1st gen turn signals to running lights with Switchback LEDs (a how to)

I added the following to the first post. No more hoaky wire acting as a contact. I went with Toyota connectors that have the three wires already included. Should be very robust now.

Update 1/29/2018
The wire bent to form a pin was a bit half-ass. Over the years, the connection to the white LEDs has become bad a few times. Sometimes because moisture gets in there and sometimes because the "spring" made from the bent wire isn't pushing as much as it used to. I then have to pull the wire out, cut it, restrip it, and reform. I finally got around to looking for a more permanent solution.
There were two options I was exploring:

1. Keep the stock socket, but use an OEM pin so the connection should be as good as the ground and turn signal connections (as long as you seal it up just as well). I searched a lot and came across two OEM pins that may work.
   82998-12170
   82998-12340 Both of those appear to come with a few inches of wire so you don't need a crimping tool. You would just attach your 12V source for the white LEDs to the wire on those pins. I have not verified either work. If you can confirm either one works, please post and I'll make a note that it was confirmed. 01/2020: tacoma_ca ordered a replacement pin off Amazon.
   $11 Genuine Toyota Parts - Terminal, Repair W/W (82998-12440)
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MTKUMM "TOYOTA 82998-12440 Terminal, Repair W/W" and has confirmed it fits into our stock turn signal connectors.
2. Replace the socket with a Toyota OEM socket that came with three wires. I went with this option. I looked on Ebay and eventually came across a listing "97-99 Toyota Front Turn Signal Wiring Connector Plug OEM". It looked to be the exact same connector on our Tacomas, but with all three positions filled and a few inches of wire on each position. I ordered them and they fit perfect. All I had to do was connect the turn signal, ground, and 12V for white LEDs to the three wires coming off the connector (I soldered and then used heat shrink tubing to cover). The Ebay page listed Toyota Avalon, Camry, and Corollas '97-'99 as using that connector.

Here are the two sockets from Ebay. Different colors, but both fit great. You can see they have all three pins stuffed unlike our connectors that only have two pins stuffed.


The same connectors. Checking they mate with the turn signal bulb holder on our trucks.

 

So whats the difference between this bulb:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...md-led-tower-wedge-retrofit/3557/#tab/Reviews

And the $150 dollars bulb from V-Led?

Looks like the V-LED light turns off the white light while the turn signal is going..but the cheaper option alternates white and amber while the turn signal is going?

 

What did you do with the lights up by the grille to get the blink/running light combo?

 

I don't know for sure, but the $15 bulbs you linked to don't appear to have the switchback function (they appear to be single color bulbs). The title talks about dual function and they discuss that in the description a little, but that does not appear to be the same as a swtichback function.

 

The corner lights? I monitor the turn signals with a micro controller and then turn the corner lights on and off as needed so they are running lights normally, but then turn on and off with the actual turn signals. Fancy!
Some people have mounted a dual filament bulb in the corners (with a little modification) and then run the turn signal wire up to the corners also to light up the 2nd filament and make running lights/turn signals in the corners.

 

This is a video from a similar light on their website, I assume they operate the same way


What bulbs did you use in your corner lights? And how did you wire them to run like DTRL (amber) then blink (amber) like in your video? This thread covers the switchback lights in your bumper but not the ones in the corners by the grille (unless I missed something).


I like that your bulbs in the corner lights blink when the turn signal is going vs. my old setup with an 1157 bulb where the running light would stay on and the turn signal would try and blink over it. This made the turn signal very hard to see during the day.

Microcontroller? Any reason you couldn't just piggy back off the lights in the bumper to have a matching setup in the corner lights?

I am just trying to find the right bulb I suppose, amber DTRL and amber turn signal..but i want the DTRL function to turn off when the turn signals are operating

 

The corner lights are just standard (168, 921) LED lights. Nothing fancy about them. The circuit I made that controls them is where it gets fancy. No, I don't talk about how I did that in this thread about installing the switchback LEDs in the factory front turn signal position. The corner lights aren't an easy change.

Gotcha. The dual filament corner setup is a fairly simple change, but that is true that it wouldn't stand out as much with one filament on all the time and the 2nd blinking.

I suppose you could put another set of switchback lights in the corners so you would have DTRL and then complete on and off of the corner lights when your turn signal is on, but it sounds like you want amber for the corner for DTRL and then amber completely on and off for turn signal. If there were switchbacks out there that were yellow and yellow instead of white and yellow, that seems like what you would want. I read the description of the lights you linked to and it still isn't clear to me their purpose or what function is built in.
There is some logic in the switchbacks that go back to DTRL when it sees that the turn signal has been turned off. Once it doesn't see the turn signal for about a second, it knows the turn signal is off and it can turn the white lights for the DTRL back on. That is essentially what I did with my circuit on the corner lights and that is why I used a little microcontroller to do that. Sorry. I don't know of an easy way to make the corners do what you want unless those LEDs you linked to work that way.

 

ok Guys so I did this mod I bought the new Toyota socket with 3wires ran the 3rd up and tapped to the corner light bought a led bulb switch back from Amazon idk if it’s the bulb or the way I wired

 

I know you did this mod like 4 years ago but I’m trying to do this but can’t get to work did you tap the 3rd wire to the corner light?

 

Yes I had to bring another wire to them. I mounted a switch to turn the lights on. You could also tap power from the corner lights.

 

Update 5/31/2019 (added to the original post too).
I have found a reasonably priced ($21) pair of switchback LEDs that I am now using for this modification (I had used V-LED bulbs in the past, but they had quality problems and were expensive). I see LaTaco03 tried these in April. I had one of my V-LED bulbs quit on me recently so I was looking for another option.
I can't comment on longevity of these new bulbs since I have only had them a short time. It is important to use bulbs that support the CK style sockets in our trucks. That use to really limit the selection. These Antline bulbs say they work with both CK and non-CK bulbs so I tried them. They are on Amazon and their title is
"ANTLINE Extremely Bright 3157 3057 3155 3457 4157 Switchback LED Bulbs White/Yellow 3030 Chipsets with Projector for Turn Signal Lights (Pack of 2)" We need the 3157. The link is

$17 Antline Extremely Bright 3157 3057 3155 3457 4157 4057 Switchback LED Bulbs White/Yellow 3030 Chipsets with Projector for Turn Signal Lights (Pack of 2)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KWNWZW6 It looks like the same switchback LED is sold under many names, but this is the brand and vendor I bought it from (one day shipping on Prime).

Antline installed. Not as bright as the obsolete V-LEDs, but decent.


Showing the amber turn signal


The box they came in.

 

@mtucker I currently have these on at first they didn’t work but had the 3rd wire connected wrong they are not bad especially for the price so far so good no problems with them

 

Thanks for this post, it motivated me to convert all exteriors to LED and the Antline switchbacks you suggested in your recent update are a perfect choice for the front turn signals. This saved me a lot of time, THANKS.

Above, you mentioned some unverified OEM pin product numbers to add to the stock pigtail that only has two pins and one vacancy. I found a cross-reference to part number 82998-12440 which is available on Amazon at <$9 each:

$11 Genuine Toyota Parts - Terminal, Repair W/W (82998-12440)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MTKUMM . I can confirm these pins at amazon are an exact match to the two pins already mounted in the '04 turn signal pigtail and worked perfectly for activating the white LEDs in the switchback. These pins have approx. 6" of black 16 AWG wire attached and include the weatherpack connector wire seals (the doughnut-shaped silicone water seal, similar to this:

$6 OEM Delphi 15324980 Weatherpack Connector Wire Seals 14-16 Gauge - 50 pack

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030KDJAA but are the factory tan color. The included weatherpack seals fit as well as the other two already in the connector and I don't expect any problems at all with them over time. I like the approach of adding these pins instead of swapping in a different pigtail because I did not have to cut/modify any of the factory wiring. Thanks again for the suggestion.

 

Thanks for confirming the pin you used is works on our turn signal sockets. I updated the original post and the update post adding your info about the pins.

 

Cool, thanks Matt. Since details for these pins are sparse, I pasted some images of one inserted into the factory plug below.

 

How would you do this with the 1995-2000 models ? Being that we only have a 2 pin plug

 

It seems like you would have to find a plug with three connectors that fits into the turn signal housing. Sorry, I don't know if such a connector exists for the pre-2001.

 

In the '04 I can confirm these are the correct pieces. Not sure if this plug mates to the 95-2000 housing.

$14 Genuine Toyota 90075-60060 Socket Plug

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FZP7K7G?psc=1

$13 beler 3 Way 3 Pin Turn Light Signal Harness Cable Connector Fit For Toyota Scion Lexus Acura Honda Nissan Infiniti

https://www.amazon.com/beler-Signal-Harness-Connector-Infiniti/dp/B07PGT9RYY

 

Okay will give a shot and if not I’ll let y’all know