cazio

iTrader: (3)

usr's are ugly man, just mod ur oems like paperboy and I as well
as others. looks soooooooo much better

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Haha, $40 is a bit steep, but now that i have the things taken apart, I would probably drop em in the mail with the new resistors and LEDs, along with $20, if someone wanted to save me the headache due to my inexperience and pull the old stuff and solder in the new LEDs. Any takers??? I'll also include the several extra resistors and LEDs that i bought, enough to do the mod at least one more time.

cazio

iTrader: (3)

lol I have tons of resistors and basically eveything needed except for the actual side markers. just buy a solder sipper, there really isn't any other way around it, u need to desolder the power prongs, LEDs, and resistors before adding anything anyway

cazio

iTrader: (3)

I have some pic in my progress thread I believe just follow the DIY just as I did, had them both done and in the car within an hour and a half

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

I was trying to use desoldering wick....maybe I should pick up the solder sucker tho instead.

cazio

iTrader: (3)

yes u should! don't use anything other than the solder sipper. y break ur balls, it's much easier

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Never done this before, I thought I had heard that the suckers didn't work great. But if it will make the job easier, I'm all for it. Probably try to pick one up tomorrow.

cazio

iTrader: (3)

bro I may be a union electrician but I don't mess with electronics and have never soldered before attempting this mod. all u need are the right tools and paperboys DIY trust me. he's very good at answering questions and I'm also here. just take ur time cause if u damage any of the thin wires on the circuit board ur fucked. those ribbons complete the circuit and run all over the board, thru the 330ohm resistor ur adding as well as that black diode and LEDs so BE CAREFUL!

LockDots

Either can get the job done. When using solder wick it's good to remember that there are different grades/types. The downside to a solder sucker is that you have to melt the solder then quickly move/remove the iron to get the sucker in place and release the spring before the solder starts to cool/harden. A solder wick (solder braid) goes between the solder and the iron and will pull the solder into it.

cazio

iTrader: (3)

thanks to paperboy I've become pretty efficient at this mod and recently purchased 100 of these LEDs, so if anyone needs some assistance feel free to PM me and ill see if I can mod for some of u

bluetl04

iTrader: (4)

I love my usr white side markers...I also have them on my girls TL. No issues with them at all..like they say, different strokes for different folks...keep modding!!!!

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

lets get some more posts in here so this can make it into the 3G garage

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I'm shocked it's not ALREADY in there!

AdAstra

Paperboy, huge props for including the calculations! I'm a mechanical engineering student but I've taken an EE class, so I immediately scrolled down when I read you included them haha. They're basic, but an essential part of any type of circuit analysis. My point is, no one should have questioned this mod's functionality if they would have just quickly read through those. Great simple and effective mod.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

and for me, looked like greek but I appreciated the effort!

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Huge thanks to OP and other contributors to this method, and to Cazio for lending a hand to get this project completed finally! Wanted to post up the results of his handywork:

Daytime:


Nighttime:

Phambam12

my turn. Teach me your ways

cazio

iTrader: (3)

follow the DIY or just buy the materials and mail them to me lol

Phambam12

Just so i'm clear of the steps:

1. remove and cut sidemarkers
2. remove all the LEDs and just one of the resistors?
-*using solder sipper to remove previous solder*
3. solder on LEDs and 330 ohm resistor
4. put it back together with an adhesive

i just want to be sure haha.

cazio

iTrader: (3)

u remove everything except the one black diode and solder in one 330ohm resistors and LEDs

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

yep!

Phambam12

so ALL OF THE resisters except the black one?

cazio

iTrader: (3)

there are two LEDs, three resistors, and one diode. remove everything except the one black diode. solder in ur two LEDs and one 330ohm resistor and seal back up

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

^thats correct. The black one is a diode not resistor

Phambam12

was i the only one attempted this and failed?

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

what part went wrong?

cazio

iTrader: (3)

^^^seriously

BOSSTLtypes-S

why doesnt anyone just buy the USR switchback sidemarkers???

cazio

iTrader: (3)

cuz they look nuttin like the oem ones, no one needs them to blink, and lastly they get water in them most of the time. why spend money when u can just mod them urself

BOSSTLtypes-S

are they just not as bright as the OEM, i want mine to be bright but i also would like them to blink in sink and amber in front adn red in the back

LockDots

What he means is that the design of the housing, the 'reflector' part of the enclosure will look different whether a bulb is on or off. It can affect brightness as well but overall, they look physically different, while maintaining the same exterior shape. If that makes sense...

bpham

Doesn't seem too complicated. Will be doing this once the parts come in.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

oem sidemarkers can be bright if you use bright leds. they can also blink too with enough electrical work

ez12a

both my sidemarkers are now flickering ugh. I'll grab a soldering station and some parts soon.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

^i have my stock leds if you want for free, or i have white ones too i can give you if you ever come up to alhambra