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Added engine bay lights which are powered by separate 12V battery but would like to instead have them powered when I turn on my parking lights or headlights at night. I figure there must be away to tap into the wire that feeds the license plate lights. Hopefully, without having to remove the rear bumper to gain access. If anyone has done this, would love to know how you went about it.
You will have to remove the rear bumper to gain access to that harness. I've had several of these cars stripped down nothing and there really isn't any way to access that harness without removing the bumper.
Fascia does not need to come off. I got 12v power in the trunk. Hopefully what you're looking for is there. Let me find my notes before you start disassembling the car.
It does seem like the bumper has to be removed to access the harness that feeds power to the rear lights. Seems there are two harnesses (not counting the one for the backup camera) that are accessible once the bumper is removed for the driver and passenger sides. Not sure which of these actually feed the license plate lights though am thinking it may be the passenger side harness as it has more wires. Am wondering how to determine which of the wires is for the license plate lights? I suppose I can take a multimeter and test to see which pin has power as I switch the parking lights on and off but there are 6 lights (4 for the rear brake lamp and 2 for each license plate light) which all are powered by the same switch. Perhaps any of these would work but was hoping to tap the one for the license plate.
Added engine bay lights which are powered by separate 12V battery but would like to instead have them powered when I turn on my parking lights or headlights at night. I figure there must be away to tap into the wire that feeds the license plate lights. Hopefully, without having to remove the rear bumper to gain access. If anyone has done this, would love to know how you went about it.
that $100 dollar option to have them from the factory was money well spent
In the trunk there are two lights which turn on when you unlock the car and when the hatch is open. I bought two of the GM factory lights that go on the top of the hatch and wired those lights to the same circuit as the rear trunk lights. Same effect without having to go through the trouble of swapping out the harness that also acts as the rear defrost. Though running the wires entailed removing the rear engine cover to have a clean look where no wires are visible. The rear trunk lights have two wires (white is positive and black is the ground) and are easy to tap with simple pulling back of trunk liner.
The issue is that I want my engine bay lights, which I installed within the engine area to give more of a glow to the engine, and to stay on while driving at night. The hatch light circuit turns off shortly after closing the hatch.
The harness swap is pretty easy probably half hour max. They are less than $100. Also it's factory correct I'd be a little cautious where you tap 12v from due to the BCM monitoring resistance on all circuits and possibly causing a lot more problems.
I've purchased all of the parts to add the factory lighting kit which was on constraint when I ordered the car. It doesn't look like too bad of a job, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Can anyone tell me when these lights will be on using the factory harness?
When the doors are open?
When the rear hatch is open?
When the interior lights are on?
I've purchased all of the parts to add the factory lighting kit which was on constraint when I ordered the car. It doesn't look like too bad of a job, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Can anyone tell me when these lights will be on using the factory harness?
When the doors are open?
When the rear hatch is open?
When the interior lights are on?
Thanks for any info.
When the doors are open or interior lights on. They fade off the same as the interior lights. There is a harness available that allows them to be on when you turn on the rear window defrost.
10-21-2023, 01:40 PM
Has anybody tapped into license plate lights?
