I know there is a brighter replacement bulb for the reverse light but I remember reading a while back on another forum that there were heat problems. Has anyone tried this and if you have is it noticeably brighter? Heat problems? I'll eventually install a fog light to reverse but until then I want a quick fix. Thanks!

 

SutlTl,
Instead of installing a brighter reverse light, I had read on a board (don't know if it was this one or not) where a guy wanted more light output from his reverse light when he was out on trails at night. He tried to put a brighter ? hotter bulb in and it screwed things up. So what he did was took off the Tail light housing and in the section of the housing where the reverse light plugs in, he spray painted the top and bottom of that section (where it was just plain plastic) with high reflective silver spay paint and that made a big difference with the light output. Saw before and after pictures on his page. You might want to do a search and look it up, or maybe someone else can remember where to find the link to the mod. Also I have access to aluminum reflector sheeting @ my work. Send me a e-mail with your address and I'll try to send some scrap pieces your way to attach to the housing instead of painting it.

 

Great idea! Thanks for your offer, PirateFins, but actually, I have access to some reflective tape also! If I have time this weekend I'll try it and report back later!

 

PirateFins,
This past weekend I removed my reverse/license light assembly to try your suggested mod. The problem is the part is 12 years old (I have a '91) and it seems the plastic is brittle and fragile and sealed pretty well. I didn't want to break it so I reinstalled everything. I can see that the background surface IS painted only gray and not very reflective. On my newer car the backkground is like a mirror finish and it uses the SAME bulb so I know this mod will improve the lighting. Back to the drawing board.

 

I know this is an old thread, but I used the SEARCH and found it. I am having similar back-up lighting issues. With my window tint, I just can't see much with the existing lights. I'll check on adding reflective tape, but has anyone tried this? http://www.mor4wd.com/
click on the link and follow links MODIFICATIONS -> BACKUP LIGHTS