wiring worrys

[mardyjon]

Just failed MOT on lights, so is there an obvious way to swap the indicators from flashing red side lights to amber. I could take a feed off the tow socket wiring and stick an orange bulb in the reverse but it wouldn't stop the side light from flashing. The front side lights are amber so i would have to put a clear side light else where but the amber light would still be on. any advice welcome

[Petrolhead71]

Jon we will start with your front side lights, if you fit a side light bulb into the headlamp units, then your amber side light becomes extra and this will pass an MOT.

The rears are not quite so simple, you could fit auxiliary indicator units in the back window and wire them to your towing socket for the test, but you will need to stop the brake light from flashing, whilst indicating. The only way to do this is to run a wire from the brake light wire on the towing socket to each brake light and disconnect the van brake light wire. Once its tested swap it all back again. I don't think theres a bobby in the land that would stop you for having red indicators on your van...

Cheers Marcus

[tbolt64]

Like Marcus says Jon, it can be done. I've done it on quite a few american cars. A lot depends on how much you want to alter the lighting on the van, i.e adding 'proper' orange indicators, or just adding removable 'after the test' auxiliary ones (more info from our resident MOT tester). I did my 72 Mustang by adding Mk1 Escort/Capri front indicator units, mainly because they were flat and smallish, into the front and rear valances. On Mark's '90 Mustang, we converted the marker lights. Just a quick wiring job then from the switch side of the flasher unit. There are a lot of aftermarket indicator units of all styles, the world's your lobster. I put chrome motorcycle one's(Bandit, I think)on the underneath of the bumpers on my F100 pick up which passed ok. It's your choice. Gets a little bit more complicated if you want to keep the van 'as is', you could use the reversing lights if the van has them, and swap the sidelights at the front. If you need a hand with the wiring etc, give me a shout.

[FlashCadillac]

As for my front marker lights, i found some fancy LED bulbs that have two colours in them, so they are white marker lighta and a seperate bank of LEDs flash orange.

You could use these in your reversing lights?

[mardyjon]

using the tow wires sounds like the way to go. there is reversing lights so i might try and stick another bulb holder in then i can retain the white reverse. I would prefer to keep the red flashers so aim for it to be an annual swap. ive booked next week off work so will have a go then. i can smell burning wireloom already

[tbolt64]

Then take it to Marcus's for an MOT..........