Side Reflectors?

[DrPattyCakes]

The only thing about the stinger I'm not a huge fan of is the reflectors on the ear sides.
I like the way they look, but I always thought they were lights.

Are people able to turn these into lights somehow?

 

[YOWStinger]

There is actually a little light in there, but it's not the whole length

 

[DrPattyCakes]

How do I make it the length of the reflector?

 

[YOWStinger]

Maybe we can find a way of running a LED strip behind the length of it, the power is already there, and led strips are pretty thin.

 

[Doel]

be careful with this. There's a lot of laws surrounding light and reflector placements, pretty sure a red light, or brake light, on the side of the car would be a problem. If there was a way to turn it into an amber turn signal, that might be ok. You have to leave some of the reflector in place though, the rear sides of cars must have reflectors.

 

[YOWStinger]

be careful with this. There's a lot of laws surrounding light and reflector placements, pretty sure a red light, or brake light, on the side of the car would be a problem. If there was a way to turn it into an amber turn signal, that might be ok. You have to leave some of the reflector in place though, the rear sides of cars must have reflectors.

No disagreements here, there's already a light and a reflector on the side of the car, I assume that if we continue to display a light and reflector in the same place, and at the same time (I believe this is a corner marker and not tied to the brake light, it's a tiny square at night, should try to get a picture of it), then it will continue to meet regulations. People swap out headlights and tail lights all the time, add fog lights, etc. k8stingerstore has replacement reflectors at the bottom of the bumper that turn into animated turn signals, etc.

As always, if you're modifying your car, buyer beware. Canadian Tire sells tinted licence plate covers that are also do not meet road regulations.

 

[Doel]

No disagreements here, there's already a light and a reflector on the side of the car, I assume that if we continue to display a light and reflector in the same place, and at the same time (I believe this is a corner marker and not tied to the brake light, it's a tiny square at night, should try to get a picture of it), then it will continue to meet regulations. People swap out headlights and tail lights all the time, add fog lights, etc. k8stingerstore has replacement reflectors at the bottom of the bumper that turn into animated turn signals, etc.

As always, if you're modifying your car, buyer beware. Canadian Tire sells tinted licence plate covers that are also do not meet road regulations.

adding fog lights to the front or brake lights to the back is usually safe mod, it's when you start adding lights to areas where they shouldn't be that it becomes a problem. Fog light on the back? Red light on the front? Clear no goes. Not 100% sure about a red light on the side, but that doesn't sound like a good idea to me. The existing light is right on the corner.

 

[YOWStinger]

adding fog lights to the front or brake lights to the back is usually safe mod, it's when you start adding lights to areas where they shouldn't be that it becomes a problem. Fog light on the back? Red light on the front? Clear no goes. Not 100% sure about a red light on the side, but that doesn't sound like a good idea to me. The existing light is right on the corner.

These lights already exist, they're part of the existing side markers, not adding new lights where they don't already exist and are part of the stock side markers so it sounds like we're on the same page.

 

[Pnbnationsbest]

There's absolutely no legal reason why you can't change the bulb into a strip. Camaro guys have been doing this since 2010 to their side markers.

 

[YOWStinger]

There's absolutely no legal reason why you can't change the bulb into a strip. Camaro guys have been doing this since 2010 to their side markers.

Is this the one? ORACLE Concept SMD Sidemarkers (2010-14 Camaro) | HaloLightKits.com

 

[YOWStinger]

Kia Is Awarded Coveted 'Markie' Award For Excellence In Marker Lamp Design

 

[YOWStinger]

Left and right markers with LED

2018-2019 Kia Stinger Reflector 92407-J5020 | Smithtown Kia Parts Center

2018-2019 Kia Stinger Reflector 92408-J5020 | Smithtown Kia Parts Center

 

[MerlintheMad]

Kia Is Awarded Coveted 'Markie' Award For Excellence In Marker Lamp Design

The comments, the Comments! Such Kia hate there. Totally irrational. I wonder how many of them secretly ate their words after the months of great reviews and bought a Stinger?

I like the "side markers" as-is. They are distinctive and very subtle at the same time. It would be cool to turn the entire thing into a very low intensity light, though.

 

[Pnbnationsbest]

Is this the one? ORACLE Concept SMD Sidemarkers (2010-14 Camaro) | HaloLightKits.com

Exactly like those.

 

[YOWStinger]

It would be cool to turn the entire thing into a very low intensity light, though.

It would be cool to extend the tail lights down the side if we could get it to match the look. I’m genuinely curious to try, I might order a couple of OEM markers and mess around with adding a led strip.

 

[Doel]

There's absolutely no legal reason why you can't change the bulb into a strip. Camaro guys have been doing this since 2010 to their side markers.

and car guys have been running without cats forever, doesn't make it legal. If the strip covers the entire reflector, it's illegal without question. Now if there was a way to have a light in there that simply emitted a light down the strip, which reflected off the reflector, that might be legal, I'm not really sure. It depends on if you can see that red light from the front of the car, since our rear fenders flare out a bit you might be able to. Here's the codes in my state.

On rear side reflectors

(1) No new motor vehicle first sold on or after January 1, 1950, other than a truck tractor, motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle shall be operated on a highway unless the vehicle carries on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two red reflectors. Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one reflector, meeting the requirements of this section. Vehicles specifically provided for in subsection (d) of this section shall be equipped with reflectors as required by that subsection.

(2) These reflectors shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than 20 inches nor more than 60 inches measured as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 32-5-242, shall be of such size and characteristics, and shall be so mounted as to be visible at night from 300 feet.

On red lights on other parts of the car that isn't the rear.

(2) No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device thereon displaying a red light visible from directly in front of the center thereof. This section shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.

 

[Pnbnationsbest]

and car guys have been running without cats forever, doesn't make it legal. If the strip covers the entire reflector, it's illegal without question. Now if there was a way to have a light in there that simply emitted a light down the strip, which reflected off the reflector, that might be legal, I'm not really sure. It depends on if you can see that red light from the front of the car, since our rear fenders flare out a bit you might be able to. Here's the codes in my state.

On rear side reflectors

(1) No new motor vehicle first sold on or after January 1, 1950, other than a truck tractor, motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle shall be operated on a highway unless the vehicle carries on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two red reflectors. Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one reflector, meeting the requirements of this section. Vehicles specifically provided for in subsection (d) of this section shall be equipped with reflectors as required by that subsection.

(2) These reflectors shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than 20 inches nor more than 60 inches measured as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 32-5-242, shall be of such size and characteristics, and shall be so mounted as to be visible at night from 300 feet.

On red lights on other parts of the car that isn't the rear.

(2) No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device thereon displaying a red light visible from directly in front of the center thereof. This section shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.

Ok so since you've paid zero attention, NOBODY said remove or obscure the reflector (or its light). We were talking about a lighting upgrade to a complete LED. There is already a light INSIDE of the reflector. If you look at the example posted, there is still a reflective section both above and below the LED strip. I don't need you to wiki the laws I get paid to enforce.

Thanks for you're contribution.

 

[Doel]

Ok so since you've paid zero attention, NOBODY said remove or obscure the reflector (or its light). We were talking about a lighting upgrade to a complete LED. There is already a light INSIDE of the reflector. If you look at the example posted, there is still a reflective section both above and below the LED strip. I don't need you to wiki the laws I get paid to enforce.

Thanks for you're contribution.

I'm friends with enough LEOs to know that you guys typically aren't up to date on obscure laws like this one, no offense, there's a million laws and you can't have complete knowledge of all of them. Especially when it comes to laws in another state. You guys sure do think you know it all though

This thread is about making the side reflectors light up and the different ways to do it, I just wanted to make it clear that covering up the side reflector with an LED strip is illegal. The link to the Camaro side markers? Looks illegal to me unless that car has another reflector on the side somewhere. Trying to fit an LED strip BEHIND the reflector sounds difficult and probably wouldn't even work. Fitting the strip in front of the reflector, even if it isn't covering up the entire thing, runs the risk of reducing it's reflectivity and being illegal. As I'm sure you know, there are strict guidelines about where the rear reflector needs to be and it's reflective properties. Swapping out the existing bulb with an LED won't achieve what this thread is talking about. And sure, maybe you'll never get pulled over for this, I doubt many officers really care, but you better believe a good lawyer would notice and rake you over the coals if you got into an accident.

And again, even if you can figure out a way to light up the thing without reducing the reflective properties of the side reflectors, will you be able to see the red light from the front center of the car? If you can, it's illegal. Not sure why I'm telling you all this, you already know every single law by heart apparently.

 

[Pnbnationsbest]

I'm friends with enough dogs to be a Rottweiler, doesn't make me one.


This is legal:

Reflector □□□□□□
LED ■■■■■■
Reflector □□□□□□

 

[Doel]

I'm friends with enough dogs to be a Rottweiler, doesn't make me one.


This is legal:

Reflector □□□□□□
LED ■■■■■■
Reflector □□□□□□

How do you know? Did you test it? Reflectors must meet SAE J594 to be legal, it's not good enough just "having" one. The manufacturer tests to make sure every aspect of their vehicles is legal, including the reflectors, once you tamper with it that testing is thrown out the window.

Reflex Reflectors—SAE J594f