HOW TO: Convert to Escalade LED Tail Lights

[SuperchargedSS]

HARNESS PRICING
-V1.0 Harness as pictured in the how-to (requires you to do some extra splicing) $160.00 shipped
-V2.0 Harness (see post #38) $185 shipped
*You will need to send me your Escalade harness, everything else is included
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________

I'm sure there has been a few write-ups on this topic, but I figured I'd give it a shot at an all-inclusive "how-to" that actually has pictures and won't disappear on us! I'll be combining some pointers from some previous threads to make this one the "Ultimate HOW TO Thread!"

NOTE: If anyone is interested in one of these harnesses, I would be willing to build them, PM me for details. I can make them shorter if necessary, but I think these served their purpose. This write-up is for my first version of the plug and play harness, V1.0, I am working on a badass V2.0 harness that is completely 100% plug and play, no mounting of resistors needed at all!! :Handshake:

I got the option to score a set of these badboys from a local friend. Since we already had the Escalade 3rd Brake Light, it made it a no brainer to stick these on. This mod is time consuming if you do it the way I did it. Of course, there are short cuts, but I wanted this to look as OEM as possible and be completely plug and play, so I opted to splice the Escalade harness into an existing Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon harness, while soldering all the wires, heatshrinking the connections, and wire looming it all together. All in all it took me roughly two hours to do the first harness and about 25 minutes to do the second (once I got everything measured out so they looked identical).

TOOLS NEEDED FOR THIS PROJECT (What I Used):
-Phillips Head Screwdriver
-Soldering Iron w/ Solder
-Butane Heat Torch or Heat Gun
-Drill with metal drill bits
-Wire Crimpers
-Wire Cutters
-Wiring Schematic (attached to this thread)
-Rivet Gun (not needed, but for my install it is, you'll see why!)

PARTS NEEDED FOR THIS PROJECT (What I used):
-Escalade Tail Lamps, Right and Left Side
-2qty 5 to 4 Trailer Harness Converters (Hopkins #48845)
-4qty 6ohm/50 watt Power Resistors
-2qty Dual Power Resistor Mounting Plates
-2qty OEM Tail Lamp Harnesses (So you don't have to cut your stock ones)
-1Qty 15262791 2007 Escalade driver side quarter panel upper appliqué
-1Qty 15262792 2007 Escalade passenger side quarter panel upper appliqué

Escalade Tail Lamp Harness (if you need it) is: 15803483 x 2qty

And on to the install....

Remove your stock tail lights by using a Phillips head screw driver and unscrewing the two screws you see in the pic below. With gentle pressure, the tail light will pop out towards you after the screws are removed. Follow the harness down under the truck and you will see where it is attached to bottom. Unclip it and remove the tail light and harness assembly. Set aside.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0928.jpg

Remove the Light harness from the Escalade Tail Lamp. Pictured below is the Escalade Harness on the bottom and the Tahoe Harness on top, you can see the obvious difference.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0912.jpg

This is a shot of the plugs of the Escalade lights and Tahoe lights. This is why you need the Hopkins Trailer Harness Convertor. Escalade has 5 wires and Tahoe has 4.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0913.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0914.jpg

Before we get into the harnesses, let's go ahead and mount those resistors to their mounting plates. Due to them getting extremely hot, it was recommended by v-leds.com to mount them to an aluminum plate to dissapate heat and then mount those to a metal surface (we'll get to that). So, me being OCD, I bought the resistors and plates and used a rivet gun from Harbor Freight ($5.49) and riveted them to the plate, as pictured.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0909.jpg

Aren't the pretty??
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0910.jpg

Also in this picture is the Hopkins Trailer Harness, shown above the resistor plates. We'll hack that harness up shortly...
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0911.jpg

We're going to start modifying and splicing the Escalade Harness first. Peel back the wireloom until you get right about to the reverse lamp bulb. Cut the actual harness off about 4" behind the main plug, as pictured. Set the harness aside.

(pic below are both Escalade harnesses to show you how far to cut back)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0915.jpg

Using this schematic, you are going to want to make connections between the Escalade Harness and the 4-wire side of the Hopkins Harness:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/diagram.jpg

I cut the wires labeled "not used" till they were about 3" long, wrapped the tips with electrical tape, and kept them hanging loose until it was time to finish the harness, like so:

Trailer Harness
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0921.jpg

Escalade Harness
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0919.jpg

Taped Tips:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0920.jpg

Now, on the Escalade harness, there are two black wires that are crimped down into one. I cut the crimp off to expose both wires, yanked about 1/2" of plastic off to expose the wire, and twisted them together while matching them up to the appropriate colored wire on the trailer harness.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0918.jpg

I put the black from the Escalade harness with the White of the trailer harness, and the blue of the Escalade harness with the Green of the Trailer harness. Twisted them together like so:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0923.jpg

Then Soldered them together:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0924.jpg

And Hit them with the heatshrink:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0925.jpg

Now, time for the Tahoe harness. I pealed back the wire loom off the tahoe harness as far back as I could until I got to the first light, that's where I cut.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0922.jpg

I left the brown and green wires as long as possible for now, and cut the remaining three wires (red, blue, and black) down to about 5" or so. The green and brown wires from the Escalade Harness get connected directly to the green and brown wires on the Tahoe Harness (do not wire through the trailer adapter!). Twist, solder, wrap, done.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0927.jpg

Do the same with the remaining Red, Blue, and Black wires on the Tahoe harness. Utilize the schematic I posted above to show which wires those get attached to from the trailer harness. Twist, Solder, Wrap, Done!
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0926.jpg

[SuperchargedSS]

Now, you should have a completed harness, except there are wires everywhere! Time for some organization! Use the wire loom and cut to appropriate lengths and tuck the wires away from sight. You should end up with this:

OEM looking, eh?
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0917.jpg

NOW.... The schematic above shows that the resistors needed to be wired into that harness. No worries, I did this in steps. Once I had the harness complete, I went ahead and connected it to the Escalade Tail Lamp, ran the harness down under the truck, and screwed the tail lamp in. I knew that these resistors get hot, so the best place to mount them would be to the metal underneath the truck. I found a spot near the stock wiring harness where the tail lamps connect. I drilled a hole and mounted the aluminum bracket there as pictured. This gives them plenty of air to cool off and not affect anything around them.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0929.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0930.jpg

I then pulled a few inches of each wire that the resistors needed to tap into, and spliced them into them. I did shorten the wires quite a bit on the resistors, I hate slack wire just bundled around. The exposed wires were wrapped in wire loom for an OEM look (Pic coming, I forgot to take one!).


With that said... Here is your BEFORE:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0931.jpg

And here is your AFTER:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0932.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/DSCN0933.jpg

NOTE: As you see, the Appliques above the Tail Lamps do not match up with the stock Tahoe ones. You need to purchase the Appliques from an Escalade and mount those in place of the Tahoe ones. I will be adding more to this thread as soon as I locate a set and install them. Until then, the tail lamp will stick out a tad past the tahoe applique, but it is hardly noticeable until you get close or physically look for the flaw.

I'll also be modifying the parts list to include hyperlinks of the exact parts I used.

6/4/11: UPDATE... Appliques are on and painted. Very easy to install, not even worth a HOW TO.... So, adding it to this thread. Completes the look!

Applique Part Numbers:
Qty (1) 15262791 2007 Escalade driver side quarter panel upper appliqué
Qty (1) 15262792 2007 Escalade passenger side quarter panel upper appliqué

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/appliques1.jpg

[fireman297]

Now I just need to find me some esky tail lights!!! Thanks for the awesome right up and all the pics. This will make it a real easy mod.

[felixgun]

I'm officially jealous. Nice write up bro! Yea the appliqués are must have for me too

[Hammer450R]

What a sick write up!! Nice work

[Sweet_N_Low]

Those are awesome. Excellent write up

[SuperchargedSS]

Thanks guys! Took awhile to get the harness down pat! Just glad I kept it clean and factory looking with the harness. Takes 5 minutes to swap back to the stock tail lamps if need be. :)

[felixgun]

Thanks guys! Took awhile to get the harness down pat! Just glad I kept it clean and factory looking with the harness. Takes 5 minutes to swap back to the stock tail lamps if need be. :)

So whats the pricing on the harnesses again? :)

[SuperchargedSS]

PARTS LIST PRICES AND HYPERLINKS FOR PURCHASING:
Hopkins Harnesses (you need 2) at $9.42+shipping
http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-48845-T-Lite-Converter-Wires/dp/B0002RNSPK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1306088173&sr=8-1

6ohm/50 watt Load Resistors (you need TWO of these at $6.99/pair, so 4 individual resistors. Total is $13.98+ship
http://www.v-leds.com/BlinkerWarning-Fix/Turn-Signal-Fix/6-OHM-50W-2-BULB-LED-p4783296-1-2.html

Mounting Plates (you dont NEED these, but I wouldn't do the install without them) $5.99/pr, only need one pair.
http://www.v-leds.com/BlinkerWarning-Fix/Turn-Signal-Fix/2-LOAD-RESISTOR-MOUNTING-p6841378-1-2.html

Tahoe Tail Lamp Harness (you don't NEED these unless you want to keep your stock harness) Roughly $40/ea (EBAY seller has them at $10+6 shipping per harness)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/07-Tahoe-Tail-light-harness-Sockets-Wires-OEM-Bulbs-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalgoQ3dLVIQ26ituQ3dUC IQ26otnQ3d2Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d63Q26clkidQ3d1125759 91870294756QQ_trksidZp3286Q2em7QQitemZ260785044829

---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:21 PM ----------

So whats the pricing on the harnesses again? :)

PM for pricing :Handshake:

[Timmy]

stuck.

[sumo]

Nice you went all out didnt you? Removed the bumper, made plates for the resistors. Clean install Bro

[SuperchargedSS]

Nice you went all out didnt you? Removed the bumper, made plates for the resistors. Clean install Bro

Sorta. Lol. I didn't take the bumper off tho, went underneath.

[sumo]

ahh ok, thats a up skirt shot. Hope that not a habit of yours lol

[Modded]

Nice write up Superchrged. Just now saw this.

[07Burb]

I'm assuming the rain/snow/other moisture will not affect the resistors negatively by being located underneath like that? I may relocate mine down there but wanted to be sure first. I'd thought about putting them down there but I was worried about them getting wet... :hmm:

[SuperchargedSS]

I'm assuming the rain/snow/other moisture will not affect the resistors negatively by being located underneath like that? I may relocate mine down there but wanted to be sure first. I'd thought about putting them down there but I was worried about them getting wet... :hmm:

Considering the actual resistors are housed in a gel filled aluminum housing, I highly doubt that anything will effect the performance of these.

[07Burb]

:waytogo: I wasn't sure what was actually inside that housing (mine are just like yours). Thanks for the info :High 5:

[pnap88p]

this is the most awesome write up ever, i will be sending a pm on a quote for 4 of these if possible??

[SuperchargedSS]

this is the most awesome write up ever, i will be sending a pm on a quote for 4 of these if possible??

i can handle any amount of plug and play harnesses.

This is V1.0, V2.0 is going to be alot better... I'm in the process of working on that now.

[SuperchargedSS]

Updated Post #2 :)

[SuperchargedSS]

For those interested, I only have parts to make three sets of harnesses.

[blubaldmontess]

Very nice swap, as soon as I get the money to buy the taillights, I'll be all over this...can you show a picture of it lit up? Also, nice reflection in the last pic!

[Terrence87]

nice

[dragland]

Also, nice reflection in the last pic!
X2

[sumo]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/appliques1.jpg

close up of the Body Please lol

[SuperchargedSS]

:secret:

[RickyFriery97]

so how is the version 2 coming of the harness? i wanna do this mod but id be really easy if i could get a nice plug and play harness from you
also, where do you get the escy peices above the tailights, if im gunna do it im gunna do it all, including the third brake light if thats possible?

[sumo]

you can buy all from him all plug and play

[SuperchargedSS]

so how is the version 2 coming of the harness? i wanna do this mod but id be really easy if i could get a nice plug and play harness from you
also, where do you get the escy peices above the tailights, if im gunna do it im gunna do it all, including the third brake light if thats possible?

Never started version 2.0 yet. Just a matter of doing it, not really a trial and error process. It's ready whenever someone wants to buy them. :)

[jdpber]

girl in reflection ::):

[SuperchargedSS]

girl in reflection ::):

Not a girl. That's a mom of two. :)

[jdpber]

well a FEMALE lol.. didnt know if anyone noticed.. clean conversion.. wish it was that easy for the nbs.. but they hav that darn kick out on the light that molds to the fender.. oh well

[Vincesrg03]

Great write up!! And may i say hubba hubba, you are a lucky man.:waytogo:

[plush]

Nice any plans to get these smoked? I'm asking cause I can not figure if I should get the clear tails or the reds as which one will look better. I found this site. http://www.jonstintedtails.com/index.htm

anyone hav any pics of theres smoked?

[BlackedoutLT3]

Mine are escalade smoked.

[SuperchargedSS]

Nice any plans to get these smoked? I'm asking cause I can not figure if I should get the clear tails or the reds as which one will look better. I found this site. http://www.jonstintedtails.com/index.htm

anyone hav any pics of theres smoked?

Nope, no plans. This is the wife's burban and she likes them the way they are.

Mine are pretty much just plain ol' badass.

fixed for ya. :Handshake:

[SuperchargedSS]

Plug-N-Play Harness V2.0 is under way. I will update the thread when complete. Thanks to "insert members name here" for being the first one to get one of the new harnesses!

I have enough parts to make 2 more sets, and then the price goes up or I stop...lol!

[SuperchargedSS]

V2.0 has arrived....
10555

[rock206]

Hey shoot me an email regarding purchasing a set of these..Brian....DoctorB98@ aol DOT com

[SuperchargedSS]

Hey shoot me an email regarding purchasing a set of these..Brian....DoctorB98@ aol DOT com

Will do...

[plush]

V2.0 has arrived....
10555


So, what's all on that?

[SuperchargedSS]

So, what's all on that?

Same as before... Just made a black box. :)

[carbon//m3]

this is sweet I want in on this!!

[llllljrlllll]

Great write up. :)

[SuperchargedSS]

Price on harnesses is going up 9/1/11. Parts are costing me more now...

[carbon//m3]

Robbie, with the v2 harness where do you mount the box? And is there any issues with heat with all that in the box?

[SuperchargedSS]

Robbie, with the v2 harness where do you mount the box? And is there any issues with heat with all that in the box?

The ones I built mount them next to the harness under the frame. We've reported no issues with heat at the moment. That can change...

[carbon//m3]

The ones I built mount them next to the harness under the frame. We've reported no issues with heat at the moment. That can change...

Good stuff, I am almost on the fence wether v1 is better then v2 since they have open air to vent ( I am assuming the resistors are all in that box) although v2 looks pretty.

[Timmy]

v1 is more apt to the elements.

[SuperchargedSS]

Good stuff, I am almost on the fence wether v1 is better then v2 since they have open air to vent ( I am assuming the resistors are all in that box) although v2 looks pretty.

It's all in what ya want. :)

[carbon//m3]

v1 is more apt to the elements.

True but I am in southern California.

It's all in what ya want. :)

Lol, like your style!

[Faceplant]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d47/supercharged6mt/appliques1.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4969/beenaa.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/99/beenaa.jpg/)

Looks like our wives have the same taste in bikini's, haha. She bought this for Memorial Day...

[SuperchargedSS]

looks like we have the same taste in hot wives... :Handshake:

[mrrairai]

Where's the "LIKE" button???? LOL

[hollister21]

@mrrairai:

Sweet Esky setup on your Denali! Looks amazing!

[ranorris2]

Ok guys, I bought esky tails, ordered the 5/4 converters and the load resistors...I am waiting on the resistors to get here, but went ahead and wired everything else up. I figured I could test the light without the resistors and everything should work with the exception of a fast blinker. Well everything works but the brakes. I checked continuity from the end of the esky harness to the end of the tahoe harness. no continuity. So I checked from the esky plug to the soldering point of the converter. I have continuity. I check from the tahoe plug to the soldering point of the converter. I have continuity. But when I check from the soldering points across the converter I get no continuity. I tried this with both converters. Is this normal, am I doing something wrong, or will the resistors fix this issue when I get them?

Thanks for any help.

EDIT: Does anyone know the configuration of the Diodes in the Hopkins 48845 converter? I am thinking something weird is going on in there....is it possible that they changed the hopkins converter internal diodes to another configuration since this write up was made

[chrisfox75]

No

[ranorris2]

Well I finally got everything working the way it should be and if anybody wants to do a little less work on the install...if you buy the hopkins converter part number 48895 instead of the one mentioned in the first post, then you only have to buy one pair instead of two pairs of resistors for the turn signals to ground.
Hopkins 48895 is for converting to LED tail lights so it doesnt need the resistance from the brake light.

I understand everyone is buying the G5's now, but if you like to keep it OEM this makes for one less step on the harness conversion.

Here is the new converter you need to make the harness: http://www.hopkinstowingsolutions.com/products/basic_wiring/taillight_converters/standard_converters/led_compatible_taillight_converter.html

[SuperchargedSS]

+1, thank u sir!

[DStockton]

Good write up. It's not this hard to do the G3s and G4s right?

[SuperchargedSS]

Good write up. It's not this hard to do the G3s and G4s right?

Those are plug and play.