Rear light idea? - Great Lakes XJ

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Date: May 4, 2007

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My reverse lights don't work. Any factory reverse lights are usually junk to begin with, and by the way my rear defrost doesn't work either- not that I use it much since I know how to use an ice scraper. So... If I were to nab a set of stock fog lights and mount them under my bumper (on either side of the hitch) could I wire them into the rear wiper switch? Or would I be better seeing if my reverse light bulbs are just dead and wiring them into that (I like the switch idea in case I need to shine some light at night for whatever reason... trailers or somethin, ya never know). I've read at JU that nonworking reverse lights is a sign of a dying um, shoot, neutral safety switch? It's on the side of the tranny regardless. But my Jeep is otherwise fully functional. Any input would be great! (if you have a rear aux. light setup post pics!) __________________ My Fleet 1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles! 1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project. 2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

HavenSOV

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Date: Aug 30, 2007

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Hey, a thread I can help with!!!

I have rigged up rear lights in the past using the basic $20 Wal-Mart fog lights. From what I read at that time it was not recommended to run them off the reverse lights because of passable over heating. But there was a fair amount of arguing saying that it worked just fine.

As for rigging it to your rear defroger... Don't know, but in mine it has an auto shut off after a few moments if that makes a difference.

What I ended up doing was running new wiring and installing a new switch mounted on the right of the console, that space thats not used for much other then the clock.

Mounting them under your rear bumper might not be a great idea. i had my first set there and they didn't make it through the first snow. I used under bumper tension clips to mount mine to the sides of my lift gate near the top.

I wish I had some pics, but that was my last XJ, and she had an unfortunate demise on interstate 94...Still brings back shudders.

Hope this helps.

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lazarus

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Date: Sep 4, 2007

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you can run them off of your factory reverse lights. Just make sure to use a reley and have the factory lights trip the reley. get power for the reley somewhere underhood or at least up front. I plan on doing this with a switch in my overhead also. so i can turn them on, and then also let them come on when reversing or not at all.

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TNT

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Date: Sep 5, 2007

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use flood lights instead. they have a better beam for reverse lights. -- Edited by TNT at 00:01, 2007-09-05 __________________ TNT Life's Journey is not to arrive at the Grave Safely in a Well Preserved Body. But Rather to Launch Airborne, Land Hard, Slide in Sideways, Totally Worn Out and Thrashed, Screaming "Holy $hit What a Ride!!!"

Topic: Rear light idea?