Putting the red bumper lenses to use
- Thread starter bryancos
- Start date
yabedude
New member
fo'runner said:
My experience thus far, closing in on one year install anniversary, is no melting issues. I'm sure it gets hot by times, but no noticable damage thus far.
Unless you drive with one foot on the brake all the time, then I highly doubt there will be any concern using the 1157 bulbs.
Note that I had to decend from the top of mountains (2190M or approx 7227 FT) with at least one hour solid on the brakes and my tail light mod is doing just fine.
iFORCE
New member
bryancos said:
Heat isn't an issue if LEDs are used either. I run them as bright taillights and I haven't had an issue with them. It is because I have them on all the time, I chose LEDs. I didn't want the hassel of replacing it every once in a while... or have it shatter on me.
steve5300
New member
I dont have any good pics but I have 2 strobes in the red lenses and 2 strobes in the clear reverse lenses and 2 strobes in the front turn/daytime running lenses I also have 40 leds in the hood scoop that alternate and flash. the strobes are whelen clear strobe tubes to install all you need is a 1 inch hole.AK602 said:
Noloc
New member
Just finished making this mod. I absolutely love it!!! I only did the parking lights but I left the wires there for the other leads in case I want to hook up the turn signals and brake light in the future. Much thanks for the excellent write-up!! I used the 24 LED 1157 bulbs from Super Bright LEDS .
krosno3
New member
Noloc said:
I just finished this mod and..........there is a problem....I used same kind of LED bulbs as You did which I ordered from same place You did. However I tried to do turn signal/brake/parking lights but I have exactly the same problem as ksneubec. When I turn my left turn signal on, my right light is working like a turn signal, but dimmer. So for now I will live them as parking light only but I hope someone in a near future will be able to figure out way to use LED for turn signal/brake/parking lights .
NOLOC.... Did You try to connect your turn signal and brake lights? I'm almost sure You'll have the same problem as ksneubec and me if You try them as turn signal/brake/parking lights.
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bryancos
New member
Curious... Can you pop a regular bulb in place of the LEDs and let us know if the problem persists? Obviously if the problem goes away when you swap the LED for a regular bulb, it's not the wiring, it means there's something about how the LEDs are wired internally. Process of elimination...
Noloc
New member
I didn't attempt to hook up the brake/turn signal side of the mod b/c I plan on getting the Muth Signal Mirrors. So, I guess I know now that it won't work with the LEDs in the future. Let me know if you find a solution that works. Someone mentioned using a resistor in line with the lead for the brake/turn signal... that might actually work. Sorry I couldn't be of any help.
krosno3
New member
bryancos said:
Today I replaced LED bulbs with regular. I didn't make any change to wiring...just switched bulbs ..and........it works!!!.
So now it is for sure that You can't use LED's for signal/brake/parking lights. Why??? That I don't know and I really hope that someone here will be able to figure this out because I spent 18$ for those LEDs and I can't use them....
However I'm really concern about that heat. When I had my stop light ON for about minute or 2, that glass on those fog lamps was really hot !. Most of the time I drive ( I should say stay in a traffic) in the city so my stop light will be ON for long time. I will monitor those lamps and if I see that there are any signs of overheat, I will remove those bulbs and put my LED's for turn and stop light only (if that works)...
iFORCE
New member
Are you guys talking about the LEDs not working in the rear bumper lense? I use LEDs in there and it works just fine. I have it set up so it's like a rear marker light that's always on (I have a switch to turn it off). I've used regular filament bulbs and LEDs and both of them are fine. I used LEDs due to the lower heat output as I have them on for a LONG time.
ksneubec
New member
Okay, here is the deal as far as I understand it . . . .
Regular bulbs can be used as parking/brake/turn signals, although heat may be an issue. How Toyota can put fog bulbs in these in the Japanese HiluxSurf's is one unanswered question . . .
LED's CAN be used for EITHER parking lights OR turn signal/brake lights. They will not, however, work as both. Here is my explination as to why, from an earlier post . . . .
Hope this makes sense . . . .
It has to do with the LEDs having such low resistance, and the fact that even though a few LEDs light up for parking lights and a bunch of them light up to make the intensity brighter for brake/turn signal, the wires are connected internally. When the driver's side turn signal is on, a small amount of power will run through the parking light wire coming from the driver's side bulb, back to the light on the passenger side of the truck. With regular bulbs, the resistance inside the passenger bulb is high enough to prevent the light from being turned on. With LEDs, however, because the resistance is so low, it is enough power to overcome the small resistance, making the low power parking light flash on the passenger side of the truck flash in sequence with the driver's side turn signal (higher power). (Enough of the power is used up as it passes through the driver's bulb so that only the few low intensity LED lights come on on the passenger side, and not the higher-resistance high intensity brake/turn signal lights.) The opposite will occur as well, when the passenger's side turn signal is applied.
When the parking lights are on, they of course already have power so the turn signals will not affect them.
If my logic is right, the same thing will occur when the brake lights are applied- BOTH parking lights would light up as well, but of course, you can't see that through the higher brake light intensity anyway. (only a few of the multiple LEDs light up when the parking lights are on, hence the dimmer light, but more light up for the brake/turn signal, hence the brighter light).
Hope this makes some sense.
Regular bulbs can be used as parking/brake/turn signals, although heat may be an issue. How Toyota can put fog bulbs in these in the Japanese HiluxSurf's is one unanswered question . . .
LED's CAN be used for EITHER parking lights OR turn signal/brake lights. They will not, however, work as both. Here is my explination as to why, from an earlier post . . . .
Hope this makes sense . . . .
It has to do with the LEDs having such low resistance, and the fact that even though a few LEDs light up for parking lights and a bunch of them light up to make the intensity brighter for brake/turn signal, the wires are connected internally. When the driver's side turn signal is on, a small amount of power will run through the parking light wire coming from the driver's side bulb, back to the light on the passenger side of the truck. With regular bulbs, the resistance inside the passenger bulb is high enough to prevent the light from being turned on. With LEDs, however, because the resistance is so low, it is enough power to overcome the small resistance, making the low power parking light flash on the passenger side of the truck flash in sequence with the driver's side turn signal (higher power). (Enough of the power is used up as it passes through the driver's bulb so that only the few low intensity LED lights come on on the passenger side, and not the higher-resistance high intensity brake/turn signal lights.) The opposite will occur as well, when the passenger's side turn signal is applied.
When the parking lights are on, they of course already have power so the turn signals will not affect them.
If my logic is right, the same thing will occur when the brake lights are applied- BOTH parking lights would light up as well, but of course, you can't see that through the higher brake light intensity anyway. (only a few of the multiple LEDs light up when the parking lights are on, hence the dimmer light, but more light up for the brake/turn signal, hence the brighter light).
Hope this makes some sense.
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Solice
New member
Wow, I have to say that all you guys that did this mod successfully are awesome! I'm very jealous because I love how it looks as parking/brake lights. Before I had my 4Runner I saw a few Land Rovers that have lights like that and thought they looked incredible! Even though it sounds fairly simple enough and you guys pretty much broke down everything that could go wrong and why, I'm still really hesitant in trying this myself. I just have this really bad feeling that I'll screw something up if I jump into this mod. As far as wiring goes, I suck 
! Haha
! Haha
bryancos
New member
I wonder if it may have to do with the BRAND of LEDs? As I recall, others are using LEDs with no problems... Those of you early pioneers who are using LEDs, please speak up if you're able to use them as brake/turn/parking lights with no issues.
For now, I've modified the thread's main instructions regarding the use of LED bulbs:
<I>
NOTE: Due to possible heat issues, you may want to consider using LED 1157 bulbs - the LEDs aren't likely to get as hot -- even with the vent caps removed, I noticed signs of heat buildup around the housing if the taillight function is wired up. <B>If you use LED bulbs, it appears that they may only be used as Turn Signals and Brake lights OR Parking/Tail lights only... BUT NOT BOTH. Read this thread for complete details.</B></I>
For now, I've modified the thread's main instructions regarding the use of LED bulbs:
<I>
NOTE: Due to possible heat issues, you may want to consider using LED 1157 bulbs - the LEDs aren't likely to get as hot -- even with the vent caps removed, I noticed signs of heat buildup around the housing if the taillight function is wired up. <B>If you use LED bulbs, it appears that they may only be used as Turn Signals and Brake lights OR Parking/Tail lights only... BUT NOT BOTH. Read this thread for complete details.</B></I>
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