Running lights/Back-up lights???
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Running lights/Back-up lights???
I am toying with the idea of using some old running lights for back up lights on my '04 Ex 6.0. I have 3 old sets I dug out of the "I might use that later" storage bin. The question is how do I test the lights? I don't want to mount them and they not work. Some have a single wire and others have 2 wire for connections. 1 or 2 sets are KCs and I forget the other brand. Any help or direction would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
My wife says I have a disease, Pack Rat Syndrome.
My wife says I have a disease, Pack Rat Syndrome.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
^^^what he said.
The ones with two wires can be mounted on plastic, where the ground must be a conductor. The ones with one wire can be mounted on a metal surface and use the body for the ground.
The only other possibility is that the lights have high and low beams. Then one wire would be hot for high, and one wire hot for low, and chassis ground. Not very common on aftermarket lights.
The ones with two wires can be mounted on plastic, where the ground must be a conductor. The ones with one wire can be mounted on a metal surface and use the body for the ground.
The only other possibility is that the lights have high and low beams. Then one wire would be hot for high, and one wire hot for low, and chassis ground. Not very common on aftermarket lights.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 425
Likes: 4
In the intrest of saving you disapointment and possiability of getting in over your head,I suggest you either inlist help from a friend who understands how to set up the nessary circuit capable of carrying power nessary for the replacement lights,farm it out or commit to a crash course on dc circuits. To answer your question. Using jumpers from battery,put - to housing and + to single wire. The light should come on. On the two wire,put -to housing and + to first one then the other wire. If both wires fail to turn the light on,apply - to one wire and + to the other. If both fail to cause light to come on,bulb is defective. If both wires turn light on it has a high and low beam. Do not allow housing to touch the vehicle if you are using a battery that is installed on a vehicle. Much easier to do than I make it sound.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
You can usually check lights by testing continuity through the filaments with a VOM. If you have continuity, they are good. If you don't have continuity, some of the high output lights might still be good. But probably not.
