DIY: Installing Parking Lights
#81
I have had a problem with bulbs burning out every year (VLEDS are good bulbs but they don't seem to last me more than a year). I don't mind swapping corner lights, but I hate having to deal with the passenger side parking light in the headlight. I have now decided that I will remove bulbs from these parking lights and leave them dark.
I didn't like how the LEDs didn't color match the HID Color anyway.
Anyone else running without parking lights in the headlight casing? Any comments?
I didn't like how the LEDs didn't color match the HID Color anyway.
Anyone else running without parking lights in the headlight casing? Any comments?
#82
I posted this over in the RX8Strakes forum too on account of that's where I got my LEDs...
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Having done a lot of LED conversion work over the past couple months I thought it'd be pretty easy to cutover my parking lights so I picked up a set from RX8Strakes.
I started out doing the passenger side because by all accounts it's the harder of the two. It went fairly easy... I tight fit, but after a couple minutes I was able to do the twist and sealed nicely.
I did not have the same luck on the drivers side. No matter what I try I cannot get the LED and housing to seal. I've tried everything, even trimming back the bottom tab from the LED and cutting back the tabs on the side of the housing where the bulb slips in. If I take the LED out, the socket fits right in and secures without issue.
I've tried everything at this point and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm at the point where if I pry and push any harder I'm afraid I'm going to break the housing or worse yet the socket on the headlight itself.
Any one else run into this?
Thanks,
Shell
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Having done a lot of LED conversion work over the past couple months I thought it'd be pretty easy to cutover my parking lights so I picked up a set from RX8Strakes.
I started out doing the passenger side because by all accounts it's the harder of the two. It went fairly easy... I tight fit, but after a couple minutes I was able to do the twist and sealed nicely.
I did not have the same luck on the drivers side. No matter what I try I cannot get the LED and housing to seal. I've tried everything, even trimming back the bottom tab from the LED and cutting back the tabs on the side of the housing where the bulb slips in. If I take the LED out, the socket fits right in and secures without issue.
I've tried everything at this point and I'm not sure how to proceed. I'm at the point where if I pry and push any harder I'm afraid I'm going to break the housing or worse yet the socket on the headlight itself.
Any one else run into this?
Thanks,
Shell
#84
Ok, no offense intended to RX8Strakes but I think they should reconsider the LEDs they're selling for the parking lights.
I just picked up a set of these and fingers crossed I'll have better fitment. I bet if I were to be able to see inside the housing the 9 clustered LEDs are off by a mere millimeter or something silly like that...
I'm rationalizing now in the absence of any feedback. I'm guessing from a machining perspective, the housing, LED, or some combination has me a smidge out out of tolerance.
I hope these v-leds ones fit better... they are a bit shorter:
I just picked up a set of these and fingers crossed I'll have better fitment. I bet if I were to be able to see inside the housing the 9 clustered LEDs are off by a mere millimeter or something silly like that...
I'm rationalizing now in the absence of any feedback. I'm guessing from a machining perspective, the housing, LED, or some combination has me a smidge out out of tolerance.
I hope these v-leds ones fit better... they are a bit shorter:
Last edited by ShellDude; 01-12-2009 at 07:53 PM.
#85
Basic follow-up. the RX8Strakes LEDs are actually 9 LED clusters and there's no way under the sun they would ever fit on my car's parking light housing and I have pictures to back it up.
The above linked v-leds worked perfectly although I am a little concerned over longevity. These have the regulator IC built into them so we'll see.
I've also got a set of the POLARG nissei hybrids referenced on page 3 if I run into issues with the v-leds.
At this point, I'm glad this one is over. It was a major pain in the a$$. I can only hope my v-leds last 12 months because I'm in no hurry to go back in. Hell, I even had to remove my bumper at one point over this cr@p.
Shell
The above linked v-leds worked perfectly although I am a little concerned over longevity. These have the regulator IC built into them so we'll see.
I've also got a set of the POLARG nissei hybrids referenced on page 3 if I run into issues with the v-leds.
At this point, I'm glad this one is over. It was a major pain in the a$$. I can only hope my v-leds last 12 months because I'm in no hurry to go back in. Hell, I even had to remove my bumper at one point over this cr@p.
Shell
Last edited by ShellDude; 01-12-2009 at 07:53 PM.
#86
Man! It's impossible to install these, I tried for almost an hour. On the driver side I managed to get the light into the house, but I can't lock it. Wow it's tight in there.
On the passanger side, I didn't even manage to remove the ECU cover, I took of the 3 screws on the cover, but still it didn't get of.
I was thinking of replace the turn signals as well, but after this there's no way i'm gonna spend 3 hours to replace them, those lights are even deeper in.
On the passanger side, I didn't even manage to remove the ECU cover, I took of the 3 screws on the cover, but still it didn't get of.
I was thinking of replace the turn signals as well, but after this there's no way i'm gonna spend 3 hours to replace them, those lights are even deeper in.
#88
Ya might wanna check the RX8Strakes forum, and the "Problem with Parking Lights" thread RR. This is a bit bigger than an isolated issue.
Perhaps you can post in their thread what year and model 8 you have. Also knowing which cluster pod you got would be beneficial, ie 6 vs 8 vs 9.
Perhaps you can post in their thread what year and model 8 you have. Also knowing which cluster pod you got would be beneficial, ie 6 vs 8 vs 9.
Last edited by ShellDude; 01-12-2009 at 07:53 PM.
#90
Did this yesterday, took about 15 minutes! Driver side is pretty simple,...you can take the cover off if you need even more room. Passenger side was TOUGH! I didn't take the ECU cover off.
I just put on some mechanics gloves, slid my hand in tight, spun it counter clockwise and got some thin pliers to help get the housing out.
Getting it back in is even tougher, but do yourself a favor, turn the led light ON, use your right hand and guide it in as you look at the car from the front...it helps you easily guide it back in. I struggled at first then was like, 'duh' it'll be easier if i can have the light on. after i did that was done in 2 minutes.
I just put on some mechanics gloves, slid my hand in tight, spun it counter clockwise and got some thin pliers to help get the housing out.
Getting it back in is even tougher, but do yourself a favor, turn the led light ON, use your right hand and guide it in as you look at the car from the front...it helps you easily guide it back in. I struggled at first then was like, 'duh' it'll be easier if i can have the light on. after i did that was done in 2 minutes.
#91
A tip to everyone... don't by the autoillumination ones. They are of poor quality. Mine didn't fit tight in the socket and they were two different shades of blue. The v-leds high power are just a few bucks more and are about 5x brighter and seem to be better made.
#92
Agreed - Autolumination bulbs seem to burn out real real fast. Sure they replace them - if you're willing to pay for the postage to send them back to get more bulbs that will burn out quickly.
On the red/blue debate - Local cop said blue lights were LEGAL as long as they were not flashing.
Buttttttt - when LEDs burn out, they tend to flicker+flash = not good.
Later, I was pulled over by a state trooper (i have good luck) and he said no blue lights anywhere on the car. I have a blue rear license plate light and he didn't care for that... told me to change it or cut the wire...
Amber or Hyper white seem to be the same colors. I guess green or violet if you're into that.
Lastly - I wouldn't recommend autolumination.
On the red/blue debate - Local cop said blue lights were LEGAL as long as they were not flashing.
Buttttttt - when LEDs burn out, they tend to flicker+flash = not good.
Later, I was pulled over by a state trooper (i have good luck) and he said no blue lights anywhere on the car. I have a blue rear license plate light and he didn't care for that... told me to change it or cut the wire...
Amber or Hyper white seem to be the same colors. I guess green or violet if you're into that.
Lastly - I wouldn't recommend autolumination.
#93
I guess I'm a lucky one but I've had nothing but good results from Autolumination. The lights come super fast, and I have multiple LEDS from them (interior, map, door, rear plate, corner markers) and all have lasted a long long time-none have burnt out...... Are those with trouble ordering the ones with the heat sink? That prevents burnout and are intended for long usage.
#94
I guess I'm a lucky one but I've had nothing but good results from Autolumination. The lights come super fast, and I have multiple LEDS from them (interior, map, door, rear plate, corner markers) and all have lasted a long long time-none have burnt out...... Are those with trouble ordering the ones with the heat sink? That prevents burnout and are intended for long usage.
#95
Mine didn't burn out, they were just crappy quality. Like I said they did not fit snug in the socket at all for some reason and fell inside my headlight twice! That and one was brighter than the other and they were two different shades of blues. It looked like crap.
So I ordered some v-leds and polarg b1's to try them out. I like the polargs the best actually, they are very white and match my HID's nicely.
So I ordered some v-leds and polarg b1's to try them out. I like the polargs the best actually, they are very white and match my HID's nicely.
#97
Do those polargs actually have that blue paint or whatever it is on them? Because if they were turned off during the day they would be blue up close... That is something I definitely don't like...
#98
No they don't look blue during the day... you can't tell there's a different bulb in there. Just when they are on they are pretty much the same color as the HIDs. Maybe not as bright as LEDs though.