Second Trunk Light Modification Details!
We would like to thank everyone that came to the Winter Clearance Sale! It was great to spend some time with fellow enthusiasts!
It’s been a busy week here at Reggie’s Motorworks. Here are a few of the projects that we’ve done this week:
- We’ve installed a driveshaft and refurbished a serpentine belt system on an e32 740i.
- We flushed the brake fluid and mounted and balanced tires on a Mercedes 300e.
- The red convertible came back in for rear differential seals and service and transmission flush and mounts. (And the trunk light addition which you’ll read about below.)
- A 1984 533i gets a new clutch.
Here Reggie is wrapping up some work on the 1984 533i. Rumor has it that it used to belong to a famous rock star who hails from the state of Indiana, none other than John Mellencamp.
Another project has been to add a second trunk light for the owner of the nice red cabrio we worked on recently. Most US spec e30’s come with one trunk light, but two holes where trunk lights can be mounted.
Reggie eyeballs the length of the additional wire that needs to be added.
Reggie solders the new wire into the positive lead for the original trunk light.
This is the new trunk light with the ground wire attached.
Next, he splices the two ground wires together.
A quick dip in flux assures a solid solder joint.
Rosin Flux is available at local electronic stores, ours happens to be from Radio Shack.
Note: The heat shrink tube was installed before soldering the joint together. (Reggie forgets this from time to time.)
Soldering the ground wire splice.
The finished splice before the heat shrink tubing is installed.
Heating up the heat shrink tubing for a perfectly snug fit around the wiring.
Reggie guides the wiring through the various holes in the trunk to the light on the right.
Reggie installs a crimp connector the the ground wire for the new light.
Next, he screws the light switch in place. The way this circuit works, is that the switch creates a ground when the trunk is in the open position. You will notice that once the screw is in place, the lights come on. (If the battery is connected…which it probably should not be while doing this work.)
Testing out the modification:
Some of the tools used for this job:
Have a fun and safe weekend!
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