These lights are side repeaters, not to be confused with side markers which stay on all the time and *may* blink with the turnsignal.

The side repeaters are mandatory on all cars in Europe and many manufacturers that sell cars in world markets (BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar and of course Honda with our Stook) just have them in the US also, because it requires cutouts in body panels. This reduces cost due to assembly plant complexity which makes up for the extra cost for the (for U.S.) additional lights.

The lights have to emit amber light and are only allowed to flash when the direction indicator is activated.

Nowadays you also start to see the side markers on European cars (Jaguar S-type and Volvo S40 for instance). So these cars have the 'always on' lights/reflectors at front and rear as well as the side repeater, which most of the time is on the front fender, but are also found on the front doors or side mirrors.

 

Thanks for clearing that up for us Siepel Your credibility totally rocks!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by layton
[B]Thanks for clearing that up for us Siepel

 

If someone was ambitious, you could probably wire up a dual mode side repeater. Have it be "on" white, and when you signaled an amber bulb would flash. Not sure if there is enough room to get 2 sufficiently bright bulbs in place, and it would require some additional wiring.

On an aside: Siepel, I really like your picture with the RenCen in the background.

 

I'd like to see 'em. Go to the forum FAQ. There's detailed instructions on how to post pictures. You have to begin by uploading your pics to a place like Photoshop, Imagestation, etc. If you search the Photo Gallery section, you may find more suggestions. Some are free while some charge for this service. Then you essentially "link" to your photos to get them to appear here.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WestSideBilly
[B]If someone was ambitious, you could probably wire up a dual mode side repeater.

 

I re-wired my side-markers last night. Now they go on with the parking lights, and signal off instead of on. When the parking lights are off, so too are the sidemarkers, and they blink on just like before when they were stock.

In case you want to know how to do it, here you go:

**Warning - I know most stook owners are totally against cutting wires, so turn away if you aren't willing to do so.

Basically, all you have to do, is cut the black negative (ground) wire leading to the side marker. Attach a new wire to the negative, and run it through the fender well up to the parking lights in the headlight housing. Remove the parking light (this is a pain - tight squeeze), which is the smaller lower light that goes on but does not flash. Splice (no need to cut) the positive (red) shield to expose the wire. Tap the wire onto it and you're done.

This will need to be done to both sides, and should only take about 10-20 mins.

You will need to go from the fender well, and not from under the hood to access the parking lights.

Good Luck!

Erik

 

You can rig them up so that they are ON continuously, but blink for the turn signal. That is how I rigged up the 21watt amber bulbs as daytime running lights and still function as turn signals. One relay for each side should do it (plus one that will turn them off when the ignition is not on). Basically, you want 12 volts when there was none, and none when there was 12 volts. They will blink opposite of the other bulbs though.

Etarui: does your 5 watt bulbs in the front blink with the turn signal too? And is the side bulbs not as bright as turn signal when the parking lights are off?

 

S2WOOOW - Basically, all the lights are the same: Intensity, Signal Patterns, On/Off, Signal speed.

The Side Markers go on and off with the Parking Lights. When I signal, the headlight/tail light signals on, and the side marker signals off, and Vice Versa.

No relays needed.

 

What's the big deal, most cops don't even know what they are called, let alone what color they should be or if they should blink. This light/signal is not necessary for the US market, so the light itself or what it does is entirely up to the owner, as long as it does not flash red or blue...which is reserved for emergency vehicles (actually, that clause states no red or blue for the front of the vehicle, if you want to get techincal).

Andrew