Tail Gater Switch

[GeneralNoobzor]

All credit goes to: oakrdrs187 - Thanks for the help bud!

This is honestly, the second easiest mod I have done.

Related links:http://tinyurl.com/4xtbp8q

Required Materials: Phillips screw driver, Two prong switch (NOT THREE) and about enough wire, two female terminals, two tap splices, pliers.

Start at your left rear reverse light, take out the two screws on the side and pull it out. This is what you will see.

The green wire is for the back up lights, get about 25-30ft of wire and tap into it with a tap splice. (I recommend 16awg)

Above the left left year tail light is a the flare. It does not have to be removed.
On the other side of the flair is the d column.

Remove the column (just pull it off, don't break any clips!)
Shine a flashlight after you remove it, go look where the tail light is, look up behind the flare and you will see light, feed the wire through there.

Now bring enough wire to get to the dash and put your switch in.
(Two prong switch) (**NOT A THREE PRONG**) Will ground out and blow fuses!)

Connect that to the ACC part on the switch.

Now get the power. I connected my power to my amplifier, but wherever you have power, it can be connected to. But be careful where you put it! ( REMEMBER TO FUSE IT! (I have a 4.5a fuse)

Now bring that wire up to the switch and put it on the (12v)

When you are done it should look similar to this.

(The black is my ACC (Tail Light) the Red is my 12v (Power)

When you flick the switch on the reverse lights will turn on.

Now let's say you don't want to put that much wire in to the reverse light. That's fine, you can tap into the wire in the dash. It goes to your onstar system and tells the vehicle when it is in reverse. To get to that open up the fuse box on the side of your steering wheel under the A-Column.

Find the wire harness with the foam wrapped around, rip the tape open.

The wire you are looking for is olive green.

Just to make sure it is the right wire, get a test light, poke the point side into the olive green wire and connect the other side to a ground, now when you switch into reverse the light on the test lead should turn on, and when you switch out, it should turn off. You can tap into this wire for the ACC on the switch instead of running to the back. ENJOY!

I am not responsible for any damage any of you do to your vehicles!

 

[ezdaar]

boy, i hope you put a fuse on that long ass wire of fiery death!

 

[jeffyrc]

Excellent write up Spencer. Me likie.

 

[FishinCricket]

The back hatch on that rig looks like a mirror!!

 

[GeneralNoobzor]

Ahaha it's even shinier right now. I don't remember doing this, but I cleaned up my fuse box alot...

 

[bigwhite4door901]

Awesome write up!

 

[FishinCricket]

And if you really want to back your tailgater off you can install a bigger light, like this bastard:

Do be careful who you flash though, cops do tend to tailgate as well... And a tailgater floodlight is sure to get you pulled over in most places...

 

[UNLIMITLESS]

Great writeup!

 

[FrankU]

I usually just stand on the brakes. That wakes them up.

 

[Shrek]

And if you really want to back your tailgater off you can install a bigger light, like this bastard:

Do be careful who you flash though, cops do tend to tailgate as well... And a tailgater floodlight is sure to get you pulled over in most places...

I have 2 of those on the backrack on my silverado. They have been used.....

 

[livingez_123]

Just remember, using clear lights on the rear of your vehicle while traveling down the road is illegal.

 

[SLCHOE]

Schematic of the backup circuit for an 04 Tahoe:

Now let's say you don't want to put that much wire in to the reverse light. That's fine, you can tap into the wire in the dash. It goes to your onstar system and tells the vehicle when it is in reverse. To get to that open up the fuse box on the side of your steering wheel under the A-Column.

That wire is actually a 12V switched feed from the BCM. The PCM and BCM use the PNP (park-neutral switch on trans) state signal to determine when to turn your back-up lights on or not (based on programmed logic). This is why you cannot simply ground out a wire to get the backup lights to come on. If all sensor conditions are met, the BCM outputs 12V from Pin F of the BCM C5 connector to this wire. The data is also passed onto the On-Star unit via a separate Class 2 data bus (as well as all modules on the Class Data Bus) basically saying "ok we're in reverse". This wire specifically doesn't "tell" any module anything. This part of the circuit is solely a voltage output wire to feed power to the reverse lights and the trailer connector, nothing else.

Just wanted to put that out there in the name of correct information. Please don't be offended.

 

[StickerShockPDX]

That's funny, I read through this thread trying to figure what the mod was for... I live where tailgating is outside before a football game.

I did this on my little 1972 BMW 2002 when I was a teenager in the early 90's. Worked like a charm.