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MUSTANG
PROJECT
Price:$9.95
VOLUME 6
MUSTANG PROJECT
A SafeCode Inc. Publication
INSTALLING THE MUSTANG PROJECT LED SEQUENTIAL TAILLIGHTS ON YOUR
64.5 - 66 MUSTANG
© 2004 SafeCode Inc. All rights reserved.
MUSTANG PROJECT
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Pre-installation Check
Two types of taillight housings have been reproduced
in recent years for early
mustangs.
The first shown below is an
exact reproduction of the
original Mustang taillight
housing. Note that the correct housing has a lamp
socket which extends from
the surface of the housing
about 3/4 of an inch.
The Mustang Project sequential taillights are
designed for use in original housings like those
shown below.
Many shoddy reproductions exist on the market
today. Mustang Project
taillights are warranted to
work only with high quality
reproductions or original
taillight housings.
can obtain the correct housings from several sources:
Mustang Project highly recommends that if you have
incorrect flush mount sockets as shown on the following page. That you replace
these with the correct type.
www.dallasmustang.com
The incorrect housings or
“buckets” have very unreliable sockets and will require extra work to install.
www.npdlink.com
Order P/N: 13434-1A
Code:3702
If for any reason you cannot
change the housings please
refer to Appendix A for
instructions on how to
mount Mustang Project taillight in flush mounted sockets.
Changing the taillight housings to the correct type is
an easy task requiring only
the removal of 4 nuts. You
CORRECT TAILLIGHT
HOUSING AND
SOCKET
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INCORRECT TAILLIGHT
HOUSING AND SOCKET
Note: Flimsy socket construction!
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Components included in your kit:
Your kit consists of a LED
flasher module and left and
right taillight modules as
shown below.
The LED flasher module
will replace your existing
flasher module. The left
and right taillight modules
will replace your existing
incandescent light bulbs.
The LED Taillight modules
are clearly marked “R” for
right and “L” for left. Right
and left for the taillights are
as viewed from the rear of
the car. So the left side of
the car is the drivers side
and the right side of the car
is the passenger side of the
car.
First we will install the LED
flasher module.
All of the equipment illustrated in this manual was
proudly manufactured in
the USA by Mustang Project
a SafeCode Inc. enterprise.
For accessories and spare
parts please visit us on the
web at:
www.mustangproject.com
or call us at 512-751-7864
“Read these
instructions
carefully
before
installing our
Taillights!!!
Flasher Module
Installing the flasher module:
First we will remove the old
original flasher module.
The original flasher module
will be located on the
driver side of the car near
the fire wall as shown on
the following picture.
The installation procedure
is as follows:
1)
Remove the existing
flasher module
2)
Connect the new
flasher wires red and
greed to the Mustang’s
wiring previously removed.
3)
Connect the black
“ground” wire from the
new LED flasher module to a good chassis
grounding point.
Simply unsnap the cylinder
shaped module and remove the push on connectors. These will be attached with a green wire
and a orange/yellow wire.
The LED flasher module has
three color coded wire
leads. Red, Green, and
Black.
Once you remove the old
module install the new LED
flasher module by simply
plugging in the red wire to
the Mustang’s yelloworange wire and the green
wire to the Mustang’s blue
( may be green on some
cars ) wire.
You now have only to attach
the black wire to a conven-
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“Simply unsnap the old
flasher module which is
located near the firewall
on the driver side of the
car…”
Remove old
flasher as
shown.
“Be sure and
secure the
black wire to
any
convenient
grounding
screw which is
attached to the
cars
chassis…”
“Tuck the LED flasher
module under the dash in
any convenient place…”
GREEN
RED
Be sure and wrap each connector in
electrical tape before final installation
of the flasher module.
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Installing the Taillights
Critical! you must remove the harness boot
from the taillight housing before installing
your Mustang Project
LED sequential taillights.
Always remove the connector
boot on cars equipped with
this type of connector
BEFORE inserting the taillight
module.
It is also a good idea to apply
bulb grease on the boot and
connector before reinstalling the boot.
The socket must move in and
out. Old or corroded sockets
don’t move properly which
can cause connection
problems with the taillight
modules. Bulb grease or a
lubricant like PB Blaster may
be require to ensure free
movement of the socket
before taillight module
installation.
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ient chassis ground point.
A likely place to connect the
black ground wire will be
under a mounting screw on
the dash or on any metal
part screwed under the
dash.
Just make sure that there is a
good electrical connection
between the black wire and
the cars chassis.
Now install the LED taillight
modules. Each module is
clearly marked “R” for right
and “L” for left.
Be careful to install only the
Left module in the Left taillight and the Right module in
the right taillight.
You will follow the procedure below for installing
each LED taillight module.
1)
Remove lens, frame,
and incandescent bulb.
“Do not force the
module installation.
Make sure the LED
taillight base pin and
the lamp socket slot is
aligned. Also ensure
that you are using the
“right” module in the
right side etc. .
2)
3)
4)
Verify that the ignition
is off and that the cars
lights are OFF too.
IMPORTANT. Remove the lamp boot
from the housing
socket as shown.
Never insert the taillight module with the
lamp boot connector in
place.
Align each module by
rotating the left end
down slightly and inserting the base into
the existing Mustang
lamp socket. Carefully
align the socket pins
with the slot.
5)
6)
Gently push the LED
taillight module into
the socket making sure
that the alignment pins
and the socket slots are
properly aligned.
Now push in on the
LED module being
careful not to bend
any of the LED components and twist
the assembly to the
right to lock in the
base.
7)
Replace the lamp
boot connector.
Never insert the
taillight modules
with the lamp boot
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Installing your Taillight Modules:
Remember to check our
web board for new installation tips!
www.mustangproject.com
Water is the enemy of anything electronic.
outside and remove the
trim and lens.
that little or no water enters the housing!
Your taillight modules
have been coated with a
conformal coating which
makes the modules resistant to water.
If there is any significant
water inside the housing
or on the taillight module
you will need a new gasket or you will need to add
some RTV around the lens.
Water in the lamp housings is a prime source of
rust so preserve you Mustang and don’t let water
enter!
A correct installation will
ensure that no water will
enter the taillight housing.
Make sure your taillight
gaskets are in good order
and that their seal is working properly.
You can test this by spraying you taillight housings
with a hose with the lens,
gasket and trim in place.
After spraying the housing
for several minutes dry the
While the taillight modules will operate correctly
with quite a large amount
of water on their surfaces
because of the special
conformal coating applied
during manufacturing they
are not warranted to operate wet.
So if you drive you Mustang in the wet weather
check the seal and ensure
SPECIAL NOTES:
ONLY follow the
adjustment instructions below
if your lamp
sockets are
misaligned!
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Adjustments and Alignment:
All the Mustangs we have
tested have the taillight
sockets aligned in the same
manner. The LED taillight
modules you have received
are already aligned to fit
standard Mustang lamp
sockets.
However, if for some reason your lamp sockets are
misaligned you can adjust
the position of the LED taillight module by loosening
and tightening the nut
pointed to in the photo below.
Follow the following steps
when checking the alignment.
moving it slightly to the
right or left to ensure that
there is proper alignment
between the base and the
Mustang socket with the
board tilted down to the
left. Now tighten the nut
and re-insert the module
into the Mustang lamp
socket.
Step 1. Loosen the #4
adjustment nut 1/2-2
turn only.
Loosen the nut pointed to
below just enough for the
LED taillight PCB ( Printed
Circuit Board ) to rotate.
Now adjust the base by
Step 2. Insert the taillight module into the
socket but do not push
down and engage yet.
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Step 3. With the base inserted into the socket but not engaged rotate the taillight module down on its left side as
shown below. While holding the board in this tilted position tighten the nut.
Housing outer edge
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Step 4. You may now engage the base into the socket by pushing down and
rotating the taillight module to its right.
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Shorter legs
Note that divider extends slightly more
at bottom edge of
housing.
A properly installed taillight module will appear as
in this photo. The LEDs are
VERY bright. Do not look
directly into the LEDs without the LENs installed!
Install the right
divider as shown
Shorter legs
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Appendix A: Installing in flush
mounted sockets
If you must mount the Mustang Project sequential taillights in housing with the
flush mounted sockets you
must add the included
standoff to each module.
Do this by first removing
the mounting nut as shown
in Figure 1 below. You will
notice a flat washer and a
lock washer slip off the assembly.
Figure 1.
Carefully stretch out the
connecting wires as shown
in Figure 2.
Now place the extra standoff you received in your kit
on the threaded post as
shown in Figure 3 below.
Secure these pieces firmly
on the threaded shaft.
light connector base into
the flush mount socket as
shown in Figure 4. Push
and twist the base until it
locks into place as shown in
Figure 5.
Once the base is properly
seated place the board onto
the standoff and secure it
Insert
the
tail-
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
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Appendix A: Installing in flush
mounted sockets
using the supplied nut and
lock washer as shown in
Figure 6.
Ensure that the board is
properly leveled as you
tighten the nut down using
socket driver as shown in
the picture in Figure 6. If
the socket does not set
level you may have to insert a piece of tape between the board and the
metal housing to prevent
shorts.
Figure 4.
Figure 5.
Figure 6.
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Trouble Shooting Guide:
If you have any problems
with your installation
please feel free to give us a
call at 512-751-7864.
You can also check our
web-page at
www.mustangproject.com
for updated Trouble Shooting Guides for all of our
products.
Most Taillight problems are
due to faulty wiring or bad
socket connections.
Remember unless you have
replaced the wiring or taillight sockets in your Mustang you are dealing with
electrical components that
are over 40 years old!
“Remember...
you are
dealing with
electrical
components
that are over
40 years old!”
Corrosion and rust can take
their toll. If you have any
troubles first re-install the
standard incandescent
lamps and ensure that the
signals, brake, and light
functions work properly. If
you see any problem with
the brake or signal light
functionality using the incandescent lights your system will not work with the
new Mustang Project LED
taillight modules.
Carefully check for bad or
rusted sockets. If you see
evidence of corrosion carefully clean the contacts and
re-test.
Old wiring can also be a
source of problems. Look
for broken or frayed insulation if you see intermittent
functionality.
Below is a list of trouble
shooting keys:
Problem: Lights flicker.
Flickering lights are often
caused by failing alternators or bad regulators. The
alternator may still function
well enough to marginally
charge the battery but diode failure in the alternator
can cause flickering taillights.
It is also possible that the
regulator is failing. The
original Mustang electromechanical regulators are
famous for unusually failures. Always replace your
regulator with a Motorcraft
direct replacement regulator available at most auto
parts stores.
light Module contacts to
clean off any debris left by
a dirty socket.
Problem: Taillights function abnormally in the
rain.
This is probably caused by
water in the Taillight
bucket. Check for evidence of water and repair
any gasket leaks. The Mustang Project Taillight modules are coated to protect
against water damage but
they will not operate if too
much water is allowed to
cling to the circuit boards.
If you suspect a regulator
or alternator problem you
need to replace these items
before you car is stranded!
Doing so will also prevent
flickering of the LED taillights.
Problem: Taillights don’t
fit properly into sockets.
Problem: Taillights don’t
sequence but do light if
headlights are on.
Be careful to always ensure that
you have removed the boot
connector in the
back of the light
housing BEFORE
inserting the taillight modules.
Failure to do so
can cause any or
all of the above
symptoms!
Most likely this is due to a
bad socket. It can also be
caused by incorrect installation of the Mustang Project flasher module or improper connection of the
flasher module ground.
Carefully clean the socket
and use a mild sandpaper
on the Taillight Module
contacts to clean off any
debris left by a dirty
socket.
Problem: Taillights sequence but taillights do
not illuminate when headlamps are on.
Most likely this is due to a
bad socket. Carefully
clean the socket and use a
mild sandpaper on the Tail-
Review the socket section
at the beginning of this instruction sheet for adjustment with misaligned sockets.