LED side mirror turn signals

[Papa Rad17]

Ok, I finally got them installed. It's rather easy, with the exception of fishing the wire through the mirrors and door. But the thing I can't figure out is why do they come on as soon as the key is inserted to the on position? They blink with the turn siganls so I don't see how I could have it spliced into something else, do I need a resistor for them? Power for both was taken from under the interior fuse panels where the power for everything runs to the back. It's kind of cool having them on all the time but when I get out in the contry they are just to bright. I will post pics asap. anyone *cough* cherrington *cough* I need some help.
Also, I can't get them to turn on at any other time, not when switching to dims or parking lights, they key must be in the on position they just come on and go off with it... Resistor need?... They are just a 6" strip of the side emoting LEDs. I'm really confused by this...

[cavaliers60]

If they come on when you turn the key to on, you might have them wired to the wrong wires... Mine never required resisters cause they should be built into the strips. I'll check my wiring later today and let you know which two... I'll finally get to taking the pictures. haha

[cherrington17]

ok.... a link to the product and a possible more detailed explanation of what wire you spliced into would be necessary. (color/location) if not pictures of where and how...

sounds like you spliced a constant on, rather then the timer wire for the turning signals.


From a quick look in the haynes wiring section, it looks like you want to splice a light blue wire for left, and a dark blue for the right.

This will make them blink ONLY when the turning signals are activated. (you'll probably need a load resistor though, to prevent hyper blinking) Before you splice those, I'd check them with a digital multimeter. Since they are after the timer, the 12V should "blink" at the same interval as your turning signal...and only when the turning signal is engaged.

[Shiwnath]

I agree with Cherrington. There should be 3 wires connected to each 3157 turn signal bulb at the front of your car. I cant remember if you splice into the Brown or Blue wire. I want to say Blue but I'm not 100% sure

[cherrington17]

The directions I gave would be splicing into the wires coming out of the turning signal switch. You can find them under the dash somewhere. (rather then going through the firewall twice)

[Papa Rad17]

I spliced into them where they run under the bottom door cover panel you step over to get it, to the ones running to the back. I checked both rear turn signals and spliced into the same wired as was running to them, drivers side, light blue with black stripe and brown, passenger side, dark blue and the larger brown wire. If I had spliced into a constant how they still be blinking with the turn signals?... http://www.oznium.com/side-emitting-led-strip a 6" red strip. it has 9 lights on it.

[Papa Rad17]

New discovery- with no key in ignition or anything they will not blink with the turn signals when I hit the hazard lights... I can't even describe how much I'm confused by this...

[cavaliers60]

lol, if you want, we can meet up sometime this next week. I'll take a look at it for you. I will be in Olney tomorrow for a lake outing, if you want to come. It's with my church. We will be boating and such. :)

[Papa Rad17]

I'm helping my dad get his wedding together tomorrow or else I would. If you could let me know what wires you spliced into and if I can't get it we'll have to meet up sometime.

[cherrington17]

Those do appear to be the correct wires going to the rear turning signals.... but the brown is a signal wire for your parking break system. All those should be grounded via a black wire. Move your ground wire to a ground thats on the car's sheet metal (anywhere will work) and see if that changes things.

[Papa Rad17]

I will let you know

[Papa Rad17]

When running to metal it will not work, at all. So I tried splicing into the 3 diff black wires, one of them turned it on all the time but it would still blink w/ turn sigs, the others didn't work at all. None of the other brown wires would work either... So I for sure have one of the wires right? Right? Is it possible that the blue ones are the negative and I need to flip then splice into the proper black? That's about the only other thing I can think of...

[cavaliers60]

I'm going over to the car to take some pics right now. :lol: Be back soon.

[cherrington17]

test all connection separately with a continuity meter

OR

Test all separately to a known good ground. Something is a miss here.

[cherrington17]

also.. is it possible you have your power and ground mixed up AT the LED strip?

[cavaliers60]

Oh! good point Cherr! I noticed. I believe the white strip is ground and the solid black is positive on the LED strips. I had troubles with them and found out that they are like that. You would think the solid black was ground (according to standard DC wiring, black is ground), but I do believe it is positive.

Went out and looked at the car (wife had it), and it shows the passenger side being the darker blue wire. there are two blue wires that run to the back, one is sky/baby blue, and the other is just blue. The regular blue wire is the one you want... The other side is a blue/black wire. The ground is definitely black going to the signals.

Also, a good rule to follow when dealing with prewired LEDs and LED strips.... Have a 9V battery handy to check which is pos. and which is neg.. This has saved me a lot of time in the past. :lol: I've come across situations where some prewired LEDs were wired backwards.

[Papa Rad17]

^cav, I got the same thing for my passenger side as well, my guess is i have the pos/neg flipped where I sodered in the wire extensions to get down there. My meter burnt in my house fire last year and I still haven't got another one yet, ima see what I can figure out, brb!

[cavaliers60]

Passenger side:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/cavaliers60/IMG_1800.jpg

driver side:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/cavaliers60/IMG_1802.jpg

[cavaliers60]

^cav, I got the same thing for my passenger side as well, my guess is i have the pos/neg flipped where I sodered in the wire extensions to get down there. My meter burnt in my house fire last year and I still haven't got another one yet, ima see what I can figure out, brb!

That's probably what it is. Try switching them and see what happens. :)

[Papa Rad17]

Fixed! Passenger side-dark blue and black w/ white stripe
Drivers side- light blue w/black stripe and black (idk if it matter which black)
They now blink with the turn signals all the time! I suppose if you want them as running/turn signal light you could do what I did originally lol.
Thanks for the help guys! I will get pics up tonight.
Cav, what are you doing to tonight? My buddy and I were going to hang out (he has an alero too) and I think a trip to vinncens might be in order.

[cherrington17]

Haha... had them flipped, eh?

:thumb: good job getting it working!

[cavaliers60]

I'm working tonight. I work overnight shift at McDonalds on 6th street.

[cavaliers60]

Haha... had them flipped, eh?

:thumb: good job getting it working!

Yeah, those little side strips are weird.... The wiring is backwards from what you'd think they would be. :lol: I didn't think about it till it was mentioned.

[Papa Rad17]

I'm working tonight. I work overnight shift at McDonalds on 6th street.
^darn
But ya, I already freaking love them, I will say I'm very glad I went the red instead of amber, it's looks pretty freaking sexy. I'm suprized I manged to flip em on both sides but oh well, they work like a charm now. I really appreciate they help guys, made my day a lot easier.

[cavaliers60]

glad it all works now! They are pretty awesome. I'm happy I did it too. I've been tossing up the idea of putting 4-6 prewired 3mm LEDs facing the front of the mirror... I'd drill some small holes to push them through to keep them somewhat hidden. I'm just not 100% on doing it yet...I do know that I want to wire one or two to the bottom of the mirror housing to light up the outside a bit at night.

[Papa Rad17]

well, another revision. i just got back from taking the car out for the first time scence I redid the wiring so it works. On the passenger side I had to run it to the metal for ground, for some reason the black w/ white stripe wire I had for ground wont let it work once the car is i shifted into drive, but then it will work again once its turned off and then turned back on. now with it ran to metal and dark blue for positive it works great. drivers side still great too.
cav, honestly I dont think that would look to good on an alero...maybe if was just on the very edge on the mirror. maybe try something in photo shop to see how it would look?

[cavaliers60]

I would if I could find a good photoshop program for macs... All the free ones I've tried really suck. lol

It was only an idea... I don't think I'm going to be doing it anytime soon.... I was thinking maybe when these LED strips go out, I might play with the idea a little.

[Papa Rad17]

It would certnaily be different and pretty sweet. Whenever you do go ahead and do it be sure to put it up.

[Papa Rad17]

here are some pics
the pic of inside the door there is to show where I got power for them. the wire bundle runs up toward the fuse panel area and then down the cover piece alone the door.

[03Sleepr]

looks good, I may have to start getting into this LED stuff

[cavaliers60]

You should be able to pull that panel up and hide the wire behind it. Other than that, looks great!

[cherrington17]

if i did it, i would have tried to get them back in further. so it appears that just that side of the mirror is blinking, instead of seeing the actual lights.

BUT

Still looks decent. Nice job.

[Christato71]

Looks very good, but does it bother you when they are flashing?

[Papa Rad17]

Cav-all the wires are hidden can't see a thing.
Cherryton-after seeing cav's in person I wanted them like that, however of anyone does hide them I wan to see pics before I truly decide which is better.
Chris-no not really, I also keep my overlay gauge lighting up really bright normally and my headlights are rediclous to they aren't really anything any more distracting.

[cavaliers60]

This was my very first set of LED mirror turn signals. :lol:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c26/cavaliers60/May%20Car/mirrorturnsignals001.jpg

I used the big LED strip that you could see from miles away. haha! The ones Papa and I got are really small, you don't really notice them...

[hok666]

either of you have a how-to?

[cherrington17]

This was my very first set of LED mirror turn signals. :lol:


I used the big LED strip that you could see from miles away. haha! The ones Papa and I got are really small, you don't really notice them...

Yeah... but as anyone who has seen my work can attest to... I HATE hotspots and do my damn-est to avoid them. Being able to see the individual leds... is a big no-no in my car. the ONLY way I'd have that acceptable, is if i had an on mirror chevron.

but again....thats imho.

[cavaliers60]

That I understand... I actually wanted the hotspots to show for them, but I get what you are saying. That wouldn't be to bad of an idea either... Have the whole area behind the mirror flash. :)

[cavaliers60]

either of you have a how-to?

I don't have anything going on tomorrow, so I might make a few small changes to the way I have it wired up... I'll take some photos and write up a how-to.

[Papa Rad17]

either of you have a how-to?

Everything you need is on this thread. Read through so you don't make the same mistake I did, I have the proper wires listed to tap into and link to the LEDs I uses. Like I said a while ago, threading it through to door and into the mirror was the hardest part, I finally resorted to using my soder wire to help it through and it worked like a charm. ... You guys want me to write a how to? Not like I have anything to with my time... Look for it later tonight.

[lonnie]

I like it...good job!

[cherrington17]

Everything you need is on this thread. Read through so you don't make the same mistake I did, I have the proper wires listed to tap into and link to the LEDs I uses. Like I said a while ago, threading it through to door and into the mirror was the hardest part, I finally resorted to using my soder wire to help it through and it worked like a charm. ... You guys want me to write a how to? Not like I have anything to with my time... Look for it later tonight.

When people ask for a "how to" they usually mean step by minute step. Pics of everything. Leaving no question unanswered...etc.

As a template.. look at the LED how-tos in the link, in my sig.

[Papa Rad17]

Ya, I have refered to them many times cherry. Lol. I'll get a lot more pics and put something together later tonight.

[Papa Rad17]

How to is posted. http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34735

[jhubbz]

Am I winning?

http://i52.tinypic.com/29q05c0.jpg

[Papa Rad17]

Hmmm...

[hok666]

Am I winning?

http://i52.tinypic.com/29q05c0.jpg



Did you have to drill holes into the glass?

[jhubbz]

No its actually set behind the glass

[lonnie]

Am I winning?

http://i52.tinypic.com/29q05c0.jpg
I think this is the best one done yet, but man I bet that is time consuming and a pain in the ass to do right.

[cavaliers60]

I was going to attempt that, but quickly decided not too. :lol:

[lonnie]

I was going to attempt that, but quickly decided not too. :lol:
LOL!

[jhubbz]

Yeah, it was a pain. I had to drill a small hole in the black plastic behind the mirror so the wires wouldn't show. Then I had to solder the wires from the LED to the lead wires and run it through the hole where the tweeter is, then down through the door and out through the black hose between the frame and the door.

I didn't have any luck splicing in to the wires on either the driver or passenger side right under the carpet, so I ended up running an extension of the lead wires to the 194 turn signal bulbs in the headlights and spliced into those.

My only problem now is, they only work when my lows are running, and they remain on all the time, but do blink when the corresponding turn signal is going.

[Papa Rad17]

If you look at my how too I have posted for that I have all the proper wires to splice into post. I have the same problem when thin to fond my wires. On my how tO I have a couple different options.

[jhubbz]

I tried em all. Didn't work

[jhubbz]

Fixed!!! I was working from the wrong wire pack lol. I'm a dummy.

Anyway, they work perfectly now. they only appear when the turn signal is activated (night and day). Thanks Papa for all this.

[Papa Rad17]

Ya, not a prob. I'm still hoping my how to for it will become a sticky like the one guys said on it. Lol. Glad you got um working good.