LED bulbs and DEPO lights.

[Homeboy981]

Yeah to @Meir!

You did not solve it…but explaining it is HALF the battle. This is EXACTLY what I have run into as well. Been pulling my hair out!!! Load resistors will NOT work either! Don't want to do a 'hatchet job' on the lights!

You can use the turn signals (with a EP-35 flasher from Autozone). The side markers and rear cruising lights use standard 2825s (or T10s) but replacing the others has not worked. It has been a nightmare!

@Tony_Fury spent some time with me diagnosing the circuits. They work in his car but he has aftermarket head and tail lights.

Welcome to the party @Meir…I have been banging my head with this for months.

Psst! You wouldn't happen to want to buy any LED lights in white and Amber, would you? Got a bunch of them! The LEDs are VERIFIED to work - just NOT in our cars!

[tony_fury]

Meir:
You cannot just reverse the wiring into the stock light housing.
It would require modifying and cutting the metal traces, then soldering jumpers around to reverse engineer the light wiring.
Can be done, would be time consuming and would still work with bulbs if wanted to later.
Bulbs care less about polarity, whereas LED's do.

My aftermarket tail lights already corrected the polarity issue with their own circuit board that just plugs into the factory harness.

I paid $195.00 for the pair of tail lights. (Tuning Import)
97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 Porsche Boxster 986 Euro Red LED Tail Light Lights Lamp | eBay

[Meir]

LOL!
I was trying to call both of you guys this weekend.
Mark, don't worry. I'll figure out how to nail that sucker.
As you mentioned half the job is done. In my mind even mor then that.
Finding the problem is the difficult part, solving it, will require a little bit of innovation.
I'm always up for a challenge.
Tony. Now I understand what you are talking about. Your tail lights are not DEPO.
it's another brand (better build in my opinion)
with the DEPO, you have to use the OEM plate.
So I have two options:
1. Just like Tony side. Cut the conducting lines, solder wires to them, and revers the polarity on each bulb.
2. find a way to mount the bulbs on the taillight assembly using bulb sockets with wires, and plug it the OEM socket. (in revers polarity)
Just like the LED brake lights connects to the OEM plate.
In fact, I already have it in mind. Not only that, I think I will be able to fit 3 bulbs to the running light position. Just need to confirm it will not be too bright.
It will be funny if because this issue it will come out nicer then I expected.

[Meir]

BTW Tony.
How is the fit on your lights?
The DEPO doesn't seat flash with the rear fender.
Not big deal, but was wondering how is the fitment on yours.

[tony_fury]

Originally Posted by Meir

BTW Tony.
How is the fit on your lights?
The DEPO doesn't seat flash with the rear fender.
Not big deal, but was wondering how is the fitment on yours.

I guess I should of said Euro instead of DEPO
They fit flush to the body, I'll take a few pic's for you.
These lights are plug and play. Literally.. They only use the black wire plugin connector from the car. (See pic below)

The round plastic things are the stud bolt covers for shipping..

[Meir]

Thanks Tony. I appreciate that.
In the link you posted, they call it red and "smoked", but it looks red and "clear" to me.
Would love to see it on your car.
This is the ones I have.
Depo 97 04 Porsche Boxster s 986 Euro Red Smoked Lens LED Rear Lamps Tail Lights | eBay
They smoke and red looks great on my black car.
(oops, now I remember I primmest mark to post some pics in my garage .)