I went by one of the local auto stores, inquiring if they could order Carbon Fiber Rear lights for the Protege. The guy (asian) kinda snickered, then said they don't carry anything for the Protege. It was obvious that the store was geared towards Civic's (everything was civic's in there), so I kinda insulted civic's saying every tom and harry has one, and such. After he cooled down, he said that they have to be SAE approval.

Anyone heard of this? or know where I can find out of the Protege Carbon Fiber rear taillights are approved for Canada use?

 

You should of reached over the counter and socked him one in the chin and said *What is soooo funny rice boy !*

 

My suggestion is to ask the guy exactly what guidelines does a set of tail lights have to meet, in order to be SAE approved. If you either went to Aberdeen Auto World or Overdrive, I'm inclined to believe that they guy's bullshitting you.

Aside from being SAE Approved and being compliant with the Motor Vehicle Act of Canada, tail lights need to meet the following standards to be legal in BC (and probably the rest of North America):

Motor Vehicle Act Regulations

Tail lamps

4.15 (1) A motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer must be equipped with 2 tail lamps, mounted on the rear of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, that are capable of displaying only red light visible from a distance of 150 m to the rear on both sides of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer at an angle of 45° from the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.

(2) Despite subsection (1),

(a) a motorcycle may be equipped with only one tail lamp, and

(b) a vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1959 may be equipped with only one tail lamp.

(3) Each tail lamp must be mounted on the vehicle at a height of not less than 38 cm and not more than 1.83 m.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to vehicles being towed by a tow car.

(5) Despite subsection (3), a tow car may be equipped with 2 supplemental tail lamps mounted within the maximum allowable vehicle height (4.15 m) and as far forward as the rear of the cab.

(6) A vehicle which is being transported in a drive-away/tow-away operation, or is being towed by a tow car, must have 2 tail lamps that are synchronized with the tail lamps of the towing vehicle when the tow vehicle tail lamps are illuminated.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

 

hey you should have tolled that guy " ohhhh you no like maaazda"
that funny hahaha ... there is a asian shop here in San Antonio Texas --- no names -- and every time I go there ..
this little rice boy always tell me ( in a jakie chan actcent)
---ohhhh mi car got carbon fiba (fiber) hood you no got won---
its funny to hear him say this I go there just to hear the LITTLE guy. he cracks me up big time ......... neway for a light to be SAE approved get a light with a red reflector that is all that is required here in TEXAS

 

Thanks for all that info Deceptipro! Totally helpful (might I ask where you got it?).

Yeah it was the Auto World at Metrotown. He did tell me however that there HAS to be red in the tail lights:


Click for BIGGER Picture

(looks red to me)



Also, in a inquiry about getting Clear Corners, he said that there has to be a YELLOW reflector INSIDE, and having a yellow bulb itself is not legal enough.

So does that mean these would be illegal?

 

No problem, I came across it after lurking the MPSport.net board. With tail lights, it's not enough that there is a red reflector on the light. The light assembly has to be capable of producing ONLY red light...meaning that the red reflector has to be directly in front of the bulb.

And yes, he's right about the clear corners. There has to be an amber reflector in the front fender area, that's why all the North American P5's have the fender markers while the Japanese S-Wagon doesn't.

I think you can get by this if you buy a couple amber reflector stickers and put them on your clear corners, that way, you can have your "cleaner look" without eliminating your amber reflectors which you're legally required to have. (or you can just make a note to always turn on your marker lights...which could help in getting the cops not to notice)

Keep in mind, I've seen so many people with so many illegal things around the Vancouver area that I'm sure most cops don't care. Though, the police in the Chilliwack/Abbotsford area will jump all over you for a splutter of dirt on your license plate. I got ticketed when I had a set of smoke headlight covers on the Cavalier that I owned last year when cops out here didn't seem to care. Doesn't mean you won't get caught...it just means that the Chilliwack police have nothing better to do!

 

Yeah I noticed that about the P5's.

So, you're saying if I put a amber sticker on the INSIDE of the clearcorner? Sounds aight, as long as its not as bad as the stock ones! Also my marker lights (corner lights) are ALWAYS on when I drive, because even in the day I usually have my lights on (old habit).

Yeah I noticed in Vancouver/Burnaby people do have a lot of illegal stuff. I've actually got the smoked license plate covers, and got pulled over once, in road check, and got a warning... hehehe, they are still on. I've wanted to get those smoked headlight covers on the front of my Protege, but I don't wanna get pulled over (I hear those are legal in day time?). They look good for show though.

I know chilliwack police are quite tight. And I guess that goes for all police in smaller municipalities.

Going back to the Carbon Fiber, by the looks of the picture above, it seems as though the reflector is directly infront of the bulb, and no space around it.

 

I think the amber sticker would legalize your clear corners, though I'm not sure...at the same time, you could be breaking the "no obstruction" law... But if you keep your marker lights on at all times, I doubt there will be much of a problem. The light should be bright enough to make it look like it's an amber corner.

Nope, the smoked headlights are illegal at anytime. I was ticketed in the middle of a bright and sunny day. That really sucked..because they were the only things that made my car of the time look good.

I don't care too much about having a set for the Proteges, though...the headlights look good enough to me.

As far as the guidelines go on the Motor Vehicles Act, the carbon fiber lights seem to be completely legal...unless they don't meet SAE standards, or follow the guidelines in the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of Canada...but I have no idea what those standards are.

 

Hmmm...I think you're right. After reviewing the regulations page again, it looks like amber bulbs aren't even required for side marker lamps...nevermind the reflectors!

Side-marker lamps
4.12 (1) A vehicle may be equipped with

(a) 2 side-marker lamps, mounted on each side of the vehicle near the front, that are capable of displaying only white or amber light, and

(b) 2 side-marker lamps, mounted on each side of the vehicle near the rear, that are capable of displaying only amber or red light.

(2) The side-marker lamps referred to in subsection (1) may operate in conjunction with turn signal lamps or the hazard warning signal.

(3) A vehicle with an overall width of 2.05 m or more, or having a gross weight in excess of 1 400 kg, may be equipped with side-marker lamps mounted on each side of the vehicle at the horizontal mid-point of the vehicle.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]


Reflective devices (no word on a required front amber reflector on cars)
4.21 (1) A vehicle must be equipped with at least one red reflector at the rear of the vehicle, either separate or incorporated into a tail lamp, that is mounted at a height of not less than 38 cm and not more than 1.83 m.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1958.

(3) Only amber reflectors may be mounted on the front or side of a vehicle.

(4) Only red reflectors may be mounted on the rear of a vehicle or on the side of the vehicle at or toward the rear of the vehicle.

(5) A vehicle with an overall width of 2.05 m or more, or a trailer or semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of 1 400 kg, must be equipped with at least

(a) 2 amber reflectors mounted on the side of the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer near the front,

(b) 2 amber reflectors mounted on the side of the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer near the rear, and

(c) 2 red reflectors mounted on the rear of the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.

(6) A trailer or semitrailer must be equipped with at least one red reflector on the rear of the vehicle at each side.

(7) A pole trailer must be equipped with at least

(a) one amber reflector on each side of the vehicle at the front and the horizontal mid-point, and

(b) one red reflector on the rear of the vehicle or load at each side.

(8) A commercial trailer with a width of more than 2.05 m and a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4 536 kg must be equipped with reflective markings on the rear and side of the vehicle to meet the approved standards established by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) and the applicable SAE standards

(a) on and after January 1, 2000 if the vehicle was manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, and

(b) on and after January 1, 2002 if the vehicle was manufactured before December 1, 1993.

(9) Despite subsections (1) to (7), reflective markings may replace red or amber reflectors on the side or rear of a vehicle.

[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2; am. B.C. Reg. 413/99.]

 

Oh man, you guys are the best. I'll be sure to keep a printed copy of that in my car. Its good when the cops pull you over

Now just to save some cash flow, and get some shweet lights.

Thanks boyz!