Will switchback L.E.D.s look ok inside the amber housing of the non-TypeS TL?
I want to add LEDs to my fronts without clearing the corners. I know they won't have the wow factor as much as the cleared corners, but just wanted to know if they will be bright enough behind that colored housing.

The LEDs I'm considering are from V-LEDs:
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/T...89718-1-2.html

 

It will work and it will look fine. There are people who have cleared/blacked their TL-S headlights leaving the clear diffusor. It looks good.

 

It'll be brighter.. but imo... why get switchbacks if you have the amber lens there. It defeats the purpose of a switchback?

 

I'm considering switchbacks because I couldn't find any LEDs with the dual function(parking/blinking). I figured if I got a steady amber (or white) LED, then it wouldn't last long due to the parking light wiring for constant on and then blinking. I'm not sure how that would work. Since the factory bulb has dual elements for this purpose, then it only makes sense to replace with an LED that has circuitry for the same purpose. Make sense?



Plus, I may get the courage to remove that amber housing in the distant future. If that should happen, it would be one less thing to worry about.

 

???? all 7443 bulbs are dual function.

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/P...-p4810365.html

amber!

Vleds.com FTW

if you are going to go to switchbacks eventually i would get them now. i dont think they would make a diff. maybe little more output when the parking lights are on as white is alot brighter than amber

 

Well I wasn't sure.

So if the lights are on, how does it blink? Does the led turn off to flash or get brighter with each flash?

And yeah, V-leds FTW

 

If you have the amber diffuser, there is no point in switchbacks, unless you want to spend the extra money I guess.

I say remove the amber diffuser! Looks better

 

^

 

ohh oops, now I see that you are referring to a NON-Type-S........yeah, um.....doesn't make sense, to have a switchback just as everyone said.

Just buy amber 7443 LEDs. They will blink BRIGHTER for the signals and dim for parking. Or clear the lights if you really want the true switchaback effect.

 

Clear/Black out your headlights, get switchbacks and it will be money.

 

Well, I already placed the order for the switchbacks, so I guess I'll have to clear the amber diffusers from the headlights. I've been trying to avoid clearing (even though it's something that I would love to have) mainly because I'm afraid I'll mess it up. This is the one part of th TL I didn't really want to touch.

Now I'll have to find the clear/amber diffusers from a type-s headlight and see if I can retrofit them into mine. I want the partial amber because the laws here are a pain and I'll get tickets for sure. Plus, I doubt I'll pass the state inspection because of it. I just don't need that kind of headache.

 

how exactly do you install switchbacks? Don't you need to install something else to make the blinking in a normal speed. i want to get switchbacks but have no idea how to go about installing them.

 

you need resistors. most ppl put them in the trunk in line with the rear blinkers. i believe there is a thread on this in the 3g TL garage

 

EDIT:

the thread for installing resistors is here. https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/how-install-led-resistors-lots-pictures-3g-garage-g-079-a-637923/

it includes parts and procedure needed and is very straightforward. as for the switchbacks they are plug and play. just go through the fenderlining in front of the front wheel. turn your wheel out and pull back the fenderlining to have access to the turn signal bulbs.

 

^^HA! I went to Chinquapin Middle School in Baltimore, many moons ago!

 

how much for resistors?

 

Resistors vary from $8.99 -$14.99.

http://www.v-leds.com/Load-Resistors/c343525-1-2/

 

Ok, so I received the switchbacks and the load resistors today. Unfortunately, I had to order the resistors because I already have two for the rear signals. So instead of ordereing the 6 ohms, I just ordered two more of the 3ohm resistors for the front.

I've searched and checked the service manual, but I can't figure out which wires to tap at the fronts for the signals. I know there are three wires per side and I don't want to tap the wrong wire.

Can anyone help me out by telling me which color wires to tap for either side?

 

I did this mod after getting my 07 TL-S heaglights cleared. I had the 60 SMT switchbacks and then bought the 92.

Honestly, you'd be stupid to put in the switchbacks without clearing your lenses. The whole point is both in having the true white light shine through (without any diffusers), and being legal by having it blink yellow. Taking the diffusers out makes it look so much better with the LED's. Even clear diffusers ruin the "wow" effect of the LED's.

That said, if you alredy have resistors in the rear, you don't need any in the front. The front and rear signals are on the same circuit, so you should be fine if you already installed the rear resistors.

 

BTW, my headlights were cleared by JNC. He does good work, if you don't want to do it yourself.