Confused By Depo Tail Lights
 

My smoke Depo tail lights showed up yesterday and I'm confused....

The new tail lights don't have a place for the side marker bulbs to shine through (the lights that wrap slightly around the side of the car and illuminate when the headlights are on).

There is no way to see the car at night, except for the license plate lights. How is this safe and/or legal?

Also, it doesn't look very good without tail lights that light up... What am I missing?

They cannot accommodate the rear side marker bulbs, at least they can't unless they're modified.

But your statement about there being no way to see the car at night except for the license plate lights is wrong... the tail lights illuminate when the headlights are on. You must not have made all the connections correctly. Double check everything.

Why do people keep buying these lights? They sound horrible from all the complaints I've read on them here.

Even on my stock lights, the side markers are the only bulbs that illuminate when the headlights are on.

Also, there are only 2 wires that get plugged in on the Depo lights... It has to be right.

Am I missing something easy?

Not sure what you're missing, but I just went out and checked my stock tail lights and both rear and side maker lights come on with the headlights.

Can you send a quick pic?

Yes, just a sec. Sending from phone to my email.

Here you go.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1371180912.jpg

Thanks!

Only my side markers light up... Could it be a fuse? I'm looking at my diagram and I don't see anything for tail lights.

Did you leave that middle rear bulb in? The running lights are the stock incandescent bulb. The LEDs are fog and brake lights only.

Should look like this...

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...228009A077.jpg

Not sure, still learning this car myself. Someone with knowledge will come along.

I'm interested to know what complaints you're talking about. The only "complaints" that I've ever seen are that both fog lights don't work, and as we all know, that is how the stock lights work also.

I've never seen any complaints about these lights and I love mine. ;)

I did, but they're not coming on at all (even on my stock lights).

Things like this thread. No place to mount the side marker lights. Also the fact that you still need to use the incandescent bulb in combination with the LED's when the whole assembly should be LED.

The OP's issue is happening with the stock tail lights as well, so...
I think it's more about updating the over all look of the car than about the LEDs. 90% of any thread about "issues" with these light is due to user error. They are built well, look nice, work exactly as they are supposed to, and are only $160!

So, I counter your statement with one of my own; I don't understand why more people don't buy these! :D
Just messin with ya a little ;)

I'm glad you guys are in love again:)

Any ideas?

B7 should be brake and parking light fuse. If one is working but not the other, check all bulbs.

Thanks for the help

Absolutely love mine! Updates the look of the car and the LED's are very bright.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1371184034.jpg

They look good, just don't seem to be a completed product worthy of purchasing.

My 03 Box has updated tail lights Porsche did to them, so Depo lights would only add partial LED to the tail lights.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/rear1371185317.jpg

I don't get the above comment....?
These lights are beautiful and a perfect way to update the look of an older Boxster. At $100 new, I can't see how you can go wrong.

Attachment 17453

easy modification. I used an electric drill altough that's probably not what you should be using but I'm given to impatience sometimes. Anyway... there are two bulbs I believe that are attached to wiring, one wire is long the other is short.
I guess one is for the brake light and the other for the side parking light, which will continue to work after this mod by the way.

You have move them around in the housing so that they swap places. But there's a little plastic frame piece that makes it hard to squeez the one bulb through to the other side. I pulled back the rubber shroud on the bulb exposing the metal socket and tried to squeeze it through that little space but it was still to narrow. That's when I got out the drill bit and put a hole in that plastic piece. Be sure to pull all of the wiring out of the way so you don't inadvertently drill through the wires. I then took a pair of pliers and snapped off the rest of the plastic clearing the way so that the bulb could easily pass through to the other side.

This took about 5-10 minutes for each tailight. I'm sure there's an easier/safer way like using a soldering gun to melt the plastic and then follow up with the pliers.

Once you've swapped places on the the two bulbs you'll have the rear corners stay on as soon as you throw on the headlights. The inside lights nearer to the rear trunk light up when you hit the brake. Make sure those bulbs are properly seated so that little security pin near the edge of the bulb is locked into its little slot, otherwise the bulb might pop out under braking and you'll have to do it all over again just to snap in that bulb into the housing again. Also, for some reason on my set I had to turn on and turn off the the headlights twice to get the tail lights to turn on. But then that went away.

These tailights are the best bang for the buck mod so far. They are wayyyy brighter during the day so you'll wake up those distracted drivers behind you. The parking brake light is also much brighter/visible during the day. I parked the car on the street one time and I could see the parking light shining brightly some three blocks away. Easily the most noticeable thing in my field of vision. It was a narrow street where passing cars get very close to the parked cars.

As far as looks even my mechanic noticed them right away and commented it gives the rear an updated look... doesn't look so 1990's anymore. Kind of reminded me of the Carrera GT talights the way the LEDs are layed out.

Nice driveway!! I want to be your neighbohr! I stayed in Alanta for nearly three months for work once back in the late 90's. Great restaurant town...and without the NYC prices. But you can keep that 2 hour traffic getting out of the city! :p
Easily the worst commutter traffic I've ever seen.

Got it worked out... I'll post some pics this weekend in the sun.

Thanks!

BTW- I was in Atlanta for 7 years and had a great experience too... Plus, I could afford the house in jeffm's pic. Coming back to NJ takes a hit on the wallet.

Where did you buy your depo tail lights? I'm looking for a pair.

There's a pair for sale in the classified section.
Gl

I know what you mean. My corporate office is located in Stamford, CT....no way I could afford to live up there. Plus, I have the advantage of working from home so no commute for me!

Here's another angle up with the smoked 3rd brake light:
Attachment 17459

Autodynamic.com... $179

Jeff... Looks great

I totally agree, I found this mod one of the easiest I ever did, and the results are brilliant!

Are some of your lights LED and do you just connect the old bulb holder to an electronic connection that in turn powers the LED's? I was a bit stumped until I started installing them - have you actually tried yet or are you just looking at them?

Scarce
 

I just bought a pair of clears when I saw this url. I thought about buying a set a few months and they were available everywhere for less than $200.00 but lately they are hard to find for a reasonable price. Between the $179 price and the pic of jeffm's car I decided I had to pull the trigger. I'll post a picture as soon as they are installed.

I've had them on my car for a few months...not quite sure what you're asking, though :confused:

The LEDs plug into the brake and fog light sockets and the rest of the incandescent bulbs remain where they are.

and apparently they are still hard to find
 

I got an email yesterday that they are out of stock.

I agree Izman, that looks great on a black box.

Nice Jeff!

These, combined with the LED headlamps, really takes a few decades off the car. I originally bought the taillights with the clear turn signal, but I couldn't pass up the deal when the smoked were on closeout for 100 bucks. I still like the clear, so I may hold on to them and change them out seasonally.

With the clear:
Attachment 17488

I like the clear also, but on a dark color like yours the smoked lets the profile of the fenders flow more smoothly (to me anyway).