Model X Rear Lighted T

Tesla Model X Rear Lighted T
Installation Instructions
The rear lighted T makes your Tesla Model X distinctive if not unique from other cars
on the road and other Model X’s. This LED lighted device is mounted under Tesla’s
standard chrome T and arch on the rear of the car. When the car ’s running lights
are on the T will light red with a color and intensity that almost perfectly matches the
running lights. When the brakes are applied the T brightens to an intensity equal to
the brake lights, reminding cars behind you that you are driving a very special
vehicle.
These instructions are provided for owners who wish to do the installation
themselves or a with a professional installer.
If you planto use a professional installer, pleaseshare these instructions for
an estimate of installationcosts. If they estimate more than 1 hour of laborfor
the installation, please consideranotherinstaller.

TESLA MODEL X REAR LIGHTED T INSTALLATION PAGE 1
Parts Provided
● Rear Lighted T and Arch with dual brightness drive
● 5 feet each of blue, yellow, and black 20 gauge stranded wire
● Three 20-22 gauge Posi-taps
● 5 Posi-Lok Connectors, 18-24 gauge
● 2 feet Spectra nylon parachute thread
● 5 spare blue/green plastic retainer clips
● Small tube of clear silicone sealant
● Template for the two small holes that have to be drilled in the lift gate under the T
and arch.
Tools/partsneeded:
● Wire cutters or scissors
● Wire stripper
● Plastic pry tool
● Circuit tester (available on Amazon.com)
● ⅛” (.125) drill bit
Note: As Tesla often changes wire colors, the suggested wire color connections in these
instructions may have changed. The above circuit testing tool is essential for making the
correct connections - it enables testing of the wires that are linked to the Rear Lighted T
and trigger the the brake and running light effects.

A. Remove liftgate and trunk trim piecesfor accessibility to brake light
and license plate lamp wires
Remove the following liftgate and trunk trim pieces to gain access to the wiring for the
license plate lamp, brake lights, and ground. Once all of the trim pieces have been removed
set them aside in a safe place and keep all of the retainers and screws in a place where they
will be easy to find for reuse. Replace any broken plastic clips with the clips provided with
your applique.
Lower liftgate trim
1. Open the liftgate. Tip: Set the liftgate to a comfortable working height.
2. Use a trim tool to release the clips that secure the lower liftgate trim.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the interior liftgate switch.
4. Remove the lower liftgate trim from the vehicle.
5. Remove the push clips (x4) that secure the bottom of the middle liftgate trim to the
liftgate.
6. Remove the liftgate pull cup from the liftgate.

Upper liftgate trim
1. Use a trim tool to release the clips (x9) that secure the upper liftgate trim.
2. Remove the upper liftgate trim from the vehicle.

Trim - Liftgate - Side - LH
1. Remove the screw that secures the top of the side liftgate trim to the liftgate
(torque 2.5 Nm).
2. Remove the pushclips (x2) and screw (x1) that secure the bottom of the side
liftgate trim to the liftgate.
3. Use a trim tool to pry against the standoffs for the trim clips (x3) to release the
side liftgate trim.

Caution: Prying against other locations can result in damage to the side
liftgate trim.
4. Remove the side liftgate trim from the vehicle.
Middle liftgate trim (the large piece)
1. Starting from the upper right hand side, snap out the flex clips that secure the
middle liftgate trim to the liftgate. Do the same on the left side than around the piece
until it releases
3. Support the middle liftgate trim and disconnect the electrical connector for the
interior lamp.

4. Remove the middle liftgate trim from the vehicle and set aside in a safe place.
B. Mount the rear lighted T
1. Raise the liftgate to a convenient working level for working on the T.
2. Take a 12” piece of parachute thread and use it to saw back and forth under the
chrome T until it’s loose and you can remove it. Do the same for the chrome arch. Set
them aside in a safe place. The residue of the black double sided tape that attached
the T and arch to the lift gate will remain when the chrome pieces have been
removed. Leave this on the car as is and do not attempt to clean it off. It serves as a
guide for drilling the holes for the electrical connections and mounting the lighted T
and arch.
3. Using the template provided, with it laid over the double sided tape residue
remaining from removal of the chrome T and arch, locate and and mark the location
for the two holes for the T and arch wires.
4. With the .125 drill and bit and using light pressure very carefully drill a hole in these
spots. The residue double-sided tape will keep the drill bit from drifting. As soon as
the drill penetrates the sheet metal stop drilling and back out the drill.

7. Take the T and thread the red and black wire lead through the hole you just drilled.
Once the wires are nearly full throught the hole, using the tube of silicone place a dab
(for water proofing) on the hole. Do the same with the arch.
8. Remove the protective covering from the 3M double side tape on the back of the T
and carefully but lightly align it in place over the black residue double sided tape. Then
press it firmly into place. Do the same with the arch, being sure to maintain good,
even spacing between the top edge of the T and the bottom edge of the arch.
9. Once you’re happy with the alignment of the T and arch remove the protective tape
from the top of the lighted T and apply the original Tesla chrome T on top of it, taking
care to align it perfectly. Once aligned press it firmly into place. Do the same with the
arch.

C. Make wire connections
T and Arch
Locate the black and red leads for the T and arch on the underside of the lift gate.
Strip about 1/2 inch of the insulation off the ends. Twist together the 2 red wires and
do the same with black wires. Attach a Posi-Lok Connector on the ends of both the
red and black wires. Then take the red and black leads on one end of the dual
brightness driver and attach them to the open ends of the Posi-Lok Connector
attached to the red and black leads from the T & Arch. Leave the yellow, blue,and
white wires from the dual brightness driver alone — they will be connected in the
steps below. If additional lengths of wire are needed to make these connections, use
the wire provided in the kit and the Posi-Lock Connectors.
Brakes (yellowwire leading to yellow wire on dual brightnessto drive)
At the top of the liftgate hatch find the bundle of black wrapped wire bundle shown in
the photo below. Carefully cut open the wrapping so you can access the wires in the
bundle. Find the purple wire in the bundle, connect a Positap to it, attach the yellow 18
awg wire to the other end, connect it to ground with the circuit tester, then have an
assistant push the brake pedal to check the connection. Run the wire down the left
hand side of the lift gate and tape it into place along the side of the clip standoffs on
the lift gate (this keeps the wire from interfering with reinstallation of the left hand side
liftgate trim).
Running lights (headlightson) - (blue wire leading to blue wire on dual
brightness drive).

Look on the underside of the liftgate in the area of the two license plate lamps.
Disconnect a plug to one of the license plate lamps, attach a Posi-tap to the purple
wire leading to the plug, and attach the blue 18 awg wire to the other end. Connect
the plug back into the lamp and using your tester connect one end to the blue wire
and the other end to ground, then the turn on the car’s headlamps. Your tester should
indicate a successful connection
Ground (black wire leading to white wire on dual brightness drive)
On the underside of the liftgate locate the bolt with a number of ground connections,
shown in the photo below. Loosen the bolt and run a 1” stripped portion of the black
18 awg wire under the bolt and retighten it.
Connect brake, running lights, and ground wires to
brightness controller, test operation of rear, and mount
the T on the liftgate
Now using Posi-Loks connect the following:
● Blue wire from brakes to blue wire on Dual Brightness drive
● Yellow wire from license plate lamps to yellow wire on Dual Brightness drive
● Black wire from ground to back wire on dual brightness drive
Test Operation
Now that the wiring has been completed, with the helper confirm the following:

• The rear light T lights red when you turn on the headlights
• The rear lighted T turns bright red when you press the brakes
Reinstall the liftgate trim pieces
With tests successfully completed, working in reverse order, re-install the liftgate trim
pieces. Check for any broken clips and replace them before reinstallation.
Reinstallation of the larger middle liftgate trim piece is one of the more difficult steps of
phase and unless you have extensive experience and skill with mounting large trim
pieces with plastic clip retainers we recommend you have a helper or leave this work
to an installation professional such as an auto aftermarket sound-system shop.
If you want to attempt this yourself will need an assistant. Help is essential for re-
installation the large middle piece, as it has to be held up in place while the cable
connections are remade and the snap connectors aligned and snapped into place.

Model X Rear Lighted T

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