Safety First! LED's 1157 bulbs in taillights and signal

[JayRamb]

As I was driving to a car show 2 weeks ago for a National Night out event, sponsored by the St. Paul Police Department, I always drive cautiously in traffic. I rarely rarely take my Eagle out when it is weekly rush hour traffic, but there was a car show! 

I always touch the brake to forewarn those behind me (HEY I AM STOPPING!). Well an Asian lady was on her cell phone in her Toyota Camry, and practically rear ended me. I was furious and scared. So I remember talking to my friend, AMC'er, Jerry. He said, 'Install LED's in your taillights like I did on my Ambassador'. He was paranoid of getting rear ended and wanted to make sure he was 'seen'!

So, thanks to that website with the colorful 4 letter word, I hooked me up some LED's. I will be installing those this week on my wagon's taillights! Looking forward to it! Not only will I be seen, but I will be noticed even more.  "HEY THAT EAGLE HAS LED'S...THAT'S AN EAGLE!!!! MY MOM USED TO HAVE ONE!! I love comments like those!

[vangremlin]

Good suggestion, I used to have some in my TBird.  I also installed a 3rd brakelight in my Kammback.  I've picked up one for my coupe also, just need to find the time to install it!

[Billman]

Is this conversion just bulbs or are relays required for voltage to make it work?

[carnuck]

You swap the bulbs, and you will need an electronic flasher replacement or your signals won't work unless it's a resistored bulb.

[eaglefreek]

Yes, no relay needed. LEDs use less much less amperage and hence the need for the electronic flasher. In my research for changing to LEDs,  I've seen reviews that they aren't an improvement in some lenses designed for incandescent bulbs depending on the number and  how the LEDs are arranged. Somebody was working on LED taillights for our Eagles, but haven't heard any new info.

[carnuck]

I was going to graft in some LED '90s? Mustang lights, but they wanted too much for them used compared to new so I took them back. (that was before I broke my RH light)

[JayRamb]

I got 4 for 11.99. Great deal! they used to be so expensive! thank god they cam edown in price!

[Prafeston]

Just so you know. You can say eBay, Craiglist, etc etc here. You won't be banned!

[attemptnumber2]

I did side markers, taillights, back turn signals and reverse lights on my sx/4.  They look awesome at night, they are a lot brighter, they work perfect, use a lot less juice, and the reverse lights are like spot lights behind me. No squinting for me anymore when I have to back up at night.

Side note, you are supposed to use a resistor if the vehicle does the fast blink to let you know a bulb is blown. So far I have not had that problem but if I did I would just get the resistors that hook up to the wires back by the lights. They are pretty cheap too.

I found a lot of pertinent information when looking into led's for my 94 mustang. With that said google research a 96 mustang led taillight conversion and that is where a lot of information is. I have 96 taillights on mine.

[carnuck]

Evil bay!


That felt good! 

[AMC1]

Sorry I'm a little confused on this. Are you fellows saying  that LED's  are not an improvement due to the SX4 taillight lens. Is "Attemptnumber2" using '96 Mustang taillight lenses on his Eagle?

[TLC87Eagle]

How do you like the LEDs JayRamb?
I've been considering this upgrade for a while now, but didn't want to hassle with the resistor for the turn signals.
I understand that they make types with built in resistors so that "hyper-blinking" doesn't occur on the turn signals, but they are hard to find in amber.
I also found that for best results, you need LEDs the same color as the lens your using, as white LEDs through a colored lens can be less bright than incandescent in a lot cases. The number and type of LEDs plays a big factor too on how bright they will be.
I've just been waiting on a proven set-up before I invest, since LEDs are still relatively new for use in cars.

[JayRamb]

Well gang, I tackled this yesterday. Not happenin'. Sorry. They wanted me to 'reverse' the polarity. I wasn't going to molest the wiring.

So, I bought the Sylvania Ultra lights. (they are a WHITE light with a light blue bulb. They look great and considerably brighter!

I returned the bulbs to my supplier. Sorry guys...get the blue lights/whiter light.

[Amc1320]

Thanks for this info, my son was wanting to get the led bulbs they sell at autozone for his sx4 , they are pricey

It says they are a direct plug in but I wasn't so sure

[attemptnumber2]

No. I said search like you are doing the led swap on a mustang. Their is a lot more technical info out there for a mustang than an Eagle.

Who wanted you to reverse your polarity? That is the first I have hears of that and it makes no sense why reversing polarity would do anything to a lightbulb. It can't light backwards.

I do not recommend by each one at your local parts store. I sunk 100 bucks into them and have every light but the front turn signals and headlights converted. I did dome light, dash lights, all four markers, taillights and reverse lights. Bulk buying is always cheaper. I bought all mine from Amazon.

As soon as I get the front end of my car back together I will snap some pics.