DIY License Plate Light Disable-In-Reverse Harness (DIR)

@GarlicFarts Glad it worked out okay!

 

Installed my @Puppypunter original! Pretty easy and quick...works like a charm. Thanks @Puppypunter and @daveeasa for coming up with this mod. I always disliked the fact I could barely see what was behind me when backing up at night. It is even worse on the trail when its pitch black outside! I saw someone post in one of the threads about the DIR mod that one could just turn off the head lights. That doesn't work on the trail when you and your spotter are using that light trying to avoid large boulders or even a steep drop off. I say this is a fairly inexpensive mod to increase my ability to safely reverse, both in town and out on the trail. Cheers to all those involved in the brainstorming and development of the DIR harness!
Happy Trails. Tom

 

I use it to back into my driveway every night. There's way more applicability than just trails

Winter - it's dark when I get home from work
Winter - if I take the dog out for a bike ride after work, it's also dark
Winter - if I get to work early it's dark there, too (funny story - January either 2019 or 2020, can't remember now, there was an entire week in January I was getting to work early and leaving late, Sunday afternoon until Friday afternoon when I left around 3, I didn't see the sun - I was inside, we have no windows....I didn't realize until I was leaving Friday ....)
Summer - After work, take the dog to beach/dog park, ventures out late, backing in after dark

Basically it's a year round use but will DEFINITELY be a big benefit in the winter up here! Especially when there's snow on the camera that would reflect the plate lights. Couldn't see S$%&

 

Well, it done and bench tested.




Did kinda screw up... I forgot to add the tap for the Meso Drop in hitch light. so I started to make a stand alone harness for it. and when I went to do the second side.. I pin it wrong grrr... I could have just reversed the color code for the hitch light, but... That just doesn't sit well with me and when I tried to de-pin the connector, lets just say It did not go well. time to order a set of de-pinning tools since I am doing more and more custom harness work


options to fix it.
buy new connectors and replace the the bad connector / redo the harness.
I have some tiny Copper C crimps from Burndy I could use to crimp on the Tap for the reverse light
window strip and solder in the tap.

 

Looks like you did the T off the female for reverse? They are a little tricky. Take the plastic TPA all the way out with a small screwdriver. Then use a pick tool to push into the pin latch and pry it sideways. Then something to push the female terminal backwards.

But for reverse tap I’d just T off the male side. Hardest part there is removing the plastic TPA. Use a pick tool and some force.

 

Oh, also, use 18 TXL for all the T’s as GXL is too bulky.

connectors should still lock fine even if mangled.

 

The Terminal Retainer is NOT meant to be removed. At least not repeatedly...

 

could have used this information earlier today.

 

I can not find the connector that the wire broke off in. so I will order a new on. I think I will continue on with a standalone harness for the hitch light and tap off the passenger side for that one.

So I went ahead and installed it. I had previously relocated the rear diff breather to the drivers side taillight cavity, and I am pleased to confirmed the relay fits as OP designed even with the breather hose in the way.



Quick function test to confirm everything works.. now to wait until dark to adjust the head unit settings

 

At least the connectors are cheaper than the tools to depin them. So no financial penalty to destroying a couple.

 

Yeah. There's tons of room in there. The prototype TotalTails weren't even a problem.


I wish I was smart enough to put the breather there. Instead:

 

Ok...

I moved the DIR harness over to the new truck. 2021 sr5 with blind spot sensors.

Orginal harness had all 4 pins connected at the license plate light tap.

Now I get pre collision error msg. Bypass the license plate tap and reconnect factory plugs works fine no error.

 

Photos of the intercept please? You have a puppypunter special or one from me? Might want to remove the tape if it's a Johnny version. Maybe we just need to send you two jumpers if you're able to un-lock the tpa's? It's a little tricky to get rid of the plugs though.

We could just swap you out if you like?

 

Its a diy version..

 

Ah that was you? Photos and we will QA. Maybe a crossed jumper?

 

I will need to get some in the morning. The only picture I have is probably not much use fpr troubleshooting.



Crossing the two bsm wires would make sense. It was working on The 2019 just fine. And there was no bsm on that truck.

 

Pass the butter please...

 

Did you pin all 4 or just two? Yeah I think take the tape off and let’s get a closeup of the T at license plate.

 

Ok, I’ve looked at the photo as zoomed as I can. I think your license plate power is blue and it’s hidden from view at the intercept. I can see white and green on the female side and what looks like yellow where the green would go on the male side. So I do suspect you crossed green and yellow for the other two jumpers.

Here is a photo of the intercept portion without heat shrink for you to reference. White with blue should be license plate light power. White with black is license plate ground. Solid white and solid black are for the BSM.