Just wondering if anyone else had done this mod I am about to talk about. It
is an easy $5 mod that will make your Dakota stand out from the rest while
possibly increasing safety.
3rd brake light to 3rd brake light/turn signal:
OK, this takes a little time laying on your back, but that is hard part.
1) Get some quick connects (the kind that you can lay two wires in and use a
quick clam-shell type crimp), a few feet of wire, a phillips head
screwdriver, a test light probe, roll of electrical tape, wire
strippers/cutters, heavy duty flasher and a little boredom combined with
creativity.
2) Open the tailgate and take the panel off behind the tailgate handle (for
easier access).
3) Close tailgate and take the two phillips head screws out of the 3rd brake
light. There are two seperate bulbs in the assembly.
4) Determine which wire is the common ground. Clip the 12volt positive wire
going to the light on the right side and splice in a few feet of the extra
wire mentioned earlier. Use something (coat hanger works good) to fish the
new wire down to the spot where the current wire exits. I slid my extra wire
into the split loom from the factory.
5) Crawl under the truck and find the place where the wires for the 3rd
assembly leave the wiring harness. Clip the power wire, but leave the ground
for obvious reasons. Be sure to tape up the harness end of the exposed power
wire!
6) Now crawl out and turn the ignition key on (but don't crank the truck!!).
Turn on the left turn signal and leave it blink. Crawl back under the truck
and probe the wires till you find the one that is for the left turn signal
(the test light should blink with it). Using a quick connect, attach the
factory wire leading to the left bulb in the 3rd brake light assembly to the
wire for the tail light turn signal.
7) Turn on the right turn signal now, and probe for the wire for the right
turn signal. Quick connect the new wire leading to the right bulb in the 3rd
brake light assembly to the wire for the right tail light turn signal.
8) Turn off the ignition key and the blinkers. Put the 3rd brake light back
into it place and put the inside tailgate panel back.
9) Install new heavy duty flasher.
10) Put key in and turn on right blinker. Make sure the right side of the
3rd lamp assembly is blinking (if left side is, getting under the truck and
swap the two wire leading to the lamp assembly). Turn on left blinker and
make sure it works.
11) if all is well, now you should have a combination 3rd brake light and
turn signal, with half the assembly staying lit with the brakes being held
and half blinking with your turn signal on.
12) Be happy knowing that your Dak is now different as it didn't come from
the factory like that!
This is just a quick overview in my mind. Things may be a little different,
but as far as I remember that was about it. If you have any questions,
e-mail me and I will answer them as best I can.
Will
96 Paxton huffed NOS intercooled 408 Dakota
NEW!!!: 89 Shelby Dakota
NEWER!!!: 69 Dodge Charger (wifes play toy)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 11:58:45 EDT