DIY: JDM style sidemarkers (dyed fender sidemarkers)

[Unknownally]

DIY: JDM SIDEMARKERS
This is a tutorial on how to make your own amber JDM style sidemarkers from Rit dye. I didn't come up with this idea. Another person from here did. Like many other threads, it got deleted. I'm making a new one (my version).

Items you will need:

• Rit dye........found at your local Walmart in the laundry detergent section. $1.50 or so.
• Kitchen stove........found next to your refrigerator.
• Spoon, fork, or shiskabob stick........used for stirring.
• Metal pot or bowl
• EP3 clear sidemarkers........found on your Honda EP3's fender.

Here's a picture of how the Rit dye looks like. You will need the Sunshine Orange color.

STEP 1

Remove your sidemarkers by pushing/sliding it slowly towards the rear of the car. Apply force slowly going harder. What you are doing is pushing a clip on the sidemarker (marked "1" in the picture) in so the front side of the sidemarker can pop out.

Now you should have them out.

STEP 2
Take a look at the wire clip.

Squeeze it in where the red dot is in the picture. Now the wire can be pulled out.

STEP 3

There's a small arrow on the back of the sidemarker (pictured #1).
Twist the bulb from position one to position two (pictured #2). This will align the stubs with the housing grooves. Now carefully remove the bulb.

STEP 4
If you want,
connect the bulbs back in to the wire so you don't misplace them.


STEP 5
Now it's time to get the Rit dye. Get a metal pot or bowl and heat it on low. Add 2 cups of water. Pour in the whole packet of dye. Stir it with your spoon, fork, or stick. Let it warm to a simmer.

Once it's warm, put in the sidemarkers. Stir it constantly as directed by the Rit instructions. Be sure that the stove is still on. Be careful not to scratch the sidemarkers while stirring them. They will get scratched at the bottom of the pot or bowl if you are not careful.

Here is how the sidemarkers looked after an hour in the pot.


STEP 6
After two hours (the longer you keep them warmed up in the pot, the darker/colored they become),
remove them from the pot/bowl and put them in warm water. Then adjust the water to a cooler temperature step by step. Keep rinsing until the water becomes clear of dye.

Wash your pot/bowl with bleach and soap as stated on the Rit dye instructions.

Here are the finished sidemarkers:


As stated earlier, becareful not to scratch them like I did. This is caused from rubbing on the bottom of the pot/bowl.


STEP 7
Last but not least,
dry the sidemarkers with a towel or any other fabric. Blow dry them lightly inside the bulb housing to eliminate any moisture inside the sidemarkers...or you could just let them dry naturally.

Then reinstall them on the car. Refer to step 3. Insert the bulb from position #2 (stubs will align to grooves) to position #1. Make sure the small arrow is pointed upwards vertically.

Now insert them back in the fender hole. Put the clip side in first and work the front side in, flexing the clip inwards. Becareful not to break the clip.

THAT'S IT! YOU ARE DONE!

I am not held responsible for any accidents, difficulties, or damage. This is just an informative tutorial and there is no guarantee on correct information or safe handling.

[v1c10us]

i guess ill give this a shot.

[epmex]

i guess ill give this a shot.

+1

[civictype_r04]

How long till they start to fade?

[Evil J]

How long till they start to fade?

When I did it, it took mine about a month. But I park outside in the Texas sun, so it could vary from person to person.

I was OCD about it so I spent $25 on the "real" thing.

Plus, these turned out much better than mine which had a very clear white ring around the edge because we didn't take long enough to dye it.

[Unknownally]

Thanks for the comments everyone. As for fading, I'll let you know when they start to fade. It's okay when they fade, by then I could afford the real JDM sidemarkers.

One member said it faded in two months.

[lostep3]

That is a smart idea, looks good

[willy_akino]

wow theres so many ways to do this...i just use a coloring marker

[jimmyjames]

Mine are for the most part still good to go after 3 years. The ring around the base of the housing has turned back white-ish though. Thought about redoing them. Not sure if it will be good or bad to do.

[epshtielsl]

I just used acrylic paint from a hobby shop and used a foam brush to apply it. Took about 2 secs to put on and a few mins to dry. Started fading recently but I did it about a year and a half ago. Need to get them colored again.

[locoep3]

will it faid after a few months???

[epshtielsl]

It shouldn't

[v1c10us]

i did this a while back, no fading yet
i put them i there for 5 hours on heat just low enough to keep the water from boiling. just waited till the water almost all boiled off.
you can see them on my members ride, looks good to me

[Sir1982]

thinking of doing mine too, but i cant find that Rit Dye at my local Walmart, always sold out.

Thinking of doing it with a marker and some nailpolish.

[bdooley]

i did mine and after about a couple months they faded. Ive done the sharpie method and still no fading after almost a year