MX-5 Things Rear LED Strip Installation Tutorial

IMPORTANT UPDATE for drilling the holes in the grommets and routing the wire properly: • UPDATE: MX-5 Things Re...
Where to buy: mx5things.com/collections/maz...
In this video, I show you guys exactly how to install the rear LED strip light but MX-5 things on your ND Miata! This product is virtually identical to those found on other websites, like Cravenspeed, so the installation process of those should be the same.
Thank you so much for watching! I hope this video was helpful and informative. If so, please leave a like and subscribe to the channel. As always, if you have any questions, please leave them down below!
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[@DriveMX5]

MISTAKE IN VIDEO! READ THIS BEFORE FINISHING THE INSTALLATION - when running the wire for the harness through the trunk, it is best to drill or poke holes in the grommets instead of pinching the wire between the grommet and body of the car. See my updated video on this topic here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6vHiJamn7ObnJI

[@deanbrown5360]

Of the numerous videos on this installation, yours is, by far the best. You provide excellent detail with video and narration that makes the process quite straight forward. What I need is a more detailed discussion and video of how to handle the plastic plug-in connectors. How to get them off the body of the car trunk, how to get them apart, and how fragile are these connectors. If I break one, I'm sunk. Thanks, again, for the excellent video. I might be just an outlier in my knowledge of the connectors and their use/operation. I appreciate your responses. Dean

[@DoktrDub]

The drill holes in the plugs are recommended, the pinch method will definitely lead to more likely chance of water seeping in there because it compromises the actual rim seal itself, the water rarely will be able to even get to the centre compared to around the lip/edge, craft knife should do the trick!

[@SteamPunkSanta]

Really enjoyed this video. I just purchased my 2020 RF last month and I think this is going to be my first mod! Thanks for posting!

[@DriveMX5]

Absolutely, thank you for watching! Congratulations on your newly acquired RF! Is this your first MX-5?

[@deanbrown5360]

Thanks to your great detailed video I now have my LED light bar in place and looking spectacular.

[@DriveMX5]

Wonderful! Thank you for watching!

[@Hazy_Bubble]

very good informative video and I like the results!

[@sircrazytiger7164]

Great video tutorial simple and informative.

[@DriveMX5]

Thank you!

[@sequentious]

By pinching the wire against the sheet metal (and pressing it with the plug), I'd be worried about wearing through the wire over time (vibrations from driving, but more likely from flexing when the trunk opens and closes). There's a reason grommets are used when passing wires through metal.

[@DriveMX5]

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for that issue. So far I do see a dent in the insulation of the wire, but doesn’t appear to be rubbing through (at least not yet)

[@ajr5195]

@@DriveMX5 the pinch/wear is definitely a thing. When that happens it will cause a short. I would suggest poking a small hole (smaller than one wire) in the middle of the rubber and pushing the wires through to create the best seal. That is easily done before pushing the wires into the plug. The way you have it now will definitely leak.

[@DriveMX5]

@@ajr5195 I corrected this in an updated video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6vHiJamn7ObnJI I never actually had water leaking in the trunk, even after washing the car with a pressure washer. And I noticed that pinching the wire led to denting of the outer insulation (there’s one outer layer and then both wires inside are separately insulated), it didn’t appear to be rubbing through, the wire was pinched in place, not moving around and causing friction. But yes, poking a hole is the better way to do it and that’s why I made the update video

[@Mxvee]

@@DriveMX5 if you leave up the original video, people are going to find that first like I did, and make the same mistake. fortunately I read the comments

[@DriveMX5]

@@Mxvee KZbin makes it impossible to edit a video once it has been uploaded, or at least I’m unaware of how that could be done. I’ll try to make it more obvious by pinning a comment and adding a card for that video into this one

[@eddiemanginelli1325]

Another great detailed “how to” video 👍

[@DriveMX5]

Thank you!

[@MrMlyarber]

My wife got me one for Christmas! I hope to install it soon.

[@DriveMX5]

What a great gift! My girlfriend got her stepdad the same thing. One thing he did was take a nail and punch a hole in the grommets to fish the wire through. There’s multiple ways of handling that wire, but I thought that was a brilliant idea when I saw it!

[@deanbrown5360]

I found the tab to release the connections. Now I'm good to go. Will wrap it all up tomorrow morning.

[@DriveMX5]

Awesome! Glad you were able to figure that part out. In case you still need it, my updated video showing the proper way to route the wire and showing more detail of the connectors is going live at 10am EST tomorrow!

[@ejcheck]

1- I agree with the others on possible insulation wear-through. 2- Use some hot glue to hold the wire to the trunk lid at the LED strip, this will also ease the strain on the connector

[@CiBi1968]

I personally would make a small x cut in the top of each bung and feed the wire through at the 3 sections needed and then seal with silicone sealant where the wire passes through the bung. This keeps the outer seal against the body 100% original fitment.

[@DriveMX5]

That’s a great idea. I did post an update video where I made a slit in the rubber grommet instead of feeding the wire under it! Should be linked in a pinned comment

[@dpwiththe7758]

My guy 🔥

[@CattywhumpassproD]

I think I'll get one of these. Thanks for making this video. Why not make a small slit in the plug, put the wire through the plug, and put a dab of black silicone on to seal it?

[@DriveMX5]

That’s a good question, and there were other people who made the same note. I ended up doing that and later made an update video for it

[@CattywhumpassproD]

@@DriveMX5 I put one on my car (amongst other things from MX-5Things) last Sunday, and your video came in handy. Thanks for posting it.

[@Polyrytmi]

Please double check on that you dont have leaks, I had minor leaks at the pluggs, I noticed this at at rainier weather, i felt it was moist in the bottom trunk after standing in the rain (I drive mine to work at rainy days) Solved this by buyying liquid silicone! After the silicone dried the leaks were gone! And the silicone is elastic and seethrough so it was perfect

[@DriveMX5]

None that I have seen so far, I might’ve gotten lucky. Your silicone solution is great though!

[@MrDeeJayzee]

yoo, just installed my injen intake using your vid lol. Now i just bought this haha

[@deanbrown5360]

Specifically, how do I get the existing connectors in the trunk separated? My kit has arrived and I'm ready to start. I'm new to this and it is not like just pulling a plug out of a socket. Any advise or video would be appreciated. Thx

[@DriveMX5]

Thank you for the kind words! I just filmed in greater detail how to deal with the wiring harness connectors. That video should be ready tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning at the latest. However, if you want to go ahead and get started, I'll tell you those connectors have a white tab on one side only that you depress while pulling the connectors apart. Often times, it helps to push the connectors together to release tension from that tab, depress it, and then pull them apart. It's a bit hard to explain in words, but the video I'm posting tomorrow or Saturday should clarify it for you

[@deanbrown5360]

Would like more detail on the wire harness connectors.

[@DriveMX5]

I was planning on posting an update to supplement this video anyway. Is there a specific question about the connectors that you have? I can try to answer it in the video!

[@thomasmanson1119]

I just installed the red LED strip light and already have the sequential turn signals so there appears to be a connection conflict between the strip LED connection and the turn signal ballast connection. I’m not sure which to connect to which. Any Help on this topic?

[@DriveMX5]

I have the sequential turn signals as well. The LED strip should be able to plug into either side of the sequential turn signal harness (between that and the car’s wiring harness). You should see that if you go to the wiring portion of the video again. I am out of town but might be able to send pictures of it when I get back in town

[@andrewchan1011]

Did you modify the tailights? Seems different than my nd2. Looks kind of like an nd3. Also how does the brightness match with the factory nd2 lights. Wouldn't want an odd mismatch between the middle strip and the tailights

[@DriveMX5]

Taillights are unmodified. At night time i remember it being a similar brightness other than the strip will not increase in brightness when you brake

[@BN99239]

By the way, did you have issues with water leaking in through the rubber pieces at all? I see a few comments saying that it's better to cut hole through the rubber pieces and put the wires through, but I did it the way you did it because I didn't want to cut a hole. I also see concerns regarding the wires wearing through since it's just on the side. However, if you tape or glue the wires down properly, it shouldn't move around and therefore should not wear. What do you think?

[@DriveMX5]

I have not. I did go back and drill a hole through the rubber grommet. Still no water leakage. Some folks have said they put some silicone sealant around the wire as it goes through the grommet to prevent water leakage. That wouldn't be a bad idea to ensure it doesn't happen, but I also haven't had issues as is. I noticed that after having the wire tucked under the grommet, like this video shows, the rubber insulation was dented but did not show signs of wearing down.

[@BN99239]

@@DriveMX5 Thank you, that is great to know. I did glue down the wires in several places, leaving enough slack, so the wires should not move at all and therefore should not wear down nor wear down the grommets. You have great videos btw. I've done the DRL harness, now this all thanks to you. I'm looking to swap the steering wheel soon after watching your video on that, but it's honestly kind of scary and I don't want to mess with the airbag.

[@DriveMX5]

@@BN99239 Nice work! And thank you so much, I rally appreciate your positive feedback and watching my videos. The steering wheel is not bad at all! Just disconnect the battery and keep the airbag pointed away from you, then point it upwards when you set it down. I've worked with airbags a number of times and have not had issues yet.

[@JhoanMiguel360]

I am going to try to extend the wires to used the right cover and seals of the antena

[@DriveMX5]

Great idea! I bet that would look very clean

[@ilpio]

Hi, what rear diffuser do you have installed? Bye

[@DriveMX5]

Verus Engineering rear diffuser: www.verus-engineering.com/shop/a0054a-rear-diffuser-miata-mx5-nd-329

[@SuviViswanathan]

Would love to see instructions on how to address light bleed. These would be perfect if it wasn't for this.

[@DriveMX5]

I’ve seen people do this with little foam blocks that they glue/tape at those channels directly below the panel gaps to block the light. There should be a few videos on KZbin about this. That would have been nice for me to include as well

[@GunKata]

I did this and have some water coming in, have you had that at all? Not sure what to do

[@DriveMX5]

I never had water leakage. Later I drilled a hole through the rubber grommet and pushed the wire through that hole so it wasn’t pinching it on the body. The hole I drilled was just smaller than the wire itself so it sealed with pressure. If you haven’t done that and see my update video about it, I’d recommend that!

[@mahonereyes2743]

Donde compraste la luz?

[@DriveMX5]

The link is in the description

[@Giroworm3D]

I have a 2016 ND. Pretty sure my rear lights do not have the red glow around the edges like this one.

[@DriveMX5]

Oh really? I know the brake lights are only the circle part, but the glow around the edges should be part of the taillight, unless they didn’t have that for some reason on 2016

[@chasem3549]

How is it holding up?

[@DriveMX5]

Perfect! No issues with the light bar or wiring since installing it. No water leaks in the trunk either

[@Saucisse_Praxis]

How does it looks on a NB FL (2002) ? I would be curious to know.

[@pascalcailleau5845]

where buy it?

[@pascalcailleau5845]

cravenspeed..ok

[@DriveMX5]

mx5things.com/collections/mazda-mx-5-2016-nd-st/products/red-led-strip-with-rear-harness

[@DriveMX5]

@@pascalcailleau5845 sorry, forgot to add the link in the description! I think the one on MX-5 things has a brighter light and the color matches the taillights better

[@pascalcailleau5845]

@@DriveMX5 no sending to frnace ..

[@Polyrytmi]

@@pascalcailleau5845 the stuff from cravenspeed and mx5things are the same, so try both

[@AlexisGitarre]

the light bleed looks really bad honestly. the lines of the trunk light up and police will pull you over for sure. at least here in Europe it will cause you a lot of trouble.

[@DriveMX5]

I've seen a lot of folks cut and install small foam pieces to block the light bleed. You only really notice it from certain angles so I haven't bothered to do it yet, plus no trouble with the way it is here in the states.

[@michaelmuller5489]

looks awful

[@DriveMX5]

Then don’t buy one ?