Installing Exterior Underglow

[TheClevelandSound]

I just got some sweet underglow neon for my V off of ebay...keyless remote and everything...not a cheap product.

How do I install? Im really at a brain fart here.

[07blueversa]

I dnt know how to install, but you know neon is illegal if your going to be driving with it right?

[Rockhound]

I dnt know how to install, but you know neon is illegal if your going to be driving with it right?

Actually, I hate to say it, but neons aren't illegal in Ohio...

What colors and types (under body, in-car, etc.) of neon lights are legal?

Lights must not rotate, oscillate, or flash, but state law does not prohibit the use of colored neon lights under your car as long as they do not interfere or blind other drivers.

Ohio Revised Code, section 4513.17 prohibits flashing lights on motor vehicles with the exception of emergency vehicles, turn signals, and hazard flashers.

As long as the neon lights are less than 300 candle power they are not in violation of any State law. If the lights are more than 300 candle power they must be directed to strike the pavement the vehicle sets upon at a distance of no more than 75 feet. The lights can not exceed 500 candle power.

[blindsnyper]

what are you gunna get next? spinners and and a roof scoop?

[marleyfan]

Yeah, to each their own I guess but in my opinion neon underglow looks tacky as hell. Everybody's different tho.

[Rockhound]

Cleveland, I was waiting for the comments to arrive...I think you're going to find that most folks around here feel that underglow lighting is a little 2 Fast 2 Furious for their tastes - if you catch my drift (pun intended). However, like Marleyfan said, to each their own. You might try just searching Google for installation guides, as I'm sure there are plenty of how-to articles out there regarding this process.

[CodeRed]

[themadscientist]

If you are unsure how to install it you should leave it to a professional

[Ever Victorious]

If you are unsure how to install it you should leave it to a professional

[Rockhound]

Well, I chuckled a bit while I was typing it...I mean, I had the perfect setup and everything.

[TheClevelandSound]

lol well i think its cool and thats all that matters...

Ohio is beastly!

[themadscientist]

I still like properly installed neon. Visible tubes that **** up the effect just look stupid though, make sure they are fully concealed or the look doesn't work.

[TheClevelandSound]

Yeah im tryin to get the top of the line ones...not cheap, but im takin one step at a time.

I heard from a few people that blue is illegal in ohio...why would that be?

[themadscientist]

do any emergency vehicles use the color blue?I am not familiar with ohio law, I don't know if it is or not.

[TheClevelandSound]

Not that i know of...at least not around here. But at night...every 8 cars has neon lights here. Its ccrrraaazzzy.

[Rockhound]

Yeah im tryin to get the top of the line ones...not cheap, but im takin one step at a time.

I heard from a few people that blue is illegal in ohio...why would that be?

Well, as I posted earlier in this thread, the Ohio State Highway Patrol website doesn't mention any colors as being illegal. They just have brightness/aiming policies in place to make sure that it doesn't bother oncoming traffic.

Not sure if local jurisdictions can have different laws...just not sure how that works.

[lain]

I see nothing wrong with neon lights but only if they are hidding and all you see if the light part. I think they look good under the seats or dash. but like on the sides and everywhere else where they are visable from a block away is too much for me.

[Neo Xian Wu]

in most cities, blue and red are illegal because police and fire dept/ambulances use those colors. they consider it impersonating law enforcement or emergency vehicles. if they don't list colors, then i would say that you should be ok. worse comes to worse, ask an officer or someone you know in law enforcement.

[CodeRed]

As said before, if you are unsure of how to wire something let a professional do it. Oh, I remember when I was 16 .

[Clipsed]

As said before, if you are unsure of how to wire something let a professional do it. Oh, I remember when I was 16 .

LMFAO you should be one to talk . . . .

Bubbadan07: Hey how do I wire this up???

lmfao, ohh how I remember all those times!!! HAHAHAHA fool! haha wow that is a good one I am still laughing . . .

[CodeRed]

LMFAO you should be one to talk . . . .

Bubbadan07: Hey how do I wire this up???

lmfao, ohh how I remember all those times!!! HAHAHAHA fool! haha wow that is a good one I am still laughing . . .

Thats because I'm a professional!

[Clipsed]

Thats because I'm a professional!

LMFAO I don't know which post was funnier! HAHAHAHA!

[jfanaselle]

lol well i think its cool and thats all that matters...

Now you've got the idea! Be aware that everyone is going to give you their opinion, but only yours matters when you're modding your own car. I'm like almost everyone else in this forum - I wouldn't install underglow neon lighting on my Versa, but I commend you for doing what you want regardless of what other people think. It seems that most of the people in this thread would rather bash your idea than answer your question, so let me take a shot at it. As far as installation is concerned: I agree with everyone else in this thread when they say that you need to mount them in a fashion that you don't see the lights themselves, just the glow from them. Be sure to conceal them behind any lip or body line under the vehicle that will allow them to be hidden to the eye from the side of the car. The actual mounting can be done many ways, including L-brackets from a hardware store, zip-ties, bailing twine, etc, but chances are that the kit will ship with some sort of brackets that should be suffecient. Just use short self tapping sheet metal screws or non self tapping and drill a pilot hole to attach the brackets. As far as wiring: I'm not sure what's going to be included in your kit, but the basic procedure is this: You need to run a relay, which is best described as a remotely located switch (a relay may or may not be included with your kit). The relay will allow you to tap directly into power from the battery, and then run wires from the relay to the neon lighting. Then, you can mount a switch inside the car and connect it to the relay. When you flip the switch in the car, it'll activate the relay which will send power directly from the battery to the lights. You can tap into a wire in the fuse panel inside the car to draw power for the switch that activates the relay, and I would suggest drawing it from a fuse that turns off with your ignition (such as your power outlet) so that you don't accidentally leave the lights on and kill your battery. Your kit should hopefully come with wiring instructions, but if it doesn't, a relay will have basic instructions on the package or you can do a google search. Hope that helps!

[redversasblue]

So if everyone made their car exactly the way everyone else liked, wouldn't they all be exactly the same, so couldn't the factory just take care of it. Maybe we can all get cold war era Trabants. That would rock then no one would be jealous of anyone else's rides.

[themadscientist]

lol well i think its cool and thats all that matters

dam right!

[TheClevelandSound]

That raises two more questions...

How am i going to be able to get under the car to do this?

And will it waste my battery?

[jfanaselle]

You need to get the car up in the air onto some jackstands or ramps. Or you can follow everyone else's advice and take it to a shop because they can put it up on a lift. As far as your battery, the lights themselves draw very little power compared to other accessories on your car. They could probably be compared in consumption to something such as your in-dash stereo (not including any added components, etc). They will not hurt your battery or alternator as long as you're using them with the car on, which if you wire it like I said by drawing power from a fuse that is controlled by the ignition switch, won't be a problem. Remember that if your vehicle is running, the alternator is powering the car instead of the battery. If you leave them on with the car off, you'll run the risk of eventually drawing your battery down and being unable to start. Doing this enough times will cause your battery to go bad and need to be replaced.

[Clipsed]

good luck installing them LEGALLY, there is no way unless you cut some of the frame, OR you some how bring the side skirts down. Plus there is no room underneath, and when you drive around your tubes are going to break. Not worth it unless you pay $10 for the neon kits like I do hahaha

[KimberKenobi]

I likewise plan on underglow (in Kentucky no color is illegal, but if you have red or blue they cannot flash)...

My advice would be to find a shop that could do the install. LED lines could be placed in a way that you see the color, but not the bulbs. My guy can get LEDs on strips that can be attached to the underside and not be visible like tubes.

My advice for anything that goes on your car, think it through before hand (this is why I don't have a spoiler yet... ) that's really the best advice. Pick what you want, find out the possible problems, see what is available to overcome it. There is always a solution (if you don't believe me, look at some high-end show cars that contain 30+tvs that are all cleanly installed... where there's a will, there's a way.)

[TheClevelandSound]

Well...im saving my money until i can get a really nice neon set. So i bought some graphic decals instead!