LED Tail lights and Blinker questions

icey756 · 09-03-2011, 02:05 AM

Alrighty. So i want to get LED for my Blinkers and tail lights. There are red ones available but im not sure if i should just get all white ones. The reason for second guessing is because the lenses of the car itself are red (for brakes) and orange (for turn signals). So im not sure if regular ones will do it for the turning or braking. Any guidance is appreciated.

btwilson86 · 09-03-2011, 06:14 PM

I haven't gone outside and removed my lamps in a while, but I'm pretty sure they are all regular clear bulbs. So you should be able to use the same for LED's.

If you get LED bulbs, make sure they have a resistor built in (or you wire one in). Otherwise your turn signals will flash rapidly, and I'm pretty sure the brake lamp failure light on the dash will always be on once you hit the brakes.

icey756 · 09-03-2011, 06:37 PM

ok thank you

cre · 09-03-2011, 08:39 PM

Yes, you'll need to add resistors to the turn signal circuit to maintain a normal duty cycle... or convert to a digital flasher control instead of the stock flasher relay.

The tail lamp failure module will complain. You have three options here: Add a resistor and hope you can get the load just right to please it; Take the module apart and retune it for the much smaller load values (I've posted info on this here or on SM); Delete the module altogether.

You may fine the LEDs are dimmer. Omni directional LED clusters don't reall project a whole lot of light in any one given direction and they don't point it all where you want it. My suggestion fore the best possible visibility and best looking lighting is to buy some of the rectangular LED lights used in commercial vehicles (delivery trucks, semi's, ambulances). They come large enough to fill up each section of the MKIII's tail lamp housing, are very bright, really are DOT approved and some even come with a pulse circuit. Just remove the housing they come in and put the circuit in your housing... secure with hot glue or whatever and wire it up.

SilverMK3 · 09-03-2011, 10:32 PM

I'm pretty sure that the LEDs are supposed to be the same color as the lens.
This is from superbrightleds.com

If you do this I would like to see what the lights look like with LEDs in them.
Good Luck

cre · 09-04-2011, 07:17 AM

That's not entirely accurate regarding visual filters... there's a significant level of attenuation but how much depends on the construction of the lens and the effectiveness of the dyes used. Think about it, the incandescent lamps you're using presently emit an even broader range of color yet your lamps still look nice and red. Looking at their example I'd say they were running some very blue white LEDs in there. White LEDs do not emit all colors and as such their performance will vary. Running red LEDs you do still face a real concern of attenuation and a resulting dim appearance.

icey756 · 09-04-2011, 09:18 PM

I dont know if I'm going to run LEDs then. I might just leave it as is. Unless someone makes a brighter bulb for things like this?

Sonyps307 · 09-08-2011, 04:09 AM

I changed all my lights to LEDs. I had red for the taillights, amber for rear turns and amber for fronts because I have the clear front turns, white for the front corner parking lights and my back up lights. Here is a video of my taillights and turn signals but they r not red nomore went to amber.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JnWP...e_gdata_player

cre · 09-08-2011, 04:51 AM

MOST after market LED solutions are actually a significant amount dimmer than the original incandescant bulbs. They're only reasonably bright if you're looking at them from within a very narrow viewing angle. Omni directionals help with this but still have really bad hot spots (as you'll see in Sonyps307's video). The only way I'd run LEDs is if I were to take an existing DOT registered LED fixture and move the internals into the desired housing.... that or build my own array out of 5-watt LEDs but the heat sink requirements would probably confine me to the former solution.

Sonyps307, do you fellow motorists a favor and buy some real headlight enclosures which actually place the light where it should be... you'll get more light on the road where it should be and you'll be less likely to get hit in a head on accident (people tend to steer INTO bright objects... we're like moths that way).

Sonyps307 · 09-08-2011, 11:21 PM

I would like to get real headlight housing. but I forgot the company that made them and where to get them. I know u already said the company on another headlight post but I can't find that also.

09-03-2011, 02:05 AM	#1
icey756 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 177	LED Tail lights and Blinker questions Alrighty. So i want to get LED for my Blinkers and tail lights. There are red ones available but im not sure if i should just get all white ones. The reason for second guessing is because the lenses of the car itself are red (for brakes) and orange (for turn signals). So im not sure if regular ones will do it for the turning or braking. Any guidance is appreciated. __________________ 1988 7M-GTE Manual Turbo, Godspeed IC, Stock HG Torque to 90FP W/ Arp bolts, Silicon water hose kit, silicon vacuum hoses, Godspeed radiator, 2 12" electric fans.

09-03-2011, 06:14 PM	#2
btwilson86 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Billings, Montana Posts: 1,034	I haven't gone outside and removed my lamps in a while, but I'm pretty sure they are all regular clear bulbs. So you should be able to use the same for LED's. If you get LED bulbs, make sure they have a resistor built in (or you wire one in). Otherwise your turn signals will flash rapidly, and I'm pretty sure the brake lamp failure light on the dash will always be on once you hit the brakes. __________________ 1989 7MGTE R154 Targa Top White Package w/Blue Interior Driftmotion 57trim CT26, Upgraded Intercooler, 2.25" Hard Pipes, 3" Turbo Back Exhaust with Test Pipe, HKS VPC w/GM 3 bar MAP sensor, APEXi S-AFC, Walbro 255lph fuel pump, ProSport EVO Series Boost / Fuel Pressure / AFR gauges, Lotek a Pillar Gauge Pod, HKS Type 0 Turbo Timer, Eibach Lowering Springs, Tokico Illumina II TEMS struts, custom powder coated Motegi Racing TrakLite wheels

09-03-2011, 06:37 PM	#3
icey756 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 177	ok thank you __________________ 1988 7M-GTE Manual Turbo, Godspeed IC, Stock HG Torque to 90FP W/ Arp bolts, Silicon water hose kit, silicon vacuum hoses, Godspeed radiator, 2 12" electric fans.

09-03-2011, 08:39 PM	#4
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	Yes, you'll need to add resistors to the turn signal circuit to maintain a normal duty cycle... or convert to a digital flasher control instead of the stock flasher relay. The tail lamp failure module will complain. You have three options here: Add a resistor and hope you can get the load just right to please it; Take the module apart and retune it for the much smaller load values (I've posted info on this here or on SM); Delete the module altogether. You may fine the LEDs are dimmer. Omni directional LED clusters don't reall project a whole lot of light in any one given direction and they don't point it all where you want it. My suggestion fore the best possible visibility and best looking lighting is to buy some of the rectangular LED lights used in commercial vehicles (delivery trucks, semi's, ambulances). They come large enough to fill up each section of the MKIII's tail lamp housing, are very bright, really are DOT approved and some even come with a pulse circuit. Just remove the housing they come in and put the circuit in your housing... secure with hot glue or whatever and wire it up. __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

09-04-2011, 07:17 AM	#6
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	That's not entirely accurate regarding visual filters... there's a significant level of attenuation but how much depends on the construction of the lens and the effectiveness of the dyes used. Think about it, the incandescent lamps you're using presently emit an even broader range of color yet your lamps still look nice and red. Looking at their example I'd say they were running some very blue white LEDs in there. White LEDs do not emit all colors and as such their performance will vary. Running red LEDs you do still face a real concern of attenuation and a resulting dim appearance. __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

09-03-2011, 10:32 PM	#5
SilverMK3 Stock Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Madison, AL Posts: 9	I'm pretty sure that the LEDs are supposed to be the same color as the lens. This is from superbrightleds.com If you do this I would like to see what the lights look like with LEDs in them. Good Luck

09-04-2011, 09:18 PM	#7
icey756 3" Exhaust Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 177	I dont know if I'm going to run LEDs then. I might just leave it as is. Unless someone makes a brighter bulb for things like this? __________________ 1988 7M-GTE Manual Turbo, Godspeed IC, Stock HG Torque to 90FP W/ Arp bolts, Silicon water hose kit, silicon vacuum hoses, Godspeed radiator, 2 12" electric fans.

09-08-2011, 04:09 AM	#8
Sonyps307 Lexus & 550's Join Date: May 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 526	I changed all my lights to LEDs. I had red for the taillights, amber for rear turns and amber for fronts because I have the clear front turns, white for the front corner parking lights and my back up lights. Here is a video of my taillights and turn signals but they r not red nomore went to amber. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JnWP...e_gdata_player

09-08-2011, 04:51 AM	#9
cre Toyota Racing Development Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,038	MOST after market LED solutions are actually a significant amount dimmer than the original incandescant bulbs. They're only reasonably bright if you're looking at them from within a very narrow viewing angle. Omni directionals help with this but still have really bad hot spots (as you'll see in Sonyps307's video). The only way I'd run LEDs is if I were to take an existing DOT registered LED fixture and move the internals into the desired housing.... that or build my own array out of 5-watt LEDs but the heat sink requirements would probably confine me to the former solution. Sonyps307, do you fellow motorists a favor and buy some real headlight enclosures which actually place the light where it should be... you'll get more light on the road where it should be and you'll be less likely to get hit in a head on accident (people tend to steer INTO bright objects... we're like moths that way). __________________ If something breaks or you need to contact a member of the administration please post HERE. Unless it's a private or administration matter please post it on the forum. It benefits no one else if car related questions aren't posted for future users and takes away from the time I'm able to spend helping on the rest of the forum. If you're so inclined I'm always more than happy to accept tips via PayPal. Tip Jar --->

09-08-2011, 11:21 PM	#10
Sonyps307 Lexus & 550's Join Date: May 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 526	I would like to get real headlight housing. but I forgot the company that made them and where to get them. I know u already said the company on another headlight post but I can't find that also.

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