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Mustang LED License Plate Light Bulb Installation

Don’t let bad license plate lights on your Mustang get the attention of law enforcement! Upgrade & replace them with LED bulbs. While you are at it go ahead a repair those worn and burned out lens and sockets!!

Viewing this install and using the information shared is subject to the terms set forth here - View the LMR Install Instructions Disclaimer.

Having a license plate light out may not seem like a big deal; however, it can draw the attention of law enforcement and that can be a big deal. If you have ever changed a Mustang license plate light bulb, you may have seen how the heat from the bulb melted the license light bulb socket. Often the bulb may be good; it is the socket that has melted down. Another problem area is the license light lens. These get dirty and faded, or again, the heat from the bulb has caused them to melt or crack. This causes the light shining on the license plate to be dim (another way to get attention from the law) or non-existant. If you have a license light bulb out or noticed that the light is barely noticeable, take a look at this quick and easy fix. While this install was done on a 94-04 Mustang, the process is nearly identical to the 79-93 Mustang License Plate Light Lens. Only the attaching hardware is different!

Parts Used:

Tools Used:

  • Philips Screwdriver
  • Electrical Tape
  • Wire Crimper
  • Wire Stripper
  • Razor or knife

Option Tools & Material:

  • Soldering Tool
  • Heat Shrink Tubing
  • Heat gun, lighter or heat source
  • Third Hand Soldering Station

Mustang License Plate Light Bulb Installation:

  1. Open the trunk/deck lid. This makes access to the license light lens easier. You will notice there are two screws per lens.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  2. Use the screw driver to loosen the screws. You may need to use another screwdriver or tool to pry on the screw to help remove it. Remove all screw/attaching hardware.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  3. Pull lens out of trunk panel. Twist the bulb socket to remove it from the lens.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  4. With both lenses removed from socket you can now pull the bulb sockets through to inner trunk panel. This gives you more room to wire in the new sockets.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  5. Use a razor or knife to cut back the tape on the wire loom to give you more workable wire for use during new socket installation

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  6. Prep the new bulb socket. This is where you have a few different ways to make the connections. We decided to solder the new bulb socket in place. You can use also use butt connectors, but it is a less desirable connection. Start by trimming the replacement socket wiring to a manageable length. Next use the wire stripper to strip back about half an inch of each wire. Now you can cut the old burnt bulb socket off. Prep the wires on the socket wiring harness by stripping the wire back roughly half an inch. Now slide a one to two inch piece of heat shrink tubing on each wire of the new bulb socket for use later.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  7. If you are using butt-splice crimp connectors, line up the connectors and crimp the wires into the connectors. If you are soldering the wiring you will need to create a tight connection by twisting the new bulb socket wire around the wiring harness wire. With a good tight connection being made you can take the soldering gun, heat the wires & allow the solder to flow into the connection. If you have not soldered before go to YouTube and check out the many “How To” videos covering soldering basics. We used what is referred to as a third hand soldering station which can be picked up at your local tool store (example: Harbor Freight). This helps hold the wires steady so you have both hands available to solder. Once you have soldered wires together slide the heat shrink over the solder joint & heat it to seal the connection. Wrap the connections with 3M Super 33+ electrical tape. Once all wire connections are made, use the 3M Super 33+ electrical tape to close the wire loom back up around the new connections.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  8. With the wiring done, you can now re-route the new sockets back out to outer trunk panel.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation

  9. Install new 194 bulbs. We opted to go with the LED 194 Bulbs because they emit very little heat and will not melt the socket back down. Not to mention they emit a much brighter white light. Law enforcement won’t have to guess if they are on or off.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - 194 LED Bulb Installation

  10. Install the new license light lens on the socket

  11. Remove the screw portion of the new hardware & slide the push pin portion in to the new lens. With the lense positioned in the trunk lid, install the screw portion of the hardware. Screw the lens into place and enjoy the new license lights. If you use the LED bulbs you will definitely turn a few heads at night.

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation


  12. Shop our full line of license plate light restoration products in the link below!

    Mustang License Plate Lights

    Mustang LED License Plate Light Installation & Socket Repair (79-04) - SVT Cobra 194 LED Bulb Installation


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About the Video

Mustang LED License Plate Light Install (1994-2004 All)

Check out our YouTube channel for even more tech tips, installation videos, how-tos, and more. The best place to go for anything Mustang related!

Published on 2014-08-18
If you are looking to get rid of those dull yellow factory license plate lights on your SN95 or New Edge Mustang look no further than our license play light LED kit! This conversion kit includes everything you need to get a bright white light that will give your Mustang a truely modern look!

This kit is a great way to help you avoid getting pulled over by by cops for dimly light plate lights! It also helps you show off those custom license plates on the back of your Mustang!
Transcript
What's up everyone? It's Landon with latemodelrestoration.com. Today, I'm going to show you a simple how to in installing license plate lights in to your '94 to '04 Mustang. Your factory bulbs are an ugly yellow, they're dull, and they break over time. This is easily fixed with one of our LED light conversion kits from latemodelrestoration.com.

These kits include light covers, four tattoo screws, and two LED light bulbs. This conversion will ditch that yellow look, add more efficient lighting and give your SN95, or New Edge Mustang that modernized appearance. Let me go ahead and show you how simple this install is.

With the trunk open, rotate the light connector counterclockwise and remove it from the light cover. Pull out the old factory bulb. Try to unscrew the light cover with the phillips head screwdriver, if that doesn't do the trick carefully pull this screw out of the light cover with needle nose pliers. To remove the light cover carefully grab the remaining part of the attaching plastic screw and pull out.

Go ahead and take the time to clean this area. Pass the connector through the cut out and plug the LED bulb into the connector. If the light does not power on, simply unplug it and reversed the orientation. LED bulbs will only illuminate if they have the correct electrical polarity. Take the light connector and align it with the light cover. When the base of the connector is flush with the cover, turn it clockwise to lock it in place. Align the holes in the light cover with the holes in the deck lid, push the attacking screws through until they snap into place. Apply adequate pressure to the light cover and carefully tighten down both plastics screws. Do the same for the opposite side.

This install took us roughly 15 minutes and we achieved the brighter more efficient light we were looking for. For more Mustang how to, subscribe to our YouTube channel, or check us out on the web at latemodelrestoration.com
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