Questions before I start this mod...

[A Psycho Martyr]

Ok as you all know, my taillights are tinted. My brake lights are fine because they're not tinted up top, but I'm always skeptical about my turn signals. I don't think they're bright enough but I don't wanna remove the tint. My idea for a solution is to put yellow lamin-x on the backup lights and move the turn signals' power source to the backup lights. If I do this, can I leave the backup lights wired as well? Or will that cause things to go haywire?

[Sublimewind]

you'd want to diode isolate each to make sure nothing would backfeed... I have to ask you, have you ever parked the car and left the turn signal on and just walked 30' behind the car and looked?? I wouldn't consider this...

[A Psycho Martyr]

Well I'm sure I wouldn't have any problems if I just sealed off the reverse lights and ran the turn's wires to the reverse bulbs. But then I'd have no backup lights.

[KITT222]

Maybe move backup lights to the taillights? If possible, you could replace the reverse lights with LEDs, some white, some orange, and one is the blinkers, other reverse lights, or something like the last Grand Prix's foglights/blinkers.http://images.google.com/imgre...ty=45

[joatmon]

i agree with sublimewind, if you are skeptical, get out and look at them to see for sure if they are bright enough or not. If they are not, and you want them to stay tinted but be brighter, then try to find a brighter bulb or some way to pack some bright LEDs in there.Converting your backup lights to be turn signals seems kinda silly to me. The existing turn signals start to wrap around the corner, you want them visible from the side of the car. The back up lights are low in the bumper, which will make it harder for other people to see them unless they are freakishly brightI guess I'm just not that into it, it seems like a good argument to not tint the turn signals

[A Psycho Martyr]

Well if I can't wire it up like I first wanted to, I figured I'd buy some tiny fog lights and mount them under the back bumper and power them off the original reverse light wires.

[06pvibe]

I think you know how I feel about smoke tinted light, front or rear, so I won't even get into that. I applaud you that you are concerned about the turn signals and might suggest using a 1157 or 7443 bulb (dual filament) in the housing to accomplish both turn signal and reverse light duties.You would certainly have to buy new sockets for them and modify the housings to fit, as well as rewire them for the turns.May I suggest that instead of replacing your current signal lights with the new ones, that you use them in conjunction with them? (Perhaps that's what you already had in mind, but it is not clear to me.)

[A Psycho Martyr]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon ». The existing turn signals start to wrap around the corner, you want them visible from the side of the car.You know you're totally right.... I hadn't thought of that....So now maybe i get some led bulbs to swap out for my existing turn signal bulbs and STILL do the reverse thing so I just have EXTRA blinkers. Then i KNOW i'll be seen. Then I can still do as i planned for the reverse lightsWhat do you guys think of that idea? (and i know the smartest thing to do is untint the tails, but i friggin love the look )I'm trying to have the look AND safety I want

[epcIII]

I think it would be simple to get a pair of yellow, thin LED strips from Autozone and use those. Looks like there would be enough room between the side of the tail light assemblage and the rear hatch to run those down the side. Hardly visible when not in use and easy to wire. Or, put them in your side view mirrors. Definitely be seen there too.

[06pvibe]

Something like this? http://www.superbrightleds.com...hotos SMD/SML's are becoming more readily available these days and offer greater possibilities for such modifications.Frustrating, ain't it? Got a mod you really like, but it causes more problems than it may be potentially worth? I've been there too a few times and it is, or can be frustrating.

[A Psycho Martyr]

The led strips for turn signals is a MUCH thought about thing for me. I'll get into it eventually. And yes you're right, I want to use the stock turn signals (with new led bulbs) along with the modded reverse lights made into turn signals.For my reverse lights I'll buy some aftermarket fogs and mount them under ther car aimed where I need to see and power them from the existing reverse light wiresIs that any more clear? lol

[A Psycho Martyr]

The leds i'd buy to replace my existing turn signal bulbs would be something like this:

[tribalman]

In Illinois using what is normally the reverse light to indicate a turn is illegal. *edit, err. re-read it. i originally read the line about 'same level' as regarding same height as the front. It probably just means the back ones need to be at the same level and the front ones at their own same level. Although it does bring up a question on if you have 2 sets of turn signals at different heights (625 ILCS 5/12‑208) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12‑208) Sec. 12‑208. Signal lamps and signal devices. (a) Every vehicle other than an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate operated in this State shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear in normal sunlight and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with other rear lamps. During times when lighted lamps are not required, an antique vehicle may be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of such vehicle of the same type originally installed by the manufacturer as original equipment and in working order. However, at all other times, except as provided in subsection (a‑1), such antique vehicle must be equipped with stop lamps meeting the requirements of Section 12‑208 of this Act. (b) Every motor vehicle other than an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate shall be equipped with an electric turn signal device which shall indicate the intention of the driver to turn to the right or to the left in the form of flashing lights located at and showing to the front and rear of the vehicle on the side of the vehicle toward which the turn is to be made. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit a white or amber light, or any shade of light between white and amber. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit a red or amber light. An antique vehicle shall be equipped with a turn signal device of the same type originally installed by the manufacturer as original equipment and in working order. (skipping 'c' as it pertains to trailers) (d) Turn signal lamps must be visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet in normal sunlight. Double check your own laws to verify legality.

[06pvibe]

Quote, originally posted by A Psycho Martyr »The leds i'd buy to replace my existing turn signal bulbs would be something like this:They won't be any brighter than your existing tungten bulbs, Brandon. Take my word for it. You will be disappointed w/the outcome.The high powered, or SMD's offer a much better output. These are traditional LEDs and I've have them, and the ones I have had many more LEDs installed in them... 15, including several that are "side-firing". They react faster but are not brighter than a regular bulb.

[A Psycho Martyr]

Thanks for the insight Tribalman And 06pvibe, I'll take your word for. I've seen how bright the smd's are, just don't know what all's involved in making them my turn signals I suppose I'll leave the existing turns alone, make my reverse into turns as well, and use new fogs for reverse

[KITT222]

Make sure to tint/color them amber or red, since turn signals can't be white.

[A Psycho Martyr]

yep....check out the 1st posti have some yellow lamin-x i'll tint them with

[tribalman]

Quote, originally posted by KITT222 »Make sure to tint/color them amber or red, since turn signals can't be white.yes they can, check my previous post. usually the only colors they can't be are red if they are front facing, or blue. sometimes green is reserved for ambulances or other emergency responders.

[tribalman]

So I had a thought, pull the tint out and repaint with photochromic paint. You will also need to modify your lamps. When the bulbs are on for nighttime or not on at all there will be a secondary lamp that will be illuminating, a UV one. If the turn signal activates the UV lamp shuts off and the flasher works as normal. when the flasher shuts off, the UV turns back on.This would be freaking sweet. i wonder if photochrmic paints are cost effective......

[Wolfman213]

It's been a while since I've been dealing with LEDs, but I think the problem with SMDs is finding a board. I never looked too hard, but I always found traditional board. Granted you could probably still get them to work, but I'd imagine the efficeincy would be greater if you were to find and SMD specific board. Not sure if you remember what the board looked like in the instrument cluster, but all those were SMDs on a solid board.

[06pvibe]

They are now making boards loaded w/SMD's. Of course supply and demand dictates them to be more expensive than traditional 1/2watt LEDs.The problem w/most applications is I have only seen them mounted on a square board. But since the the OE turn signal lenses are rectangular in nature, that should not be much of a problem. Again, I'm sure the tails themselves would have to be modified for them to fit. A Dremel needed to cut off the back of the reflector and a way to mount the board to what's left over (silicone?,) but that should not pose too much of a problem, imo.As far as the reverse lights are concerned, you could always just do yellow or red bulbs too? But I have seen cars w/multiple turn signals in yellow and red and feel you should stick to one color for best overall appearance.Consider switching out the bulb socket (reverse lights) to accept a dual element bulb in either case.

[Wolfman213]

The big issue with the rear light housing is you can't open it like the headlamps. It's plastic welded or whatever the proper term is. I was going to partake on a LED tail lamp project, but things have gotten in the way.Are they making blank SMD boards now? If so that's awesome!!! Guess I gotta start looking for them now

[A Psycho Martyr]

yeah, i remember looking at my gauge cluster. I know what smd's are. They're also used in the 360 console and controller. I'm definitely familiar with them.I just didn't wanna do any cutting. And i should be the 1st to jump into ripping something up to make it cooler! lolAnyways, for the reverse i'm pretty much decided i'm gonna mount new fogs under the back bumper, I like that idea. I just want this to be as simple as possible

[Sublimewind]

This might help... if you can't find a bulb to shine through here, you can't... http://www.superbrightleds.com...7.htm

[BLargal]

An easier method might be to keep the tint how it is however cut a section off that you need to show the turn signals OR cut out that section then buy a lighter tint to cut out and replace it with...I don't think it would look half bad like that if you get the colors right it might actually look kinda cool.

[audiovibe]

Would there be a way to incorporate an orange strobe as a signal in the reverse housing?

[KITT222]

Keep your reverse lights as-is, just use these as blinkers:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ories

[joshuaeb09]

On ebay I've seen some monster SMD towers with like 50 - 60 SMD's that might be bright enough . The only problem I foresee is having enough room to get the monsters in the factory bulb spot. With that plus those slimline side fireing SMD strips that were suggested earlier I think that your turn signals would be more than visible.