[Mean Max]

I know we have all seen the 4" LED write-up, I've done one previously myself. But I'm not so thrilled with that one, and my wife wanted me to install them on her '93 YJ, so I thought I would give documenting this procedure another shot. I bought these grommet mount 4" LED lights at Wal-Mart for about $15.99 each, and I bought an EL-12 electronic flasher at the local Advance Auto Parts for about $11.99, but I ended up not needing it because I replaced her flasher unit previously with a "heavy duty" model which surprisingly worked perfectly.

First I removed the four phillips head screws that attach the factory lenses to the stock housings on each rear tail light and then removed the three 10MM head bolts that attach the housings to the body. Once the housing is unbolted you can disconnect the wiring connector for the tail lights.

I measured through the oval wiring access hole up the the top of the wheel well. There is just enough room vertically to mount these lights. If you cut the hole too high, you will cut into the top of the wheel well. If you cut the hole too low the grommet for mounting the light will interfere with the trim around the gas filler.

As you can see here, the upper edge of the oval hole is 3-5/8" from the top of the wheel well. I really wanted to make sure that I didn't chop into the top of the wheel, so I used 3-1/2" as my measurement when calculating where to cut.

Next I covered the entire area with tape to help control paint chipping/damage during cutting, and to provide a place to make my mark for drilling. I measured the 2 lower bolt holes & found that they are 2" (center to center) apart from each other. I marked the center between the 2 lower holes & then drew a vertical line from that mark to the center of the upper bolt. This will guarantee that the lights are centered L & R exactly the same as the factory lights.

I measured 3-1/2" up from the top of the oval hole & made a mark on the tape to indicate the location of the top of the wheel well and then made a mark on the vertical line 2-1/2" below it. This where I centered my 4.5" hole saw, as called for in the LED light instructions. I used a center punch to make a small hole in the body to prevent my hole saw arbor from veering off course & then cut the 4.5" holes in the body. Leaving the tape in place, I used a round file to smooth the cut & remove any burrs, and then gave the cut edge a quick blast of paint to prevent rust.

I removed the tape & let the paint dry while I prepared the wiring.

[Mean Max]

First I cut the pigtails from the factory housings to provide me with a quick disconnect. These housings were in pretty good shape, so I left enough wiring to allow them to be repaired & reused later on if someone needed them.

Here are the leads from the new LED lamps. The white wire is the ground & has an eyelet on the end, the red wire is the brake/turn circuit, and the back is the park lamp circuit.

I lengthened the white ground wire by about 12" or so. This is to allow the use of a self-tapping ground screw in an easy to reach location, but still have enough length on the wires to remove the lamp from the grommet with the ground still attached.

I mounted the screw up high (near the top of the wheel well) because it was easy to get to, and to keep the screw from coming through the inner plastic wheel well behind the tire.

Driver side


Passenger side

The colors of the light circuits was exactly the same on both sides.

Green with black tracer = brake/turn circuit
Solid white = park lamp circuit
White with black tracer = reverse lamps



Parking lamps on


Brake lamps on

Note:
The reverse lamp circuit was capped off & will not be used just yet, as there is a new rear bumper planned that will incorporate reverse lights.

Also, there will be 2" LED side markers added, but I did not have them on hand to install. I will update this thread to include side markers as soon as I can.

Max

[rustywrangler]

POST........




WIll remove this lol. Messing with you.

[Mean Max]

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

POST........




WIll remove this lol. Messing with you.

I was rather counting on that!

Max

[Goobersbro]

More amazing write ups from max looking foward to the follow up

[H_Swank]

Very detailed, and excellent write up!

[southworth]

This is the thread is was looking for!!! Great write-up! Thanks for the detailed info!

[95jy]

crawled
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[dodger889]

Just a personal note using butt connectors are not a real good idea. Because they will corrode in time. I would have soldered and shrink tubed the connection. Also use some grease on the plug into the light to keep moisture for corroding there too. Shhh do not ask long distant trucker I deal with those connection and plugs. Not saying that they will not work for a while just looking down the road. Most of the time will fail at most in convenient time......

Cool on how to figure out where to mount them. Thanks

[burnout189]

excellent writeup max! i will be using that method to find the center of my hole as soon as i get the time. i already have the wal-mart lights on hand i am always skeptical of cutting holes in my body but this method will give me some piece of mind!

[airdevil85]

You wife drives a YJ as well??? how you get so lucky?? my now ex would give me dirty looks when I said lets take the jeep... lol

[leftlanetruckin]

Good job Max, as always
I was going to mention the electronic relay, but saw you mentioned it in the initial posting

Martin

[autoboy454]

just bought these same exact lights for Slibri's 89 YJ. Good to know I'll know exactly how to install them

[Mean Max]

Originally Posted by dodger889

Just a personal note using butt connectors are not a real good idea. Because they will corrode in time. I would have soldered and shrink tubed the connection. Also use some grease on the plug into the light to keep moisture for corroding there too. Shhh do not ask long distant trucker I deal with those connection and plugs. Not saying that they will not work for a while just looking down the road. Most of the time will fail at most in convenient time......

Cool on how to figure out where to mount them. Thanks

I would rather have soldered connections too, but I am a bit lazy & the Mrs. was ever-so-patiently watching & waiting on me to finish, plus take my pictures along the way.

So as an alternative, I used the butt connectors to save some time. I did however use dielectric grease to fill the connectors first before putting the wires in.

Max

[dodger889]

Originally Posted by Mean Max

I would rather have soldered connections too, but I am a bit lazy & the Mrs. was ever-so-patiently watching & waiting on me to finish, plus take my pictures along the way.

So as an alternative, I used the butt connectors to saave some time. I did however use dielectric grease to fill the connectors first before putting the wires in.

Max

about the wifey