Xpecial

WARNING, LONG POST WITH MANY MANY QUESTIONS

Ok so I'm planning on clearing my headlights this weekend and I'm going to replace the stock turn signal bulbs with LEDs. the problem is, I have no idea which ones to get. I am currently looking at the switchbacks on http://www.autolumination.com/switchback.html but which exact ones do I get? is it the 7443 bulb with 48 or 60 LEDs? And what is the difference between Amber-White (AO) and Amber-White (AW)? which one should i get if I want it to run white but signal orange? and also I'm told i'll need load resistors so i'm look at some from http://autolumination.com/equalizers.htm and which one of these am I supposed to get based on OHM and Wattage? I'm sorry this is such a long post but I really don't want to mess up and do it over again. Thanks in advance

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

If you have a 2004-2008 Base model than you want 7443.

It doesn't matter if you get 48 LED, 60 LED, 68 LED, or even 120 LED. They all fit. The more LEDs = The brighter the light output. (I highly recommend you get at least 60 LEDs because it's kind of hard to see 48 LEDs during the day time with the sun shining on your head lights. Other cars will not be able to see your turn signals until they are very close to your car, compared to being able to see it from 100+ feet away. At night time LEDs look bright as hell no matter how many LEDs you get)

The difference between AO and AW is...

AO (Amber-Off)- When you turn your headlights on (or just parking lights with no head lights) than it will light up WHITE. As soon as you hit your turn signal the WHITE WILL TURN OFF and it will blink AMBER... AMBER... AMBER... AMBER... Once you complete the turn, or turn off the turn signal than it will turn off amber and go back to WHITE.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON AND SIGNAL, IT WILL JUST BLINK AMBER...AMBER..AMBER...AMBER...

AW (Amber-White)- When you turn your headlights on (or just parking lights with no headlights) than it will light up WHITE... THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS as soon as you hit your turn signal it will blink AMBER...WHITE....AMBER...WHITE...AMBER...WHITE... Once you complete the turn, or turn off the turn signal it will go back to WHITE.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON AND SIGNAL, IT WILL JUST BLINK AMBER...AMBER..AMBER...AMBER...

Here is an example of my car with AO

Here is an example of CLtotheTL32 switchbacks with AW (Amber-White)

And for your question about the resistor. I highly recommend you just to do this. It's easier, cheaper, and more safe.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/g-109-diy-eliminate-led-bulb-induced-hyper-flashing-without-load-resistors-815219/

Xpecial

Wow I did not expect one single person to answer ALL my questions. Thanks a lot man you deserve a medal. So I think i'll go with the 60-60 SMT Stealth ultimate switchbacks from the website i mention. Can i just stick them into the headlights or would i have to retro fit them?

wojo1988

^ great answer. Helped me out too

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

It's as simple as changing a light bulb. No need for "modification" or "retrofitting" you just un twist your old turn signal bulbs and screw in the new one.

Make sure you clear your headlights before you do this because if you still have the amber diffuser in place, the WHITE on the LED will still look amber/yellow because of the amber diffuser. AMBER DIFFUSER + White LED = PISS YELLOW. I used to have mines like that until I got it cleared.

The good things about those 60-60 switchbacks from autolumination is that they are a total of 60 LEDs that are dual function. Meaning 60 LEDs will light up white, and those exact same 60 LEDs have the ability to change from white to amber, so you get both 60 WHITE and 60 AMBER LEDs. Here's a warning though, some members have had a bad experience purchasing from autolumination and said that they will never purchase anything from them, while other members have had 0 problems. It's up to you... You're risking $70, so if you have the money than go for it. If not, I would recommend eBay instead.

Most other switchbacks that are 60 LED are only 30 white and 30 amber (totals 60, but half of the LEDs are 1 color, the other half is the 2nd color).

Pay attention to the pricing on autolumination... The price you see is PER BULB, not PER PAIR.

If I recall, the price is about $29.99 / PER. You will need two.

2 bulbs + shipping will put you at about $60-70 I believe.

I went the cheaper route and just bought 60 LED from Kaixen Motors on eBay. They are 30 white, 30 amber just like you see in my video with the black TL

Xpecial

oh shoot... looks like autolumination has a pretty bad history. Looks like i'll resort to some other place then. I'll check out the kaixens on eBay, thanks again viet.

RJW_NY

i will be purchasing switchbacks in the near future...

no experience with autolumination, and would prefer not to buy LEDs on eBay, i have had great experience with VLEDS

http://www.v-leds.com/

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

The switchbacks from V-Leds is "MEH". I say this because they are only 48 LEDs total. 24 light up white the other 24 light up amber. That's not very bright at all.

I'd rather get the 60LED from eBay for the same price as v-leds.

However, for license plate lights or interior led lights I recommend V-LEDs all the way. Just not for switchbacks

Xpecial

I was going to go with the vleds but i think i need something brighter. but all the 60-60s on ebay don't really specify If they are AO or AW and I kind of want an AW. also i'm not sure if the prices are per pair or per bulb. anyone else have any reliable recommendations for switchbacks?

-edit- I also heard that 60-60 LEDs won't fit in the housing for our cars. is this true?

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

Not true. Look at the date on those posts that you've read "the 60-60 LEDs won't fit in the housing for our cars".

You'll probably notice that they are dated from 2007-2009.

The reason I say this is because several years ago LEDs were much thicker and bigger than they are now. The technology for LEDs have advances and therefore the switchback LEDs now use much smaller bulbs compared to several years ago, and yet they are still much brighter.

They will fit 100%.

There's people that have 120 LED bulbs in their TL.. 60-60 LED bulb is only 60LEDs total.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

ME



I love em.

Xpecial

does anyone have any recommendations that have good reliability for 60-60 or higher LEDs? or should I just go with autolumination/eBay

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

I believe autolumination is the only place you can purchase 60-60 style LEDS. I think they have it patented.

Ebay has 120 LED switchbacks (40 white 80 amber) but they cost ~$50/pair.
Ebay also has 60 LED (30 white 30 amber) for ~$30-40/pair. I use these. Sold by Kaixen Motors. These are Amber-Off (Which is also called "Type 2 style"

If you want it to blink amber-white than those are also called "Type 1". Some Ebay listings DO have Type 1s, you just have to thoroughly read the listing to find out.

VicTL06

Where from? Autolumonation?

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Yes.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

I would not buy from Autolumination....their shit doesnt work half the time....

i believe the 1157 bulbs has the heavy duty from Autolumination which works good but the 7443 doesnt have that option....when i ordered the 60-60 LEDS from autolumination the first one arrived dead....had to pay for return shipping....the 2nd one lasted for 1 week and then the same expenses....

i finally got pissed and asked for my money back....when you pay $30 PER LED module + shipping....you expect them to last....

check with superbrightleds or vleds for their switchbacks.....

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Mine are the heavy duty version =)
NOTE: I had to specially specify to "Send the heavy duty version".

BIG thanks to bforbrian who mentioned it.

You have specify it to them, otherwise you'll just buy the regular version.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ do they have the HD version in the 7443 ??? i thought that was only for 1157....

Xpecial

Do the 120-120 switchbacks fit perfectly into the stock housings?

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Mine is a heavy duty version, and it's a 7443

So yes

I emailed them before I ordered:

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Yes, no fitment problems.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

can you post a link of what exact product you ordered....i might give them another shot

if this doesnt work imma be PISSSSEEDDDD !!!

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

http://autolumination.com/7443_7440.htm

120 High Powered Wide Angle SMT LEDS

Amber

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ ahhh see those are not switchbacks right !!!

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Right

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^

RJW_NY

got a video of these in action?

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

scroll up.....VIET has 2 videos posted !!!

RJW_NY

both videos are switchbacks...

I am looking for the 120 all white LED bulb from autolumination in action that guitarplayer16 is using, parking light and blinking...

i can't decide if I should get switchbacks or not...

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

Don't get white... Get AMBER colored LEDs. Guitarplayer has amber colored 120LEDs.

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ i agree....

also i dont think blinking WHITE is even legal....it has to be a different color than the headlights so it can "grab" attention....well not that all mods on my car are legal but just wanted to put it out there....

RJW_NY

I want the front of the car to be all white at night...i have 6k lows and fogs, and will be doing 6k parking lights...don't know if i want them to blink white or amber....

my previous cars both had white blinkers up front, never had issues, i know it may not be illegal but that's not my biggest concern...i didn't know he had amber...my bad.

Xpecial

Finally got to clearing my headlights and got the 120 LED switchbacks in. Was a PITA but worth it. thanks for answering all my questions guys, but I have one more. I'm looking for a nice super white/blueish HID bulb to color match the LEDs... any suggestions? I'm currently checking out stuff from theretrofitsource and they seem to have a lot of cool things

RJW_NY

pure white 4300k

blue/white-6k

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I love switchbacks.

k1x

iTrader: (1)

quick question: do i have to open up my headlights to put my switchbacks in? or its just plug and play like replacing my drl bulbs? thanks gurus!

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

@ opening headlight
@ plug and play from the wheel well

TripleLex

It doesn't matter if you get 48 LED, 60 LED, 68 LED, or even 120 LED. They all fit. The more LEDs = The brighter the light output. (I highly recommend you get at least 60 LEDs because it's kind of hard to see 48 LEDs during the day time with the sun shining on your head lights. Other cars will not be able to see your turn signals until they are very close to your car, compared to being able to see it from 100+ feet away. At night time LEDs look bright as hell no matter how many LEDs you get)

The difference between AO and AW is...

AO (Amber-Off)- When you turn your headlights on (or just parking lights with no head lights) than it will light up WHITE. As soon as you hit your turn signal the WHITE WILL TURN OFF and it will blink AMBER... AMBER... AMBER... AMBER... Once you complete the turn, or turn off the turn signal than it will turn off amber and go back to WHITE.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON AND SIGNAL, IT WILL JUST BLINK AMBER...AMBER..AMBER...AMBER...

AW (Amber-White)- When you turn your headlights on (or just parking lights with no headlights) than it will light up WHITE... THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS as soon as you hit your turn signal it will blink AMBER...WHITE....AMBER...WHITE...AMBER...WHITE... Once you complete the turn, or turn off the turn signal it will go back to WHITE.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON AND SIGNAL, IT WILL JUST BLINK AMBER...AMBER..AMBER...AMBER...



Awesome explanation! Thank you for also clearing that up for me.
Just want to make sure about one thing tho.. I don't think I saw this answered here or just missed it but would I need any type of resistor for the switchbacks?

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Hi TripleLex. Unless you want hyper flash turn signals, you will need to install resistors OR do the recommended relay mod found here:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=815219

It was slightly intimidating, but actually fairly simple, even to someone who had never held a soldering iron.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

About the size, I would NOT say they all fit, sir...
My 120's were pushing the limit, if they had been a half MM thicker (that's what she said...) they would NOT have fit into the hole.