kolonial72
Well-known member
I just got done installing a Back Off Wig Wag brake light modulator. It was fun, and now my brake lights are more attention-getting.
With a great deal of pride, I demonstrated my handy work to the wife. Kinda deflated me when she said she thought she was in a disco and starting singing "Woop, Woop!" and clapping 4/4 time. I was like, wtf?
Anyhow, it's pretty easy to do. Tips for anyone installing this or similar items on their FJR:
1) Get some extra wire, 16 or 18 gage should do. And a bunch of butt terminal connectors. There is not enough wire in the brake light wire harness. I added a total of about 10 inches of wire and that was plenty.
2) As with any electrical project, make sure your grounding point is solid. I used one of the bolts that hold down the painted bracket under the seat. Stripped about an inch of insulation off the ground wire and wrapped it around the bolt.
3) Leave the bulb sockets removed until the install is complete and testing is satisfactory.
4) Use care when planning where to (2-sided) tape the modulator. Right after I secured mine, I realized it was in front of the socket for the left rear turn signal. Changing that bulb will be a bear.
5) The yellow wire in each brake light harness is the brake light wire. Only one of the yellow wires coming from the brake switch needs to be connected to the (orange) input wire on the modulator. That yellow wire should be pulled from its harness sleeve to ease installation. The other yellow wire from the brake switch will need to be cut and capped or taped.
6) When cutting each yellow wire, be sure to leave at least an inch, prefereable two inches, of wire at the socket. Otherwise wiring the socket up from the modulator will be tricky.
That's all I can think of for now. Next up, air horn! (Partial install complete, having fitment issues. Nothing I can't bugger up, er, I mean figure out!)
With a great deal of pride, I demonstrated my handy work to the wife. Kinda deflated me when she said she thought she was in a disco and starting singing "Woop, Woop!" and clapping 4/4 time. I was like, wtf?
Anyhow, it's pretty easy to do. Tips for anyone installing this or similar items on their FJR:
1) Get some extra wire, 16 or 18 gage should do. And a bunch of butt terminal connectors. There is not enough wire in the brake light wire harness. I added a total of about 10 inches of wire and that was plenty.
2) As with any electrical project, make sure your grounding point is solid. I used one of the bolts that hold down the painted bracket under the seat. Stripped about an inch of insulation off the ground wire and wrapped it around the bolt.
3) Leave the bulb sockets removed until the install is complete and testing is satisfactory.
4) Use care when planning where to (2-sided) tape the modulator. Right after I secured mine, I realized it was in front of the socket for the left rear turn signal. Changing that bulb will be a bear.
5) The yellow wire in each brake light harness is the brake light wire. Only one of the yellow wires coming from the brake switch needs to be connected to the (orange) input wire on the modulator. That yellow wire should be pulled from its harness sleeve to ease installation. The other yellow wire from the brake switch will need to be cut and capped or taped.
6) When cutting each yellow wire, be sure to leave at least an inch, prefereable two inches, of wire at the socket. Otherwise wiring the socket up from the modulator will be tricky.
That's all I can think of for now. Next up, air horn! (Partial install complete, having fitment issues. Nothing I can't bugger up, er, I mean figure out!)
