Trunk Wiring for Tourer

[BuzzKill]

I'm going to be installing a trunk on my Tourer.  I'm working on the wiring before I get it back from paint.  I already have a run / turn / brake converter for my blinkers now.  I'm planning on wiring the outside trunk lights for run / turn / brake.  I would like to have the inner light be for  run / brake.  Can I just plug that into the main tailight of the Tourer?  I'm not sure how that little bulb / socket works.  Also the little inside bulb "accessory light" is kinda smokey.  Is that normal or would it be brighter if I replaced it?

[Joevalk]

Why is it Smokey? Did you smoke a Buzzard with it?    Probably will be brighter with a new one and i'm not sure on the rest.

[sandy]

Is your converter a "powered" model? The Hoppes powered converter (#46255) will make all your dreams come true. If you add lights to your existing wires, you might overload them. The powered converter uses battery juice for your added lighting. If you use LEDs in the trunk, you won't need a converter.

[Michvalk]

Is it a trunk from an Interstate? They didn't come with an "accessorie" inside light. Probably an add on, so the bulb could be almost anything. There are some bulbs that have a smoley look to them and they are supposed to be that way. The one on my Lincoln is like that, and made to come on when the hood is tipped up. It's a special bulb, and pricey. Maybe that is what it is, or a dome light snitched from a car.

[Red Diamond]

Not sure if this what you want Thag, but the inner lights are run only, the outer lights are run, stop, turn. If you want the inner to be stop, you may have to come up with another type bulb because of the singel filament in the run only bulb. I personally don't think the I/S tail lights are bright enough during the day, so I added a Goldwing spoiler to the trunk lid, those are bright LED's wired for stop.

[BuzzKill]

Is your converter a "powered" model?

Yes.

Is it a trunk from an Interstate? They didn't come with an "accessorie" inside light.

Yes its from an Intersate.  When reading the IS wiring diagram and service manual, it calls the bulbs closest to center next to the brake lights "accessory lights". 

Not sure if this what you want Thag, but the inner lights are run only, the outer lights are run, stop, turn. If you want the inner to be stop, you may have to come up with another type bulb because of the singel filament in the run only bulb.

Thats what I needed to know.  I didn't think the outer ones are run / turn / brake, but I never had an Interstate.  I wonder if they make a small dual filament bulb.

Thanks for all the responses.  Just gonna take some working with I guess. 

[rfink02]

Hey, I'm also in the process of doing the same thing.

>> "Can I just plug that into the main tailight of the Tourer?"

Just in case this hasn't occurred to you: Under the right side cover, towards the left of the fuses, you should find a clear plastic boot covering the connection point between the taillight harness and the main wiring harness. This is the easiest place to tap in. You can get the bullet connectors from http://www.vintageconnections.com/ if you want to make it clean and stay away from crappy tap connectors. They are the 3.5 mm bullets/sockets.

Rob

[BuzzKill]

Under the right side cover, towards the left of the fuses, you should find a clear plastic boot covering the connection point between the taillight harness and the main wiring harness.

I believe this is where my powered hoppy converter is connected for my turn signal run / turn / brake mod.  I plan on using Y splitters from there to the trunk.

[HayHauler]

If you want to change the run only lights to run/stop, you have to swap out the socket and cut the housing I believe.  Someone on this board has done it.  I didn't want to butcher the socket to try and get a dual contact socket in there, so I didn't attempt it.

I might get one of those battery operated LED stick-on lights for the trunk lid now that YOU mentioned it.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[BuzzKill]

Well it wasn't quite as easy as I expected or have read, but I did it, for the most part.  I have the trunk Run / Brake lights working as Run / Turn / Brake but the smaller light is still just a Run light.  That might be a later project.  The "smokey" bulbs were actually burned out and I didn't figure that out till part way into the wiring.  On of the larger bulbs must have a filament out because the Run portion doesn't work.  I verified the wiring to make sure by swapping the bulbs and the problem switched. 

I had to make 2 modifications to the stock trunk wiring.  1 - I had to first separate ( cut ) Green / Red wire where it splits in two on the trunk harness.  2 - I then ran an extra wire through the harness to attach to the newly cut wire.  That basically separated the stock left and right Run / Brake bulbs and made two different circuits allowing me to connect it to my Hoppy converter using Y splitters.

Maybe there are easier ways, I'm sure there are harder ways.  This is the way I did mine and so far it seems to work.  Now I just need my trunk back from paint and start the hardware swap.