bagwell

iTrader: (1)

its a 7440 bulb....can't believe nobody makes a nice LED assy for the CU2.

Is there a Honda LED equivalent?

KillerG

soooo you can swap the bulb to an LED but it wont really improve the look.

You can use the LED brake lights from the civic, but doing so is a pretty intensive DIY that requires removal of the rear deck... one guy has done it.

If anyone is willing to make a nice easy to follow DIY and showcase all the steps then id do it, im just afraid to do it as it is now the DIY isnt clear on how to remove all the paneling back there

KillerG

since i am an amazing person (and i am bored in class) i found it for you

and it turns out that the photohosting has expired:

http://alturl.com/yeiqe

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

so part number 34270-SNC-A01 will fit and work? approx $90

I heard it is pretty intensive removing all the parts....but I was thinking of removing and painting my rear deck matt black anyway instead of the light beige it is now.

khoacu2

I didnt do led on my 3rd brakelight but i did put a sensor in to where it will blink 3 or 4 time really fast everytime you apply the brakes.

I KNOW IT OFF TOPIC BUT IF ANYONE WANT A PIC OR A VIDEO CLIP I CAN TAKE ONE

opboarding

Taking out the rear deck is a HUGE pain in the ass. Took me a few hours and many curse words. I thought about putting LEDS in there but in the end I didn't feel like it would be worth the effort.

KillerG

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...t+OEM&_sacat=0

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

I had a flasher before too....pretty cool.

I'm assuming just changing the bulb is pretty simple??

BobbyC

thats a LOT of work just to replace a few light bulbs.

im cool with what i have there. lol

ssjoeboe9

How hard is it to change our other tail lights to LEDs?

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

I just dropped an older 7440 LED bulb I had into the 3rd brake light....much easier and cheaper than replacing the entire assy.

TSXV6Guy

I replaced the stock 3rd brake light with the Civic Hybrid's LED module. It's a direct fit, both physical and electrical... BUT, as folks have said here, you need to remove the rear shelf.

Here's a pic of what the final product looks like.



I won't get in the details of the rear shelf removal. Best is to consult the service manual for details. But it's long and have to be careful not to b break something, and to make sure that everything is back properly to avoid rattles etc...

Here are the part numbers needed:

91561-TA0-A11 CLIP, RR. PILLAR GARNISH (Metal Clip, Dark Green) >> 1 each side. These will get broken during the removal process.

91560-SLJ-J01 CLIP, DOOR LINING (LIGHT GRAY) >> 5 each side + 19 for complete rear shelf and shelf bulkhead cover >>> You will almost certainly damage some if not all of these during the removal process so best is to have them handy.

34270-SNC-A02 LIGHT ASSY., HIGH MOUNT STOP (From honda Civic Hybrid) >> the obvious...

Here's a pic of the rear shelf removed. (I also put some dynamat while at it to improve soundproofing, but did not notice any difference.

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

holy shit....uh yeah I'm good with tossing this in the existing socket.....

ssjoeboe9

So one light goes out and you have to remove the whole panel?

TSXV6Guy

Yep... Or I will have to sell the car

ceb

If in fact the repair is so convoluted and requires special tools (in this case even a trim tool is "special") then Acura may be in violation of Federal law.

FMVSS 108 5.1.1.27(4) [high mounted stop lamps] "Shall provide access for convenient replacement of the bulbs without special tools."

This sounds neither convenient nor does it seem possible without special tools or technical experience. The spirit of the reg is to have the CHMSL to be replaced by the owner.

Acura is not the first manufacturer to run afoul of this. When GTI CHMSLs started to leak and burn out, we got VW to extend the warranty to 10 years as the rear spoiler needed to be removed to access the assembly.

BobbyC

learn something new every day.
i had no idea that was a law.
it makes sense but ive never had to replace the 3rd brake light in any car ive owned and ive owned quite a few.

i remember when my 05 accords headlight blew out.
it couldnt be reached without taking out a bunch of crap. i had to pay honda $60+ to change a light bulb that blew out again in a few months. i wish i had known about this law then.

ceb

That only pertains to the CHMSL - not headlights. I don't think the regulators ever envisioned headlights where you had to remove half the car to get to the bulb.

drivedata

@honda, now you know how everyone else feels. i however will say to you sir. that is good info as per usual.

KillerG

this will literally almost do nothing except to make it a little brighter, possibly even less bright given that it might not throw light as well as a halogen

KillerG

the bulb is pretty easy to replace, the only way to get the LED strip look is to remove and change the whole entire assembly, which is a completely different beast of a process

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

correct...!!! I'm guessing that's why it's not LED....altho the upper models of the Civic are

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

isn't that the whole point?

ceb

Wait - are you saying that it is easy to replace the bulbs in the CHMSL - but it is difficult to replace them with a strip of LEDs?

In that case they would be complying with the law. The VW case was different. All the bulbs were in one sealed unit. In order to remove the unit you had to take a flexible saw and cut off the spoiler. VW even said that you would need a new spoiler therafter because most broke when you cut them off.

PyroDave

yea they didnt fuck up. the assembly is extremely difficult to change, but there is one bulb there which gets refracted in the housing and is the third brake light. this mod is to take out the entire housing and put in the one from the 06+ civic which uses an LED strip. the bulb alone is replaceable without too much difficulty

KillerG

err maybe for you and usually for like 90% of bulb changes it usually just is but me personally id rather have the 3rd light as an led strip light vs a halogen style bulb

TSXV6Guy

Exactly. The fact that the housing of our car and that of the 06+ civic hybrid are 100% compatible (direct fit, plug-and-play) was what motivated the mod. The end result is a completely "factory" look, so it's a mod that doesn't look like one!

musty hustla

I'm interested. Could you show a vid?

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

much better with LEDs....

bagwell

iTrader: (1)

I'd rather have an LED strip too, but I'm not gonna spend hours trying to disassemble the rear deck and not damage anything.

I'll post before and after pics when I get the 68 SMD bulb in there.

opboarding

The other day I was behind a brand new MDX with the flashing third brake light. It only blinked twice though, so it was subtle and not distracting. The one in the second video posted where it flashes a whole bunch of times I feel gets really distracting. Almost does more harm than good.

ceb

Which is why flashing brake lights are illegal.

opboarding

I approve of it's illegalness. I get distracted easily, especially when it comes to things on other cars.

PyroDave

squirrel

khoacu2

If it was illegal i would have a million tickets already i see cops everyday i work and live beside a police station and they never have any issue with it. Mine only blink 3 times, and you can also adjust it. I ask THEM they said it fine help people be aware of cars.

drivedata

and bewbs

opboarding

Especially by those things.

ceb

FMVSS 108 requires brake lights to be "steady burning." The states cannot change a Federal requirement but they can choose not to enforce it. That doesn't make it any less illegal.

It is important to note that there are tests underway to determine if the regs need to be changed but right now the status quo is "steady state." Here is a link to a study

musty hustla

I can't see how it can be negatively attention grabbing. If I'm braking, I want other cars to notice and brake too!

Thanks for the vids!

KillerG

Also has to do with like keeping everything standard. Guy follows you on the highway for 30 mins for a long trip and slows down everytime he sees your ultra brake flash LEDs. Cool.

You pull out to your destination and this poor slob follows the next guy into traffic and while the guy in front slows down, poor slob is subconciously waiting for that guys flashing LEDs to come on so he can stop, but that never happens

boom accident



and then you are tried for homicide and go to jail for the rest of your life

do you want that?