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B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

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Old Sep 17, 2006 | 10:21 PM
  #1  
18T's Avatar
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From: Chicago Burbs /// KOTH 06'
Default B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

Well i dont know how to begin explaining this. Its really simple. from a scale of 1-10 (coming form soneone who has never used a soldering gun) i can give it a 1 for being extremely easy. I tried to make this write up really really really user friendly. It doesnt take a genius to make this stuff work. Its strait forward.
When i did the mod i was using a writeup that was on AZ. It was good but i thought i can make it a bit better by adding better pics. Haha we have our own writeup. Btw, youre doing everything at your own risk. If you brake something its not my fault. [8D]



My car is a 2001.5 A4
I do not think its the same for all b5 a4's. Im guessings its the same for 00 through 01.5


PASSENGER SIDE

(you can do pass. side first or drivers. doesnt matter)

Step 1.

Passenger side : take out the little screw thingies. i did this by rotating them CCW till they poped out. Pull the panel back and youll see the assembly.
To remove it from the housing pop the tabs and dissconect the connector.





Step 2.

Now comes the fun part! Heat up the gun by leting it sit for a minute or two on full blast (if its fuel powered) Then get the soldering wire and solder a wire from 2 to 5. The soldering job has to be clean! Dont let it spill over to any of the other lines. If it does (and if you havent done this before it might) just heat it up and remove it.





DRIVERS SIDE



Step 1.

This is the same thing as up there, except that you have to take off the panel where the tools are. just pull it out.
Then just disconect the connector and pop the tabs.





Step 2.

Ah yes now the fun part! Solder a wire from 1 to 5.






NOW THAT YOURE DONE..



Let them sit for a bit to cool off. After a few minutes just pop them carefully back in place! Put the panels back on and youre done!






THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR



1. Use the gun with caution. At full blast it gets to 1000+ degrees.
2. I found out that if the gun hasnt heated up to proper "work" temp , the melted soldering wire will not stick.
3. Once you have done this mod you can no longer use your rear fogs. ( the best part about the mod is that if you dont like it just take of the soldered pieces and it goes back to stock). If you do happen to press the fog light button , youll have a few lights light up on the dash and a "BRAKE LIGHT" display go on. no biggie, just restart car.
4. On some of your cars you will have a partial passenger fog light bulb slot. You will have to drill it out completely so it can fit a bulb. As shown here..







THE FINAL PRODUCT



I think it looks awesome. Some of you might not feel like this which is fine, everyone has their own taste.
In the day its not annoying, because its not bright at all. And at night it looks absolutely awesome. Please note that i took these pics in low light thats why the brake lights appear so bright.













ENJOYYYY!


 
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 10:37 PM
  #2  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

i did this and kept blowing fuses so i just put it back to normal.
 
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 10:49 PM
  #3  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

did you attempt that with the stock 98.5 panel? the wiring is different. If you have updated lights like mine it should work without a problem!
 
Old Sep 17, 2006 | 11:48 PM
  #4  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

meh, i don't like it. but hey, if it was easy to do, and you like it, you're stoked. it's always nice to find diy mods that are cheap, easy, and that make your car look better
 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 12:22 AM
  #5  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

correct me if i am wrong but i was aware that the rear driver side fog light was for foggy/rainy conditions when you were in the right lane to alert faster drivers to pass on the left???? IMO having two rear fog lights would give the impression to most drivers that you were braking all the time???? Nice DIY though. but i wouldnt do it. it defeats the purpose of the rear fog light function??
 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 12:28 AM
  #6  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

Nice write-up w/ good pictures.
Maybe i should do this cuz i never really use my rear fogs.

 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 12:34 AM
  #7  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

ORIGINAL: 01A4T

correct me if i am wrong but i was aware that the rear driver side fog light was for foggy/rainy conditions when you were in the right lane to alert faster drivers to pass on the left???? IMO having two rear fog lights would give the impression to most drivers that you were braking all the time???? Nice DIY though. but i wouldnt do it. it defeats the purpose of the rear fog light function??
I think youre missiunderstanding ..

The fogs light up along with the regular brake lights at the same time when you press the brake. you have 5 brake lights now.


but anyway, The awesome thing about this mod is that you can just take off the soldered wire and have a stock setup once again.

 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 12:52 AM
  #8  
sandman's Avatar
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

ORIGINAL: 18T

did you attempt that with the stock 98.5 panel? the wiring is different. If you have updated lights like mine it should work without a problem!
yea, that must have been the prob.
 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 01:10 AM
  #9  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

do you still have the old brake lights?
 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 01:21 AM
  #10  
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Default RE: B5 Brake Light Mod WRITEUP

lol, my mistake, i deffinetly miss read your post. that does sound like a great mod then. good work
ORIGINAL: 18T

ORIGINAL: 01A4T

correct me if i am wrong but i was aware that the rear driver side fog light was for foggy/rainy conditions when you were in the right lane to alert faster drivers to pass on the left???? IMO having two rear fog lights would give the impression to most drivers that you were braking all the time???? Nice DIY though. but i wouldnt do it. it defeats the purpose of the rear fog light function??
I think youre missiunderstanding ..

The fogs light up along with the regular brake lights at the same time when you press the brake. you have 5 brake lights now.


but anyway, The awesome thing about this mod is that you can just take off the soldered wire and have a stock setup once again.

 



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