2014 Camaro RS led taillight swap

[V]

I got my camaro in November and then about 3 months ago I bought a set of OEM LED RS taillights. In my rare free time, I had been looking into how to make them work with the non-rs wiring. After contacting several people, getting some responses here and there and delays other places, I just decided to solve the issue myself. I made a retrofit harness and tested it prior to pulling the bumper off and lights out. I did have to run load resistors with the LED tails as was expected, so I made up small brackets to mount them safely.
I was able to split the turn and brake signal without having to tap into the 3rd brake light or run wires to the front of the car to the front directionals. Everything is contained right by the rear taillights(under the covers) with no permanent modifications made to any of the factory wiring. My total cast was around maybe $50.

Even though I liked the LS taillights, these LED ones are so much better and they were kind of the reason I decided to get a 2014 Camaro (Its just a lease so that's why I didn't want to pay for the RS package). When I turn the car in, I can remove the RS taillights and sell them with the harness and then put my stockers back in. I also have a pair of RS headlights which will be getting put on my car in the next few weeks. I already made up the wiring plans for them and just need time to make that harness.

Everything functions as it should. The way I have it set up, when you turn the hazards on, the brake lights flash and not the small turn signals. I think it's safer that way since they are obviously more visible than the turn signals.

Here are some pics and then a video at the bottom.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24120244_zps7bd1d42d.jpg


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24120444_zps3130edd4.jpg


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24122752_zpsf6cb61e3.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24122126_zps5af133c7.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24130019_zpsdd2e576c.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24131205_zpsc5b834f5.jpg


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/2014-05-24131325_zps2eeb2e31.jpg


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/14%20Camaro/aaa2014-05-24133906_zps68a73b18.jpg


And here's a quick video of the functions.
http://youtu.be/6x0SJn5h8X0

[1320B4U]

I like the bracket install for the resistors...nice job.

[sweetbmxrider]

The led tail lights are sooo much nicer. Nice work man!

[V]

A well know vendor of 5th gen camaro stuff has come out with a harness to do the conversion around the same time I made mine. I had contacted them prior to making mine to try to buy one but they were still developing it and would let me know in a few days. Days turned in to weeks with no real info or response to emails so I then made mine. Two days after I completed the wiring, I got an email saying theirs was done(1.5 months after I first emailed them) and that it would be $132 and I'd have to run wires to the front of the car for the turn signals. My wiring was less than $50 and I avoided running wires the length of the car and managed to get the lights to work like they should, which the vendor said wasn't possible without running wires. The same vendor sells a retrofit harness for the front lights, for $250 (it'll cost me maybe $20). Its amazing how much 5th gen camaro owners will waste on their cars, and it's sad that no one does stuff themselves anymore, it was simple with a little research.

[Blackbirdws6]

Nicely done. Looks great.

[MyFirstZ]

nice job, I can never install those resistors in my car. I had them on a customers car. unbelievable how hot those ****ers get. Melted harnesses, hard plastic fan housings, what a nightmare.

[V]

I didn't have an option about the resistors really, without them the turn signals flashed too fast. Many people with the earlier 5th gen LED tails run them with no issues, you just can't attach them to anything plastic or rubber. That is why I mounted them like i did. They are not in contact with anything but the aluminum mount brackets, and they have as much surface area exposed to the air as possible. They are also out of the way of the path water takes through that area. I bought good quality ones and not ebay specials. I also read that there are cases where they can burn out so that's why they are attached to my harness with quick disconnects in case I ever need to change them.