Roof Rack Clearance Lights install?

Has anyone installed the clearance lights on their TB? I know they came standard on the 03-04 TB The North Face (TNF). I found this website where it was discussed, and doesnt seem to be that complicated, just a ground and a running lamp wire to operate. Also, I found another website in Japanese that I translated with altavista and it basically said the same things.

The parts, however, I think are relatively expensive. In the ballpark of $46 US x2 plus another $34 x2 for the wiring.

Part numbers I have for this are:
15163401 left side
15163402 right side
15163404 wiring

Any feedback is welcome and appreciated
Thanks again, Erik

Site:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef00abe!make=Chevrolet&model=TrailBlazer&ed_makeindex=.ef00abe

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/515000-515999/515482_14_full.jpg

I found a pic of these lights. Looks interesting. Will certainly make your TB look better esp. at night:)

Thanks, that is the purpose for installing them besides the cool looks and saying I installed them. I think at night, especially on long trips and while towing, they will make the drive much safer.

Does anyone know how to install them? If so, what do the Assemblies come with? I know the turn signal assemblies for the mirror come with the bulb and socket, but looking around, I cant tell if these are the same way. Also, where is the best place to tap the lights? I have heard the taillights, but I am open to suggestions.

Many thanks, Erik

OK, after a few hours in the garage and pulling apart my TB, I think I have found the best way to wire these up.

First, I partially dropped the headliner in the trunk to get access to the existing rack holes to figure out how to run the wires through the roof. I think I will need to find some sort of waterproof boot to run the wires through the roof and into the racks.

Next, I figured the best ways to run the wires: 1. Run the wires along the inside of the headliner and then drill the holes in the front of the racks, or 2. Run the wires up through the roof in the rear and then pass the wiring through the racks. I can't figure out which will be easier, as I dont know whether or not I can feed the wires through the rack units.

After figuring out the way to run the wiring, I needed to figure out where to tap the running light feed. I first opened up the brake lights and found the running light feed and the ground. But, since I am not running the wiring on the outside of my TB, I followed the wiring into the trunk and will tap the wires in the rearmost corner where the wires split. This will make it easier to run the wires up into the headliner, as well as keeping the install clean. (The brown wire on the drivers side and the brown-white wire on the passengers side are the running light feed. The black is ground.)

The last question I have is can anyone tell me whether or not the part numbers 15163401 and 15163402 (the LH and RH lights) come with the bulb and socket, or do they just come with the amber plastic piece? If so, are there any other ways to get the bulb and socket assembly than purchasing them through GM? If not, I think I will order them first and see whether or not they come with the bulbs. If they dont, I will probably order the wiring kits.

Thanks for any input, and I will post pics when I order and recieve the parts and finish the install.

Erik

I'm interested in your result. Please do post pics of your installation. Thanks.

how did this go? if it was ever done...i think those lights look sweet too

I just recieved the left and right lamp enclosures today, and went to Schucks to get a bulb socket. Didnt have the right one, so it is off to Napa tomorrow to get the right one. I am planning on wiring the clearance lights up like the turn signals, so they flash with the turn signals. Personally, I think it will be very cool.

If Napa doesnt have the bulb socket, I will have to order the factory harness (~$40 x2) from gmpartsdirect.com and wait another few weeks until I have some time. Hopefully, I wont have to do this, and can get some install pics up soon and have them working!!

how's the project going?

What's the total cost for the complete installation?

so did u ever finish the project?????

OK, I know everybody is really looking to see some install pics, as I am too!! I have been unable to find the correct socket as of yet, but tomorrow is Saturday and I can look at some other place for them. I promise I will get this done, it is just a matter of when I can get the correct parts. Im not really that jazzed about spending $80 on some wire and a socket.

Looking forward to how this project goes. But 80 dollars...you really love your TB as I do:) Can you please post instructions as well as pics...

Thanks,
DC

Did you get this project finished. I purchased the lights and the wiring harnesses...I then removed my existing panels on the roof rack where these lights go, the panels are much larger than the lights will fit, is there another adapter I need to make the lights fit into the rack?

Thanks

Kevin

Yes, I finished it and am working on a detailed how-to article.

Do you have an EXT TrailBlazer? If so, that is your problem. I know the part numbers I listed above are only for the SWB TB/Voys, not the EXT/XL models. I dont know that part number, but go to your dealer and say that something happened to your lights on an 03-04 TB The North Face Edition and they should be able to give you the part numbers that way.

Duh....I feel a bit dumb on that one. If anyone is interested in these lights for their truck let me know, I have 2 lights and 2 harnesses I will sell for 120 bucks for the set.

Thanks for the insight on that...I will try to find those part numbers. Thanks

Kevin

Also on the harnesses how do you connect those in the truck, are there wires in the headliner that fit the plug of the harness?

I look forward to your instructions on your install.

Thanks again!

Kevin

OK, the harnesses are the same for both the SWB and EXT TBs, so if you still want to install them, save the harnesses!!!

As for selling the lights, go to trailvoy.com and post a for sale ad in the for sale section. There is a lot of interest for a set of these now, so they should sell pretty quick. Also, they should move faster when I get my act together and finish the dang install guide!
Nope, you have to do all of your own wiring to get them to work. I ran a pair of wires down to the taillights and tapped the wires on the inside at the base of the D-pillars. Taped the wires up and ran them through the headliner up to my hole and through the roof rack.
Also, you kinda have to drill a 1" hole on both sides of your roof, just to let you know. You will again need to drill a 1" hole through your roof rack so you can get the bulb and socket through easily. It takes some cutting, but if you are willing to do it, then I will be happy to share my knowledge with you!!

Look for the article at http://www.trailvoy.com hopefully this weekend, depending on the lovely Seattle weather so I can get some more better pics.

Right on,

Went to the dealer today and found some matching part numbers and descriptions. Looks like the EXT part numbers for the lamps are

12335858
12335859

gmpartsdirect doesn't show one of the part number so I just went ahead and had the dealer get them. I will throw those other non-EXT lenses on trailvoy.com hopefully soon.

On your 1 inch hole, do you drill that through the rack and the roof, or just the roof, looks like it would have to go through both after taking my covers off. Also is there a polarity issue on the connection to the tail lamps? I will take pics of my install and post them when everything comes in and I can have a day to tear things up.

How bad was that headliner to take down? I haven't done that one before.

Thanks

Kevin

For the 1" holes, they need to be drilled or sawed through the roof and then the roof rack seperately. You have to pull the roof rack off before you can cut the hole in the roof. Make sure you use a cutting oil, I got one a Home Depot for like $3. After I drilled the holes in the roof and was done with the wiring and trying to put the lights on the rack I decided it would be much easier to just drill a 1" hole through the plastic piece of the roof rack instead of trying to bore a hole with a drill bit to get the socket through. I centered the saw over the hole and punched it through.
It doesnt matter which connection is which, so that is pretty easy.
The headliner is a little tough to pull the first time. It took me probably close to 30-45min figuring out the handles. They push towards each other and unclip.

Hi: Can Anyone help me locate where to purchase these roof rack lights and harness for my TB? I think they look great, but I can't find them any where! Please someone... Let me know where I can buy them!!! Thank You! Chris