Relocating the BSM to Tail Lights

What's the hold up OP?! Did you get your full production tail lights made yet?

Only kidding. Any more real world testing success?

 

No worries, glad there are people as excited about this whole concept as I am!

I've had to take a break from them for a bit, something went wrong with the stock wiring connectors and it fried a few fuses and it may have also ruined the LEDs on the driver side tail light. I think the bulb adaptor fell out of the stock light socket and the ground touched hot and just messed it all up. I have to do some more troubleshooting to be sure how extensive the damage is, but it's kind of a bummer to take such a big step backwards after being so close to being done. So I've kinda set this aside for a bit while I work through my headlights that are a similar level of custom! Those are close to done and will be super sweet.

I think that rather than using stock wiring harnesses I'll have to just bite the bullet and modify the stock wiring so I can use some higher quality Deutsch connectors that won't fall out and fry a bunch of stuff. That means cutting off the stock light connectors, which I don't really want to do, but I think it'll be the better option for this.

 

Long time no update! But we've got some progress made. A few of the LED strips got messed up somehow like I mentioned, not really sure what the deal is with them since they'll power up just not at the same time as the other strips. Double checked all the solder pads and everything was fine, it's just wonky now I guess. Anyways, got some new strips and I'll put those in and that'll fix that.

The bigger update is getting the brackets designed for the BSMs! They're currently being printed by Shapeways in PA12 with glass beads for extra rigidity, should be probably next week that I have them in hand. Here's a sneak peak!

So just to help provide some context, here's what the stock mounting plate looks like, and how they'll be integrated into the tail lights with my design.




Here's where it'll be grafted in, I'll need to cut out the rest of the lower back portion and line it with RTV once I install it, but this should provide for a pretty clean and waterproof-able install.



Here's the back view, it'll also replace the slots for the mounting hardware, which hopefully works as well as I'm imagining it. I like the idea of having the BSMs bolted to the truck directly through this, rather than just held in by plastic welding.

I also added in a slot for an 8pin Deutsch connector so that all the wiring will be super neat, secure, and waterproof. Had to accommodate the Deutsch connector for the Diode reverse pods as well which you can see sticking out of the back in the pic above.

 

It's my favorite time! BSM update time! It's looking awesome. Have you been able to get some 3D print runs done for prototyping purposes or is this the first go? Send me or post your Venmo so I can buy you a 6 pack!

 

Watching this closely.

 

Thanks! First go for these, hopefully I get it right on the first shot but it might be a good idea to get a 3d printer of my own in the future for prototyping haha. If I had one of those nice 3d scanners that'd make things a bit easier too, but for now digital calipers and protractors do the trick.

 

Fantastic idea! I do hope you get this perfected soon. Also I hope you can partner with someone like @MESO Customs to get you the tools and expertise needed to truly make a success. There are a lot of people, including me, that are holding on to those BSM sensors after the bumper replacement.

 

If you'd like, I've got a home FDM printer that I'd be more than happy to print stuff up on for you. PLA and PETG both print well on mine which generally holds up pretty well at least for prototyping. I've also got some other connections to print stuff in case it won't fit on my printer or you want different materials, etc.

If you're looking for a really solid home printer that's on the higher end of affordable but really great, I'd recommend either of these. We got both of them for our office based on the research of one of our engineers that's very passionate about 3D printing.

This is a large format resin printer that has very impressive print quality: https://www.elegoo.com/products/elegoo-jupiter-resin-3d-printer-6k-mono-msla-3d-printer

This FDM printer is supposed to be great. Ours is supposed to show up this week: https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/x1-carbon-combo

Keep up the great work!

 

Look what came in the mail this morning! Yeah buddy!! Fits like a freaking glove, both the connector and the sensor are a perfect fit! Couldn't really be happier with it! Time to get this rolling!

 

Well done! Congrats!!

 

Welded in and mounted up! Just waiting on a few more LEDs to get here to replace the fried ones and then we're ready to do some more testing and then hopefully be ready to seal them up!

Excuse the hideous plastic welding on the back that I half assed the sanding job on lol

 

Eeeww gross.

I like it.

Are you using ultrasound for welding, or an epoxy? Hard to see on my phone .

 

Hah nothing that high tech, just an old soldering iron to melt it together.

 

Looks like a trip to Harbor Freight is in order. They have plastic hot air welders.

 

So should I order my HC bumper now???

 

innovate AF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hah we'll see! I spent last night getting all the wiring done and installed the tail lights on the truck this morning and wouldn't you know it, the BSM just doesn't power up anymore! I'm so fucking annoyed.

I got some mud in one of the connectors a few months back and it kept popping fuses, even though I hadn't turned on the BSM switch for that whole time. Wasn't letting me turn on the HVAC or seat warmers, kept popping Ign02 if I remember right. Cleaned out the connector and it stopped popping the fuses. I thought I had remedied that, since it stopped popping fuses and everything is working as it should except maybe I ruined the wiring harness I guess? I don't know what else it could be. I have no idea. I press the BSM button in the cab and nothing happens. I guess go down this list. https://www.ttguide.net/blind_spot_monitor_system-386.html

I'm tempted to just cut off the stock connector and solder in my extensions directly to see if that fixes it, but if it's not even powering up when I disconnect the sensors now then I'm worried something worse happened. Any thoughts guys?

 

Seems like the connector is probably shot if I were to guess. Hard to think the whole wiring harness would be ruined based on what you described and if everything else is working now. Have you checked voltage at the connector to see if it's getting power at it? I might start with replacing the connector personally but if you're committed to the BSM mod then send it!

 

Yeah hopefully it's just the connector. I mean, honestly the process to replace the connector instead of the whole rear wiring harness would probably be the same as just cutting it off and soldering it to my extensions. I'm just afraid there's something further downstream that might have gotten messed up to keep the switch from even turning on. Guess I'll have to see what the multimeter has to say

 

I don't see this schematic in this thread yet, so here, take a look at this and at least the other fuses: