PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

yes!

the worst part was removing the light off the car.. wasnt that easy.. but i got it done

under the carpet there was 4 screws.. remove those and then you have to push it up.. need lots of force.. i wouldnt pull on the tail light.. i used a screw driver under it and pushed it up

cutting it was soo easy.. i used a dremel and some kinda bit.. i think it was called diamond cutting bit or something like that

i cut it all around except the bottom.. and then forced the LED stripes into the opening.. there was total 4 LED stripes in the Catera light.. i only used 3..
it WAS NOT THAT EASY! but it was not bad.. i enjoyed every second of doing it.. total time was about 3 or 4 hours max.. but if i knew what to do or or had an idea where to cut or how to remove the light.. it would take max 2 hours.. took the the longest time ever to put the stripes in pointing down.. didnt use any glue on it.. i just forced it in


i enjoyed it more than clearing my headlights... stupid headlights!!


anyways i have like 39 pics lol its still uploading.. give me another 10 minutes and ill have them alllllll upp

1st if a picture of my cleared headlights and also rerouted my DRL to my fogs instead... I should be getting the switch backs soon to replace the amber bulb


Now the tail light project

This is a picture of the tail light removed... Total six holes... 4 at the bottom that have 4 screws... 2 at the top that have clips that you will never know they are there... Cant see or reach them from the back... kinda broke one. It’ll still hold... Second one didn’t break... Because I knew it was there lol



I didn’t have to use the reflectors like I thought id have to do... All i used was the LED lights... Honestly, you don’t even need Catera lights or anything similar... You can by cheap LED strips from 10 bucks off eBay... This probably would be better if you can get it all as one piece... You have to watch for the width... I’ll measure later for the width needed
Here’s a picture comparing the LEDs and the bonne light together






Cutting started... As you can see I cut a straight line at the top all across the back and then vertically down to the bottom... I didn’t wanna open the bottom because it won’t be so easy to put back together



this was a test... i inserted the LEDs into the tail just to see if I’m going to need the reflectors from the Catera or not and just to see what its going to look like... But thank god I didn’t need any reflectors





And yes it worked!! it looks good! looks like there’s a pattern or something like that... But really there isn’t... Its just the way the light reflects... kinda moves with your eye sight



i also cut the center hole with the dremel so it’ll be easier for me to put the lights in the middle without cutting my fingers with the plastic... Yet I still did lol



Put all the LEDs in, make sure they are centered... Because you can’t use all four stripes you have to center the 3 you are using.... or you can trim the 4th one (you will need only 4 or 5 led bulbs max) and use it to have it full inside.... But honestly... you don’t need it.... you will have about an inch on each corner withy no LED behind it... but once you light it you will not notice it



all LEDs are in and set and ready to seal... I used some kinda epoxy to seal... ill check the name later... I put a very thin layer 1st just to make sure it doesn’t leak any glue inside (happened to me before on my grand prix lol) and 20 minutes later that layer dried a bit i epoxy-ed the *shoot* out of it lol



and now to take a look at the front of it... looks much nicer in person... really don’t know much about my camera but to snap a picture.... couldn’t figure out how to take a picture showing the real color... meh... oh well...
:D





Again... it looks like a solid colour... camera makes it kinda orangey colour for some reason... and there’s no pattern



That should be it for now... sorry if what i wrote didn’t make any sense I’m so tired and it’s almost 1 am...

Any questions... please feel free to ask... also if you're in the area (Alberta) I can probably help you out some day lol

Very cool. Can't wait for more pix (installed)!

thanks..
ill do that soon.. i still have to run the wires in the trunk lid :( ahh :( lol

coming along nicley Sam,

Thanks
I broke a clip that holds it in on the top.. I can't find a replacement.. GM said you have to buy the whole light!!? I was like omgwtfbbq!?

I just put another layer of glue and it'll be in tonight hopefully

any know where i can get another clip like this one??


i really need one lol
or 2

they are held in by screw..

mine would still work
but id rather replace them

You can order the clips alone from GM. When the pearl had her accident my body shop ordered the clips for me. Just an option to check out

I did!! They said they are not sold separate.. I was like wtf
Can you get me a part number some how? Please I really REALLY need them

How do the strips stay in place? From the pics it looks like you just dropped them into the housing.

yes thats true.. because the LED stripes are too wide to go inside.. you will not be able to close the light the same way it was.. itll stick open about one mm if not a little more.. thats when you have to do three or four layers of epoxy :D

third picture from the bottom explains exactly what im talking about... they are held in by force (force coming from not cutting the bottom piece) it held in and then the glue held it even more

i have it up on the car now

uploading pics and videos
few minutes and itll be up
looks nice in pictures.. much nicer in person :D

here we go..

enjoy..








lmk what you think
thanks
samz

that looks great! I figured you would have some tied to running lights, and some to the brakes though.

Ill do some digging in my garage tomorrow after work and Ill get back to you on the clips. Im pretty sure I kept the part #

bonnevillain wrote:that looks great! I figured you would have some tied to running lights, and some to the brakes though.

i wanted to do that... but there was only 2 wires.. which makes it one circuit only.. so if i did go that way day time it would flash as break and night time it would go as parking light.. but not sure if it would go any brighter when you hit the brakes.. actually might fry it since you would have 2x12 volts on it.. not sure... someone correct me if im wrong please..
its almost like a 3057 bulb and a 3157 bulb.. 3057 have two wires for one filement.. 3157 have 3 wires for 2 filements

Black Pearl wrote:Ill do some digging in my garage tomorrow after work and Ill get back to you on the clips. Im pretty sure I kept the part #

PLEASE!

one side is not sealed right.. and im worried water might leak.. i really need a fix for that

maybe just use one or 2 strips for running lights, then have the others come on also with the brakes.

lol i guess
that would work..
but meh.. already done screw that lol

Hmm, making that work as a brakelight and turn signal would be awesome!

My car has rear center lights already. I wonder how much work it would take to wire them up as brake lights/turn signals.

Nice work!

I am so doing this. It has always pissed me off that it wasnt like that from the factory and I always liked the look on my old grand prix. You think it is possible with just the LED strips light harbor freight has?