Can I use LED turn signals without resistors
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Can I use LED turn signals without resistors
I have a black diffuser on my tail lights and noticed my turn signal is a dull yellow due to the stock white bulbs. I was wondering if I could get red ones for cheap or if I could use LED ones without using a resistor.
#2
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You can use LED bulbs, however, without the resistor you will get hyperflashing, which gets really annoying. There are a few options if you want to go the LED route - adding in-line resistors thats added to the wiring harness, completing the flasher mod on the relay, and then DiodeDynamics.com sells a modded flasher relay which will allow you to use any combination of LED/Non LED bulbs.
Reason you need the resistors is that the LEDs have much less power needs, therefore the stock system will believe the bulb is out, and give the hyper flashing, so you need to increase resistance to help the system believe there is bulb there and you won't get hyperflashing.
Reason you need the resistors is that the LEDs have much less power needs, therefore the stock system will believe the bulb is out, and give the hyper flashing, so you need to increase resistance to help the system believe there is bulb there and you won't get hyperflashing.
#3
hey Boosejars, you mentioned Diodedynamics for the led flasher. have you had experience with any of their led bulbs? I'm running a philips brand bulb and resistor in the rear signal and a generic ebay cree based bulb and resistor for the front. rear is fantastic, but front is a bit lacking on the brightness difference between running and signal light
#4
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hey Boosejars, you mentioned Diodedynamics for the led flasher. have you had experience with any of their led bulbs? I'm running a philips brand bulb and resistor in the rear signal and a generic ebay cree based bulb and resistor for the front. rear is fantastic, but front is a bit lacking on the brightness difference between running and signal light
![Name: 20150610_172546.jpg
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taken inside my garage - pretty close to the stock d2s bulb color
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drivers side is the DD bulb, and other side is the stock halogen turn signal bulb
![Name: 20150610_172824.jpg
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I will be upgrading my LED DRL bulbs with their product soon
#6
Race Director
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If you really want to pay the high price, you can get the VLED triton v3 with resistors built in.
#7
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#8
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#9
Senior Moderator
just do the signal relay mod as suggested earlier and you can use any LED you want!
It's pretty easy to mod if you know how to solder.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#10
Yessir, I am using their switchback turn signal, and the Modded flasher relay...they have excellent customer service, i ordered the bulbs then one of them lasted like two days, i claimed the warranty and they had a new one out in 2-3 days no cost to me..they are not listing this bulb on their site, so I have requested an update with them to see when it will return
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/20150610_172546.jpg)
taken inside my garage - pretty close to the stock d2s bulb color
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/20150610_173434.jpg)
drivers side is the DD bulb, and other side is the stock halogen turn signal bulb
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/20150610_172824.jpg)
I will be upgrading my LED DRL bulbs with their product soon
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/20150610_172546.jpg)
taken inside my garage - pretty close to the stock d2s bulb color
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/20150610_173434.jpg)
drivers side is the DD bulb, and other side is the stock halogen turn signal bulb
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/20150610_172824.jpg)
I will be upgrading my LED DRL bulbs with their product soon
#11
Pro
iTrader: (1)
hey jz113 - i have a base TL, so my turn signal diffusers were amber. So, if you want to run a amber/yellow LED bulb, no problem. However, if you're interested in running a switchback - where the parking/running light stays white, and then when signaling it blinks yellow, then you will need a clear diffuser, or diffuser removed altogether. the Type S (07/08) have a clear/amber diffuser combo - so you could run a switchback in those problem.
Here is my base headlight with the halves split apart - so behind the lenses/diffuser is all chrome, so you easily remove the amber diffuser, and close them back and be done, i think a diffuser looks cleaner, so I installed a smoked diffuser
![Name: 20150529_205438.jpg
Views: 1786
Size: 139.1 KB](https://acurazine.com/forums/attachments/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/64697d1501397313-can-i-use-led-turn-signals-without-resistors-20150529_205438.jpg)
there are plenty of resources and diy threads to clear your headlights...etc.
the 3G Garage will be your best friend lol...
https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...ewbies-553554/
Here is my base headlight with the halves split apart - so behind the lenses/diffuser is all chrome, so you easily remove the amber diffuser, and close them back and be done, i think a diffuser looks cleaner, so I installed a smoked diffuser
![Name: 20150529_205438.jpg
Views: 1786
Size: 139.1 KB](https://acurazine.com/forums/attachments/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/64697d1501397313-can-i-use-led-turn-signals-without-resistors-20150529_205438.jpg)
there are plenty of resources and diy threads to clear your headlights...etc.
the 3G Garage will be your best friend lol...
https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...ewbies-553554/
#12
hey jz113 - i have a base TL, so my turn signal diffusers were amber. So, if you want to run a amber/yellow LED bulb, no problem. However, if you're interested in running a switchback - where the parking/running light stays white, and then when signaling it blinks yellow, then you will need a clear diffuser, or diffuser removed altogether. the Type S (07/08) have a clear/amber diffuser combo - so you could run a switchback in those problem.
Here is my base headlight with the halves split apart - so behind the lenses/diffuser is all chrome, so you easily remove the amber diffuser, and close them back and be done, i think a diffuser looks cleaner, so I installed a smoked diffuser
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-05/20150529_205438.jpg)
there are plenty of resources and diy threads to clear your headlights...etc.
the 3G Garage will be your best friend lol...
https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...ewbies-553554/
Here is my base headlight with the halves split apart - so behind the lenses/diffuser is all chrome, so you easily remove the amber diffuser, and close them back and be done, i think a diffuser looks cleaner, so I installed a smoked diffuser
![](http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k12/inlinefourH22/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-05/20150529_205438.jpg)
there are plenty of resources and diy threads to clear your headlights...etc.
the 3G Garage will be your best friend lol...
https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...ewbies-553554/
i appreciated your help bud..
#13
#14
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iTrader: (1)
Here you are sir - there is about 30 pages but the first pages have the most information on how to do it, and what size ohm resistors to get.
https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...istors-815219/
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