truemagellen

FYI...there are no federal regulations regarding lighting on your car. There are federal recommendations. This is why there is such a variance state to state, because not all state Regulations follow the federal Recommendations.

For instance, I can have white front turn signals, white clear corner (white corners and white, specifically super-white, bulbs) in the state of Minnesota. In fact there are virtually no regulations regarding lighting in the state of minnesota, most of it has to do with Emergency vehicles, trucks, and RVs.

When it is referring to lighting it states to follow what the Commisioner of Public Safety mandates, the problem is the Commissioner never mandated anything after the regulations were passed in the 60s and 70s...so most things are up in the air.

Up in the air=challengable in court of law :D

I even spoke to the DMV and the Commisioner of Public Safety's office to verify my findings...I thought I'd be wrong (and even laughed at) but shockingly I was right!

G-ReX

Here's a link to the DOT regs: http://frwebgate6.access.gpo.gov/cgi...ction=retrieve
It's mostly about headlights (hard to believe you can even make a car with all the regs), but it does address all lighting & reflectors. Here's some selected preliminary info:Cut and paste didn't work well for the tables (they are at the very end of the regs), so I did screenshots. Note that intermediate markers/reflectors are only required if the vehicle is over 30ft.

Go48

The wording "side marker lamps" and "amber" is confusing to me. (And PA has the same wording, BTW.) Does this wording mean if the clear side markers illuminate in an amber color, they would be considered legal? I suspect this wording would be open to interpretation by the person doing the inspection. What do you think?

truemagellen

these are regs for making a car, recommendations for states, but most states do not follow them...simply a gap in state legislation, which is good for us

also look at your state regs/legislation on these things, that is all that matters

even listening to a police officer is not needed since it is impossible for them to know all the state regs...and you can challenge it in court if it isn't in the state regs.

good luck guys!

G-ReX

truemagellan, after I looked again through Virginia code, I guess you're right. The code does list what lights you're allowed to have and thus excludes extra lighting, but doesn't address the markers. The inspection rules here refer back to "approved lights" & "lens color", but that's where your case for vagueness works; there's no reference back to DOT rules specifically. I suppose a **** inspector who actually knew what he was doing could fail clear corners. It's worth looking at each state's code, though, since it's all different. I didn't realize that nitrous was illegal here and you can't have more than 4 foglamps. So much for the rally car look.

DOT regs want an amber light and an amber reflector on the front corners. That's why cars with wrap-around headlamp assemblies sometimes have clear/white marker lenses on the corners with amber bulbs, and amber reflective trim surrounding it. Like truemagellan states, unless PA refers to DOT regs specifically or mandates side reflector color, the clears with amber bulbs (and maybe white bulbs) should be fine.

msrecant

I found the following in the Virginia Motor Vehicle Code (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...+cod+46.2-1017). It indicates the front "marker" s should be both amber lights and amber reflectors. However, I agree that as long as the marker lights up amber and the lens is not broken, I doubt it will ever be an issue.

Also remember I am not a lawyer!

On the positive side, after 18 months, I have yet to see anyone in any state post that they failed their state inspection (knock on wood) because of having clear corners on their RX-8.


§ 46.2-1017. Dimension or marker lights and reflectors, generally.

All motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers exceeding seven feet in width or the widest portion of which extends four inches beyond the front fender extremes shall be equipped with amber lights mounted at the extreme right and left front top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather for a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of such vehicle. Such vehicles shall also be equipped with red lights mounted at the extreme right and left rear top corners of such vehicle. Each such light shall be visible in clear weather for at least 500 feet to the rear of such vehicle. Any tractor truck, however, need not be equipped with rear red dimension or marker lights. If the front or the rear of such vehicle is not the widest portion of the vehicle, the dimension or marker lights required in this section shall be mounted on the widest portions of the vehicle with the amber lights herein required visible from the front as herein required and the red lights herein required visible from the rear as herein required. The lights herein required shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.

In addition to the lights required in this section, each such vehicle shall be equipped with amber reflectors located on each side thereof, at or near the front. Red reflectors shall be used on the rear of each such vehicle. Such reflectors shall be securely fastened to the vehicle not less than fifteen inches and not more than sixty inches from the ground. For a vehicle that is less than fifteen inches tall, however, such reflectors shall be securely fastened thereto at the highest point the structure of a vehicle will permit. The reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Superintendent.

If any vehicle is so constructed as to make compliance with the requirements of this section impractical, the lights and reflectors shall be placed on the vehicle in accordance with the Superintendent's regulations.

If any vehicle required by this section to be equipped with dimension or marker lights has installed on its rear, as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the vehicle, three red identification lights of a type approved by the Superintendent, with the light centers spaced not less than six inches or more than twelve inches apart, the rear dimension or marker lights may be mounted at any height but must indicate as nearly as practicable the extreme width of the vehicle.

(Code 1950, § 46-271; 1952, c. 652; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-265; 1960, c. 156; 1974, c. 218; 1977, c. 383; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 23.)

G-ReX

I saw that one, too, but I read as indicating big stuff only. It becomes a grammar question.

msrecant

Depends on where they intended the comma to be. There is also the start to paragraph two "In addition to the lights required in this section," which requires amber reflector on the side at the front. Who knows ... probably no one.

quack_p

I just finished installing my clear corners with stealth amber bulbs. Once the stock corner was free of the body, there was no third screw holding the corner in place.

A couple of questions:

Did anyone else have a problem getting the bulb assembly to twist into the clear corner? I couldn't do it. I hope it doesn't fall out.

Does the clear corner seem looser than the stock corner? After I got done, I noticed I can wiggle the corner a little from the outside. The stock corner didn't do that.

msrecant

1. There is only one screw, the sheet metal screw in the rear. The fixture is held in place by the front tab, the rear tab and the one screw in back that secures the rear tab. It is possible that on newer models, Mazda has stopped putting in that screw. Anyone else notice that there was no screw?

2. For me the bulb assembly definitively twisted into place with a clockwise turn.

3. Depends on what you mean by wiggle. I just checked mine and there is a little flex when I push directly on the lens (maybe 1/32nd of an inch) and almost no movement up/down or back/forth. Without the screw there could well be more wiggle.

G-ReX

The length of wiring made it hard to grip the bulb & get it in, but it did lock in fine. The lights are stable on my car, but they do stick out as install states. Is it the vertical screw holding the corner in that's missing?

One more thought on the VA law: It wouldn't make sense to me to not legislate the markers for a small semi-trailer but do it for a little trailer for a lawn tractor, so I've got to think it's all under the 7 foot rule. For sure, though, no clear corners on a full-size Hummer (7'2").

quack_p

My car (VIN = 33814) does not have this screw on either side.

Go48

Well, the screw should be there IMHO. My VIN is more recent than that and mine has both screws. Get some at the dealer or your local hardware.

G-ReX

Got to be misassembled. The corner marker bolt guy must have gone on break for your car! Mazda owes you some bolts.

Paul_in_DC

Virginians and Honored Guests,

I saw references to this and just had to know the lowdown.

So, by my read, the lights that our Owners Manuals (and the Commonwealth of Virginia) refer to as "parking lights" can be either white or amber. So we can now live in peace and tranquility, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, etc.

Unfortunately, I kept reading (d'oh!) If you like those sunshades across the top of your windshield, that's fine, but:

Grrr!

WaterLogged

This might sound like a noob question, but do all of the clear markers for sale thru the various online retailers flare out or are there any that are the "flush" design?

Sorry if this answer was somewhere in this thread, but it got a bit too long for me to comb through.

msrecant

I believe that the clear side markers, currently for sale in the US, are simply the "stock" side markers for the Japanese market and adhears to Japanese motor vehicle requirements, which dictate the clear color, shape and internal reflector. I am not aware of any manufacturer that makes/sells a sidemarker that is a duplicate of the US side marker only made of clear rather than amber material.

Silver04RX8

I looked for the same thing several months ago and did not find anyone that had for sale the same style marker lights that came with the car. I purchased the clear ones that flared and thought I would give them a try. Once installed I was so happy with the look that the flare did not matter and to be honest with you I think the flare actually adds a bit of distinction to the overall look, it has grown on me. Good luck on your quest.

WaterLogged

Thanks for the quick response guys. I just ordered my set from JT-Imports. I look forward to making this the first "mod" to my new baby... using the fine directions that can be found in this post, of course.

salituro64

What do you mean by flare out?

Go48

He means that the rear part of the clear markers don't fit the contour of the fender. It flares out a little more than the original amber unit.

BigOLundh

iTrader: (1)

I hate all of you.
I have been trying to get one reflector out for over an hour now.

AWWWWWWWW!!!!

truemagellen

use a needle nose pliers buddy but not the kind they have at any hardware store even target/walmart

use the very long kind...best part is you can walk into Home Depot with your clear corner...use the pliers to 'test it out' and place it back on the shelf...no purchase necessary

BTW I did not say that

BigOLundh

iTrader: (1)

Thanks.. i eventually got it done...
I had to take it to my friend davids house. He is hte one i go racing with, and is also a mechanic. It took him about 15 seconds. I feel like such a dumba*ss
He took a long set of needle nose plyers, squeezed down, and pushed it down. This caused the reflector to slide right out of its brace. That simple. This is alot easier than the screwdriver/wiggling method described on here. After that the actual install took only a few minutes.

Now i have these in with Piaa Super White LEDs. I will take some pics of the whole set up. It is OEM HIDs, PIAA Xtreme White Bulbs in the Fog Lights, and PIAA Super White LEDs in the driving lights and clear corners.

msrecant

Actually that is a great idea to use a set of long nose pliers (if you have one) to crush the top part of the reflector first while it is still mounted in the base. That is a lot easier than doing it after the reflector has come free. Someone else did that by looping the reflector with a wire. The long nose pliers are definitely the way to go.