3rd Gen BHLM and light mods

I am (always) looking to buy meso side markers if any of y’all have bought a set and decided against using them. I’ll pay retail price for them, let me know. Thanks!

 

Started on this over last weekend. I had done my 05 Outback headlights to do a HID projector retro fit in 06-07. That went alright and so I figured I could tackle the Taco. The perma seal stuff is a pain in the ass. Anyway after having burnt/raw fingers and spent 4-5 hours peeling that crap out I got everything painted and back together. I checked on here and verified the DRL wiring and turn signal wires. I installed the MESO single turn signal, and a Diode Dynamics DRL LED boards. Got everything together, I soldered all the connections. Got everything in place and tested to make sure everything was functioning before I buttoned it back up. Everything worked, until I started the truck(verify no hyperflash), then the pass side turn signal blinked a couple times then wouldn't even work. I removed the LED drivers to find one had shorted the yellow wire to ground. To do some trouble shooting I swapped light left to right to verify that I hadn't blown the LED board. Everything looked like it work. So I called DD and they are sending me a replacement under warranty. However I want to use my truck so I figured I could run the DRL modules and the front turn signal bulb and be visible to drive the vehicle. Then next weekend when I had some time get in their and replace it.

So once again get everything hooked up function check it and again, blow the pass side DRL module LED driver. WTF....

So now I'm thinking it might be a bad LED board?

I checked continuity between the three leads on the DRL board, and there was none. Has anyone else had problems with these boards or is it just me?


Little Google fu lead me to a reddit link from a Suby guy with almost the same issue.

@MESO You use Diode Dynamics as your 3" turns, any issues you've seen? You have dealt with them way more than most.

Let me know if you guys think I should check something else out. Just getting frustrated...

 

Does El Stig still offer the mod?

 

damn! this looks great. wanna make me some amber covers for my next serb of project lights??

 

Thank you, I might have some extra ones actually!

 

Once the inside parts are painted and dry is there additional wait time for off-gassing before reassembly? I've read through several threads on BHLM process and read that on one of them. This is my daily driver so I am trying to figure out downtime - Thanks

 

Question for ya'll…. If I am looking to save money and swap the factory projector lens with a clear lens from TRFS, would that be a decent upgrade for output/pattern without having to do a retrofit with the morimoto or rx350 projectors? Also, does anyone know the size/diameter of the factory lens? TRFS has 2.5" and 3" clear lens.

 

I’m selling a brand new morimoto Bluetooth rgb controller if anyone is interested. $50 shipped

 

To swap out the lenses you're going to have to do 90% of the work you'd do for a complete retrofit, not really worth it unless you really don't want to pay for the rx350s. Benefit of doing the retro is that you'll also get dual high beams, which you won't get if you just do a lens swap since there isn't a solenoid in the stock projectors. You're going to put in an HID system as well I'm assuming? IMO do it right do it once.

Stock are 3" lenses.

 

I've already taken these things apart more than once so not a big deal lol but I do agree with do it right the first time, I just don't have $300+ laying around to swap the whole projector. Eventually I'd like to get aftermarket headlights and retro those or invest in the 2020 Tacoma headlights. I got the parts from TRFS and a $45 lens swap will work for me for now till the time comes. I have good light output now with my HIDs but I also have demon eyes that don't shine through very clearly with the stock lens as it's got a little frost on them so that's another reason for wanting to swap the lens.

 

You got a link to DK? Only site I found was in Vietnam .

 

They don’t exist anymore

 

Yeah I don’t know if they still exist bc they have a Facebook but the link to their site redirects to Scorpion Coating Plus.
https://www.scorpioncoatingplus.net/

 

They had a fire at their warehouse and stopped doing the molds

 

@dreday send them a message on FB see if they reply to you

 

Oh shit

 

Can’t even find them on FB.
Oh well. I have an idea of what I can do.
Thnx anyways

 

I had an idea to do an amber side marker with working turn signal.

VLEDS came out with a 3” amber strip
https://www.vleds.com/wpb-hv-a-c.html
To get the amber strip to dim @Ronzio informed me about Diode Dynamics pulse width modulation.
https://www.diodedynamics.com/2a-led-pwm-dimmer-with-bypass.html
For my next BHLM I will incorporate this mod by using the untinted amber side marker.
I made a rough cut to widened the stock 194 opening and will JB weld in place.
The last 2 photos are in daylight and indoor with full brightness simulating the turn signal.

 

That’s awesome, very cool idea!

 

Hey, non tech 4me,
Where did you get the acrylic material from? Thnx in advance