[MacDaddy]

I own a 01 GV, and i just noticed that only the small brake lights in the bumper are working... just wondering why the bigger and higher brake lights in the body, dont work instead, and if there is a way to make them work ?

[fordem]

They are not usually wired as brake lights - the UK market will have a rear fog in the right side, but it's pretty much just the reverse lights up there.

Yes - you can mod them - cut holes and fit globes & sockets & wire them up.

Out here we originally got the same style you have, then from around 2003 we got the US style lights - nothing in the bumper and everything in the body - I currently have both fitted and wired - it sure is purdy at night.

If you're curious as to why - someone ran into the back of the GV and broke the body lights, and all the local dealer had was the later style - he could get the early style but at three times the price - so I fitted them and got the sockets from a scrappy and wired them up - at some point I will change the back bumper for a steel one, maybe put a jerry can on the left corner, and then I will just have the body lights.

[vitzookman]

It's to do with Aust road rules

Only so many brake lights allowed and you must be able to see them on a 45 degree ( tyre in the way )

This makes it great for ass holes in land cruiser to abuse you for no brake lights as they sit up your ass in traffic.

[TheOtherLeft]

I wondered this myself and pulled the lens off. There's a reflector (as part of the lens) but no wiring, globe holder etc.

yes it's part of the ADRs & visibility at 45 degrees. What's annoying is the older Pajeros have both bumper mounted & body mounted brake lights.

[atari4x4]

does the lens have all the globe sockets for where they ment to be?

go to a u-pull it wrecking yard & grab a few tail light looms from some thing & get wiring.

[TheOtherLeft]

Not 100% sure.

I don't think I saw any sockets, just the lens/reflector.

[MacDaddy]

What i would like to do is, make the ones in the bumper park lights, and the ones in the body brake lights... i am pretty sure some of the Vits have it setup this way...
It is a bit redonkulous to me really, the bumper is the first thing to get damaged, and i have ripped mine of twice 4wheelin, but if it goes completely, then you have no brake or park lights, just the lenses in the main body doing nothing...

[atari4x4]

the vitaras only have the fog lights in the rear bar, parkers & tail lights are up top with the indicators & reverse lights.

even if the GV doesn't have the globe sockets in the top tail lights, a little bit of craft work using a pair of tail lights from something else a hole saw + some glue will have them working like they should have from the factory.

[MacDaddy]

atari4x4 wrote:

the vitaras only have the fog lights in the rear bar, parkers & tail lights are up top with the indicators & reverse lights.

even if the GV doesn't have the globe sockets in the top tail lights, a little bit of craft work using a pair of tail lights from something else a hole saw + some glue will have them working like they should have from the factory.

Ahhh ok... i think i still have the old rear lights from Joe's old Vit, just wondering if i can modify them a bit to work... will have to go dig around in the shed to see if i can find them... hehe...

[shabz]

To get it to work you'll need to find the wiring that goes to the lights in the bumper. Theres no wiring in there, and yes i've torn mine apart looking for them!

i think that'll be more of a pain than just drilling a hole in the back of the light assembly and sticking a globe in there.

[atari4x4]

shabz wrote:

To get it to work you'll need to find the wiring that goes to the lights in the bumper. Theres no wiring in there, and yes i've torn mine apart looking for them!

i think that'll be more of a pain than just drilling a hole in the back of the light assembly and sticking a globe in there.

so you're telling me the GV's run Wi-Fi tail lights or are they Bluetooth enabled?

[shabz]

No i mean you won't find the wiring in the near vicinity of the blank lights. The wiring must go down through the body to the bumper somewhere else.

[steak_knife]

atari4x4 wrote:

does the lens have all the globe sockets for where they ment to be?

go to a u-pull it wrecking yard & grab a few tail light looms from some thing & get wiring.

Not legal.....
Stupid hay, I looked into it when I had my shit box, Oh, Gv.....

[atari4x4]

hahaha, i get ya now.

on the vitara's the loom passes thru the body via a large grommet either side below the normal tail lights then down to the bumper mounted rear "fog lights"

surely the GV's would be similar, pop the top lens assembly out & have a look down, i'd be very surprised if the loom isn't down there.

[steak_knife]

atari4x4 wrote:

hahaha, i get ya now.

on the vitara's the loom passes thru the body via a large grommet either side below the normal tail lights then down to the bumper mounted rear "fog lights"

surely the GV's would be similar, pop the top lens assembly out & have a look down, i'd be very surprised if the loom isn't down there.

no socket's in light's, no loom.....

[atari4x4]

but does the loom that runs the bumper tail lights/brake lights run down there?

[steak_knife]

You could tap into it, but from memory it doesn't.

Illegal an hoe....

[gregdixon]

GV's aren't the only ones, looked at the back of a patrol lately? I just thought it was a cost thing. I am certain the is a plug near the rear door for the trailer wiring loom you could use to light up the dummy lights.

For me I don't really care, I am never behind my car.

[Taylor74]

Have done a couple of customers cars when was working at the dearleship, got to veales, get a universal brake/park light globe holder, the metal ones with spring clips work best. Drill the hole in the lamp to the correct size, you need to file the back of the lamp flat to make the holder fit correct. run 3 wires down through the body, they have a plastic tape you can go through at the bottom and hook into the origional wireing.

Not legal, but have never seen anyone picked up for it in WA as the bumper lights are just a stupid idea and most cops agree.

[fordem]

Loom runs down the left side out a grommet, and across behind the bumper - it can be reached through the jack storage opening, and it's a fairly simple task to cut & splice and run it across the inside edge of the door opening to the right side.

[atari4x4]

^ thats what i was thinking.

[MacDaddy]

Taylor74 wrote:

Have done a couple of customers cars when was working at the dearleship, got to veales, get a universal brake/park light globe holder, the metal ones with spring clips work best. Drill the hole in the lamp to the correct size, you need to file the back of the lamp flat to make the holder fit correct. run 3 wires down through the body, they have a plastic tape you can go through at the bottom and hook into the origional wireing.

Not legal, but have never seen anyone picked up for it in WA as the bumper lights are just a stupid idea and most cops agree.

Hey Sean

Ah ok... ok good to know...
I agree, the bumper lights are a stupid idea... they would be ok for indicators or park lights, but for brake, they are so small, and you have a big one right above it...
Anyway, will check it out, if its fairly easy to do, will do it, if not, i will leave it...

[atari4x4]

Guess what I saw last night... what appears to be a jap import GV with no bumper lights at all & all the top sections were working. turn/reverse/tail/brake, there were ZERO GV badges but there was an Escudo sticker/badge in the bottom right hand side of the tail gate.


















Guess what I saw tonight... sorry about the shitty phone pics, i was trying not to run up the back of it trying to get a shot off.







What is weird is the number plate is up on the tail gate with the handle & the roof spoiler, one thing that looks a bit strange was the blacking out of the rear window area, is that normal?

If I see it again I'll try to get a better shot.

[MacDaddy]

Well, there you go... it must be the Aussie model that has the stupid lights in the bumper... wonder where i can get some Escudo tail lights from... doubt there would be any Escudo's in the Wreckers...

I like that rear spoiler though...

[atari4x4]

i had to double take last night when i first saw it as i over took it & it wasn't until i pulled along side i realised it was a GV....

ebay japan would be my first port of call.

[Chop]

Ive seen that around, the spoiler looks good on it.

[fordem]

You can pick those lights up anywhere in the US (including ebay) - you WILL need to do a bit of wiring though, and they take different bulbs & holders so make sure that you get the lamps with the bulb holders and bulbs.

As I mentioned previously, I have both sets fitted.