Marker light turn signal mod?

octanejunkie

octanejunkie

Elite Member
Considering making my marker lights flash along with the turn signals vs adding additional lights on the fenders to double as turn signals

Why would I want to do this? Well, because I'm scared to death of getting hit again, and possibly losing my vehicle to a total loss because so many drivers are ignorant idiots. It's really about defensiveness and nofifying other drivers.

The modification on the markers themselves is easy, just splice the ground wire that goes to the bulb into a normally closed relay that is triggered by the hot wire on the actual front turn signals - toggling the ground off and on when the turn signal flashes; otherwise the markers would be on. I always drive with the marker lights (and front halos) on.

The other thought would be adding additional lamps on the fenders and wiring them into the front turn signals, easy peasy, but I don't want to drill the fenders.

Thoughts?
 
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Yeah I'd go with the first idea, simpler anyway. I hear you on the totaling thing, it's super easy on any older vehicle, only real downside to owning older stuff. Kinda why I didn't 'fix' my led's rapid blinking hoping others see me from behind! Luck. :cowboy:
 
I second the first idea. I think it's a good idea! Have you tried brighter LED bulbs in the marker lights? I had the thought of actually moving the signal to the marker light, but I wasn't sure how to go about it or if it was possible. I also have plans of adding an aftermarket bumper In the future, and just to keep the bumper look cleaner and not have the ugly round turn signals in them. By moving the signal to the marker light.
 
Originally I was going to add a second LED light to the marker housing itself, but logistics are tricky with where to fit it, and I after upgrading to clear corners I didn't want to drill into them.

I have "brighter" amber LEDs in the clear housings, they are great.

I'm not sure you can convert the markers into turn signals only, I believe marker lights are DOT required, which is why I want to simply augment their functionally to flash with the turn signals but otherwise be solid. I'm my case, even with an aftermarket bumper in my future plans, this mod is about visibility to other drivers and I would still have front mounted turn signals.
 
I retrofitted a 7443 bulb/socket from an OEM brake light housing on my '97.
They have since been sold to a member here.
344287f70c12cdf1613037e3e556fc8d.jpg


I LOVE bright amber corners, so this is really the only option for me.

I did the relay method on my buddies '85 about a month ago... it works. Doing it that way, your hazards no longer work, and- like you said- you have to have your parking lights on for your signals to work.

Actually, I did it a little different I guess. I used the +12v from the signal to energize the coil, and hooked the parking light up to the normally closed pin. Didn't use the ground for switching. Same thing though.

I wouldn't do it on a vehicle I drove on the road on the daily, or a rig I might let a buddy take. I.e.- when I lifted a friend's '14 SR5, I gave her my rig for the day. I'd hate to rely on her remembering to run the parking lights in order for the signal to work. Maybe a bit extreme, but that's really putting her life at risk IMO.
 
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I don't have any bumper blinkers anymore so I retrofitted am 1157 socket into the marker lights to run switchback LEDs to have white markers with Amber blinkers. I like it and even running a normal Amber light bulb with work great. I figured since tundras and Tacoma's run blinkers up there I shouldn't have a problem with it either. I'd say go for it cause it is a super simple mod to do.
 
I remember you had/sold those housings. The amber LEDs I put in my corners are wicked bright.

Tyler James Inc said:
I did the relay method on my buddies '85 about a month ago... it works. Doing it that way, your hazards no longer work, and- like you said- you have to have your parking lights on for your signals to work.

Actually, I did it a little different I guess. I used the +12v from the signal to energize the coil, and hooked the parking light up to the normally closed pin. Didn't use the ground for switching. Same thing though.

I wouldn't do it on a vehicle I drove on the road on the daily, or a rig I might let a buddy take. I.e.- when I lifted a friend's '14 SR5, I gave her my rig for the day. I'd hate to rely on her remembering to run the parking lights in order for the signal to work. Maybe a bit extreme, but that's really putting her life at risk IMO.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your experience, Tyler

I'm not going to circumvent the corners, they will still operate as normal and I suspect the hazards will too.

The relays I'll install will be wired normally closed connecting ground to the markers full time until the relay is triggered by positive input from the turn signal; then the relay will interrupt the ground to the corner and each time the turn signal flashes, the corner will flash with it. You are correct, in order for the corners to flash with the turn signals they need to be on. I always drive with them on which is why I swapped them to LED.

If I find the hazards will be adversely affected I will re-approach this project.
 
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One reason for not going through with it (just saying) is that every time you mess with the factory wiring by for example splicing into the OEM circuit to add extra lights, parallel circuits etc you create possible troubleshooting nightmares down the road. I've done it and then dealt with the aftermath a few years later.

If you rewired the driving/corner light to just act like the turn signal then at least you could keep the wiring setup close to factor but by doing so the corner light will be dark/off when driving and only come on when put on the blinker. This might not be what you are looking for.

BTW if you haven't seen it yet you may find this thread useful

Turn Signal Mod: Aftermarket Bumper ~WRITE UP~
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/155121-turn-signal-mod-aftermarket-bumper-~write-up~.html

:bat:
 
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BrianSD_42 said:
One reason for not going through with it (just saying) is that every time you mess with the factory wiring by for example splicing into the OEM circuit to add extra lights, parallel circuits etc you create possible troubleshooting nightmares down the road. I've done it and then dealt with the aftermath a few years later.

If you rewired the driving/corner light to just act like the turn signal then at least you could keep the wiring setup close to factor but by doing so the corner light will be dark/off when driving and only come on when put on the blinker. This might not be what you are looking for.

BTW if you haven't seen it yet you may find this thread useful

Turn Signal Mod: Aftermarket Bumper ~WRITE UP~
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/155121-turn-signal-mod-aftermarket-bumper-~write-up~.html
Click to expand...

I appreciate that, and I'll read that thread, but let me reiterate:

octanejunkie said:
The relays I'll install will be wired normally closed CONNECTING ground to the markers full time until the relay is triggered by positive input from the turn signal; then the relay will interrupt the ground to the corner and each time the turn signal flashes, the corner will flash with it. You are correct, in order for the corners to flash with the turn signals they need to be on. I always drive with them on which is why I swapped them to LED.
Click to expand...

The corner light will function as usual UNTIL the turn signal is used, at which point the corner will flash with the respective turn signal on the same side. When the turn signal cancels out, the corner will return back to solid lit.
 
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Use Diode Dynamics Tail As Turn modules,except now they'll be "Corner Light As Turn modules" https://www.diodedynamics.com/tail-as-turntm-module-diy.html You could also use a universal trailer wiring adapter but a LED compatible unit costs about the same as the pair of DD modules,and requires more wiring since it's a single converter for both left and right.

Cut the corner light positive wire, connect the end going to the bulb socket to the DD module white wire. Connect the remaining end to the DD module red wire.
Tap the positive wire from your turn signal and connect to the DD module yellow wire.

Now your LED corner lights will blink without having to turn the parking lights on. With the headlight switch on the parking light position,the corner light will flash alternately with the bumper turn signal (when the turn signal flashes off the parking will flash on) but flashes in sync with the turn signal with the stalk off.
 
octanejunkie said:
Considering making my marker lights flash along with the turn signals vs adding additional lights on the fenders to double as turn signals

Why would I want to do this? Well, because I'm scared to death of getting hit again, and possibly losing my vehicle to a total loss because so many drivers are ignorant idiots. It's really about defensiveness and nofifying other drivers.

The modification on the markers themselves is easy, just splice the ground wire that goes to the bulb into a normally closed relay that is triggered by the hot wire on the actual front turn signals - toggling the ground off and on when the turn signal flashes; otherwise the markers would be on. I always drive with the marker lights (and front halos) on.

The other thought would be adding additional lamps on the fenders and wiring them into the front turn signals, easy peasy, but I don't want to drill the fenders.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I just ordered this module from here, it will turn my front parking lights into parking lights and turn signals. I was going to try the relay method but I don't always drive with my parking lights on all the time. This module fixes that problem. Since I have a bright amber LED for my parking lights its going to look awesome. Check out the Youtube video they put out to see the demo, I got Version 1.
 
I tried to start a new topic, but it says I do not have permission. Anyway I tried the wire from turn signal to side marker and blew some fuses. Went back to the way it was. Put in LEDs in the dash. All worked except Indicator lights such as high beams and cruise control. Any ideas?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I think you have to have a certain number of responses before you can post? 10 maybe?

Did you try turning the bulbs around? :cowboy:
 
cbr900boy said:
I just ordered this module from here, it will turn my front parking lights into parking lights and turn signals. I was going to try the relay method but I don't always drive with my parking lights on all the time. This module fixes that problem. Since I have a bright amber LED for my parking lights its going to look awesome. Check out the Youtube video they put out to see the demo, I got Version 1.
Click to expand...

Are these plug and play or do I have to cut/splice wires and stuff?
 
sugjavier said:
Are these plug and play or do I have to cut/splice wires and stuff?
Click to expand...

Cut and splice. I used the same modules on my dad's CRV. Unlike the Diode Dynamics modules whatever bulbs you wire as dual function flashes in sync with the original turn signal regardless of the parking/headlight switch position.
 
Scoop'02 said:
This looks like a great solution. Have you finished this mod? Any advice or pics would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late response. I don't have pics but I will explain the best I can. The module has 3 inputs: Ground, Positive from turn signal, and positive from the parking lights. The module take these signals and outputs a ground and positive. So simply put, the ground and positive output goes to a single filament LED light. So when you use the turn signal the LED light turns off and on. When you turn off the signal, it goes back to parking light mode which is on all the time.

I have my parking lights (next to headlights) as my parking lights and turn signals. The turn signals located on my bumps are now just parking lights that stay on all the time when my headlights are on.

If you are unfamiliar with wiring, I would not try this mod. You would need a test light or multi-meter to test the ground and positives. If you know anyone that is familiar with 12volts, this should be very straight forward. Hope this helps.
 
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