LED Strips
LED Strips
So...I recently picked up a couple of these:
LINK

Install was easy...just had to get the mounting right. Well, it was finally dark out so I took some pics of the output. Here they are:




The LED reverse lights are from V-LEDs (search for vleds on ebay).
I'm going to have to recenter the license plate ones a bit more to the left. The dots on the plate are a reflection. The LED's themselves are not visible unless you're on the ground looking up at them.
Thought I'd share it with you guys in case anyone was interested in something like this.
LINK

Install was easy...just had to get the mounting right. Well, it was finally dark out so I took some pics of the output. Here they are:


The LED reverse lights are from V-LEDs (search for vleds on ebay).
I'm going to have to recenter the license plate ones a bit more to the left. The dots on the plate are a reflection. The LED's themselves are not visible unless you're on the ground looking up at them.
Thought I'd share it with you guys in case anyone was interested in something like this.
Last edited by IlyaK; Jul 3, 2009 at 02:11 PM.
**** NOTE: If installing in the trunk like I did, or setting them against metal, put electric tape between LED strip and metal surface. Otherwise, you'll short the strips. ****
Best thing is...those strips are cuttable. They come 4 or 5 per group...and like 5 groups per strip. You can cut off the ones you don't need to use so it's not as bright, etc.
I spliced the trunk ones to the trunk light (red wire I believe - or maybe it was purple? lol). Had to remove the rear seats and remove the rear deck lid to get to the wiring but I've done that so many time for speakers so it only took me like 20 min total.
License plate I just unhooked the stock harness, shove the wires in to the connector (didn't cut or splice anything) and then taped the crap out of it so the wires don't pop out. Been good so far.
As for mounting, I completely removed the bracket and just zip tied the lights to the bumper. You'll see where to zip tie them.
I spliced the trunk ones to the trunk light (red wire I believe - or maybe it was purple? lol). Had to remove the rear seats and remove the rear deck lid to get to the wiring but I've done that so many time for speakers so it only took me like 20 min total.
License plate I just unhooked the stock harness, shove the wires in to the connector (didn't cut or splice anything) and then taped the crap out of it so the wires don't pop out. Been good so far.
As for mounting, I completely removed the bracket and just zip tied the lights to the bumper. You'll see where to zip tie them.
Last edited by IlyaK; Jul 3, 2009 at 02:13 PM.
I had a cop behind me the first night I had em and he did a u-turn after realizing he had nothing to pull me over for. If anything, it helps the cops cause they don't have to get up to your bumper to read your plates hahaha.
I have to re-center the license plate strip, but I'm pleased. For $15 or whatever I spent, not bad.
Yea the road I got the ticket on, I drive it everyday at least twice and have never seen a cop. He was hiding in the garage of this house that is under construction too...sneaky ****
No. They are on a stiffish type of board. They have a little flex, but not enough to do bumper lights.
Google LED strips. There are a couple I also considered which were ultra flexible. I didn't use those because I knew where I was putting them and I wanted something 'rigid' that wouldn't flop around, etc. That's what she said...hahaha.
Google LED strips. There are a couple I also considered which were ultra flexible. I didn't use those because I knew where I was putting them and I wanted something 'rigid' that wouldn't flop around, etc. That's what she said...hahaha.
I'm actually thinking of picking up two more strips of blue and cutting them down to size to have a nice glow (not too bright - kind of like the 07-08 TL's) on when the lights are on under the dash and seats.
Also, my headunit (Kenwood DNX8120) has a couple of 'switches' options that you can connect external things to and I can enable/disable the lights via the headunit.
Also, my headunit (Kenwood DNX8120) has a couple of 'switches' options that you can connect external things to and I can enable/disable the lights via the headunit.
No. They are on a stiffish type of board. They have a little flex, but not enough to do bumper lights.
Google LED strips. There are a couple I also considered which were ultra flexible. I didn't use those because I knew where I was putting them and I wanted something 'rigid' that wouldn't flop around, etc. That's what she said...hahaha.
Google LED strips. There are a couple I also considered which were ultra flexible. I didn't use those because I knew where I was putting them and I wanted something 'rigid' that wouldn't flop around, etc. That's what she said...hahaha.

Gotcha, thanks!
http://www.v-leds.com/1156-7507-LED/...orLanding/true
expensive though.
Ilya - did you have to put a resistor in to make your reverse lights work or is it inside the bulb? i'm asking because i got led bulbs for my front blinkers and they don't work...so i'm assuming i'll need a resistor for those (got them cheap on ebay).
You'll need a resistor. Resistor is only needed for blinking lights as far as I know. Reverse lights don't blink.
V-Leds has turn signal ones...which should be okay. I dunno which ones you got though. I haven't had issues with any LED's inside or outside.
V-Leds has turn signal ones...which should be okay. I dunno which ones you got though. I haven't had issues with any LED's inside or outside.
Rather than make a new thread, I'll ask here. Since you mentioned the use of LED bulbs...I got a few from PepBoys before for my bumper light side marker, and it didn't work. I got one for my dome light, and it too didn't work. Any idea why that would be? The bulbs are the correct kind I know that..
But those LED Strips looks great. They come pre-wired I assume, just power and ground?
But those LED Strips looks great. They come pre-wired I assume, just power and ground?
Look at my cardomain. If I turn my lights on inside the car, it's as clear as day. I used 24 LED boards in my dome light and 12 LED boards in my map light.
Rather than make a new thread, I'll ask here. Since you mentioned the use of LED bulbs...I got a few from PepBoys before for my bumper light side marker, and it didn't work. I got one for my dome light, and it too didn't work. Any idea why that would be? The bulbs are the correct kind I know that..
But those LED Strips looks great. They come pre-wired I assume, just power and ground?
But those LED Strips looks great. They come pre-wired I assume, just power and ground?
Yes, they come with wires. Just splice to a power, and splice to a ground.
Yep, I turned them around. Got nothing! Weird.
Ahh well. Thanks for the info, I'll probably buy some of these soon! They look great!
Edit: I also just visited the site and saw this --and I was wondering if this would be useful anywhere? At first I was thinking hey this would be easy to just plug into the door light harness but then...that wouldn't work would it..because it's like male to male so to speak?
Ahh well. Thanks for the info, I'll probably buy some of these soon! They look great!
Edit: I also just visited the site and saw this --and I was wondering if this would be useful anywhere? At first I was thinking hey this would be easy to just plug into the door light harness but then...that wouldn't work would it..because it's like male to male so to speak?
Last edited by Eyce; Mar 31, 2009 at 03:42 PM.
Yep, I turned them around. Got nothing! Weird.
Ahh well. Thanks for the info, I'll probably buy some of these soon! They look great!
Edit: I also just visited the site and saw this --and I was wondering if this would be useful anywhere? At first I was thinking hey this would be easy to just plug into the door light harness but then...that wouldn't work would it..because it's like male to male so to speak?
Ahh well. Thanks for the info, I'll probably buy some of these soon! They look great!
Edit: I also just visited the site and saw this --and I was wondering if this would be useful anywhere? At first I was thinking hey this would be easy to just plug into the door light harness but then...that wouldn't work would it..because it's like male to male so to speak?
Yes you can.
Here is a picture with the bulbs:

Nowhere near as bright and even. You can see two globs of light. Unattractive in my opinion.



