LED exterior illumination question

[iBison]

Most of the search results for led lights is light bars and 06-09 tail lights. I recently bought a pair of LED 168 base bulbs from Pep Boys to use for license plate bulbs (04 t4r). I can't find them on the website, but they look similar to the ones below. They are much brighter than the stock and cast light on the ground below the bumper.

I also recently had to replace one of the front orange marker lights. I used a normal incandescent bulb, but it looks very washed out compared to the other side. I'm pretty sure the same LED type would work for those.

I'd like to replace as many of other exterior bulbs with LEDs as I can. I don't want anything less bright than what I have and from what I've read it's difficult to find brake and tail lights that are bright enough. Are there any drop in LEDs I can use for the rest of my exterior illumination?

Also, I'd like to add an LED strip under the doors and hatch as puddle lights that come on with the keyless unlock. Now I have running boards, but I'd like to get sliders at some point so I want something I can mount that isn't attached to the running boards. Any suggestions on good options.

I'll add good solutions to my Just bought or considering buying a 4th gen thread

 

[zopperman]

Most of the search results for led lights is light bars and 06-09 tail lights. I recently bought a pair of LED 168 base bulbs from Pep Boys to use for license plate bulbs (04 t4r). I can't find them on the website, but they look similar to the ones below. They are much brighter than the stock and cast light on the ground below the bumper.

I also recently had to replace one of the front orange marker lights. I used a normal incandescent bulb, but it looks very washed out compared to the other side. I'm pretty sure the same LED type would work for those.

I'd like to replace as many of other exterior bulbs with LEDs as I can. I don't want anything less bright than what I have and from what I've read it's difficult to find brake and tail lights that are bright enough. Are there any drop in LEDs I can use for the rest of my exterior illumination?

Also, I'd like to add an LED strip under the doors and hatch as puddle lights that come on with the keyless unlock. Now I have running boards, but I'd like to get sliders at some point so I want something I can mount that isn't attached to the running boards. Any suggestions on good options.

I'll add good solutions to my Just bought or considering buying a 4th gen thread

Check out my build... my "underglow" is in there somewhere. It's blue now, wired into the running board lights (if you dont have lights, you can tap the door lights), stuck on with 3m backing.

I have some white LED strips that i'll be using to replace these/make rock lights and under-hood illumination. I can post a pic if you want

 

[iBison]

Check out my build... my "underglow" is in there somewhere. It's blue now, wired into the running board lights (if you dont have lights, you can tap the door lights), stuck on with 3m backing.

I have some white LED strips that i'll be using to replace these/make rock lights and under-hood illumination. I can post a pic if you want

Thanks for the post. A picture would be awesome. I have no lights so I'll have to tap them in. I should get some for under hood also, great idea. Not sure why a vehicle like this would not have a single under hood light.

 

[zopperman]

Thanks for the post. A picture would be awesome. I have no lights so I'll have to tap them in. I should get some for under hood also, great idea. Not sure why a vehicle like this would not have a single under hood light.

Me either

Hitlights Weatherproof Cool White Flexible Ribbon LED Strip Light, 300 LEDs, 5 Meters (16.4 Feet) Spool, 12VDC Input (Adapter not included) - Amazon.com

Are the ones i'm using, or something similar.

 

[KingPrat]

If you replace the marker/turn signal lights with LEDs you will run into blink speed issues. I can't remember the specific name of the part you need but it's some sort of regulator.

Did you replace the front marker light with an amber lens or a clear lens light?

 

[zopperman]

If you replace the marker/turn signal lights with LEDs you will run into blink speed issues. I can't remember the specific name of the part you need but it's some sort of regulator.

Did you replace the front marker light with an amber lens or a clear lens light?

VLED sells the flasher relay to correct hyperflash

 

[iBison]

Me either

Hitlights Weatherproof Cool White Flexible Ribbon LED Strip Light, 300 LEDs, 5 Meters (16.4 Feet) Spool, 12VDC Input (Adapter not included) - Amazon.com

Are the ones i'm using, or something similar.

You just cut it to length and add a connector? Looks nice.

If you replace the marker/turn signal lights with LEDs you will run into blink speed issues. I can't remember the specific name of the part you need but it's some sort of regulator.

Did you replace the front marker light with an amber lens or a clear lens light?

It's the orange light over the headlight. I replaced it with the same size orange bulb from O'reilly. I've read about the blinking issue and how to solve it.

Thanks guys

 

[zopperman]

You just cut it to length and add a connector? Looks nice.

Thanks, I hate the blue, I think it's kinda ghetto. Also will hid the strips better under my sliders when I get them.

But yeah, they sell little connector doodads that basically clip onto the contacts. i suppose you could save the 7 bucks and solder wires to it, but these make it very easy to puncture the coating and access the contact

 

[eddiebx]

If you replace the marker/turn signal lights with LEDs you will run into blink speed issues. I can't remember the specific name of the part you need but it's some sort of regulator.

Did you replace the front marker light with an amber lens or a clear lens light?

The term you are thinking of is resistors I hate it when I have brain farts too, lol.
[MENTION=91230]iBison[/MENTION] if you're still looking for a regular incandescent orange bulb that matches better look for the ones that are made out of orange glass instead of the orange coated ones. You can tell this by examining the bulb to see if the entire bulb is orange (including where the prongs are) vs. the coated ones where its only the top portion that's orange.

 

[gaterose]

Just thought I'd share my pictures of my LED strips under the doors (when I switched from lighted running boards to sliders as you plan).

I used one of these cut into 4 pieces with new leads soldered on 3 pieces - http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-strips-and-bars/se-wfls-x60-series-60-high-power-led-waterproof-flexible-light-strip/103/

Here's a better picture but it also shows the 6000K "rock lights" I had but removed (in very front and very rear)

 

[wadle5]

Just thought I'd share my pictures of my LED strips under the doors (when I switched from lighted running boards to sliders as you plan).

I used one of these cut into 4 pieces with new leads soldered on 3 pieces - SuperBrightLEDs SWFLS Waterproof Flexible Light Strip

Here's a better picture but it also shows the 6000K "rock lights" I had but removed (in very front and very rear)

Specifically which ones as thr link doesnt load? What product code did you order?

 

[gaterose]

Specifically which ones as thr link doesnt load? What product code did you order?

Sorry I posted the wrong thing, here is the link - SE-WFLS series 60 High Power LED Waterproof Flexible Light Strip | LED Light Strips & Bars | Super Bright LEDs (SE-WFLS-NW60)

edit - mine are the 4500K natural white

 

[snowbrdr033]

I did exactly what gaterose did with the LED strips except I put mine under my running boards and wired them into the running board lights. that way they go on/off with the doors opening/closing. they look super cool and have held up well so far, almost 2 years now with plenty of water, mud, snow on them.

it was a pain to wire/solder them but well worth the time and effort once I got them installed and looking good.

 

[iBison]

Looks like the under lighting is simple enough. What about tail/brake lights. Are there any drop in bulbs that are going to be as bright as or brighter than stock? I've read that possibly not but after dropping LEDs in the license plate that are much brighter I don't know.

 

[ncrooks]

Is there any way to wire in LEDs on the nurf bars if there wasnt any running boards with lights before? Is the same wiring there so they will come on when door opens, or will it take some more work to get it to do that?

 

[zopperman]

Is there any way to wire in LEDs on the nurf bars if there wasnt any running boards with lights before? Is the same wiring there so they will come on when door opens, or will it take some more work to get it to do that?

Wire it into the door light. I think there's a switched + in the foot panel like under the door. It just pries up with a few clips.

The dark grey panel next to the "4runner" logo

Oh and :welcome:

 

[ncrooks]

Thanks for the quick response. I'll have to check it out tomorrow. Just got my 4runner last week so been spending a lot of time on here finding a lot of things I want to do soon. Lots of great ideas and help on this forum.

 

[zopperman]

Thanks for the quick response. I'll have to check it out tomorrow. Just got my 4runner last week so been spending a lot of time on here finding a lot of things I want to do soon. Lots of great ideas and help on this forum.

Good luck, this is a great place to hang around. Not sure which wire it is though, since I used to have running boards with lights. Poke around in there i'm sure you can figure it out though, it's gotta be one of them!

If that doesn't work, you can run a wire from inside the door panel

 

[ncrooks]

Okay thanks. I haven't had a chance to look into yet but it may of had the running boards before just not sure where the wiring would've been if it had it. Looks like the guy that had it before me did alot of mods that I have seen on here. It has had LEDs swapped on the inside along with fog light mod and carbon filter delete and blacked out headlights.

 

[gaterose]

Okay thanks. I haven't had a chance to look into yet but it may of had the running boards before just not sure where the wiring would've been if it had it

Would be under the front seats on the bottom of the body, on mine there is a large (like an inch or two) rubber nipple with two very small wires coming through under each side.