Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
Adding side marker lights
- Thread starter Klutch9
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Optronics makes a lot of nice trailer lights. You might find some you like. I have bought many (10) to redo 2 trailers. I used all LED, but they may sell non LED.
I could not come to drill a hole in my Jeep or truck however.
I could not come to drill a hole in my Jeep or truck however.
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
They're not "side marker" lights. They are turn-signal repeaters. Many EU jurisdictions require these by law.
The US and Canada require side-marker lights that must also incorporate a reflector, and must be located at or near the corners of the car. They are required to be amber at the front and red at the rear. Your car already has these.
Oddly, the EU does not require side-marker lights but does require turn-signal repeaters, while North America is the exact opposite. Even more oddly, regulators in both jurisdictions will swear up and down that their version of the law is the only one that wards off total chaos and annihilation.
A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
They're not "side marker" lights. They are turn-signal repeaters. Many EU jurisdictions require these by law.
The US and Canada require side-marker lights that must also incorporate a reflector, and must be located at or near the corners of the car. They are required to be amber at the front and red at the rear. Your car already has these.
Oddly, the EU does not require side-marker lights but does require turn-signal repeaters, while North America is the exact opposite. Even more oddly, regulators in both jurisdictions will swear up and down that their version of the law is the only one that wards off total chaos and annihilation.
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I put some reflective tape on the edges of my car doors, and on the back bumper.
I put brighter LED's in my sidemarkers, less power draw and heat, more light.
LED's were from Super Bright LED's dot com...
I put brighter LED's in my sidemarkers, less power draw and heat, more light.
LED's were from Super Bright LED's dot com...
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
Wouldn't it be easier to simply make certain there's no one around when you turn or change lanes?
Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
Wouldn't it be easier to simply make certain there's no one around when you turn or change lanes?
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
Wouldn't it be easier to simply make certain there's no one around when you turn or change lanes?
If it were that simple, then why do we use indicators at all?... wait, most people don't nowadays
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
Wouldn't it be easier to simply make certain there's no one around when you turn or change lanes?
If it were that simple, then why do we use indicators at all?... wait, most people don't nowadays
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
those are not side marker lights. They are side turn signal lights.
Both your fusion and sedona already have side marker lights, as they are required by US DOT standards.
A lot of the european cars sold in the US have them, just side marker lights & reflectors to meet US DOT standards.
When I put a Euro bumper on my old Golf (similar to above), it eliminated the side marker, so I rewired the fender turn signal to also function as the side parker.
the original RAV4 did have fender mounted side markers/reflectors.... at the position of the turn signal repeaters.
Just wondering if anyone has ever added some universal aftermarket side marker lights? If so, which ones did you use? A lot of European cars have them (on front quarter panel) and they help a lot with visibility, especially when signalling.
those are not side marker lights. They are side turn signal lights.
Both your fusion and sedona already have side marker lights, as they are required by US DOT standards.
A lot of the european cars sold in the US have them, just side marker lights & reflectors to meet US DOT standards.
When I put a Euro bumper on my old Golf (similar to above), it eliminated the side marker, so I rewired the fender turn signal to also function as the side parker.
the original RAV4 did have fender mounted side markers/reflectors.... at the position of the turn signal repeaters.
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Truck-lite has a wide selection of side markers/repeaters, led and traditional, as does Hella. I know folks who have put the Truck-lites on ROW spec LR Series and Defenders, they were OE on NAS spec Defenders.
I rewired (simply unplugged and plugged) the side repeaters on my recently imported French spec d90 to act as markers. My logic is that most drivers in the US expect some type of side lighting and, since it does not have red rear side-markers, having the fronts is better than nothing.
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I rewired (simply unplugged and plugged) the side repeaters on my recently imported French spec d90 to act as markers. My logic is that most drivers in the US expect some type of side lighting and, since it does not have red rear side-markers, having the fronts is better than nothing.
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fender mounted turn signals requires a hole to be drilled into the fender (of course cars with factory fender turn signals have that hole stamped out).
If measuring and drilling a hole does not appeal to you, why not turn the front side market into the turn signal also? It's quite easy.
Clip the ground wire on the side marker (and zip tie it aside somewhere)... then connect the ground to the bulb to the +12V of the turn signal. Granted, it will flash opposite of the front turn signals, but many cars are wired like this anyway.
The Kia Sedona, overseas, did have a fender side turn signal.
The 2011 Fusion? Overseas, the Mondeo had different fenders AND the Fusion was an entirely different car.
If measuring and drilling a hole does not appeal to you, why not turn the front side market into the turn signal also? It's quite easy.
Clip the ground wire on the side marker (and zip tie it aside somewhere)... then connect the ground to the bulb to the +12V of the turn signal. Granted, it will flash opposite of the front turn signals, but many cars are wired like this anyway.
The Kia Sedona, overseas, did have a fender side turn signal.
The 2011 Fusion? Overseas, the Mondeo had different fenders AND the Fusion was an entirely different car.
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