10-21-2016, 12:57 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,665
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Tail light bulb options?
Someone mentioned my passenger side tail light is not working this morning.
I was wondering if there are any options for the bulb replacement such as LED bulbs, Halogens etc.
"It broke because it wants to be Upgraded "
Is the stock bulb something exotic or can I get a replacement in any automotive store? Guess I'll find out when I take it out and see whats in there.
__________________
"It broke because it wants to be Upgraded "
2012 Porsche Performance Driving School - SanDiego region
2001 Boxster S, Top Speed muffler, (Fred's) Mini Morimotto Projectors, Tarret UDP,
Short Shifter, Touch Screen Dual Din Radio, 03 4 Bow glass Top (DD & Auto-X since May 17,2012)
Last edited by jb92563; 10-21-2016 at 01:00 PM.
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10-21-2016, 01:38 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 200
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Rear Stop light bulb: 7506LL (P 21W)
Tail light bulb 7507 (R5W)
Your standard 1157 bulb won't work. At least on my 2000 it didn't.
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10-21-2016, 01:59 PM
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#3
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,163
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1157's will work just fine, but you need to file off the one small post (has 2 posts, one is offset - the remaining post will hold it in). Takes about 30 seconds and they can be found most anywhere.
Stay away from LEDs, IMO. I never had much luck getting decent light output.
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https://youtube.com/@UnwindTimeVintageWatchMuseum
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10-22-2016, 06:15 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Cranston RI
Posts: 902
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I replaced my taillight bulbs with halogen ones,. a little brighter.
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99 Porsche Boxster
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10-22-2016, 12:14 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 200
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Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave
1157's will work just fine, but you need to file off the one small post (has 2 posts, one is offset - the remaining post will hold it in). Takes about 30 seconds and they can be found most anywhere.
Stay away from LEDs, IMO. I never had much luck getting decent light output.
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Good tip....Thanks!
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10-22-2016, 11:33 PM
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#6
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On the slippery slope
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,793
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Most LEDs won't work as Porsche in their infinite wisdom has the neg connected to the pin of a bulb and not the outer part so the polarity is reversed.
All seriousness aside, I was speaking to a very knowledgeable Indy tech and he said something about it allowed them to cut down on some wiring, and therefore weight
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
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10-25-2016, 06:44 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,665
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I was looking at LED's for some extra brightness but the lumens they output does not compare with the 460 lumens of the regular $5/pair.
Not till you get LED's that are in the $20 each range do the lumens compare.
I checked and Autozone has a good selection of 7506 bulbs in stock at most stores.
Guess I'll keep them status quo this time around until something really interesting and cool appears.
__________________
"It broke because it wants to be Upgraded "
2012 Porsche Performance Driving School - SanDiego region
2001 Boxster S, Top Speed muffler, (Fred's) Mini Morimotto Projectors, Tarret UDP,
Short Shifter, Touch Screen Dual Din Radio, 03 4 Bow glass Top (DD & Auto-X since May 17,2012)
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10-26-2016, 10:09 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 149
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Also, looked at going to LED's put didn't seem a good option
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10-31-2016, 06:03 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,665
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Got to replacing the non functioning tail light and found out it is still good.
What was happening was the stamped metal power supply lines to the bulb had popped out of the plastic tail light assembly.
Perhaps due to all the years of vibration.
So I just pressed the lines back into plastic assembly and the bulb was tight in its socket and working again.
I noticed an extra un-used light bulb socket so I put the new bulb in there. None of the light settings or brakes seem to use this socket when I tested it so I put the new bulb in it so I could find the spare bulb when needed.
Anyone know what the extra bulb socket is for?
__________________
"It broke because it wants to be Upgraded "
2012 Porsche Performance Driving School - SanDiego region
2001 Boxster S, Top Speed muffler, (Fred's) Mini Morimotto Projectors, Tarret UDP,
Short Shifter, Touch Screen Dual Din Radio, 03 4 Bow glass Top (DD & Auto-X since May 17,2012)
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10-31-2016, 06:18 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: FL
Posts: 4,143
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Probably rear fog light or rear parking light that I think is used overseas but not in the US?
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10-31-2016, 07:18 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 452
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I replaced mine with LEDs but then they were causing my car to through error codes like crazy so I went back to original bulbs and the issue went away. I would have thought LEDs would be easier on the electrical (wires etc) but for some odd reason it caused car to error out.
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DrCactus
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10-31-2016, 12:04 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,665
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrCactus
I replaced mine with LEDs but then they were causing my car to through error codes like crazy so I went back to original bulbs and the issue went away. I would have thought LEDs would be easier on the electrical (wires etc) but for some odd reason it caused car to error out.
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I did notice while looking for LED bulbs that some came in a "Can Bus" version which perhaps plays nice with the cars computer compared to the basic "dumb" LED's.
I thought I also read that someone had brake codes come up when trying to use LED's tail lights. I suppose working tail lights might be monitored in newer models as a safety feature so the lower current draw of the LED's may confuse the computer.
__________________
"It broke because it wants to be Upgraded "
2012 Porsche Performance Driving School - SanDiego region
2001 Boxster S, Top Speed muffler, (Fred's) Mini Morimotto Projectors, Tarret UDP,
Short Shifter, Touch Screen Dual Din Radio, 03 4 Bow glass Top (DD & Auto-X since May 17,2012)
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10-31-2016, 04:42 PM
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#13
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On the slippery slope
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin and Palm Springs
Posts: 3,793
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jb92563
Got to replacing the non functioning tail light and found out it is still good.
What was happening was the stamped metal power supply lines to the bulb had popped out of the plastic tail light assembly.
Perhaps due to all the years of vibration.
So I just pressed the lines back into plastic assembly and the bulb was tight in its socket and working again.
I noticed an extra un-used light bulb socket so I put the new bulb in there. None of the light settings or brakes seem to use this socket when I tested it so I put the new bulb in it so I could find the spare bulb when needed.
Anyone know what the extra bulb socket is for?
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That happened to my tail light too
I finally used a bit of JB weld to permanently fix it
__________________
2004 Boxster S 6 speed - DRL relay hack, Polaris AutoTop DIY
2004 996 Targa Tip
Instructor - San Diego region
2014 Porsche Performance Driving School
2020 BMW X3, 2013 Ram 1500, 2016 Cmax, 2004 F-150 "Big Red"
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11-01-2016, 08:27 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Bracebridge, Ontario
Posts: 256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jb92563
Got to replacing the non functioning tail light and found out it is still good.
What was happening was the stamped metal power supply lines to the bulb had popped out of the plastic tail light assembly.
Perhaps due to all the years of vibration.
So I just pressed the lines back into plastic assembly and the bulb was tight in its socket and working again.
I noticed an extra un-used light bulb socket so I put the new bulb in there. None of the light settings or brakes seem to use this socket when I tested it so I put the new bulb in it so I could find the spare bulb when needed.
Anyone know what the extra bulb socket is for?
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On the driver side it is a rear fog light.
If you turn your head light switch to on and then pull it out 2 clicks the rear fog light is activated on mine.
The passenger side is left blank so it won't come on and confuse people.
Hope this helps.
Bart
__________________
My Beast 2004 Boxster SE #0174
- 3.8 with all the internal goodies, Under-mount Pulley, IPD Plenum, 996 Intake, Softronic Tune, 987 Factory Sport Exhaust, skid plates, IMS solution, Ohlins R&T, RSS Toe Links, Camber Plates, Michelin Pilot Super Sport on all 4 corners, Alpine Double Din c/w new speakers & amps.
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11-01-2016, 01:47 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MD
Posts: 268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jb92563
Got to replacing the non functioning tail light and found out it is still good.
What was happening was the stamped metal power supply lines to the bulb had popped out of the plastic tail light assembly.
Perhaps due to all the years of vibration.
So I just pressed the lines back into plastic assembly and the bulb was tight in its socket and working again.
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Had that same problem and it just popped out again and again. A little epoxy and a wrap of electrcal tape to make sure the stamped metal power stayed lines stayed put and the problem was solved. I assume the dealer would have sold me an entire new light assembly
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