LED Reverse Light DIY walk through

[waiapasi2006]

Hello everyone,
Here is a little DIY I put together a few days ago to add LED's to your reverse light.
You can use any LED (of course the proper ones to fit your model and housing) to get this job done.
Here are some steps to follow. This has been discussed here, but I wanted to add a few pictures.

step 1: Removing screw cover



step 2: Remove screw holding tail light housing



step 3: Don't pull the tail light housing from this angle. You will brake the two tabs holding it on the left side



Use this tool and pry it to get it loose or a small screw driver



step 4: remove the housing



Step 5: Unplug the harness from the housing
As you can see mine was done but I wanted to tape it up better.


step 6: locate the brown and blue with red stripes wires. My pin shows # 4 and 6 (drivers side housing)



step 7: These are the wire tap used.






step 8: use above wire taps to tap into the two wires from pin #4 and 6



Step 9: Closer view

]

Step 10: Adding the reverse wire (blue/red stripes) in the wire tap



Step 11: Adding step 10 with one side of the wire coming from the resistor, see black cable




Step 12: Crimp them tight together to make a solid contact/Connection


step 13: Do the same as above but you are going to use the brown wire.
Crimp the brown wire with the other wire coming from the resistor.



step 14: you should now have something like this


As you can see there are two wires each coming from on of these connectors (wire taps)
Brown with black and blue/red stripes with black. The black cables are the wires coming out from the wire bound resistor. See pic in Step 7.

Step 15: tape everything back together.



Step 16: mount your resistor to the chassis of the car for additional heat sink



Try to average and mount it a little low so the housing can fit without touching it.

You should now end up with this.





If I forgot something please don't hesitate to chime in.
I'm just trying to share and help the community as it has done for me.

This was done on the driver's side housing, but it also pertains to the passenger side. The pin numbers will be different, but the colors of the wires should be the same.


Enjoy.

[amar26]

is it noticeably brighter when reversing in the dark?

[waiapasi2006]

is it noticeably brighter when reversing in the dark?

Yes, if you have a reverse camera you will see the difference.

[blingaling]

Awesome! Where did you get the leds from?

[waiapasi2006]

Awesome! Where did you get the leds from?

I got them from a local store, but they are tons online.

[waiapasi2006]

Awesome! Where did you get the leds from?

These are better then the ones I used.

Mine are the same brand, but has only 18SMD those have 24SMD I just had them laying around.

[jsandor91]

Do yours ever stay partially on or did the resistor fix that ? I plan on trying out a projector led bulb next

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[Hugh@EuropaParts]

Do yours ever stay partially on or did the resistor fix that ? I plan on trying out a projector led bulb next

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Mine stay on... slightly.

[jsandor91]

Mine stay on... slightly.

Do you have a resistor and what style bulb do you have ?

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[AKO]

Mine stay on... slightly.

The ones i tried do and they flicker when put in reverse!

[Hugh@EuropaParts]

Do you have a resistor and what style bulb do you have ?

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No resistor... just a reg 1156 LED bulb, not the projector type.

[waiapasi2006]

Do yours ever stay partially on or did the resistor fix that ? I plan on trying out a projector led bulb next

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Mine used to be on slightly , but the resistor fixed that.

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[wildcat333]

AWESOME!!! Thank you, OP!

[wildcat333]

Just adding this here for anyone that needs to know what bulb is what:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...nt-%28B7-A4%29

[waiapasi2006]

AWESOME!!! Thank you, OP!

You got it.

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[AKO]

Any local place these resistors can be purchased ?

[AJacksA4]

Ive found the projector ones to be much brighter. I tried a few different types.

http://r.ebay.com/FfuHOo

[AKO]

Ive found the projector ones to be much brighter. I tried a few different types.

http://r.ebay.com/FfuHOo

X2 the exact ones i have

[wildcat333]

Ive found the projector ones to be much brighter. I tried a few different types.

http://r.ebay.com/FfuHOo

X2 the exact ones i have

The BLUE housing metal or plastic isn't visible through the clear reverse plastic, is it?

[jsandor91]

The BLUE housing metal or plastic isn't visible through the clear reverse plastic, is it?

I would like to know this as well I almost purchased like $20 ones

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[wildcat333]

I wonder if these would be good?
They have projector style on the front of the LED bulb, but also allow light from the sides (which would reflector on the mirror reverse area of the tail light).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-1156-Whit...574c54&vxp=mtr

[AKO]

The BLUE housing metal or plastic isn't visible through the clear reverse plastic, is it?

I would like to know this as well I almost purchased like $20 ones

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Slight reflection but only at an angle! Doesn't bother me

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[Pashody]

I wonder if these would be good?
They have projector style on the front of the LED bulb, but also allow light from the sides (which would reflector on the mirror reverse area of the tail light).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-1156-Whit...574c54&vxp=mtr

Would they even fit?

[wildcat333]

Would they even fit?

I dunno

[waiapasi2006]

I wonder if these would be good?
They have projector style on the front of the LED bulb, but also allow light from the sides (which would reflector on the mirror reverse area of the tail light).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-1156-Whit...574c54&vxp=mtr

Try them and post back.


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[waiapasi2006]

Any local place these resistors can be purchased ?

Try any automobile stores that deals with leds in your area.
I know the radio Shack here don't carry them. You might be lucky where you're at.

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[AJacksA4]

The BLUE housing metal or plastic isn't visible through the clear reverse plastic, is it?

Yeah the blue is a bit visible, but you know me, it goes well with my setup. If you want a more OEM look they make them in silver or you could always paint them. The other lights you found should be even better if they fit, the more LEDS the merrier.

[waiapasi2006]

is it noticeably brighter when reversing in the dark?

To answer your question I tried to park in a dark spot to take this snap shot.



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[waiapasi2006]

There are brighter ones out there. I just used these because I had them for a while sitting.
The picture was taken without applying brakes, so no extra lighting from the brakes lights.
They will soon have leds in them too.

[2pointOh]

Could you use 3m tape to mount the resistor? Drilling holes always worries me about rust.

[waiapasi2006]

Could you use 3m tape to mount the resistor? Drilling holes always worries me about rust.

I'm not to sure how well they would hold up with the heat. The chassis will help as a heat sink which is better.

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[2pointOh]

I'm not to sure how well they would hold up with the heat. The chassis will help as a heat sink which is better.

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Yeah understandable. I guess you could just put some grease where you'll drill

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[AKO]

Try any automobile stores that deals with leds in your area.
I know the radio Shack here don't carry them. You might be lucky where you're at.

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Im gonna check it out! Thanks

I'm not to sure how well they would hold up with the heat. The chassis will help as a heat sink which is better.

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How hot could the resistor get? I mean your reverse lights are on for what 5 maybe 10 secs?? I think double sided tape should hold up okay

[waiapasi2006]

Yeah understandable. I guess you could just put some grease where you'll drill

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No grease here.

[waiapasi2006]

Im gonna check it out! Thanks



How hot could the resistor get? I mean your reverse lights are on for what 5 maybe 10 secs?? I think double sided tape should hold up okay

Go for it!

[2pointOh]

How hot could the resistor get? I mean your reverse lights are on for what 5 maybe 10 secs?? I think double sided tape should hold up okay

Good point! I'm going to try that soon, once I get maintenance done.



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[wildcat333]

Double sided tape should be fine. I have it on my drl resistors that get 400 degrees hot and I've had them for over two years.

[waiapasi2006]

Double sided tape should be fine. I have it on my drl resistors that get 400 degrees hot and I've had them for over two years.

Interesting.

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[wildcat333]

Interesting.

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Yeah. As long as the metal you apply it to is clean, you should be good to go. I had to redo it within one week of installation because my surface was not clean apparently. I removed the 3M tape, cleaned it with rubbing alcohol, and reapplied.

[waiapasi2006]

Yeah. As long as the metal you apply it to is clean, you should be good to go. I had to redo it within one week of installation because my surface was not clean apparently. I removed the 3M tape, cleaned it with rubbing alcohol, and reapplied.

If it works for you, go with it.

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