Turning your Rear Side Markers to Park/Signal lights Modification

Original idea: twospirits
Tester, Author, Images: twospirits

Introduction / History

The Hyundai Santa Fe comes with side markers. Two of them are located at the front of the vehicle and which I modified to make alternating signal markers. See this link. There are two other ones in the rear in the stock light housing. Section A of this modification shows you how to convert these static lights into signal lights on the stock lights. If you have the new Euro lights that have been sold on Ebay or by TFR Racing, those lights do not have a socket for the side marker light and are usually terminated to close the circuit. Section B of this modification shows you how to add aftermarket signal lights on the rear bumpers to return this function as before. Whichever section you use, once completed, will give you fully functional rear side signal markers.

Disclaimer

Please Read the disclaimer before proceeding

Difficulty level / scale: On a scale of 1 - 10

Easy   Difficult
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  X
Stock lights		   X
Euro lights 		           

Tools and materials needed:

For Stock Lights For Euro Lights
Phillips (cross tip) screwdriver Phillips (cross tip) screwdriver
Wire Cutter Wire Cutter
Electrical Tape Electrical Tape
4 butt connectors 6 butt connectors
Grease pencil Grease pencil
  After market side markers
  Drill with 5/32 bit
  Wire Hanger or fish tape

Time to perform modification:

                                 For Stock Lights       

For Euro Lights
First set of lights 15-30 min 30-45 min
Second set of lights 10-20 min 20-30 min
Total time for mod: 25-50 min 50-75 min

Section A: For Stock Lights

Step 1:Familiarization and preparation.

　 Familiarize yourself with the locations of the lights in the housing. The stock rear lights are comprised of 4 lights. The parking/turn signal, the backup, the brake and a small side marker light.
We will be concerned with only two of them for this modification. The side marker and parking/turn signal lights.
The small side marker light has two wires, a black wire and a red with gray stripe wire.
The parking/turn signal light also has two wires, a black one and a green with yellow stripe wire.
(SEE PIC # 01.)

Step 2:(Wiring the stock marker)

　 Before we proceed any further, I would disconnect the negative battery cable if you haven't done so already.
Cut the black wire that leads to the side marker and terminate the end that leads closer to the vehicle. You can terminate it by either electrical tape  or a butt connector. I used a butt connector and dabbed it with silicone.
(SEE PIC # 02.)
     
　 You will be connecting the markers black wire (the one you just cut in the previous step), to the green with yellow stripe wire of the turn light. Add a butt connector to the connect them.
(SEE PIC # 03.)

Proceed to steps 3-5 below.

Section B: For Euro Lights

Step 1:Familiarization and preparation.

　 For those that have the Euro lights, they only have three lights. The marker light is no longer used. Most just take out the light and leave it dangling inside. The park/turn signal light is suppose to be both a side marker as well as the turn / park light.
(SEE PIC # 04.)
     
　 If you take the euro light out of its bay, you will see a gap that goes into the bumper.
(SEE PIC # 05.)
     
　 If you look inside the rear wheel well, you will see a gap as well that goes into the bumper area.
(SEE PIC # 06.)
     
　 Get a side marker (I got mine from a local shop here in NYC called Pet Boys Toys, unfortunately they do not have a website), but I'm sure you can find it at any at Autozone or any other auto parts store. The one I chose is made by MyCarr # SJ-662 Chrome Amber.
(SEE PIC # 07.)

Update: That particular item is hard to find online, but there is an exact copy of it available at Racing Lab. Its part # LSM220 and sells for $38.95. They also have the Oval and Round shape markers. Special thanks to Allen Whitwell for noticing that the originals are no longer available.

     
　 Out of the package, it is a chrome amber led side marker with two wires.
(SEE PIC # 08.)
     
　 The back side of the marker consists of 3M tape.
(SEE PIC # 09.)
     
　 Place the marker where you want it to be and with a grease pencil, mark the position, or outline the area.
(SEE PIC # 10.)
     
　 After you highlighted the area, you will drill a hole large enough for the wire to go through. I used a 5/32 size drill bit. Its soft plastic so it will not be a big deal.
(SEE PIC # 11.)
     
　 Take the end of the side marker wire and about 4-5 inches from the end, and bend the wire at a 45 degree angle.
(SEE PIC # 12.)
Insert the wire into the hole you did above and fish it to the gap opening in the wheel well. (Use your finger to fish it out.)
     
　 Next get a wire hanger, cut off the end that curves and bend one end of the wire about 1 inch inwards.
(SEE PIC # 13.)
     
　 About 9 inches from that end, bend it at a 90 degree then about another 8-9 inches bend it a final time to form a small handle. 
(SEE PIC # 14.)
     
　 Insert this wire hanger into the gap underneath the rear light housing
(SEE PIC # 15)
     
　 and run it inside till it comes out the other gap that is in the wheel well.
(SEE PIC # 16)
     
　 Tape the side marker wire to the wire hanger with electrical tape.
(SEE PIC # 17)
     
　 Fish the wire through the gaps so that it comes out the rear.
(SEE PIC # 18)
     
　 Pull the wire gently so that the side marker comes close to the bumper. Take off the 3M tape cover and attach it to the bumper.
(SEE PIC # 19)

Step 2:(Wiring the aftermarket marker)

　 Before we proceed any further, I would disconnect the negative battery cable if you haven't done so already.
Cut the wires of the small side marker light (the black wire and the red with gray stripe wire).
(SEE PIC # 20)
     
　 After you cut the wires, you can do whatever you want with it, since it is no longer needed.
(SEE PIC # 21)
     
　 Terminate the cut black wire with either electrical tape, soldering it or with a butt connector.
(SEE PIC # 22)
     
　 The new side marker I bought has two wires only, a black one and a black one with white stripe. You will connect the new side markers' black wire to the turn lights' green with white stripe wire.
(SEE PIC # 23)
     
　 You will now connect the new side markers' black with white stripe wire to the red with gray stripe wire. (The one take you cut back in beginning of step two -pic 20-21).
(SEE PIC # 24)

Proceed to steps 3-5 below.

Step 3: Test the lights.

Reconnect the negative battery cable and insert your ignition key and test the lights.
They should at this point work and perform the following functions.

1-

 Should come on when you turn on your lights.

2-

 Should flash as directional signals with parking lamps are on or off.
(They will work in different / alternating flashes. ex: When the parking light goes on the marker goes off and vice versa.)

3-

 Stay on when using the hazards.

Step 4: Perform the steps on the other side.

Perform steps the same steps on the other side of the vehicle and retest them.

Step 5: Reinstall all the lamps.

Reattach all lamps back into their housings and enjoy your new rear signal marker lights.

Final views.

　 Final view (vehicle not turned on)
(SEE PIC # 25)
     
　 Final view (vehicle turned on, using camera flash)
(SEE PIC # 26)
     
　 Final view (vehicle turned on, no camera flash)
(SEE PIC # 27)

This site was last updated 06/10/05
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