'02 LS Sport Spoiler
- Thread starter LDM
- Start date
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
it probably just wasn't wired up in the first place, because i've never seen them just put a reflector in a spoiler.
if it has any screws around the lense, you could pull off the cover and see if there is a bulb there
if it has any screws around the lense, you could pull off the cover and see if there is a bulb there
That's just it, I didn't see any screws... so I let it go. Thought it would be too difficult to replace bulbs since I didn't see a way to open it, thus thought it must be a reflector. Then I was reading old posts about spoilers and saw some links of spoilers for sale on ebay with lights. Made me think about it again. I will have to give it a good look next time.
That looks like the spoiler I have - if it's the real Ford/Lincoln one, then yes, it should light up. I had to wire mine in when I installed it - check the mounting holes from inside the trunklid - one of them should have wires coming from the lights....
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
this will remove any doubt and give you the final answer.
I just took apart part of the trunk lid. It is wired up. I do see two red plastic caps under the spoiler light that is covering up two philips screws. It appears to be LED lights, so not much I think I can do about those. The wire runs down the right hinge and over to the rear window third brake light.
The next step will be to take that apart and see if it's wired into the third brake light correctly.
I wonder if I could use a 9V battery (or something) to test these wires at the third brake light, from inside the rear window, and see if the spoiler lights up?
The next step will be to take that apart and see if it's wired into the third brake light correctly.
I wonder if I could use a 9V battery (or something) to test these wires at the third brake light, from inside the rear window, and see if the spoiler lights up?
I checked the 3rd brake light area. The spoiler is wired up OK to the 3rd brake light at the rear window. I do have a DMM. It's just kinda hard to do any of this alone... which is why I was thinking a little battery might work to test with. I could do a continuity test by disconnecting the wires at the 3rd brake light going back to the spoiler... no continuity would tell me there is a break in the wire(s) or LED issues. Otherwise I will pull the LED light strip out (I assume they are LED's) and check the wire connections there... maybe there is a loose/cold solder joint I could reflow.
Well, I figured since it doesn't work anyway...
I cut the wires at the 3rd brake light going to the spoiler. No continuity there. Tried an AAA battery and 9V at those wires, they provided no light at the spoiler.
I took the LED strip off the spoiler (that took a real dental tool to get those red plastic caps off, to get to the philips screw heads). There is nothing to see here people... just 2 wires going into a sealed area (I could see some resistors and circuit board where all the LED's hooked to... by looking through the red lens with a flashlight). No solder joints there to get to, or connections to test. I put that back together.
Found the wire at the right trunk hinge... cut that and stripped it. Put a 9V battery on it, and the spoiler lit up!
So, tomorrow when there is more light (it's 4AM here), I will run a new wire from the trunk hinge back to the 3rd brake light. That should fix it. That's enough for now, as I know it works and where the problem is.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
I cut the wires at the 3rd brake light going to the spoiler. No continuity there. Tried an AAA battery and 9V at those wires, they provided no light at the spoiler.
I took the LED strip off the spoiler (that took a real dental tool to get those red plastic caps off, to get to the philips screw heads). There is nothing to see here people... just 2 wires going into a sealed area (I could see some resistors and circuit board where all the LED's hooked to... by looking through the red lens with a flashlight). No solder joints there to get to, or connections to test. I put that back together.
Found the wire at the right trunk hinge... cut that and stripped it. Put a 9V battery on it, and the spoiler lit up!
So, tomorrow when there is more light (it's 4AM here), I will run a new wire from the trunk hinge back to the 3rd brake light. That should fix it. That's enough for now, as I know it works and where the problem is.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
well if they are LED's, you will have to make sure to get the polarity right, if the polarity is wrong it probably wont light up, this could be the original problem. but then again i have seen a few LED circuits that can be wired either way.
I went back with the 9V at the hinge wire where I cut them, the light comes on only with the Red wire to the +Positive terminal on the battery. I spliced everything back together and reversed the positive/negative wires and it all works now.
Thanks for the tip 1LOUDLS, as I was able to get it working using the existing wires.
It appears it was wired in reverse at the 3rd brake light in the rear window (positive/negative flipped).
Thanks again,
Dan
Thanks for the tip 1LOUDLS, as I was able to get it working using the existing wires.
It appears it was wired in reverse at the 3rd brake light in the rear window (positive/negative flipped).
Thanks again,
Dan
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
well im glad it was an easy fix for ya, it kinda $hitty that some one went through the trouble of wiring it up, and just gave up after it didnt work right from the beginning. especially since the red wire "should" always be positive and apparently they were not thinking to well, i guess like a lot of LS's, there brain wasn't firing on all cylinders.lol