Electrical Using LEDs in rear fog lamp. (question)
#1
Using LEDs in rear fog lamp. (question)
I have a MCS 06 with factory rear fog lamp.
In an attempt to "clear" the entire back-end, I bought...
Clear rear fog lamp.
and
Red 1156 LED bulb.
Now the problem:
After installation, the LED bulb will not light up.
Troubleshooting:
When replaced with the incandescent bulb, it lights up fine.
LED works fine on the work bench but not when powered by the car.
Anyone run into this situation and have advice to get the LED bulb working?
Thanks
In an attempt to "clear" the entire back-end, I bought...
Clear rear fog lamp.
and
Red 1156 LED bulb.
Now the problem:
After installation, the LED bulb will not light up.
Troubleshooting:
When replaced with the incandescent bulb, it lights up fine.
LED works fine on the work bench but not when powered by the car.
Anyone run into this situation and have advice to get the LED bulb working?
Thanks
#2
You have to reverse the polarity (swap the + and - wires). The polarity doesn't matter for incandescents but it does for most LED bulbs.
The connector on the harness that plugs into the bulb holder comes apart and you can swap the positions of the connector pins. There is a C shaped clip that wraps around the center part where the contact pins are. You can remove this clip, then you have access the spring loaded metal part of the pin that holds it in place. When you press down on the catch with a small screwdriver, the pin releases and it can be pulled out of the housing. Do that for both pins and swap their positions. It's difficult to describe without pictures (in fact, if you do this and could post pictures, it will serve as a good reference for others).
Or you can do it the brute force way -- cut the harness wires and splice them back together opposite.
The connector on the harness that plugs into the bulb holder comes apart and you can swap the positions of the connector pins. There is a C shaped clip that wraps around the center part where the contact pins are. You can remove this clip, then you have access the spring loaded metal part of the pin that holds it in place. When you press down on the catch with a small screwdriver, the pin releases and it can be pulled out of the housing. Do that for both pins and swap their positions. It's difficult to describe without pictures (in fact, if you do this and could post pictures, it will serve as a good reference for others).
Or you can do it the brute force way -- cut the harness wires and splice them back together opposite.
#3
Awesome rkw.
I'm getting close to writting up a comprensive guide to clearing out the tail lights, third brake, and fog. Documented will be all the trials and tribulations I went through to achieve said result.
Said all that to say, this step with polarity issue will be included.
Thank you.
I'm getting close to writting up a comprensive guide to clearing out the tail lights, third brake, and fog. Documented will be all the trials and tribulations I went through to achieve said result.
Said all that to say, this step with polarity issue will be included.
Thank you.
#5
You have to reverse the polarity (swap the + and - wires). The polarity doesn't matter for incandescents but it does for most LED bulbs.
The connector on the harness that plugs into the bulb holder comes apart and you can swap the positions of the connector pins. There is a C shaped clip that wraps around the center part where the contact pins are. You can remove this clip, then you have access the spring loaded metal part of the pin that holds it in place. When you press down on the catch with a small screwdriver, the pin releases and it can be pulled out of the housing. Do that for both pins and swap their positions. It's difficult to describe without pictures (in fact, if you do this and could post pictures, it will serve as a good reference for others).
Or you can do it the brute force way -- cut the harness wires and splice them back together opposite.
The connector on the harness that plugs into the bulb holder comes apart and you can swap the positions of the connector pins. There is a C shaped clip that wraps around the center part where the contact pins are. You can remove this clip, then you have access the spring loaded metal part of the pin that holds it in place. When you press down on the catch with a small screwdriver, the pin releases and it can be pulled out of the housing. Do that for both pins and swap their positions. It's difficult to describe without pictures (in fact, if you do this and could post pictures, it will serve as a good reference for others).
Or you can do it the brute force way -- cut the harness wires and splice them back together opposite.
#7
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#8
I'd like to know about that bulb as well... Do they make one like that that can be used to replace the OEM red brake lamps? I like the look of LED in the tails, personally, but was avoiding replacing the stock lights because I wanted something that glowed to the rear AND the sides to light up the reflector - looks like that bulb shines in all directions.
#9
Whew! Luckily i came across this thread! I too, faced the same problems when i did my clear lights trasformation. And I almost threw the red LEDs away thinking it was spoilt! What i did was to use the bulbs provided by the clear taillights and carefully removed the bulbs and re-used it on the fogs!
I will head home later to change the wires around.
I will head home later to change the wires around.
#10
#11
Btw, the ones sold by autolumination sucks. I'm using LED bulbs from this Ebay store.
http://stores.ebay.com/Velocity-LEDs
http://stores.ebay.com/Velocity-LEDs
#12
Btw, the ones sold by autolumination sucks. I'm using LED bulbs from this Ebay store.
http://stores.ebay.com/Velocity-LEDs
http://stores.ebay.com/Velocity-LEDs
I bought this type first and returned them because they didn't light up the rear lamps that well.[FONT=Arial][SIZE=+1][/SIZE][/FONT]
#14
#15
You have to reverse the polarity (swap the + and - wires). The polarity doesn't matter for incandescents but it does for most LED bulbs.
[snip]
It's difficult to describe without pictures (in fact, if you do this and could post pictures, it will serve as a good reference for others).
[snip]
It's difficult to describe without pictures (in fact, if you do this and could post pictures, it will serve as a good reference for others).
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1593034
Last edited by matma92ser; 06-25-2007 at 07:56 PM.
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Photos here at post #5:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1593034
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1593034
I thought the LED bulbs I bought were dead or I accidentally cut a wire in half with the equalizer splicers. Reversed the wires and everything works great!
Last edited by Neufusion; 03-10-2011 at 12:27 AM.
#17
Really? The ones I bought are fantastic. I have this type in my rear lamps...
I bought this type first and returned them because they didn't light up the rear lamps that well.[FONT=Arial][SIZE=+1][/SIZE][/FONT]
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