Most efficient method of 93-96 to 97-02 tail light swap?

[Doug96CamaroRS]

Hey guys, I recently traded my '96 tails from my Camaro for a set of tails originally from a 97-02 Camaro but on a 96. Anyways, I do not have the tail light wire harness or anything, and I need to know what is the best way to go about making the amber turn signal part functional on my '96. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Doug M.

[nascarnate326]

Hey guys, I recently traded my '96 tails from my Camaro for a set of tails originally from a 97-02 Camaro but on a 96. Anyways, I do not have the tail light wire harness or anything, and I need to know what is the best way to go about making the amber turn signal part functional on my '96. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Doug M.

I think your best bet would be to find a junked 98-02 v6 car and pull the tail light harness. I am sure you can find one in lansing.

try schrams.

[MunsterZ28]

I think your best bet would be to find a junked 98-02 v6 car and pull the tail light harness. I am sure you can find one in lansing.

try schrams.

this. otherwise idk how you can make it work.

[bri2203]

I think your best bet would be to find a junked 98-02 v6 car and pull the tail light harness. I am sure you can find one in lansing.

try schrams.

From the outside what is the difference between a V6 and V8 tail light? I thought they were the same.
Personally I like the 93-96 lights better.

[JoeliusZ28]

From the outside what is the difference between a V6 and V8 tail light? I thought they were the same.
Personally I like the 93-96 lights better.

your asking what the difference is but you like the earlier ones better? The difference is the amber signal.

[meissen]

He's asking what the difference is between v6 and v8, and there is none on the Camaro. I believe Brian was asking because Nate specifically said to find a 98-02 v6 in the junkyard and I think Nate was saying that just so you wouldn't hack up a v8 car.

[JoeliusZ28]

ah, yep. My mistake.

[Doug96CamaroRS]

I know that I will need to find the harness or buy it on ebay for $20, but I saw a thread on another f-body site that included something about cutting some wire and running a long wire under the carpet, from the brake pedal to the harness. I was wondering if anyone on this site has done the wiring swap. And bri, I think the amber portion makes the green 93-96 camaros tail lights look much more modern especially because you drivers behind you can notice that your turn signal has actually been activated.

[MunsterZ28]

I know that I will need to find the harness or buy it on ebay for $20, but I saw a thread on another f-body site that included something about cutting some wire and running a long wire under the carpet, from the brake pedal to the harness. I was wondering if anyone on this site has done the wiring swap. And bri, I think the amber portion makes the green 93-96 camaros tail lights look much more modern especially because you drivers behind you can notice that your turn signal has actually been activated.

i have done this but the new harness is needed. you need the new harness and then splice a wire from that harness to the brake pedal (theres a switch it touches and turns the brake light on) ill dig up the real instructions. its much easier then i make it sound. i did it and i am terrible at wiring

[MunsterZ28]

here the instructions.

1. Remove the camaro panel between the lights.
a. open rear hatch, pull interior carpet from back side towards front of car, then you'll find the panel nuts and lens nuts
b. first loosen the (2ea)rear taillight (large plastic) nuts but don't remove the lens just yet.
c. now remove the 4 10mm nuts, 1 on each farside and 2 in the middle section near latch.
d. once all of these 8 nuts are removed, pull the lens and panel off of the rear of the car, set the panel on the floor or nearby table, allowing the lens' to hang by the wiring.
e. there is a small rubber grommet on the driver's side that the taillight harness goes through. look on the driver's side interior and find where the harness plug coming from the front connects. disconnect the plug, also remove the grounding screw located on the inside (latch in the middle)
f. pull the old harness and grommet out. Reinstall the newer harness and reattach the grounding wire (from the new harness), the plug, and the grommet (also on the new).
g. don't reassemble yet.

The problem with the 93-96 models is, they have only 4 wires whereas the newer 97-2000 models have 5. The 5th wire is light blue and connects directly to the stop lights. The older harness coming from the front of the car will connect to the newer harness (lens), but it is missing the light blue wire, also the connector in the plug. The plug looks like it has an empty hole. The brake switch on the 93-96 models run to the turn signal switch (which controls the blinker while braking), cutting this wire does not affect hazards or turn signals.

2. Rerouting the brake light wiring.
a. remove the shroud undernieth the steering wheel (lower dash), locate the light blue wire coming from the brake switch. Cut the wire about 2 inches from the switch and run a new wire from the switch side down the length of the car to the plug in the rear. Either attach a connector (PITA) inside the plug, or simply cut the light blue wire on the newer harness and connect.
i. reinstall the Camaro panel while (a friend helps here) installing the newer lens' and all of the nuts.
h. reinstall the lower dash panel.

Sit back while a friend pushes on the brakes and hits the blinkers, your done!

[Doug96CamaroRS]

thanks a lot, I don't feel electronically experienced enough to do this alone at all. I need somebody to help :[ I'll pay for the expertise of having it done right!

[nascarnate326]

We can find you the harness so it should be plug and play I believe.

[MunsterZ28]

thanks a lot, I don't feel electronically experienced enough to do this alone at all. I need somebody to help :[ I'll pay for the expertise of having it done right!

We can find you the harness so it should be plug and play I believe.

he needs the new harness to wire it up like i posted. im sorry dude id come help you for free its a very simple job but your all the way across the state

[Doug96CamaroRS]

haha yeah.. I would be willing to drive quite a distance, but I'm sure there has to be somebody around here that can help me.

[Doug96CamaroRS]

I've been looking around for the tail light harness but have been unsuccessful :[