My first install - 2009 Toyota Corolla

[occram]

Hello everyone,


I'm new here so I'll start by telling a little about me. I'm a volunteer firefighter for my home town and a driver for my neighboring town's EMS squad. I'm also currently attending EMT school, taking the NR-EMT test in November. I'm a full time IT Professional for a large gaming company... in my free time. :lol:


The vehicle


2009 Toyota Corolla


The equipment


Front


Windshield - Axixtech Micromax II Xtreme Blue/Blue


Grille - 2x Axixtech XL06 Blue/Blue w/ custom made stainless steel mount bolted to chasis


Corners - 2x Whelen Vertex HAWs White/White


Side


Window - Whelen LIN3 Blue/Blue


Rear


Deck - Axixtech XL06 Blue/Blue


Brake Light - Whelen Vertex HAW White/White


The media


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http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/641/sam0066.mp4


If you have any suggestions, comments or questions, don't hesitate to ask. Please let me know what you think!


Regards,


Occram~

 

[Core Public Safety]

Very well done! No wonder you did such a nice wiring job, you're an IT guy! I bet your racks are just as neat.

 

[Luismariadarlene]

Looks clean

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Very nice and clean... I myself don't like the LIN3s on the side, but that's just me... Regardless, job very well done...

 

[occram]

Very nice and clean... I myself don't like the LIN3s on the side, but that's just me... Regardless, job very well done...

I actually agree with you. I installed them there for intersection warning before I had all the HAWs. I've been debating about moving them to a license plate bracket in the rear, or maybe side facing near the front license plate. I can't decide.


Thanks for all the kind words.

 

[TritonBoulder47]

I actually agree with you. I installed them there for intersection warning before I had all the HAWs. I've been debating about moving them to a license plate bracket in the rear, or maybe side facing near the front license plate. I can't decide.


Thanks for all the kind words.

Yeah, a 10-75 LP bracket would look nice up front...

 

[TCO]

NICE CLEAN INSTALL,DOES THAT HAPPEN TO BE TELEPHONE CONNECTORS USED FOR THE SPLICES IN THE TRUNK


damn it did it again,keep forgetting to turn off cap locks

 

[occram]

NICE CLEAN INSTALL,DOES THAT HAPPEN TO BE TELEPHONE CONNECTORS USED FOR THE SPLICES IN THE TRUNK

Haha, yes they are, you caught me. They're 3M Scotch Locks. They're super handy and make a water-proof seal. I got them for the grille lights and had enough to finish the trunk.

 

[shues]

I wish 3M made a ScotchLok suitable for wires larger than the standard 19-26AWG.

 

[andrewsim]

Very clean, very simple, very to the point. I like it!


One suggestion: Maybe paint the cross brace for your grille lights black?


I recommend doing a primer, it will make the paint last much longer in a high impact location.

 

[occram]

I wish 3M made a ScotchLok suitable for wires larger than the standard 19-26AWG.

I used 16AWG and 18AWG throughout the car, I wasn't sure if I was going to go overboard at a later time so I figured why not use a larger gauge from the get-go. I found that I could fit 16 and 18 gauge wire if I stripped them prior to using the Scotch Lock.

Very clean, very simple, very to the point. I like it!

One suggestion: Maybe paint the cross brace for your grille lights black?


I recommend doing a primer, it will make the paint last much longer in a high impact location.

Thanks! Yes, I should have painted it. My friend was very adamant on my painting it black before installing it, but I was too excited to get the project finished. :lol:

 

[TheGatekeeper]

Great work overall. I like the simple control rocker switches. Low key, sober, efficient.


The only turn-off for me is your deck lights. The XL6 on their brackets and the running loom wire are just ugly in my opinion, and I think brackets are okay for underhood, but not on a more visible location such as rear deck.


I wouldve gone NFORCER (since you seem to be an AXIXTECH fan!), hugging the rear window.


Frankly it's the only thing that looks weird, especially because everything else is so neatly installed.

 

[medicandy]

looks good. Nice work.

 

[occram]

Great work overall. I like the simple control rocker switches. Low key, sober, efficient.

The only turn-off for me is your deck lights. The XL6 on their brackets and the running loom wire are just ugly in my opinion, and I think brackets are okay for underhood, but not on a more visible location such as rear deck.


I wouldve gone NFORCER (since you seem to be an AXIXTECH fan!), hugging the rear window.


Frankly it's the only thing that looks weird, especially because everything else is so neatly installed.

I agree, it's not my favorite part of the install, and every time I look in my rearview I just want to pull over and start messing with it, move it around or drill some holes or something. :?

 

[TheGatekeeper]

There ya go!


Worst case if you don't wanna throw 300 bucks in an Nforcer, go for synchro MicroMax Xtreme singles on either side of the deck (or even dual, similar to the one you got on the windshield. Would provide symetry. )

 

[YieldRight]

Very nice install! Thank you for sharing!

 

[pdk9]

simple and clean toyota install!

 

[occram]

Thanks everyone for all the kind words.

 

[iceman4122]

Can you post a close up pic of placement of the HAW in the front corners?

 

[occram]

Can you post a close up pic of placement of the HAW in the front corners?

No, unfortunately they're installed behind a fluted lens and you can't see inside.

 

[FireMedic413]

Honestly I like the Side window lights! but love the LAW in turn signals. IMHO I would've put the rear LAW in the reverse lights vs brake lights. Hard to see with park/break lights on. Overall great job!

 

[DaveCN5]

I think this is the best Corolla we've seen on here. However, you should switch the rear Vertex from White to Red. The rule of thumb is to put red LEDs behind a red lens. You will get better perfomance out of the red ones.

 

[occram]

Honestly I like the Side window lights! but love the LAW in turn signals. IMHO I would've put the rear LAW in the reverse lights vs brake lights. Hard to see with park/break lights on. Overall great job!

Thanks! I really like the side lights and the HAWs in the turn signals myself. I wanted to put them somewhere the headlights wouldn't wash them out. I did precisely that also, there's LAWs in the reverse lights now. =D

I think this is the best Corolla we've seen on here. However, you should switch the rear Vertex from White to Red. The rule of thumb is to put red LEDs behind a red lens. You will get better perfomance out of the red ones.

Thank you! I already changed out the clears behind the brake lenses for reds and moved the clears to the reverse lights. It looks pretty fantastic. I was blown away by how much brighter red behind red is over clear behind red.


The car has changed a little bit. I like having the lights on the deck close together, but I hated the split loom. I moved them around a bit. I'll post a new video and pictures when my backyard isn't buried under snow.


Regards,


Mark~

 

[occram]

Ahhh also, I took a lot of peoples advice on here and I've decided to switch out the linear lightheads in the grille for SoundOff Predator 2 surface mount lights. I heard they're REALLY bright and I know now that TIR style is much better for grilles than linear.


Feedback? Suggestions?

 

[Station 3]

very nice love the front LED haws