Installing LED Taillights - 5.0 Tech Inspection

The 'Stang's rear fascia is the area we're focusing on this month. Our project, installing Moss Muscle's Chasing LED Taillights (PN 059-795; $249.95), sort of brings the unique and cool taillight technology full circle for Mustangs, as the sequential tails actually date back to '68 Shelby GT350 and GT500 'Stangs.

Chris Balster of GTR High... 

   

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Chris Balster of GTR High Performance in Rancho Cucamonga, California, removes the driver-side taillight assembly from Lalo Chavez's S197 Mustang GT, as the first process in installing Moss Muscle's Chasing LED Taillight System. Once the taillights are removed (a 1/4-inch-drive, 11mm-deep socket; T-30 Torx bit; and a small, flat screwdriver are required for this task), the conversion-from-stock process is an easy workbench effort that doesn't require a single tool.

The kit's LED modules produce... 

   

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The kit's LED modules produce a deeper-red color and they are much clearer light than the factory incandescent bulbs. Each LED module plugs directly into a 'Stang's original light-bulb socket, and is installed in inner-middle-outer fashion, making sure that the LEDs' built-in microprocessors face away from the wires that exit the sockets.

Wiring the sequential taillights... 

   

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Wiring the sequential taillights involves attaching wiretap connectors (included) on the black wire of the OEM middle socket; the red/white-stripe wire, also on the middle socket; and the red/white-stripe wire on the outer connector. The black and green wires from the Moss system's sub-harnesses are tied into the wiretaps, per easy-to-follow directions. Aside from reconnecting the negative battery cable (which, of course, is disconnected at the outset of any tech project, especially those that are of electrical nature), that's all there is to this one!

Chris Balster of GTR High Performance demonstrates the quick-and-easy install in these photos and captions. The minutes saved on the taillight conversion afforded us the time to also install Cobalt's chrome, Double-Bar Strut Tower Brace (PN 059-390; $189.95), which further enhances the show appeal of Lalo Chavez's S197.

This series of photos shows...        read full caption This series of photos shows the Moss Muscle Chasing LED taillights in action. The taillights continuously sequence from inside to outside when the left or right turn signals are activated, and continue until a turn is completed. When braking, after sequencing once (both lights simultaneously), all three sections of the taillights illuminate until the brake pedal is released. The hazard lamps also function sequentially.