Full boat tail on a Matrix

[Weather Spotter]

I added it a month ago. here is the link:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...d-14672-2.html

[Weather Spotter]

Here are some tuft test videos I made:

tuft test2 - YouTube

tuft test3 - YouTube

[Weather Spotter]

teaser update:

I got some new LED back lights and am working on getting them put in.

They are bright, big and use less power then my old ones

new back end look soon.

[Weather Spotter]

I got one side done for a comparison. When I put it into reverse I get running lights too ? still figuring that out. Running lights on, does not turn on the reverse lights though. so I am unsure where the crossed wires are. my old way did not have this issue and I hooked up to the old wires in the same way ???? something to figure out tomorrow after work.

The new lights are much brighter and I can see the LED light up faster then the incandescent bulbs I was using.

pictures will have to wait till daylight to get a good part way shots.

So to hint, think oval semi truck lights with gasket mounts

[COcyclist]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

I got one side done for a comparison. When I put it into reverse I get running lights too ? still figuring that out. Running lights on, does not turn on the reverse lights though. so I am unsure where the crossed wires are. my old way did not have this issue and I hooked up to the old wires in the same way ???? something to figure out tomorrow after work.

Did you get this figured out yet? It may not really be a problem to have running lights come on with reverse lights. Are the reverse lights LED too? I had a wild thought that perhaps the LED tail lights share a ground with the reverse lights and perhaps a little current is coming to them through the ground connection?? Just a thought...

[Weather Spotter]

I've been working on it I got it such that the reverse lights don't trigger anything else but I do have it so when i blink the right turn signal the right one blinks nicely but the left DRL's nightlight running lights come on a little bit not all away but they come on someone what.

Think I have a little bit of cross wiring in the old trailer lighting adapter kit and I think that is where my slight voltage leak is coming from the turn signals over to probably the brake lights rather than the nighttime running lights.

I am Planning on tonight taking the adapter plugs that T off the lighting harness Where i cut into them to put my trailer lights unplugging all those. then going to wire right into the OEM wiring harness and seeing if that will illuminate the crosstalk.

I might even get some picks posted

[Weather Spotter]

well I got it to work by unplugging the trailer kit and just hard wiring to the OEM wires. now it works great!

[Weather Spotter]

update with pics:





4way/ turn


running lights


what else do you want to see?

[Weather Spotter]

time for an update....

things have been busy with house so car has been a daily driver and not worked on much. still getting 55-60 mpg mixed commute. The tail is starting to show its age, after 3.5 years it is getting close to time to take it off. Two rear end impacts have made both lower corners in need of repair (mostly fiber glassing, structure is ok) the sides have several spots where cargo has made holes in the side that have only been semi repaired. Where I made room for the exhaust has burned/ rusted out and I made a repair but an occasional smell tells me its not 100% sealed up.... In addition to that, where the tail connects at the top has always been a leak prone area and i am out of ideas on fixing it without taking it off and redesigning the interface. If I take it off likely i will not rebuild it as I need a trailer option or a truck at times and $$$ say having a hitch is the cheapest option. I figure the tail saves me $150-$200 a year but a second car's insurance is more then that a year.... not counting anything else.

Then there is the family pressure to improve my "image if i want to get a wife....." Since I am people skills lacking...... I tend to trust them in that area.... Since the "recommendation" is made weekly and i can see some rational in their position.... I am thinking of falling off the car with boat tail list

I may take the car most of the way back to stock.... in looks department..... but a few things can stay, smooth wheel covers belly pan...... KILL SWITCH

Not 100% sure yet as to my plan as the transmission stopped working this week so its in the shop with a likely $2-3000 bill to fix. This is making me think through the options as to getting rid of the car without fixing, parting it out, fixing and selling (Stock almost certainly required) or do i fix it and keep on using it as is, or do I fix it and cave to the rational of better looks and take it back to stock? I am also thinking of getting rid of this and getting a different car which opens a can of worms, Prius? leaf? old metro and mod it up?

Ideas from the wiser then me people of the cloud?

[Varn]

Do you pulse and glide?

I have tried it briefly with 3 different vehicles and found it hard on the transmissions (mileage ranged up to 200,000).

I bet you can drop in a used transmission for a few hundred.

The last two cars I have puchased cost $2,000 and $3,000.