Purcell
Passed Driver's Ed
- Location
- Spokane, WA
Received my deAutoLED brake and reverse lights today. Had to install them immediately.
Here's an installation guide:
Tools you will need:
- Knife
- Flathead screwdriver
- deAutoKey Brake Lights
- deAutoKey Reverse Lights
The attached pictures are taken during the main highlights of the installation.
Outer brake lights - (First 6 pictures)
Step 1 -
In the trunk, there are two small cutouts. This is access to the screw that holds the outer brake lights. You will need to carefully cut into the cutout because it is not cut all around (don't completely cut out the cutout, only cut the parts that are connected to the pre-cut areas). Once you gain access inside the cutout, there will be a large white screw connected to a spring. With one hand, hold the cutout fabric back while you use the other hand to turn the screw (the screw will be very difficult to unscrew at first - be patient and it will eventually start coming loose.) This is when you must hold the outer brake light with one hand and remove the screw with the other. When the screw has been removed, pull the brake light out with a bit of force (there will be a plastic pop, which is normal/nothing is broken).
Step 2 -
No you can unlatch the red tab on the exposed cable and carefully pull the brake light away from the cable. Now you have a completely removed brake light. Now, find and undo the four tabs around the black plastic casing. Once you've removed the plastic and rubber circle, find the two tabs around the bulb housing. Once you've applied enough force to remove the bulb housing, you can replace the bulb with the LED.
Step 3 -
Now you can plug the housing back into the brake light, then reattach the black rubber and plastic circle. Plug the power cable back into the brake light and lock it in place with the red tab. Now you can carefully refit the brake light to the car and put the screw back in. Once you've fully tightened the screw, the outer brake light will be ready. Repeat for the other outer brake light.
Inner brake and reverse lights - (Last 3 pictures)
Step 1 -
On the back of the trunk (below the glass) there will be two cutouts. Insert a flathead into the small notch on the outermost side. Push down on the plastic covering until it pops off, exposing the inner brake and reverse lights. First, pull the black stick from the electrical housing, this is the reverse light. Replace the bulb with the reverse LED. Keep the reverse light out of the electrical housing for now.
Step 2 -
Pull the red tab down to unlock the cable from the electrical housing. Now, find and unlock the four black tabs (this will take a little work since once side will try to snap back into place when you're trying to unlock the other side). Once you've had success, remove the housing from the inner brake light. Now you can pull out the original bulb and put in a brake light LED.
Step 3 -
Time to insert the housing/board back into the inner brake light. This will take some patience to line everything up correctly (make sure all four tabs have been secured). Then, plug the cable back into the housing and lock it with the red tab. Now you can insert the reverse light into the housing. Once everything has been secured, you can push the plastic covering back into place. Repeat for the other inner brake light.
Now you're done! A bit of work for this installation, but it is quite worth it.
Hope this guide was helpful to you. Let me know if you've found an easier way to do any of these items/steps.
Here's an installation guide:
Tools you will need:
- Knife
- Flathead screwdriver
- deAutoKey Brake Lights
- deAutoKey Reverse Lights
The attached pictures are taken during the main highlights of the installation.
Outer brake lights - (First 6 pictures)
Step 1 -
In the trunk, there are two small cutouts. This is access to the screw that holds the outer brake lights. You will need to carefully cut into the cutout because it is not cut all around (don't completely cut out the cutout, only cut the parts that are connected to the pre-cut areas). Once you gain access inside the cutout, there will be a large white screw connected to a spring. With one hand, hold the cutout fabric back while you use the other hand to turn the screw (the screw will be very difficult to unscrew at first - be patient and it will eventually start coming loose.) This is when you must hold the outer brake light with one hand and remove the screw with the other. When the screw has been removed, pull the brake light out with a bit of force (there will be a plastic pop, which is normal/nothing is broken).
Step 2 -
No you can unlatch the red tab on the exposed cable and carefully pull the brake light away from the cable. Now you have a completely removed brake light. Now, find and undo the four tabs around the black plastic casing. Once you've removed the plastic and rubber circle, find the two tabs around the bulb housing. Once you've applied enough force to remove the bulb housing, you can replace the bulb with the LED.
Step 3 -
Now you can plug the housing back into the brake light, then reattach the black rubber and plastic circle. Plug the power cable back into the brake light and lock it in place with the red tab. Now you can carefully refit the brake light to the car and put the screw back in. Once you've fully tightened the screw, the outer brake light will be ready. Repeat for the other outer brake light.
Inner brake and reverse lights - (Last 3 pictures)
Step 1 -
On the back of the trunk (below the glass) there will be two cutouts. Insert a flathead into the small notch on the outermost side. Push down on the plastic covering until it pops off, exposing the inner brake and reverse lights. First, pull the black stick from the electrical housing, this is the reverse light. Replace the bulb with the reverse LED. Keep the reverse light out of the electrical housing for now.
Step 2 -
Pull the red tab down to unlock the cable from the electrical housing. Now, find and unlock the four black tabs (this will take a little work since once side will try to snap back into place when you're trying to unlock the other side). Once you've had success, remove the housing from the inner brake light. Now you can pull out the original bulb and put in a brake light LED.
Step 3 -
Time to insert the housing/board back into the inner brake light. This will take some patience to line everything up correctly (make sure all four tabs have been secured). Then, plug the cable back into the housing and lock it with the red tab. Now you can insert the reverse light into the housing. Once everything has been secured, you can push the plastic covering back into place. Repeat for the other inner brake light.
Now you're done! A bit of work for this installation, but it is quite worth it.
Hope this guide was helpful to you. Let me know if you've found an easier way to do any of these items/steps.
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