Red rear indicators and mot

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Apr 09, 15 8:54 am

db wrote:I use orange bulbs in my reversing lamps. They're puny but legal. I'm very aware of it, especially on sunny days...
Turning right with a biker behing me is a bit nervy to say the least! I'd like to improve things but don't know how.

Repeaters in the rear window???

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Thu Apr 09, 15 8:56 am

you can replace the outer most chrome bolts in your bumpers with chrome bolts that have LEDs in the middle

they come with a resistor and can be spliced into the indicator wires

you then show flashing amber

however they may not comply with the old height and distance from the edge of the car shennanigans

but then again

that might only apply to lights for lighting

VISIBOLTS®

http://kwikwire.com/lights-sockets/led- ... per-bolts/

http://www.classicautoproducts.com/visibolts.html

DAVE

lough3969 · Post by **lough3969** » Thu Apr 09, 15 9:30 am

cadboy wrote:
XP29 wrote:I have seen a gen1 with the reverse lights as the indicators. It just seems daft to go from a huge light that's very noticable, to one under the bumper less noticable to get a pass because of a red/Amber thing.

It is not a problem as long as the drivers behind you know what it is when a RED indicator is flashing.

In UK most drivers are not used to seeing RED for indicator, only for brake.
So if someone hits you from behind when you were turning, then problem with insurance and the rest could follow, not worth the hassle mate, as the law says after 65 all AMBER indicator (does not matter the size).

my issue is with other drivers not getting it... why not change the reverse lights to amber but simply tie them into the red blinkers? it will be like christmas but will make people think.

LED's me no likey

Prothed · Post by **Prothed** » Thu Apr 09, 15 9:54 am

Another solution (what i did). Leave the red lights as they are - and also add the amber bulbs in the reversing lights or the LED bolts, plus a switch so you can disable the red for a picky MOT man.
Having both red and amber flashers coming on together looks good, but strictly it is still an MOT fail as you should not have red indicators even if you have amber as well...

John · Post by **John** » Thu Apr 09, 15 9:54 am

They should surely be breaking when they see your brake lights regardless. I tend to break slightly early

XP29 · Post by **XP29** » Thu Apr 09, 15 10:13 am

I understand it's an mot fail and therefore illegal to have red post 65. It just seems shortsighted for it to be so final and not look at each car. There are pre 65 cars driving with red. I have a large light that is easily seen, but illegal. To make it legal I have to disconnect that and can have a tiny light fitted which if on the chrome bumper in daylight might not be easily visable.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Apr 09, 15 12:20 pm

PM Incoming!

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Thu Apr 09, 15 4:04 pm

SJH wrote:Hello XP29,
I am currently doing this with my 67 Charger. I used the inner and outer bulbs for rear/brake lights and used the middle bulbs for indicators only using an amber LED bulb to shine amber through the red lens .

The brake light switch is wired through the indicator switch so I had to run a new wire from the brake light switch to the brake lights, and wire the rear lights from the number plate lamp as the rear lights use a resistance wire.

Shayne

This would be my route, but I would use GREEN bulbs as the green behind a red lens shines amber.

mas · Post by **mas** » Thu Apr 09, 15 6:33 pm

My 67 charger still has red indicators, passed mot for the last 4 years like it. As for the police a lot off them haven't got a clue anyways!!

Pete_B · Post by **Pete_B** » Thu Apr 09, 15 7:27 pm

Personally id be more worried about an insurance company getting funny about things than i would be the MOT man.....

XP29 · Post by **XP29** » Thu Apr 09, 15 8:41 pm

Pete wrote:
db wrote:I use orange bulbs in my reversing lamps. They're puny but legal. I'm very aware of it, especially on sunny days...
Turning right with a biker behing me is a bit nervy to say the least! I'd like to improve things but don't know how.
Repeaters in the rear window???

With the slope of the rear window I don't think any lights in the rear window would be noticable in daylight.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Thu Apr 09, 15 11:23 pm

If you have space inside the rear lens, you might be able to fit a line of green led's, as Carl said they'd show orange through the lens and if you could fit a line of them you could still have correct length for the car indicators while showing correct colour for MOT and law enforcement.

You can get strips of led's that can be bent to shape ( some people use them as angel eye effect when stuck to outer rim of headlights ), these might work as a solution

lough3969 · Post by **lough3969** » Fri Apr 10, 15 3:33 am

Pete_B wrote:Personally id be more worried about an insurance company getting funny about things than i would be the MOT man.....

My feeling exactly... They will use any possible reason to wriggle out of a claim. If someone rear ends you and says they didn't see you indicate... Who knows.
The problem is, I would risk running them red if the car where mine

but to advise someone else to do the same is problematic.

cadboy · Post by **cadboy** » Fri Apr 10, 15 6:55 am

I tried all sorts to keep the lights as it was when came out of the factor in 68.

Tried many different Amber LED inside the reverse lens, but lens is milky so didn't show on sunny days, only found out when indicated on M42 to pull out and no one would let me

So had no choice but to change the reverse to orange bulb and use as indicators.

Didn't fancy being hit from behind

Ed · Post by Ed » Fri Apr 10, 15 11:30 am

Unfortunately it's not just the colour on post September 1st 1965 vehicles. I'm looking at the mot inspection manual right now and the reason for rejection states : adversely affected by the operation of another lamp e.g. dual function lamps on foreign vehicles.
Stupid rules set by stupid people I'm afraid.