Sheepjeep
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Got and installed the motobilt tail light kit on my JLUR to replace the stock incandescent bulbs. I have been wanting to do this type of conversion on my JL since before I got in in Feb 2018 because I really do not like the size of the factory tail lights and can too easily be taken out by ninja trees that we have so many of in NE.
I went with the motobilt because they are only ones I could find, I think next venture is going to make some in the future but I really didnt feel like waiting. What I liked that Motobilt did was make it so the it is not a destructive upgrade and if i ever feel like going back to a stock tail light I can. The fit is good not perfect but it is a curvy tub so expectations are not high, the biggest fitment issue really is the side marker curve cutout does not follow the body that well so there is a big gap photos below.
Parts Bought:
I have a tazerJL that allows me to not use the turn light resistor but you can get them real cheap https://www.amazon.com/CUTEQUEEN-TR...&qid=1600546613&sprefix=50w+re,aps,165&sr=8-4
For the crimp I would suggest getting delphi crimping tool i already had this and it worked great on the factory crimp https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071KFLY43/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You do not need to do all of the factory plug you can just use splices but i wanted to keep things stock on the body side of the lights
All in It was about $270ish looking back the receipts, but this is a open ended kit so thee prices can vary but still competitive with some of the mid tier replacement LED taillights.
The instructions that cam with motobilt kit are good and straight forward the only thing I would not is all driver side parts are marked MIR but really i think only the inner mounting bracket is side dependent.
All the Kit parts and everything else lazily left on the bench painted
Working with the factory plug you want to make sure the white piece is pulled up, else the crimp ends will not go in, I was able to pop it up by sticking a pick in there and prying up
Insert remove the back plate and the blue gasket and just feed the wires in keeping their alignment, when pushed into the connector you should hear a click when they seat properly
got the wiring diagrams from here fort eh left and right, there is a slight difference between what i have an LEDs as for pins i think https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeep-jl-wrangler-wiring-diagrams.19185/
the ping order with the red tab up going from left to right
top row: pin 1 stop/turn, pin 2 positive for side markers, pin 3 empty, pin 4 tail light, pin 5 backup, ping 6 ground for stop/turn/tail and backup
bottom row: pin 7 ground for side marker, pin 8-12 empty
when done put in the gasket, click in the back plate, and push down on the white front
Now plug it all up and realize you made a really long wiring harness, for the lights i used there are 2 ports one for stop and tail and the other for backup only i clipped the unused wire for the backup plug to mark which is which, the side markers i plugged into the side marker circuit but you could do one as a side marker and the other as a turn or something
And then you are done
The gap i mentioned earlier
Profile own the body for stick out
Stock for comparison
I went with the motobilt because they are only ones I could find, I think next venture is going to make some in the future but I really didnt feel like waiting. What I liked that Motobilt did was make it so the it is not a destructive upgrade and if i ever feel like going back to a stock tail light I can. The fit is good not perfect but it is a curvy tub so expectations are not high, the biggest fitment issue really is the side marker curve cutout does not follow the body that well so there is a big gap photos below.
Parts Bought:
- Tail light kit: https://motobilt.com/collections/jeep-jl-jlu/products/round-tail-light-conversion-kit-for-jeep-jl
- Paint, primer, and clear coat, opted to go for color match one can of the mopar was good https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/5-oz-paint/granite-crystal
- 4" grommet tail lights with backup, i think think about this before but i could have just used my unused sensor holes my rockhard bumper as backup light mounts with 3/4 white lights https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072SNG9M3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- side marker 3/4" lights (just need 4) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IR3G3S4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Factory style female plug x2 https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...YPzdxVwTN7w==&countrycode=US¤cycode=USD
- factory style connector crimps https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...qFBoKxA5GoA==&countrycode=US¤cycode=USD
I have a tazerJL that allows me to not use the turn light resistor but you can get them real cheap https://www.amazon.com/CUTEQUEEN-TR...&qid=1600546613&sprefix=50w+re,aps,165&sr=8-4
For the crimp I would suggest getting delphi crimping tool i already had this and it worked great on the factory crimp https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071KFLY43/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You do not need to do all of the factory plug you can just use splices but i wanted to keep things stock on the body side of the lights
All in It was about $270ish looking back the receipts, but this is a open ended kit so thee prices can vary but still competitive with some of the mid tier replacement LED taillights.
The instructions that cam with motobilt kit are good and straight forward the only thing I would not is all driver side parts are marked MIR but really i think only the inner mounting bracket is side dependent.
All the Kit parts and everything else lazily left on the bench painted
Working with the factory plug you want to make sure the white piece is pulled up, else the crimp ends will not go in, I was able to pop it up by sticking a pick in there and prying up
Insert remove the back plate and the blue gasket and just feed the wires in keeping their alignment, when pushed into the connector you should hear a click when they seat properly
got the wiring diagrams from here fort eh left and right, there is a slight difference between what i have an LEDs as for pins i think https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeep-jl-wrangler-wiring-diagrams.19185/
the ping order with the red tab up going from left to right
top row: pin 1 stop/turn, pin 2 positive for side markers, pin 3 empty, pin 4 tail light, pin 5 backup, ping 6 ground for stop/turn/tail and backup
bottom row: pin 7 ground for side marker, pin 8-12 empty
when done put in the gasket, click in the back plate, and push down on the white front
Now plug it all up and realize you made a really long wiring harness, for the lights i used there are 2 ports one for stop and tail and the other for backup only i clipped the unused wire for the backup plug to mark which is which, the side markers i plugged into the side marker circuit but you could do one as a side marker and the other as a turn or something
And then you are done
The gap i mentioned earlier
Profile own the body for stick out
Stock for comparison
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