robmorg
New member
Today, I added the LED turn signal strip on the inside of the mirrors, like others have done. I followed the examples of carajony and finless in this thread, so they get the credit. Thanks, guys. :thumbup: I think this is a very practical mod for two reasons... First, it's hard to see the turn signal indicators on the dash, and secondly, this is a good safety feature for visibility for cars coming up along side you from the rear. I bought these bright LED strips at Auto Zone, for about $15, already cut to the correct size and wired.
First I had to disassemble the mirror housings to get at the turn signal wires inside. (See "disclaimer" below.) Then, after cleaning the mounting area with alcohol swabs, I mounted them on the inside frame of the mirrors. (I figured this was the most visible to cars coming up along side me because they reflect outward in the mirrors, and also the least bothersome position for me.) Then I fished the wires behind the mirrors and out through the hole on the back side. Next I cut the wires coming from the front turn signals (on the front side of the mirrors) and spliced in the new wires as shown below, using 18/22 gauge plastic crimp splices.
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Below is what they look like after remounting the mirrors on the Spyder. They are certainly bright enough to be seen in daylight, and they reflect in the mirrors so they look twice as bright as they actually are...
Disclaimer: While this is an inexpensive and useful mod, it is not necessarily an easy one. I found out that taking the mirror housings apart (and then re-assembling them) is both tedious and delicate work. The three main parts of the housing fit together like a jig-saw puzzle and is all held in place with delicate plastic tabs - some of which are impossible to reach. You have to take apart what you can see and gently pry the "hidden" ones open. I broke two tabs (one on each mirror) in the process. (Luckily there were enough other tabs to hold things back together.) If I were doing this again, I think I'd drill a small hole for the wires in the mirror frame, and feed them somehow to the inside that way. Then caulk the holes with black silicone. Some other folks have done it that way. It wouldn't look quite as nice, but it'd be a "safer" way of doing it.
First I had to disassemble the mirror housings to get at the turn signal wires inside. (See "disclaimer" below.) Then, after cleaning the mounting area with alcohol swabs, I mounted them on the inside frame of the mirrors. (I figured this was the most visible to cars coming up along side me because they reflect outward in the mirrors, and also the least bothersome position for me.) Then I fished the wires behind the mirrors and out through the hole on the back side. Next I cut the wires coming from the front turn signals (on the front side of the mirrors) and spliced in the new wires as shown below, using 18/22 gauge plastic crimp splices.
Below is what they look like after remounting the mirrors on the Spyder. They are certainly bright enough to be seen in daylight, and they reflect in the mirrors so they look twice as bright as they actually are...
Disclaimer: While this is an inexpensive and useful mod, it is not necessarily an easy one. I found out that taking the mirror housings apart (and then re-assembling them) is both tedious and delicate work. The three main parts of the housing fit together like a jig-saw puzzle and is all held in place with delicate plastic tabs - some of which are impossible to reach. You have to take apart what you can see and gently pry the "hidden" ones open. I broke two tabs (one on each mirror) in the process. (Luckily there were enough other tabs to hold things back together.) If I were doing this again, I think I'd drill a small hole for the wires in the mirror frame, and feed them somehow to the inside that way. Then caulk the holes with black silicone. Some other folks have done it that way. It wouldn't look quite as nice, but it'd be a "safer" way of doing it.
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