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Fender Vent Mod

Tritonman

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I figured i would make use of the vent by the fender. I bought some Amber LED strips. You can choose any color you want depending on your state laws. This is a simple mod that doesn't really do much other than add a little touch to your jeep.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MN9XYHW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My intentions were to use the vent space as a side turn signal, but since i have the Morimoto XB LED Sequential Turns and they are known to be finicky i just decided to use the vents as additional side markers. If you dont have the Sequential tuirns or have more patience then me, i would love to see someone do this utilizing the vents as side turn signals.

Anyways, on to the install.

To get to the fender vent easily without breaking it your best best is to partially remove the fender. You will need to remove 2 bolts that are under the fender well using a 10mm.

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Once thats done you will need to gently pull your fender off. You do not need to pull the whole fender off, just about half of it. There are clips that hold it on and it sounds nasty when you pull it apart but just be gentle but firm. :)

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From there you will have access to the vent to pry it off. Be very careful when prying this off as you could essentially break off the vent trim and end up with the outside vent trim and the grill part. So just take your time and pry around the edges.

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Once the vent is off you will need to clean inside of it with some rubbing alcohol to make the LED strips adhere. The LED strips are pretty long and you wont need all of it, so i ended up trimming some of the end. The bottom LED strip is the trimmed and the one above is the one out of the box. Be careful where you cut the strip because if you cut too much you will end up with less functional lights. So i just recommend cutting where i did.

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Now you will stick the strips behind where the vent was with the wire part towards the top.The kit comes with 4 strips and i figured i would use them all. I offset the LED's on the strips to get an equal flow of light.

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You will be able to reach the VERY tiny wires that come from the strips. They are Red + and Black -.

You should see a stock wiring harness towards the middle of your upper fender. You will need to disconnect this plug to have access to it. As ive stated before i have the Sequential LED and the aftermarket side markers but i suspect the wire colors should be the same.

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You will use the white wire if you want the lights to come on as markers which will be your positive and the black wire which is next to the Yellow. Inot 100% sure if the color combo is the same for stock but a simple Multi Meter will give you a confirmation. If you want them to be turn signals, Im not sure exactly which one to use because i didn't bother.

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Once hooked up and the harness plugged back in you should have light.

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Now just pop the vent back on and snap your fender back in place and put those 2 screws back in.

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Side photo with the side vent markers on. The photo doesn't do it justice because i suck at taking dark photos, but you get the idea.

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Tritonman

Tritonman

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Completely pointless and TOTALLY AWESOME! :like::LOL:
Hahah, completely pointless is right! I must have entirely too much time on my hands. :) Glad you liked it!
 

cbrenthus

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I agree - completely pointless, a total waste of time, and I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT!!!

I'm thinking I might do one strip solid and wire the other strip into the turn signal.
 

Toycrusher

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I agree - completely pointless, a total waste of time, and I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT!!!

I'm thinking I might do one strip solid and wire the other strip into the turn signal.
Bright red strobe so it looks like flashes of fire from open headers :LOL::facepalm:
 

Arterius2

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Completely pointless and TOTALLY AWESOME! :like::LOL:
If they can be hooked up to turning signals, I can see them being functional 'euro-style' side turning lights (for vehicles and pedestrians in your blind spot), which is a feature I'd like to have and actually missing on the NA version of the JLs.
 
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Tritonman

Tritonman

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If they can be hooked up to turning signals, I can see them being functional 'euro-style' side turning lights (for vehicles and pedestrians in your blind spot), which is a feature I'd like to have and actually missing on the NA version of the JLs.
They can be made to be turn signals easily, you would just tap your positive in to the turn signal wire.
 

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Arterius2

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I thought about doing something very similar before I took delivery, but I changed my mind after I saw how little room there was behind that vent. I also considered adding something to the fender, but I went with a cowl-mounted turn signal instead.

Side-Turn-Signals.gif
Holy crap that looks so simple but amazing!
 

Sol

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Bright red strobe so it looks like flashes of fire from open headers :LOL::facepalm:
Like old Buick porthole vent lamps that lit when the when the respective spark plug fired.
 

cbrenthus

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just ordered my strips - I'm curious if there is room for a 3rd in there?
 
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Tritonman

Tritonman

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just ordered my strips - I'm curious if there is room for a 3rd in there?
You can absolutely fit 3 in there. Just start more to the left side towards the door. And when you stick them on just make sure they are tight next to each other. I recommend a test fitting. You will want them more left because that's where the vent grill is open.
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