my 92 tails are cleared out and i was wondering if i am supposed to possibly paint the bulbs for the turn signal lights yellow. i heard that the tailight turn signal bulb must be yellow or some crap like that, PLMK, thanks
also, is it illegal to have one of the 4 tailight bulbs burned out? im gettin to it next week and was just wonderin if ill be alright until then. thanks again, peace…
well i think you should buy a colored bulb. the reason being, is that if you paint a bulb, the paint will begin to fade and crack off the bulb after some time. the heat is too intense for the coloring. you “can” paint them, if you dont mind going back every so often to “re-touch” them up. (pain if you ask me, i know i’ve been there) i think you should just go out and buy the colored bulb that you like. and you should check your local laws before deciding. i know some states allow yellow, or orange. and some states actually allow hyper white as a turn signal, well… either that or they just dont care. and as far as the taillight bulb thats burned out. you should be fine, cops shouldnt really say anything, i guess the only real precaution is hopefully the guy in back of you notices that your braking. thats about it though, you shouldnt get hasseled by the cops. hope that helps.
Go out and buy yourself some Hyper Red bulbs, not just the red bulbs. A hyper red comes out a deep red and not pink. Also go buy some amber turnsignal lights. Don’t waste your time painting them like Demonix said, you will be repainting them on a weekly basis, if not sooner. Honestly though, I’m almost positive that clear tails are illegal, so you might be better off painting the bottom or the top with a clear red taillight paint to save yourself the hassle of dealing with the cops.
tails
Clear tails are only illeagal without the right bulbs in them!
the turn signals can be red. Look at new mustangs…all red cept the reverse light.
I agree with everyone else, go out and buy colored bulbs. As far as legality goes you need to have at least one stop lamp, reverse lamp, and license plate lamp. Must have both turn signals though. They can be either amber or red. Most cops won’t hassle you for clear taillights as long as they have the right colored bulbs in them and as long as they are DOT SAE certified.
just to clear things up just in case, the lights are not totally clear like aftermarket, they are red on bottom and i took out the amber/orange crap so therefore they’re cleared i guess.
sorry for the confusion, and thanks for the replies
I got the red LED bulbs and they work great. Just thought i would post that.
All clear tails are all illegal no matter what color bulb you have in there. highly advised to paint either half red. if you think they’re legal…you just havent got caught yet or live in a such a small town that the local cops dont care. half red/half clear is fine but red part must be for tails/brake light and clear must be red or amber for signal. hyper whites for rear signals are also illegal.
eh…all you people that say the bulbs will get too hot for the paint are pretty wrong. they are turn signals, they aren’t on that much(especially if you live in KY), and they don’t get that hot. sitting at a LONG red light with your signal on would be as hot as they get.
~Lance
why dont u just go and get the euro tail lights instead of the clear ones. they look much better than all clear and you dont need to worry about the bulbs!:naughty:
Originally posted by integra91red
why dont u just go and get the euro tail lights instead of the clear ones. they look much better than all clear and you dont need to worry about the bulbs!:naughty:
he’s not talking about all clears. I believe by “cleared out” he means the amber piece in the 92-93 tail lights has been removed.
~Lance
i got hassled by the law who gave me a fix it ticket for white signals…
first off lets clear(no pun intended) some things up about clear tail lights. this goes for California only, other states may vary, but highly doubted, always double check.
clear tail lights are illegal because there is no red reflector facing the rear and side-rear. the lights should be red and visible 500 feet away. there is no way red bulbs will be visible from that far away. heres the code:
CVC24600: (e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24600.htm
next here is the law regarding rear red reflectors on tail lights, the reason why clear tail lights are illegal
CVC24607:Every vehicle subject to registration under this code shall at all times be equipped with red reflectors mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with at least one reflector so maintained as to be plainly visible at night from all distances within 350 to 100 feet from the vehicle when directly in front of the lawful upper headlamp beams.
When more than one reflector is required, at least one shall be mounted at the left side and one at the right side, respectively, at the same level. Required reflectors shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 60 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with the required reflectors, may also be equipped with two reflectors which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver’s seat in the rearmost position. Additional reflectors of a type meeting requirements established by the department may be mounted at any height.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24607.htm
and this is why clear corners and 1-piece headlights(yes even these) are illegal. because there is no orange reflector on the front side on clear corners and 1-piece headlights.
CVC24608:Motortrucks, trailers, semitrailers, and buses 80 or more inches in width manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with an amber reflector on each side at the front and a red reflector on each side at the rear. Any vehicle may be so equipped.
(b) Motortrucks, trailers, semitrailers, housecars, and buses 80 or more inches in width and 30 or more feet in length manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, shall be equipped with an amber reflector mounted on each side at the approximate midpoint of the vehicle. Any such vehicle manufactured prior to January 1, 1968, may be so equipped.
(c) Required reflectors on the sides of vehicles shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 60 inches. Additional reflectors of a type meeting requirements established by the department may be mounted at any height.
(d) Reflectors required or permitted in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be so maintained as to be plainly visible at night from all distances within 600 feet to 100 feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper headlamp beams.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24608.htm
those of you who want to debate with me on this can, but i don’t see the point since i have done some research on whats legal and whats not with lighting. again this only applies to Ca.
wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute…
(so that’s 3…)
sorry… but… ima lil slow…
so rear signals need to have colored reflectors? as 92-93? cause i heard of stories of people with 90 - 91 tails… and cops gave them a ticket… even though it blinked amber…
and uhh… for the front… what if the bottom light has a orange reflector? or does it have to be in the corner lense?
im just trying to get everything straight so i wont fuk up…
Originally posted by tegboi
wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute…
(so that’s 3…)
sorry… but… ima lil slow…
so rear signals need to have colored reflectors? as 92-93? cause i heard of stories of people with 90 - 91 tails… and cops gave them a ticket… even though it blinked amber…
and uhh… for the front… what if the bottom light has a orange reflector? or does it have to be in the corner lense?
im just trying to get everything straight so i wont fuk up…
for the front, there has to be an orange reflector facing the side front. in this case, that reflector will be in your corner light.
Just so you guys know it varies on eash state/province/country.
I know that in my province the law is if it comes like that stock then it is ok. That is because the factories have guidlines to follow. So in regards to the mustang comment…that is why they would allow the color of lens/bulb.
Check your state/province laws. People think they know and they might but they could be wrong. Then to be safe check for your self.
Another thing to consider is that you don’t want to give them an excuse to pull you over. Once they pull you over, if they are being pricks, then they will then cite you for other stuff on your car. Why spend the time and money for the tickets because you cheaped out and got lazy to replace a $2 bulb?
and about the tails? does the rear have to have a orange reflector? like the 92-93’s?
Originally posted by tegboi
and about the tails? does the rear have to have a orange reflector? like the 92-93’s?
NO, as long as the rear turn signal flashes amber or red, then it is fine.
heres the code:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc24953.htm
CVC24953: Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear.
(b) Side-mounted turn signal lamps projecting a flashing amber light to either side may be used to supplement the front and rear turn signals. Side-mounted turn signal lamps mounted to the rear of the center of the vehicle may project a flashing red light no part of which shall be visible from the front.
(c) In addition to any required turn signal lamps, any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental rear turn signal lamps mounted to the rear of the rearmost portion of the driver’s seat in its rearmost position.
(d) In addition to any required or authorized turn signal lamps, any vehicle may be equipped with supplemental rear turn signal lamps that are mounted on, or are an integral portion of, the outside rearview mirrors, so long as the lamps flash simultaneously with the rear turn signal lamps, the light emitted from the lamps is projected only to the rear of the vehicle and is not visible to the driver under normal operating conditions, except for a visual indicator designed to allow monitoring of lamp operation, and the lamps do not project a glaring light.