Reverse Lights

[Doug er]

I'm building a MK IV and realized that I need reverse lights to pass inspection, I also think they are a good idea just for backing up into a dark garage. I saw a post where someone, (I wish I could remember where. ) added 2 LED lights to his license plate cover. If I were to do that, can I run them from the License plate light wire with another wire to a switch in the dash? Or, should I just run another wire from the fuse box to a switch to the license plate cover?

Please let me know how you have dealt with reverse lights.

Thank you for the help.

Doug S.

[Hoooper]

Why not run the wire to the reverse switch in your trans rather than a switch on the dash?

If the license plate light is going to be on all the time (not with the lights like would be normal) it would be fine as long as the wire is big enough to support the load. Replacing the license plate light with an LED would help that.

[Railroad]

I have a license plate bar that has led back up lights.
The best wiring is, using the hot off the tag light, run the ground to the reverse switch on the trans and put the ground on the other switch leg.
One of my buddies came up with the wiring idea.

[JohnK]

If you're adding a reverse light for licensing purposes, make sure you're powering it from a source that's on all the time, not just when park/headlights are on. I powered my reverse light off the unused "radio mem" feed, and ran the ground leg through the switch on the TKO600.

[Blitzboy54]

Why not run the wire to the reverse switch in your trans rather than a switch on the dash?

If the license plate light is going to be on all the time (not with the lights like would be normal) it would be fine as long as the wire is big enough to support the load. Replacing the license plate light with an LED would help that.

This.

Take one of your always hot spare wires or splice one that is in use, then run it to your revers switch on the transmission. Run from the other side of the switch to your reverse lights and then ground your reverse lights wherever convenient. I used the radio memory and split it for 2 applications, my phone charging port and my reverse lights. They will only come on when the transmission is shifted in reverse.

There are number of great NY registration threads. This one breaks it down really well. I live in the Albany are and will be attempting my registration by late spring I hope.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?31030-New-York-State-Registration&highlight=%27new+york+registration%26quot%3B%26quo t%3B

Make sure you check all the other little quirks that NY requires - padded dash, padded sun visor, wipers and defroster.

[JohnK]

I think it's a generally-accepted best practice to run the ground wire through the trans switch rather than the hot wire. Either will work but one may accidentally energize the entire transmission if there was a failure of the reverse switch.

[Blitzboy54]

You have 12v at the switch in either scenario

[FF33rod]

Here's what I used on the hot rod, license plate frame with built in backup light (and license plate light for night). Used the reverse switch in the TKO as many suggested above.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/152028770310

Steve

[JIMOCO]

I don't know if you were referring to me but I used a license plate frame for my backup lights.
163037
I bought a chrome frame from Pep Boys and added two super bright LEDs at the bottom of the frame. Since I am carb'd, I was not using the feed for the electric fuel pump. I split that feed at the trans switch and ran it back to the trunk lid along with the license plate light feed. This passed inspection for me. I recommend testing the LEDs in your garage to make sure they are bright enough. Mine are very bright I do not often need to back into a completely dark space. My concern with the version FF33rod is using is that most states require the state name to be completely visible. Since the PA tag has the name at the top, I chose to add the LEDs at the bottom and keep the state fully visible. You might be able to install the FF33rod version upside down to avoid the issue but that will depend on how you are installing the trunk handle. I notched my frame and put the handle through the plate. You may not get stopped if the name is obscured but some electronic systems that photo your plate (easy pass or traffic cameras) may have issues.

[Doug er]

JIMOCO, your's was the one I saw. Thank you for the help. I was looking at JIMOCO's option and I think you could mount that plate with the lights up or down.

I will try to use the reverse switch on the transmission. Not sure what I'm going to do yet for the rest of it but I have a clue thanks to all your inputs.

This forum is an amazing amount of knowledge and help I am truly grateful.

Thank you,
Doug S.

[Fixit]

This is what I did on #9365 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?27544-40-Watt-Garage-6200-miles&p=366721&viewfull=1#post366721)

[Doug er]

I really like what FF33rod, JIMOCO and Fixit did, great solutions. Hoooper has convinced me to use the reverse switch in the transmission. I have a rebuild T5 that I'll be using.

But I do have a question regarding Railroad's comment. The tag light, is that the license plate light? Is it always hot? If yes, does that mean I can run the ground wire from the license plate light to the transmission only? No need to run anything from the dash?

Thank you all for your comments and help, unfortunately I need a lot of help. I'm a wood worker not a mechanic and this is all new and exciting for me. Learning lots.

Thank you,
Doug S.

[FF33rod]

RE Tag light, I believe Railroad is referring to the license plate light and no it isn't always hot, hot only when the lights are on. That is one way to go and if you only care about backup lights to see in the dark then job done. However, I wanted the backup light to work even in the day time as an indication the car is reversing to pedestrians other cars, etc. So I ran a separate new wire that is on when the ignition was on.

Steve

[Blue Viking]

I'm thinking of using the Lucas L692 indicator lights to do double duty as reverse lights in the rear and daytime driving lights in the front. Hopefully the authorities will approve this.

[Doug er]

Good advise Steve, thank you!!!!

Doug S.

[JohnK]

I'm thinking of using the Lucas L692 indicator lights to do double duty as reverse lights in the rear and daytime driving lights in the front. Hopefully the authorities will approve this.

I'm curious how you're setting this up in the rear. Are you adding a third pair of L692's with clear lenses in addition to the two pairs for brake/turn lights, or are you replacing the lenses of one pair of brake/turn lights with clear lenses? You say "double duty" so I take this to mean that you're planning for them to be both reverse lights and brake and/or turn signals. I'd love some more details.

[Blue Viking]

I'm curious how you're setting this up in the rear. Are you adding a third pair of L692's with clear lenses in addition to the two pairs for brake/turn lights, or are you replacing the lenses of one pair of brake/turn lights with clear lenses? You say "double duty" so I take this to mean that you're planning for them to be both reverse lights and brake and/or turn signals. I'd love some more details.

I have replaced the front indicator lights and upper tail-lights with clear lenses. Using led bulbs which have orange indicator lights and white driving/reverse light. The white light is suppressed in the bulb when the indicator is used, and comes back automatically a second after the indicator lights are turned off. Still using red lenses for the brake/ rear lights, but might replace those as well with clear lenses and red LEDs.

[MB750]

I'm going with these, wired thru my reverse switch in the T5:

https://hyperlites.com/?product=hyperwhites-lights-only

I've had them on many motorcycles before, and their brake lights, they are SUPER bright and small enough to mount anywhere.

[zee]

My plan is to get one of these reverse lights that integrate into the license plate. Like this one: https://store.ijdmtoy.com/products/led-license-plate-light-35-065-white


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0048/8629/8727/products/iJDMTOY-LED-LPR-Light-Bar-Kit-03_1344x896.jpg?v=1577484483

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0048/8629/8727/products/iJDMTOY-LED-LPR-Light-Bar-Kit-06_1344x928.jpg?v=1577484483

[JIMOCO]

Zee, that will likely block your license plate light that is to be illuminated for night driving.