2005 impala tail lights?

[zephyr27]

TAIL LIGHTS 2005 IMPALA: Does anyone know of a kit or way to light up the dummy tail lights that are located on the trunk lid. I bought the car with the panel on the back thinking it would have a family look to my corvette from the rear ---but color me surprised when I followed my wife and noted that not only were the inner two tail lights not lighted-
they were not reflective!! Thanks

Dave

[bigrod118]

there is not kit whatso ever made for it. you will have to make it on your own. a couple people have already started this mod, but they have only made it work by covering the reverse lights and having to mount different reverse lights in the bumper next to the license plate. I am trying to do this same mod, but WITH working reverse lights, but I think I am going to just have to give in and do what works and cover the reverse lights.


if you really want to have the reflectors work and the stock reverse lights, you will ave to cut holes in the lid of your trunk to create more room.

[zephyr27]

Originally Posted by bigrod118

there is not kit whatso ever made for it. you will have to make it on your own. a couple people have already started this mod, but they have only made it work by covering the reverse lights and having to mount different reverse lights in the bumper next to the license plate. I am trying to do this same mod, but WITH working reverse lights, but I think I am going to just have to give in and do what works and cover the reverse lights.


if you really want to have the reflectors work and the stock reverse lights, you will ave to cut holes in the lid of your trunk to create more room.

Thanks, for the reply--what are you thinking of for new fixtures?
Whats your plan? I wonder if Corvette taillights could be adapted?
You gotta wonder about GM-Chevrolet engineering--well not engineering because ya know they would have wanted to have all the lights working-must be some committee's decision to save $5.00 per car and get the reputation for being deceptive. Did you know they didn't work when you bought the car? The car they demonstrated had cruise control and a back seat that opened to the trunk. It was a week after I bought the car that I found out the car they sold me did not have cruise control, no back seat opening to the trunk and phony tail lights.

[MCO_Death]

Originally Posted by zephyr27

Did you know they didn't work when you bought the car? The car they demonstrated had cruise control and a back seat that opened to the trunk. It was a week after I bought the car that I found out the car they sold me did not have cruise control, no back seat opening to the trunk and phony tail lights.

Did you know they didn't work when you bought the car? -

Yes, Every Impala of this body style was built this way. Although I have a Poster from 1999 that has a LS, with fully functioning lights there... I really don't know why they changed it.

-Only can blame yourself if you handed over money without fully checking out the car you handed them money for. Sorry, but its the truth.

[zephyr27]

No --I didn't do my homework. It never occurred to me that the tail lights would be dummys. The ones on my corvette all work so why would a person think that the ones on the impala would be dummys. No problem--I will get them working and add the back up lights next to the license plate as suggested by bigrod 118. thanks.

[bigrod118]

oh I didnt mean to suggest that this is easy. I just, as in JUST 3 mintues ago, fried my bench grinder from overheating. it was cheap, like 10 - 15 bucks at a tool expo, but now im screwed becuase I was almost done with another set of prototype housings and now im screwed becuase I need that grinder.

it is by no means easy.

oh, and if you want to see my progress you can go to my domain page in my signature, its page 8 for the taillight project. or you can also find some good information at this link, its directly to the thread itself.

http://www.naioa.com/impalabb/viewto...t=4225&start=0

[MCO_Death]

Originally Posted by bigrod118

oh I didnt mean to suggest that this is easy. I just, as in JUST 3 mintues ago, fried my bench grinder from overheating. it was cheap, like 10 - 15 bucks at a tool expo, but now im screwed becuase I was almost done with another set of prototype housings and now im screwed becuase I need that grinder.

it is by no means easy.

oh, and if you want to see my progress you can go to my domain page in my signature, its page 8 for the taillight project. or you can also find some good information at this link, its directly to the thread itself.

http://www.naioa.com/impalabb/viewto...t=4225&start=0

Be nice if there was some high-up GM techs that attacked this to give us a aftermarket option. I'm sure it'd sell... for all us crazy Impala owners.

[bigrod118]

well there are already 3 or 4 people that have it working, and some write ups and how to's are being made. but im about half way done with mine, and when I do a write up, I am doing a COMPLETE write up so that even someone who cant change there oil, can do this mod. ill give park numpers, item numbers prices, measurements, pictures of everything, suggestions. the works.

[boyinshirt]

Originally Posted by bigrod118

well there are already 3 or 4 people that have it working, and some write ups and how to's are being made. but im about half way done with mine, and when I do a write up, I am doing a COMPLETE write up so that even someone who cant change there oil, can do this mod. ill give park numpers, item numbers prices, measurements, pictures of everything, suggestions. the works.

beautiful.