Tail light mod (both lights used as brake and signals)?

Getting ready to do this mod. What brand leds do you guys recommend for the tails? Also, it looks like a 9ohm resistor is the key to making this work without any issues? I'd like to avoid having to swap resistors if possible.

 

9ohms worked for me..

 

See post #193 for the led’s I used. 6 ohm resistors, no problems.

 

Some people have been okay with less than 9 ohms, but I'd say only half. Everyone who has tried 9 or 10ohms has had no problem

 

Can confirm 9ohms works perfectly, no issues.

 

Ordered two DPSD 12v 10amp relays and a bag of 3ohm resistors to try a reverse/turn signal. Found a T10 two wire switchback on reverse polarity. If it works out, I'll report back. Still need to order the T10 male wiring harness but won't need that until I get a positive result on the test.

 

Sounds like a fun project! Can't wait to hear how it goes

 

Just in case a PnP harness comes about, I think I am out.

After seeing many 3rd Gens on the road with the crappy tail lighting, I think that I am going with an aux reverse light, ambers in the reverse housing, and combining the tail / turn lights into running / brake LEDs.

Now, I just need to plan that out.

 

Exactly what I intend/want to do. I am trying to find a pnp(ish) solution. Preferably with OEM style M/F plugs to create a T type harness from OEM truck side to OEM light side. so the set-up could be removed returning the lights to stock if/when traded. I will likely add a spade connection in the blinker line so a resistor could be easily added if converting to LED later. Then drop the reverse light to a bumper pod likely with a water tight plug for simpler replacement.

I want to add an additional switch to the reverse light pods so that I can turn them on as desired and automatically with shift to reverse. I am thinking of using a relay between the light and a Y with one leg from the switch in the cab and the other from the reverse circuit. each will need a diode to prevent feeding back through to the other side of the Y. OF course with a low voltage demand like an LED, the relay may not be needed when using the diodes.

Toughest part with be sourcing the M/F plugs as the remainder of the parts are non- specific.

Dunno if I will get there or not, so if you do @tonered please keep me in the loop. I may be in the market to buy a set of you fab it.

 

That is a great plan.

The switch sounds like a great idea. My preferred setup is a single pod in the blank spot opposite of trailer plugs since I don't want anything hanging down or cutting into the outer covers.

Ummmm, me fabbing an electrical mod for others. Bawahahaha! Well, maybe if you like hammer marks on the wires, overheated wires from sketchy soldering, and everything either one inch too short or one foot too long. . .

 

Maybe, I can find more time.

I wonder if @mesojdm can/will point me to a source for the M/F plugs beside the OEM kits which can be a bit pricey.

 

I haven't sourced aftermarket connectors. I have only used OEM so far.. sorry.

 

Haha!

I'm actually getting better with the soldering since I finally have an iron that actually works. That Vastar one in the Products window below. I still need to get my hands on a good crimper.

In my mind, I don't really need PnP connectors. Soldering them together would be fine, if it is simple to do what I want, which I think it is?

 

It took me less than 20 mins per side to solder and heatshrink everything on mine. It doesn't take long if you have a good iron and a heat gun.

Sure, the wiring isn't in a loom and doesn't look OEM, but who cares, the tail lights hide everything.

 

Thanks!!

I found a possible source depending on quality. Of course they claim to be OEM quality but we all know how claims can be vs reality. Then is the fact that they require ordering in quantities, meaning I can not just order 8-10 of each to test quality and compatibility. And of course they are made in China, it can be hard to find anything that isn't, so the shipping is either very slow, very expensive, or both. I will revisit this when time allows.

I agree a proper solder, good heat shrink, and even some loom om the wiring are not a big obstacles, but I will know what is there. I am less concerned about looking OEM as having the ability to quickly return to OEM set-up and move the mod.

Then there is my childhood, with a PHD nurse for a mother and SMSgt father. I can remember my father telling me, too many times for me to count. "If you are going to do it, DO IT RIGHT. Do it better than you would expect if you were paying a professional or pay a damned professional. Now, do it again. How about CORRECTLY this time!" Of course my mother was the soft one saying things like, "If you are not doing your best, you are wasting everyone's time or even worse endangering yourself and those that depend on you. If that is your best you need to work harder to improve."

But they did teach me to not just care about what I do and but to do everything in a way I can be proud of, and maybe he taught me to be even more OCD.

 

Okay, so here's an update with my tail as turn / resistor issues.

Ordered what I thought was a set of 9 ohm resistors but ended up with Moritmoto 7.5 ohm resistors. Thankfully they do work where the DD 6 ohm resistors did not. I now have fully functional turn signals no matter the headlight setting.

I also threw some silicone in the tail as turn boxes to avoid corrosion setting in immediately.

 

Excellent! Great job! Thanks for the follow up.

 

Woohoo, another one joins our small club! Congrats on getting it all to work. Glad it worked with the 7.5 ohm resistors you ordered...I probably thrown up the towel if they hadn't worked (after all the stuff you previously ordered).

 

Soooo, oddest thing happened the other day. The passenger side blinkers started acting up! It started doing it at random...it'd blink once and then nothing. But after a few minutes into my commute, it would work as if nothing had happened (I have a habit of using my blinkers even if they don't work actually work). It would do this seemingly at random over the next few days. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it would not.

It sounds like the issues many of you guys had when trying to use smaller resisters, so I went to Autozone and all they had was 6 ohm resistors. I added them in series to my 5 ohm resistors (for a total of 11 ohms on each side) and walla, it has been working without fail all day.

I will report back to let you all know how they hold up in a couple of months, but I wanted to let you all know that 11 ohms seems to work (thus far).

 

Nice report! Thanks Andrew.