's all you need.
------------------ carpe diem
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07:51 PM
Zac88GT Member
Posts: 1024 From: Victoria BC Registered: Nov 2004
The install procedure if very straight forward. Just remove the old reflector, cut the back out of the hole, drill a hole in either side for the mounting screws and wire them up. Since they're 55watt driving lights i had to wire them up through a relay using the original reverse light wiring as the trigger.
DOT regs do not apply to our fiero's. I do DOT's on our cranes and trucks and reflectors apply there. Look at a brand new pick-up (ford, chevy, etc). they have NO reflectors. As long as turn signals and brake lights are functional, that's all you need.
How could Fiero's be exempt from the rules? Many cars have reflectors as part of the tail light lens, so its not obvious that there is one.
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12:16 AM
fierosound Member
Posts: 15145 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
What makes the idea illegal is that you'd be removing the 4+ square inches of red reflecting material per side from the rear of the vehicle.
Most cars don't have any reflectors on the rear as far as I can see. Guess I'll have to look again at other cars in traffic tonight. - by the way - Happy New Year!
------------------ 3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com 2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner & Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner
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12:06 PM
Fastback 86 Member
Posts: 7849 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Sep 2003
I hope you never park on the street at night. Those reflectors might keep someone from ramming into your car. Of course, if someone did wreck your car becasue they couldn't see it at night, I doubt the cops would care about that either. Although you would be liable for any damages or injury to the person who hit your car, since your removal of a federally mandated safety device was the direct cause of the accident.
Some laws are there for a reason. Just becasue you don't get a ticket for it doesn't make it a good idea.
If someone manages to take my car out while its parked on the side of the street at night, it won't be because it didn't have reflectors. I can't even imagine a case in which a sober, awake, alert person could veer enough out of their lane to hit a parked car. Besides that, I very much doubt any cop on the scene or otherwise is going to know that there were supposed to be reflectors there. On top of it all, my tail lights have built in reflectors that work perfectly fine. So I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
DOT regs do not apply to our fiero's. I do DOT's on our cranes and trucks and reflectors apply there. Look at a brand new pick-up (ford, chevy, etc). they have NO reflectors. As long as turn signals and brake lights are functional, that's all you need.
That is not true. The reflectors on newer vehicles are integrated into the lights. Take a high candlepower flashlight and hit some of the cars in your neighborhood. You'll see what I mean. How do you do DOT's? Department Of Transportation. The reflectors are for disabled or parked vehicles. Functioning lights are useles on a parked car with the lights off.
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10:21 PM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
If someone manages to take my car out while its parked on the side of the street at night, it won't be because it didn't have reflectors. I can't even imagine a case in which a sober, awake, alert person could veer enough out of their lane to hit a parked car. Besides that, I very much doubt any cop on the scene or otherwise is going to know that there were supposed to be reflectors there. On top of it all, my tail lights have built in reflectors that work perfectly fine. So I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
I think reflectors in some form are a good idea. I wouldn't want someone to remove them without even considering the risk. At least you made an informed decision.
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10:44 PM
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Jan 4th, 2008
gryphon025 Member
Posts: 127 From: Portland, OR 97233 Registered: Apr 2004
These regulations do not apply to regular passenger vehichles. When they say Truck, Bus, and MPV they are talking about Semi's, Busses, and Motor Homes.
quote
Originally posted by bonzo:
That is not true. The reflectors on newer vehicles are integrated into the lights. Take a high candlepower flashlight and hit some of the cars in your neighborhood. You'll see what I mean. How do you do DOT's? Department Of Transportation. The reflectors are for disabled or parked vehicles. Functioning lights are useles on a parked car with the lights off.
You are right. I don't remember the exact year that this went into effect, but any DOT approved tail light made in the last few years at least will also serve as a reflector. The good news is that if you are doing this in conjuction with a tail light mod such as using the round LED's commonly found on Semi's it will have a reflective property. If you are still running your factory tail lights then you are technically not legal.
Update: There is a spray-on clearcoat in a rattle can available at most parts stores called Nite Lites (spelled correctly) that is similar to the coating on streat signs which may be reflective enough for the factory lights to be safe, but it would still not be legal.
[This message has been edited by gryphon025 (edited 01-04-2008).]
I would not replace the reflectors with lights not beacuse of removing the reflectors but because folks would not be able to tell you are pulling out of a space in a parking lot. Since the reflectors are receesed into the bumper cover the lights could only be seen from directly behind the car and not from the sides where other cars whill be going up and down the isles.
I am a self-confessed light nut and I did a driving light addition to a 88 Formula/GT a few years ago. I also wired a switch in place that allows me to turn the lights on anytime. The lights are one of the standard driving light kits that are readily available virtually anywhere.
I would not replace the reflectors with lights not beacuse of removing the reflectors but because folks would not be able to tell you are pulling out of a space in a parking lot. Since the reflectors are receesed into the bumper cover the lights could only be seen from directly behind the car and not from the sides where other cars whill be going up and down the isles. Just a thought.
The lights are not recessed into the bumper very much, infact they are almost perfectly flush. Trust me, turning on these puppies is like haveing another set of headlights in the back. It makes it wonderful to reverse at night and there is no possible way someone would not see them if you were backing up.
