side markers into side turn signals on 1st gen

Angie · Nov 28, 2015

I was wondering if anyone has knowledge of a wire harness/bulb holder that will accept a two stage light light bulb that will fit the side marker lights on the front of a gen 1 ranger? or any other car maker that will fit this arrangement with smaller led bulbs that are out these days there has to be something to make it safer when turning to let others beside you know what your intentions are.

thanks

adsm08 · Nov 28, 2015

I don't know of any, but I have been pondering this idea this week as well.

Angie · Nov 28, 2015

maybe between us we can figure something out or dual search around and bounce ideas.... i have a parts truck with another set of 1st gen wires to play with and hack up ... was also looking at my 91 parts truck to see if they front turn signal plugs would work....

cheers

OH btw... off topic... i love that battery lunch box you built... :icon_cheers:

bobbywalter · Nov 28, 2015

add a 2 stage led to it.

Angie · Nov 28, 2015

hi bobby... can you elaborate on what you mean by 2 stage?

Angie · Nov 28, 2015

is this what you were thinking bobby? this might work if there is a way to wire it in to make it stay on then blink when turn signals are on.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...d-tower-b-type-bay15d-retrofit-car/1776/4122/

bobbywalter · Nov 28, 2015

tie into the front lights, pretty simple. :icon_confused:

.....well i think it is...

http://www.topbulb.com/7443-bulb-13...-incandesent?gclid=CO684YLMtMkCFYUYHwodko8AOg

Angie · Nov 28, 2015

thanks bobby... not really that simple.... how do we get smaller 3 wire bulb holders? tapping into the turn signals will be the easy stuff... finding the holders to hold them will be the troubles i am guessing....

will look into other options on that web site to see if there are other options.

thanks

Grey_04 · Nov 28, 2015

would cutting the feed wire and tying it into the front parking/turn wire like the mod we do on (per say) the '03 work the same way for the first gen?

JoshT · Nov 28, 2015

I've scratched my head over this as well, and I think a solution just popped into my head. Why not use a trailer light converter?

Car (Input) Side:
1) LT Turn
2) RT Turn
3) Brake

Trailer (Output) Side:
1) LT Turn/Brake
2) RT Turn/Brake

On input side connect LT & RT Turn signal wires from truck to input side as normal. Connect marker light wire from truck to Brake wire on input side.

On the output side connect the turn/brake wires to their respective marker lights.

Some of these units will also have tail light input and output, on those just don't use the tail light wires.

Angie · Nov 29, 2015

I've scratched my head over this as well, and I think a solution just popped into my head. Why not use a trailer light converter? <<< ( or am i not understanding what you are saying?)

wiring the lights isn't the problem, finding a bulb holder is the problem/confusion the holder that goes into the side maker has a 3/4inch(?) hole and 4 indented "turny" thing the turn signals under the head lights are at least 1 1/2 inch and allow for the 2 stage larger bulbs. and this is what the problem is.

I pulled the front light wire harness off the 85 parts truck i have to play with all the lights and holders today to see if there is a way around this. will play all week and see if I can figure something out.

cheers

Angie · Nov 29, 2015

Grey_04 said:
would cutting the feed wire and tying it into the front parking/turn wire like the mod we do on (per say) the '03 work the same way for the first gen?

sure that would work as a turn signal , however you lose your running lights/side markers

JoshT · Nov 29, 2015

Angie said:
<<< ( or am i not understanding what you are saying?)

wiring the lights isn't the problem, finding a bulb holder is the problem/confusion the holder that goes into the side maker has a 3/4inch(?) hole and 4 indented "turny" thing the turn signals under the head lights are at least 1 1/2 inch and allow for the 2 stage larger bulbs. and this is what the problem is.

You are not understanding what I am saying. but I may not be explaining it clearly either.

The approach you are trying to make is to fit a dual filament bulb and holder into the small side marker. I bounced my head off the proverbial brick wall trying to figure that out as well. I had almost decided to build custom markers using LEDs and a modified housing, but shelved that idea because I kinda need to get the truck running before I worry about modifying the lighting.

What I am suggesting is that instead of installing a dual filament bulb, make the single filament bulb that is there do two jobs. Trailers do this all the time. In most trailer tail lights a single filament does the job of both turn signal and brake. Many vehicles with separate turn signal and brake bulbs in back need a 3 to 2 wire tail light converter to make the trailer lights function properly. This takes 2 turn signal wires and 1 brake light wire, and converts it into the 2 turn/brake light wires needed for the trailer. I'm saying that you use one of these and connect the Running Light (AKA: Side Marker Light) wire in place of the brake light wire.

Here's a converter like I'm talking about (pic links to Amazon page):

Here's some examples of others that have used this style set-up for the same purpose.

Pirate4x4: How to trick a one wire marker light to work as a front running light AND turn signal
Valkyrie Riders: Saddlebag Marker/Signal Light

Installing run/turn lights into a saddle bag is how I originally came across the idea. Never did it and never thought about using it for the side markers on a Ranger until I read this thread, but it should work.

Angie · Nov 30, 2015

ahhhh ok that made more sense and I understand... this is something i will be looking into more in depth. did you actually get it to work on your bike?

and thanks for the information. !!! cheers

I am pretty sure this will work THANKS and i am going to also wire one into the front of the pinto, they have the same style side markers that will benefit from being turning lights too... cheers

JoshT · Nov 30, 2015

Unfortunately, I never tried to, bit have no doubt that it would work. Parked the bike three years ago and it hasn't moved since. If I'm not using it, I'm not spending time and money modding it. Maybe if I start back riding someday...

side markers into side turn signals on 1st gen

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