1. Safety first - disconnect the battery.
2. This is for the 6.1 but would probably apply to the 6, 5.1 and 5 tailgate models, but don't assume - there may be minor differences.
3. They're going on the panel under the rear light clusters, so mark where you need to cut. Remember - measure twice, cut once!
4. I've had these panels off before and knew there was nothing delicate behind so chose to cut the holes with them fitted and held firm.
I used a sharp craft knife with a new blade and was soon through the soft plastic. I then drilled the bolt holes.
5. Check the light fits. Hurrah! It does.
6. Remove the rear light clusters. Undo the 2 screws that are hidden when the tailgate is closed. The lights then slide out sideways towards the outside of the van. Unplug the wiring at the connector on the rear of each light cluster.
Put the lights on your work bench where they won't get damaged.
7. Remove the plastic panels where the lights are going to be fitted. You'll need a trim tool to undo two trim clips at the top then the panels come straight off with some wiggling.
8. Fit the reverse lights to the panels.
9. Crimp or solder a suitable sized ring terminal to the -ve wire of the reverse light. If the wires on your reverse lights are short then take this opportunity to solder on an extra length.
10. Carry the panel with the light to the van and eyeball the metal bracket with a rubber buffer (one on each side of the tailgate) that locates the tailgate as it closes. Use a torx driver or socket to undo the upper bolt and refit it with the negative wire from the light.
No pics as I forgot, but it should be self evident.
11. Refit the trim panel with the light, ensuring the +ve wire is fed upwards and accessible.
12. The internet and info from Pauly suggested the green and black striped wire was the positive feed for the reverse lights, but I didn't want to leave it to chance. So, I unscrewed the bulb holder from each cluster and used a multimeter to check for continuity between the bulb socket and the pins on the connector. Sure enough, it did correspond with the green/black wire, pin 1 on each side.
13. I used a wire stripper to carefully open up the insulation on the green/black wire just behind the rear lamp cluster connector and soldered the +ve wire from the new reverse lights. I then used self amalgating tape to insulate it. I then tucked the wire to the new reverse lights out the way.
14. Refit the rear light cluster. Refitting is the reversal of removal, as Haynes are fond of saying.
15. Then do the other side!
16. Step back and admire.
17. Reconnect the battery. Other than reprogramming the radio I suffered no Ill effects from having the battery disconnected.
It all worked first go with no bulb failure warning lights.
Technically it's a breach of con and use to have 4 reverse lights, but no one cares. Provided they're above 250mm from the ground it's not a specific MOT failure to have 4.
The process is probably the same on older vans, albeit those with one reverse light will need to trail a wire behind the bumper to the other side to provide power if you are fitting 2 additional lights.
I hope this is of use. Apologies for not taking as many photos as I should, but if you can't figure it out you probably shouldn't be attempting the job.
Enjoy!
2. This is for the 6.1 but would probably apply to the 6, 5.1 and 5 tailgate models, but don't assume - there may be minor differences.
3. They're going on the panel under the rear light clusters, so mark where you need to cut. Remember - measure twice, cut once!
4. I've had these panels off before and knew there was nothing delicate behind so chose to cut the holes with them fitted and held firm.
I used a sharp craft knife with a new blade and was soon through the soft plastic. I then drilled the bolt holes.
5. Check the light fits. Hurrah! It does.
6. Remove the rear light clusters. Undo the 2 screws that are hidden when the tailgate is closed. The lights then slide out sideways towards the outside of the van. Unplug the wiring at the connector on the rear of each light cluster.
Put the lights on your work bench where they won't get damaged.
7. Remove the plastic panels where the lights are going to be fitted. You'll need a trim tool to undo two trim clips at the top then the panels come straight off with some wiggling.
8. Fit the reverse lights to the panels.
9. Crimp or solder a suitable sized ring terminal to the -ve wire of the reverse light. If the wires on your reverse lights are short then take this opportunity to solder on an extra length.
10. Carry the panel with the light to the van and eyeball the metal bracket with a rubber buffer (one on each side of the tailgate) that locates the tailgate as it closes. Use a torx driver or socket to undo the upper bolt and refit it with the negative wire from the light.
No pics as I forgot, but it should be self evident.
11. Refit the trim panel with the light, ensuring the +ve wire is fed upwards and accessible.
12. The internet and info from Pauly suggested the green and black striped wire was the positive feed for the reverse lights, but I didn't want to leave it to chance. So, I unscrewed the bulb holder from each cluster and used a multimeter to check for continuity between the bulb socket and the pins on the connector. Sure enough, it did correspond with the green/black wire, pin 1 on each side.
13. I used a wire stripper to carefully open up the insulation on the green/black wire just behind the rear lamp cluster connector and soldered the +ve wire from the new reverse lights. I then used self amalgating tape to insulate it. I then tucked the wire to the new reverse lights out the way.
14. Refit the rear light cluster. Refitting is the reversal of removal, as Haynes are fond of saying.
15. Then do the other side!
16. Step back and admire.
17. Reconnect the battery. Other than reprogramming the radio I suffered no Ill effects from having the battery disconnected.
It all worked first go with no bulb failure warning lights.
Technically it's a breach of con and use to have 4 reverse lights, but no one cares. Provided they're above 250mm from the ground it's not a specific MOT failure to have 4.
The process is probably the same on older vans, albeit those with one reverse light will need to trail a wire behind the bumper to the other side to provide power if you are fitting 2 additional lights.
I hope this is of use. Apologies for not taking as many photos as I should, but if you can't figure it out you probably shouldn't be attempting the job.
Enjoy!
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