How To Install a Chase (Sequential) Tail Light Kit

Sequential Kits Explained

Discuss This Video

Get: .mp3

People will point and stare every time you change lanes after this mod! Meter4it.com sent over a tail light kit that lets all three bulbs light up in sequence anytime you hit the brakes or use your turn signal...it's awesome.

Different Options for Sequential Kits

There are several different products that give you the sequential tail lights for your ford Mustang. The one shown in this video is made by Meter4it.com and is the only one on the market that gives you the option to switch lighting patterns. It is also the only one to offer the "chase" pattern like shown at the beginning of the video.

If you don't care for the bonus "chase" feature you can also buy a Mustang sequential tail lights splice-in kit from American Muscle. This kit is a little bit less expensive but also a little bit easier to install.

If you own a 2005+ Mustang you can also check out the plug-in kit from American Muscle which is probably the easiest to install.

What You'll Need for the Meter4it.com Kit

Wiring Tools: including wire cutters, a crimper, electrical tape and needle-nose pliers to help attach the wire-taps.

Meter4it.com Instructions: Gary over at Meter4it maintains set of full-color instructions on his site and will send a copy with the kit.

Applications

This video is specific to the Ford Mustang (1996-2004) but there are kits for other years as well.

Notes and Warnings

Make sure the wires do not hit the tail light mounting screws found between the interior trunk panel and the body of the car. This can create a direct connection to ground (shunt) and blow a fuse.

Mounting the Tail Light Control Box

The video does not cover or show where I mounted the control box. I ended up using two screws to secure it to the driver side trunk panel as shown below.

The controller is held in place with two screws at opposite corners. This setup has worked well for quite a while and allows easy access in case I want to change the lighting pattern. You could also mount it behind the trunk panels if you are afraid of it being knocked or damaged by items in the trunk—it's your call!

Original Transcript

This episode covers all of the steps needed to give your Mustang tail lights that unique, sequential pattern. The sequential tail light kit shown in this video is from meter4it.com. If you can follow along with this episode you will have a good idea of how to install other tail light kits or at the least, change your tail light bulbs!

The first step is to remove the rear trunk panel. It's held on by two screws that serve double duty as the cargo net anchors and also by a trim piece that is held on by four plastic fasteners. With the trim piece removed you can squeeze the larger panel out of the trunk.

The Meter4it.com kit is complete down to the electrical connectors. It consists of a controller and a number of wires that need to be spliced or added to the existing tail light harness. So we went through and crimped male connectors to most of the wires. The only ones that do not require connectors are the gray and blue wires which will be plugged directly into the tail light socket.

With the panel out of the way we pried the driver side tail light connector off of its mounting point and then unplugged it. You can see two green/orange wires. Pick one of them and clip it about an inch from the edge of the connector.

Now put on your turn signal and take note of which light is still blinking. We marked it with some electrical tape and you'll find out why we mark it in a later step.

Go ahead and remove all tail light mounting nuts and loosen the rubber plug that routes the wires. There are four tail light bolts total including two hiding in the corner of the trunk. You may have to move the driver side trunk panel to get to these last two nuts.

Remove the tail light and detach the wire harness mounting point. Turn the inboard tail light socket counter clockwise to remove it and then swap whichever light still flashed into the inboard position.

Now we need to run an extra wire to what used to be the old inboard light socket. I used an awl to make a hole in the rubber plug and then ran the blue wire through it. You can then pull this wire through to the tail light housing.

Remove the tiny plastic seal on the back of the tail light socket. Since this used to be the inboard light socket it's not wired to go on with the turn signals, just with the brakes. But conveniently enough, the connector has room for a third wire. Ford really did make this mod easy!

I made a tiny hole in the seal to route the new wire but you're better off just making a careful cut with some scissors. Make sure the blue wire is all the way in the socket and then button it up. You can then install the socket in the only empty space left. Note: if I had cut the other green/orange wire we would have swapped the inner and outer sockets and left this middle one alone.

Speaking of that green/orange wire--we have some unfinished business. The kit includes these Scotchlok t-connectors. Connect one to each end of the severed wire. Then plug the green wire from the controller into the piece of wire closest to the harness plug and connect the purple wire to the piece of wire closer to the tail light. I also recommend wrapping these wires with some electrical tape so the ends of the wires don't accidentally touch anything metal.

I also used some electrical tape to bundle the blue wire with the rest of the wires. After that slide the tail light into place making sure not to get the blue wire caught around the bolts and then reinstall the nuts.

Install another Scotchlok onto the black wire of the tail light harness and then plug in the black wire from the controller box.

The controller's red power wire can be connected to a harness found on the driver's side. Tap into the light green/orange stripe wire if you car's a 99-04 or find and tap into the light green/yellow stripe wire if you car is a 96-98 model. We're using the same type of Scotchlok connector as before.

You want to repeat all of the tail light steps for the passenger side as well.

One last thing we need to change is the flasher. You can modify your own or purchase it with the kit. The stock flasher is hiding underneath the dashboard. Slide it off the mount and then unclip it from the plug. Then pop in the new one and remount it.

The controller box has several pins and a small black or red button. What makes this kit great is it lets you pick between factory, sequential and the exclusive chase pattern just by moving the little jumper. Once you pick your desired setting turn on your driver's side signal and then press the red or black button. The lights should blink together two or three times and then start the selected sequence. Switch to the passenger's side signal and it should go through the same calibration process.
If everything works you can reinstall your trunk panels.
Here's what it looks like when you press the brakes. And here's how your car will look like with the hazard lights on. It's almost hypnotic!