LED running light bulbs

[JBfoot]

I'm replacing all of my outside bulbs with LED's. So far, so good...except.....The front 4 running lights just won't work with the LED's. The blinkers, brake/tail lights, side markers, liscence light are all OK. Just the front four amber running lights. What gives? Is there a way to make them work? Regular bulbs work fine in the sockets. Thanks!

[Joeplumbo]

Hello Joe,
I think it has soemthing to do with with lower current draw of the LEDs and the flasher relay. I believe you may find some help in a previous post from Mike at ECR.

Joe

'93 110
'95 D90

[JBfoot]

Hey Joe...

Thanks for the reply. I did replace my flasher relay with an electronic one, and the LED turn signals work just fine. I'm going to try and replace all four running lights simultaneously and see if that makes a difference. Maybe the larger current draw from the other three regular bulbs may be slighting the one I'm replacing with a LED. I'm grabbing at straws here though.

Follow-up Post:

Addendum...the 4 bulb simultaneous thing!.....didn't work.

[Joeplumbo]

Hi JB,
LED's are aslo polarity specific so you wish to check the holders before inserting LED light bulb.

Joe

[JBfoot]

Joe,

I think you are on to something! Would that mean simply turning the bulb 180 degrees and inserting it, or would I actually have to reverse the wires? I already tried the 180 deal. Let me know your thoughts before I go cutting and splicing wires.

Regards,

Joe

[cellulararrest]

Chances are your bulb uses the outer part of the holder as negative, and the tip of the bulb as positive. If so, that means you'd have to switch the wires, because no matter which way you turn the bulb, it isn't going to reverse positive and negative.

[Stmpede]

Do you have the right bulbs? You need bulbs with two terminals if they operate as both turn signals and parking lights. If the bulbs you have only have a single positive terminal it is probably not making the correct connection.

[JBfoot]

I do have the right bulbs, single terminal. These are just the four amber parking lights surrounding the headlights on a '94. Thought if I were to have a problem, it would have been with the turn signals or dual purpose bulbs (tail/brake), but noooo. I remember reading about the polarity thing somewhere too. I will report back once I swith the wires.

[Joeplumbo]

Hi Jb,
You may wish to test with a meter instead of the LED bulbs...may blow out a bulb.

Joe

[cellulararrest]

Out of curiosity, what bulbs are you using and where did you get them from? I would like to do the same thing eventually.

[JBfoot]

Hi Chris...

If I get them to work, I will post results. I'll also post the bulb #'s from Super Bright LED's and the positions that I used the bulbs in. I'll try to get to it on Friday.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm

Regards.

[JBfoot]

Hi Chris...

If I get them to work, I will post results. I'll also post the bulb #'s from Super Bright LED's and the positions that I used the bulbs in. I'll try to get to it on Friday.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm

Regards.
Quick update...
Reversing the wires to the connector on the four amber running/parking lights worked! Thanks! For '94 owners (or '93 110's), the two signal indicators in the bumper are made by Trucklite. They are sealed units, model 60, 6 inch ovals. I tried to buy a new base, just like the original, but with replaceable bulbs so that I coud use LED's there. I couldn't find that trucklite made a light that accepted the single contact type bulb. By mistake, I ordered a light that had a replaceable bulb feature, but only accepted a double contact (such as used in brake/tail light combos). Trying to rewire this just caused funny things to happen with the other lights. So I decided to try a unit that is sealed with built in multiple LED's. Won't look completely stock (maybe better), but I ain't going to win a concours show anyway. When they arrive, and if they work, I'll repost the bulb numbers in the various positons, and a pic of the signal indicators if I can figure out how to post a pic.

[themaxx]

Thanks for the update! Could you also include what bulbs you used for the side markers and license plate light?

[JBfoot]

OK..here goes...front to rear. Realize that there are options for these positions, and different bulbs could be chosen. I did make several mistakes, but Superbright LED's was gracious and will refund my poorly chosen purchases. Again, I'm waiting on the turn indicators in the front bumpers and will report back on them.

Site is: http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm


Position, Bulb number, Number needed

Front Parking, 67-A9, #4
Front side marker, Amber WLED-R6, #2
Rear side marker, Red WLED-R6, #2
Tail/brake, 1157-R24 wide, #2
Rear Signal, 1156-A24 wide, #2
Back up (reverse), 1156-W24 wide, #1
Liscence Plate, White BA9S-W4-12V, #2

Peace out....and, Tinkerbell is a fairy! :blush

[Abrooks]

Nice! Can we get pictures?

[LRNAD90]

OK..here goes...front to rear. Realize that there are options for these positions, and different bulbs could be chosen. I did make several mistakes, but Superbright LED's was gracious and will refund my poorly chosen purchases. Again, I'm waiting on the turn indicators in the front bumpers and will report back on them.

Site is: http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm


Position, Bulb number, Number needed

Front Parking, 67-A9, #4
Front side marker, Amber WLED-R6, #2
Rear side marker, Red WLED-R6, #2
Tail/brake, 1157-R24 wide, #2
Rear Signal, 1156-A24 wide, #2
Back up (reverse), 1156-W24 wide, #1
Liscence Plate, White BA9S-W4-12V, #2

Peace out....and, Tinkerbell is a fairy! :blush

You didn't find a replacement for the three in the 'third brakelight' above the tire by chance, did you? Would be nice if they matched...

[JBfoot]

Oh yea...forgot the "high" brake lights...
They are same as the side marker rears...

Red WLED-R6, #3

As for pics, they look stock as they are behind the original lenses. There is a subtle difference when they are lighted...I think it adds a slightly more modern look, which I happen to like...again subtle. I will post a pic of the front turn signals when I get them. They will look quite different I'm guessing.

[Abrooks]

So they're not necessarily any brighter than the regular bulbs?

[JBfoot]

So they're not necessarily any brighter than the regular bulbs?Not to my eyes. They do have a few "bright" LED's that are suposed to be brighter than filament bulbs. The disadvantage is that they are more directional and tend not to "fill up" the lens with light, like the LED's that I listed do. The colored LED's do make the lenses appear a few shades lighter when lighted. The are also instant on/off so the turn signals blink sharper and the brake lights come on and go out faster. The main advantage is that they don't burn out. Theoretically, it will be the last bulbs that you change. I personally like the subtle lens color change and lighting pattern change...your mileage may vary.

There is some good general info on LED's at the site that I posted.

[paulb]

post pix pls

[JBfoot]

Does this help?

[Neil McCauley]

Nice, can't buy those bulbs at autozone? I swear I've seen lots of led bulbs there.... Wish I knew who sells redline fluids in Los Angeles come to think of it.

[Chaucer]

Looks pretty bright! Aren't the bumper lights supposed to be blinkers and not on, or did you time the picture just right?

[JBfoot]

Yep...they are blinker/hazard lights. I turned on the hazards and took several pictures to "catch" them on.