Led Tail Light Bulbs

[Alero03]

I just bought 3157 LED bulbs for my Altezza tail lights. I've heard some work, some dont. Does/Has anyone have/had a problem with these lights?

[justinusaf]

They should work. The problems that some people have with Leds in your turn signals is that they flash rather quickly. The leds draw so little power that the car thinks a bulb is burned out. Everything should be ok other than that.

[Alero03]

Thank you

[wc_alero]

I think thats what I have in my tail lights

[Alero03]

I was just told that APC didnt work very well and thats what I already bought so I was just wondering if that was happening for everyone

[flalero]

I would be careful with LED's in the tails. I put some in mine and they blew a fuse each time. I think there is something you have to do with the wires, but I'm not quite sure what. Perhaps somebody can help me out with this?

[Alero03]

Thats funny that you say that...I tried putting one in just to try it before my altezzas come in...and after a couple hours my check engine light came on and it ended up being the fuse for my headlights (and tail lights). My break lights would work and my front running lights and blinkers but if I turned the headlights ON it wouldnt come on...I didnt know what happened

[Screamin eagle]

you need a load resistor kit. One pair for the rear and one pair for the front so four total(two pairs). They are very simple to hookup. they come with little wire taps and you just clamp them in.
here you go.......

http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm

http://autolumination.com/equalizers.htm

[Alero03]

How much are load resistor kits? And are they kind of like in-line fuses?

[Screamin eagle]

they are kind of like fuses but they won't blow. A regular bulb is 12v but an led bulb is less than that so when you put in an led for a turn signal, the car thinks that your turn signal is out and it blinks fast.(or something like that) :)
I think it's like $15 for all four of them, click those links and buy some. I got mine from autolumination.com

[Alero03]

Im not changing my turn signals...do I still need them?

[Screamin eagle]

I thought you were doing blinkers, my bad. You don't need them unless you do your blinkers. I don't know why it would blow your fuse. I don't think it was the lights, if they were going to blow your fuse they would have done it right away.

[Alero03]

So if Im only doing my back running lights and break light I dont need them either?

[flalero]

I had LED's in my front corner makers and had no problems. I also put led's in all of my rear bulbs and blew a fuse immediately.

[alero_ecotec]

hmmm....well, i've got all of my rear lights LED's except the turn signal's .....but i just ordered some Nice turn signal LED bulbs from autoillumination...........so what you're telling me is that im def. going to need the whole load resistor when i get the rear signals?

[Screamin eagle]

I have every bulb on my car leds and I've never blown a fuse so I can't think of anything that would help you. I do know that if you change the 3rd brake light to leds the dummy light on the dash for the brakes comes on.

And yes if you do blinkers you definately need the load equalizers or they will flash really fast.

[Alero03]

Well...I just spent the WHOLE day working on my tail lights. I was told that 3157 and 3057's are the same....NOT TRUE......3057 have 2 fillaments and 3157 is only a single fillament...There was really no visible difference but...there is lol...I figured that out after 6 fuses today....Sooo....I cant put my new tail lights on until I get the 3057 LEDs :(

[kwhauck]

they will work read this (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15109)

[Alero03]

Im sorry but I dont know one thing about electrical stuff...that stuff didnt make one bit of sense to me...I appreciate you sending me the site though...

[Cliff8928]

Originally posted by Alero03@Mar 30 2005, 05:44 PM
Well...I just spent the WHOLE day working on my tail lights. I was told that 3157 and 3057's are the same....NOT TRUE......3057 have 2 fillaments and 3157 is only a single fillament...There was really no visible difference but...there is lol...I figured that out after 6 fuses today....Sooo....I cant put my new tail lights on until I get the 3057 LEDs :(
Quoted post


3157 and 3057 both have 2 filaments, it's the ones that end in "6" that are single filament.


Also, the LEDs still operate on 12v unlike someone said before, they just draw less current (wattage)

[Alero03]

So if they are the same then why is it causing such a problem???

[Screamin eagle]

I know it sounds stupid but check and see if the leads are shorted out.

[Alero03]

what is a lead?

[Screamin eagle]

sorry, the little metal wires that make contact with the plug on the car. If one is kind of crooked and touches the other one then it will blow your fuse.

[Alero03]

Well I got all of them to light up...now the problem was when I hit the brakes...it didnt light up brighter. Only my 3rd brake light came on....but the running lights were on

[Screamin eagle]

Led taillights kind of suck in my opinion, they don't light up very bright. I guess they're bright but not much brighter when the brakes are pushed.

[Cliff8928]

They probably need to be re-wired. They don't drop right in most vehicles usually.

[AnderbrA]

the set that wc_alero has I rewired.....it has to do with the way the wires attach to the terminals in the socket.

you have 2 negatives and 2 positives..... they just happen to be in the wrong spot......if you look at the regular bulb, you can see how the wires are arranged by looking closedly and following it up to the filament...you will notice you have 1 for each side of the 2 filaments...hense the reason for 4 wires...on the LEDs they are just wired differently.

took me forever to get them right.

[Whitetigerboi83]

IF you guys want good reliable cheep LED lights for your ENTIRE CAR go to www.superbrightleds.com. to replace all my lights in my car (breaks,turn signals,running lights, interior lights,ect) little under $200 but i was also buying 80 single leds for my custom light bar that is going in my custom spoiler.... i'm on cardomain.com under whitetiger428.. if you wanna see what i'm trying to do ..

but check out www.superbrightleds.com its a great site if your trying to change out all your lights..

and the fast flashing problem on your blinkers they got a fix for that too hope that helps


adam