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2016 Prius - modify rear tail light assembly

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by jcs012, Jun 16, 2020.

  1. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    Hello fellow Prius owners! I'm wondering if anyone who has a Generation 4 Prius has ever modified the rear tail lights on theirs. I'm not a fan of the crazy looking stripe of red light and I actually want to get rid of it. Any ideas how to do that? If I'm not mistaken, that might be a LED light on the housing assembly. I would rather get a different housing assembly.

    Any ideas? Thanks so much in advance!
     
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  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I don't like your chances - I really think they look great. There is nothing else which would fit, as the lights follow the the styling cues. I think you'd make a mess of it if you were to try.

    20160815_200421-1.jpg
     
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  3. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    Thanks for your input. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I actually find that zig-zag red stripe annoying. Everything else about the car is wonderful, though.

    I found something really nice on HybridPit's website, but I'm not willing to pay $950 for it. It's really fancy but I just don't want to spend that much.

    This is why I'm asking around for anyone in this forum who might have made the change or who knows where I might find aftermarket replacement parts. I'm probably willing to pay a couple of hundred, maybe up to $500 for the entire set including labor. Or if I could find the parts, maybe I can do it myself. Seems like an easy swap based on videos I've seen of people replacing bulbs.

    Or another idea - maybe I could just find the wires for those lights and disconnect it? Haha.
     
  4. Harters

    Harters Active Member

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    I agree I love mine too. I don't like what they have done with the facelift rear lights, they look awkward and have taken away the unique light pattern and given it a nondescript one.
     
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  5. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    I read somewhere on some reviews that either you love it or hate it - no in-betweens. After I pay off the car, I might sell it and get a RAV4 Hybrid instead.
     
  6. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    It could be worse - they changed them for the 2020 - and they don't blend in with the panelwork very well at all.

    Or worse - the CH-R - it looks like there were 11 designers who didn't talk to each other, and slapped a whole lot of random angles together - ugggh.
     
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  7. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    I think I kinda like how the 2020 Prius looks.
     
  8. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    My 2019 has the newer style of rears, and I'm so glad for it.

    Gosh those Gen4 1st-version rear lights were ugly.
     
  9. Trons

    Trons New Member

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    I'm actually interested in making the rear parking lights into the stop lights, and would love to find a way or place to change that for my 2017 Prius! If you know of anything, I would be very interested! As the taillights are boring and square.
     
  10. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    HybridPit has an option...
    Junack LED Tran Tail Kit For Toyota Prius (2016 - 2018)
     
  11. Trons

    Trons New Member

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    Thanks! That's what I was looking for! The square brake lights are just so boring.
     
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  12. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    I agree! Makes me want to trade in for a newer one!
     
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  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    If you modify the rear tail lights to make them smaller, you would likely violate the certification for on-road use. That means it should fail state inspection.
     
  14. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    No, it's not to make them smaller. It's just to eliminate the annoying zig-zag stripe when the lights are on at night.
     
  15. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Then what lighting are you planning to replace what is eliminated? Is It DOT certified for on-road use?
     
  17. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    See alanclarkeau's post. Click the attachment. It's that one.
     
  18. reallyreal

    reallyreal Member

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    I also don't like them at night, I think they are too bright and long.
    Why don't you just disconnect the lower halfs keeping the upper ones? Like in the image attached
     

    Attached Files:

  19. jcs012

    jcs012 Junior Member

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    How do you do that? I am interested.
     
  20. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Not legal to drive on the road? That would stop some people.
     
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