Reverse Light Mod - make em bright as the sun

Guys, I had this problem, a dark driveway with a turn I can never reasonably see well, so it's important that the reverse lights on my cars are bright. Sadly, the SRX reverse lights are rather dim. Anyone else think so? I fixed the problem, and detailed the steps. Enjoy.

Step 1: You have to remove the rear inside cover from the tailgate. Lots of clips. Be careful not to break them!

Step 2: A bunch of 10mm bolts to release the rear reverse lamps panel. This is one integrated piece containing the license plate, reverse lamps, etc. Typical Cadillac wisdom of making what used to be easy repairs on most cars impossible. Thanks Cadillac.

Step 3: You will buy 2 new two wire GM light connectors or get them from most old GM cars in a junkyard. Mine were from a junkyard. Here is a few pictures of what the connectors look like they take 3157 bulbs.

Step 4: Drill 1" circle hole in blank area where Euro rear fogs are normally installed. In this picture you'll be drilling the bottom hole on each side.

Step 5: Trace the shape of the light connectors on these openings so you can then use a dremel to carve out the notches where the lamps will twist in. Remember each side has different tabs, so pick a right and pick a left, trace them, and make sure to maintain consistency throughout the project. Here is what it will look like after drilled and dremel used to carve the tabs.

Step 6: Use a vacuum and compressed air to clean out the openings.
Step 7: Use vampire taps to tap the electricity from the main reverse lamp, and hook up to the new secondary lamps you are installing. Here is what it looks like connected up.
Electronics Technology Wire Electronic device

Step 8: Insert new bulbs. I used 3157 LED units.

Step 10: (optional) clean and replace license plate lights and lamps (LED optional) while you are in there, because you might as well.
Step 11: Reinstall rear panel and rear tailgate panel.

Here is a picture showing one bulb lit on the left, and both on the right. Did this to demonstrate how much additional light this mod provides. It's tough to see it in the picture but it's significant.

Here they are lit up at night. Once again difficult to see in the picture, but they are soooo bright. I fear someone might be blinded if they look straight at them, LOL.

Project took a number of hours as it was a first for me, and I was being really careful. I am SOO happy with the outcome. Since I replaced with LED the reverse lights are bright white, almost difficult to look at. Amazing. Well worth the time.

If you are like me and like to do little projects to your car to make it feel like your own, this is definitely a great one.