I've browsed through a few postings about LEDs, and I'm a little unclear on something: Do all LEDs, esp. those designed for 1156 and 1157 type bulbs, cause the signal mechanism to flash rapidly? Or is it just some brands that do this? I was thinking that maybe if there are those that don't, they've built in a small resistor to keep the "oem" flash rate.

Also, has anyone bought LEDTronics LEDs? They are pricey, but would you recommend them? How well do they behave in a direct bulb to LED replacement for 1156 and 1157? It seems that these would be the brightest available and cover the needed angle (120 degrees).

Thanks!

 

The LED lights should NOT cause the blinker to blink rapidly. Only some LED lights do this, they have something built in them that make them do this. Do a search on eBay to see what you come up with. Many of them on there do not have this and will blink with the OEM blinker rate.

 

I had red LED's in my rear blinkers. They blinked the same as OEM however they SUCKD in the daytime, you could barely notice I had my blinker on. I have red/clear tails

 

Flashers work on the concept of current draw or wattage consumed by the circuit. The less wattages is consumed, the faster the flasher will flash. That's why when a bulb fails, the remaining lamps flash faster. Though i'm not sure of the exact composition of a flasher unit, I think that it is designed as a capacitance circuit, which allows charge to build up to a certain point until flow is allowed to occur. Some poorly constructed LED replacement could very well not draw enough current. This would cause the circuit to flash a a higher rate.

 

Yeah, I tired the front orange turn signals. They sucked. Just not bright enough. In order to do it right, you gotta do it like Cadillac, big bad LED array of like 50 LEDs per light. The Deville and the last Catera had the best.

DW

 

I tried LED in the front bumper blinkers and did not light up at all. Why? The LED did light up in the back though, and they blinked fast when my parking lights were on. Could it be because I have rewired blinkers front and back?

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. Very helpful. I'm guessing that the cheaper LED's, like Hyper, are the ones which aren't constructed well and cause a rapid flash rate.

Yeah, the best LED appearance is when you've got them covering a large area like on Cadillacs and Mercedes. I've heard the replacement cost of the tails of a DeVille is something like $1200!

As to why LED bulb replacements don't work in the front, I have no idea. Technically speaking, it is the same kind of circuit as in the rear. If the original bulb has current, the LED replacement should as well.

Looks like bright Polargs or PIAAs are the way to go. I just wish someone would come out with a 1157 that has a brighter low wattage fillament, like 27/15w. 21/5w is just a little too dim.