Corolla Sound's 97 DX AE101 On-Going Project

I just finished clear coating my spoiler. and I also figured out how I am going to install it too.

It worked out that I had just enough base coat to do the spoiler:






Then with clear coat:


I also just got these which I will install very shortly:

nice

ROFL@ the video... I bet you have more bass than me haha

And good call with the primer on the black paint.... I forgot, as I am used to going from a lighter color to a darker color, so I don't usually use primer.

What kinda box you got the subs in? Sounds pretty good.

The subs are in a slot ported box that I think was designed by JL Audio. I bought the subs with the box

Are there seperate fuses for the left and right tail lights?

I swapped my regular bulbs to my new led bulbs but the right (passenger) side leds are not as bright as the left side. I thought it was just my regular bulbs were starting to burn out on the right side, but the led bulbs were also dimmer than the left side. So I know its not a problem with the bulbs. Im hoping there is a fuse I can change for the right tail lights? Otherwise I have no clue what is going on.

It also turns out the leds I ordered for my brake lights do not get brighter when I brake. They just have one brightness level.

I've also had problems with the LED lights, so I just stuck to normal bulbs in the end. You might have a bad ground wire on the right side. Because if it was a fuse problem I don't think the right side would light up at all.

You should be able to check if the fuse are separate for the taillights if you look at the label on the fuse covers.

Alas, there is only one fuse for the tail lights. In fact, it's that one fuse that powers all of the parking lights. I can't say that I'm surprised that the LEDs don't work well or bright.

But in my experience, the only way one side can be darker than the other is when the tail light reflectors themselves are tarnished or moldy, so the light doesn't reflect as much.

Thanks guys. Ill look into it a little more and see if I can balance out the lighting.

Maybe inspect the inside of the tail lights for dark spots? You can usually see them through the lens.

Wait, WTH am I talking about. You got those new tail lights! Ok.... so did you have this problem on the stock lights, or just the new ones?

lol, yep my new lights are clear lensed so it cant be that. I seem to be having the problem with both the regular bulbs and LED bulbs. The right side is not getting full power.

I have a plan to try my second set of aftermarket taillights (identical to the ones i have now (ebay sent me 2 sets for the price of one by mistake hehe)). maybe there is something wrong with the wiring harness for the right hand taillight?

I have no idea how the wiring can be bad, there's nothing between the tail lights that could cause a difference. I'd know, I had it all apart for my custom lights. The only thing I can figure is that the tail lights themselves are just not good quality. The only thing I can say is try the stock tail lights again and see if you still have the problem? That might narrow it down a bit.

I tried simply just switching the left bulb with the right bulb but the right side is still dimmer than the left.

Then I tried swapping the right hand taillight assembly completely with my extra brand new RH taillight assembly but the bulb still shines dimmer than the left side.

Then I tried swapping the bulbs back to the stock taillight assemblies but I used the led bulbs and I seemed to get an opposite effect, the right side shines brighter than the left. but I think that was because the lenses are dirty and i used led bulbs. I should try the regular bulbs but i dont feel like swapping the bulbs anymore lol

Problem solved, (well kind of). I swapped the taillight bulb with an led bulb and just left the reg brake light bulb and both sides seem to be somewhat even now, though it is the middle of the day and the sun is shining so its hard to tell, but its not as obvious now that one side is brighter. works for me

Right on^ my right side tails aren't as bright as my left side. I usually hafta swap some bulbs around and it evens it self out (dunno how that works), but it's still a little more dim on the right side anyways cause it's the original taillight versus a new one I got after someone smashed out the other.

Wait..... each side has 2 bulbs. Are you saying only ONE bulb on ONE side is dim? Or both bulbs on one side.

And trust me, using one LED bulb and one regular bulb is gonna look really weird, especially when you hit the breaks. Plus, the LED bulbs look redder than the normal ones.

And, I have found that the rotational orientation of the socket has an effect. The filament is sideways in the bulb, so as it rotates, it changes the output slightly.

Only one bulb on one side is dim (the middle one). and when I swapped the left and right hand bulbs the right side was still dimmer.

maybe I should go and put the regular bulbs back in then lol. It did look a little weird when i tested them.

OMG!!! are you serious lol. so the bulbs have to be orientated so that the filaments are all lined up in the same direction?

lol, I'm serious, but it might not matter on the stock tail lights, only the aftermarkets. I know some lights force a single bulb orientation for this reason. When I had the tail lights like Kenny has (2 red circles over the signal/reverse bar), the orientation definitely mattered. But it didn't make it darker or lighter, just changed the reflections.

So, if you've got one dim bulb and one regular bulb on only one side, that is weird. Both the bulbs on each side are definitely wired together at the tail light. Are you still using the stock wire harnesses? Have you seen any corrosion in the socket? Maybe the connection is weak. You should take pictures if I'm gonna rlly be of any use lol.

lol I did take some pics of the bulbs but I still have to upload them.

I changed out the leds and put the regular bulbs back in and they are all in the same orientation. all the filaments are slanted to the right. but it gets "weirder":

When my lights are on (switched on from steering column) the left side middle taillight bulb is brighter than the right side.

but when my lights are off and I press the brake pedal, the right side middle bulb is brighter then the left. I think the second filament of the dimmer bulb (which ever side it is) is not coming on, im gonna go back n check again to be sure

OK, now I know:

when my lights are on and the brake pedal is off all of my bulbs are powering 1 filament, when I press the brake pedal, both filaments power on in all bulbs. Its just the middle bulb has more power on the left (brighter on left)

when my lights are off and I press brake pedal, only 1 filament powers on in all bulbs but the right side is brighter in the middle bulb

Now is that weird or what? lol

That's how it is supposed to be. There are two filaments inside, one dim for parking, and one bright for brake. They are supposed to be completely independent. Can you take a pic of the exposed bulbs close up enough to see what is going on?

Is the brightness difference you see a big difference? Maybe the socket is broken, and the filaments are lighting up backwards? Like brake instead of parking.

I took some new pics at night but its still difficult to see the filaments up close.

Lights off: Brakes Applied
Left:

Right:


Lights on: Brakes applied
Left:

Right:


Lights on: Brakes not applied
Left:

Right:


Lights off: Brakes applied


Lights on: Brakes not applied

Lights on: Brakes applied

damn those subs not only look good they must be mega loud LOOK it vibrated his rear lights off!!

sweet looking car and sound system m8 I like it

Why thank you lol! I think I posted a video of my stereo in this thread, it must be a page back. hmmm I wonder if it was my bass that is making my taillights act so weird

With one 10" Sony Competition sub in a huge ported box I managed to shake off my headliner once. So I imagine you could mess up your tails with your dual 12's