LED turn signal lights

[PoPo]

I see pretty much everyone here goes for the silverstar lights, but I think LEDs are the next generation (brighter, las longer, and still no amber). Anyway, I have the litronic headlights and the eBay LED tail lights. I de-ambered the little piece of amber in the litronic, so there is 100% amber free. The problem is that the blinker goes twice as fast when either the front or back turn signal lights are replaced with LEDs. When I replaced all 4 turn signal lights with LEDs, it no longer flashed, but rather stayed constantly lit and the flasher just buzzed like it was flashinging 100 times per second. So it looks like our flashers are wattage based then, right? Are all flashers wattage based? Since each filament turn signal bulb takes about 21 W (84W total) and I pretty much dropped that wattage down to about 1W total using LEDs, that would explain why the flasher goes nuts with all the turn signal lights as LEDs.

So my question is: Is there a flasher that will fit our cars (2000 S here) that supports LED turn lights? Or can someone give me a part number for the flasher and I'll look around.

Better yet, has anyone else had this problem?

My temporary solution is to just have the fronts as LEDs and the rears as the filaments. It flashes like a ricer car, but I don't want to give up on the LEDs.

[larez2]

Maybe you just need to add some resistors.

You could figure out what size you need with this formula:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor

Or you could do trial and error. I imagine an auto parts or auto sound store would have everything you need to get your LED's working properly.

Do you have pics of what you've done? I'm interested in how it looks - LED's rock! Very modern appearance and look much better than standard filament bulbs for aux lighting like brake lights and turn signals.

Good Luck,
Larez2

[bagwell]

I was very disappointed with the silverstars in the rear....they looked very very blue... .....I ended up just litely spraying the amber bulbs with silver paint...but I wish they'd make the LED's with the resistor built in. I think I've seen this before....

[Jeph]

What you're looking for is something like this:
http://www.ledlight.com/detail.aspx?ID=39

However, I advise agaist using those aftermarket LED bulb-replacements (especially if you plan on replacing your brake lights). They do NOT give off the amount of light as your original bulbs. The optics within your tail light's housing is optimized for regular bulbs that give off light in 360 degrees. Even those omni-directional LEDs don't cut the mustard. Where that becomes an issue is in an emergency and you NEED to be seen (via your hazard lights).

When LEDs come from the automotive manufacturer, they're grand. Otherwise you I suggest you play it safe. Sorry to be a wet blanket.

[bagwell]

another issue...I don't think the LED bulbs will fit (slide into) the tail lite...

[PoPo]

Originally Posted by Jeph

What you're looking for is something like this:
http://www.ledlight.com/detail.aspx?ID=39

However, I advise agaist using those aftermarket LED bulb-replacements (especially if you plan on replacing your brake lights). They do NOT give off the amount of light as your original bulbs. The optics within your tail light's housing is optimized for regular bulbs that give off light in 360 degrees. Even those omni-directional LEDs don't cut the mustard. Where that becomes an issue is in an emergency and you NEED to be seen (via your hazard lights).

When LEDs come from the automotive manufacturer, they're grand. Otherwise you I suggest you play it safe. Sorry to be a wet blanket.

Thank you, I think that is exactly what I need.

I have these tail lights, but they came with filament turn signals. So I replaced the turn signals with LEDs so it was all LED. If you look closely at this picture, you will see the silver concave mirror directly in front of the light. This picture is with the filament bulb. With the LED bulb, the mirror redistributes the light at all angles and works just as, or better than the filament bulb.

Originally Posted by bagwell

another issue...I don't think the LED bulbs will fit (slide into) the tail lite...

Yes the tail light turn signal is a problem. There is a 15 degree offset in the prongs. However, just grind one of the prongs down and viola, it fits perfect and still holds down with the one prong. I just used a LED 1157 instead of whatever was required.

[Billb]

Hi PoPo, you must really love your car to keep it in your kitchen!