I've taken the LED plunge and have converted almost all my lights to LED. I'll get
to the almost part later. I first did the console lights, front side markers and the
dome light. The lights I used for the console and front markers were 194 LEDs
in a cool white. For the price you can't beat em. Seems 194s are a fairly standard
light used in a lot of vehicles and, important for LEDs can be mounted 2 ways
in case the LED polarity doesn't see positive/negative on the correct leads.
Apparently these cheap LEDs only allow installation with one polarity.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The front side markers were easy to install and worked after turning them to get
the right polarity. Pics coming in the next post. They are much brighter and seem
to work well in the OEM reflectors. The console I replaced the 4 main illuminatoin
bulbs for the backlighting. I didn't think the blinker/warning lights needed the
extra brightness. I used 6 out of 10 in the package, so I have spares.

The dome light is a regular festoon light which fell apart when I removed it from
the dome. The LED fit right in and was plenty bright.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The SA doesn't have rear side markers like FBs and no hatch light either. Interior
lights done and I like em. The dimmer for the console still works but in a smaller
range because I assume the LED don't come on until a minimal voltage is
reached.

Next I moved to the external lights. I needed 2 1157 brake lights and 4 1156 white lights for the rear lighting. I still haven't dealt with the license plate lights,
that will be a later project. I bought 2 red 1157 bulbs and pack of 1156. The
1156 were polarity sensitive but work fine in the baclup light. The amber rear
trun signals didn't do as well with the white LEDS, I may get some amber 1156
bulbs to see how that goes. I also bought a pack of white 1157s for the front
turn signal/running lights.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These 1157s I returned because they had a polarity issue which is impossible to
deal with on an 1157 bulb. So I could do the front running/turn signals yet. I may
by some 1157 amber and 1156v ambers to see how they work with the amber
front lens and rear amber turn signal.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought the wrong electronic flasher for LEDs. Mine is a 3 prong and for some
reason I got a 2 prong. So the signals blink about 2x their normal speed, just like
having light out. Because its an SA, no other unwanted console lights about brakes or turn signals.

Pics coming up next of the markers and rear lights.

 

Heres the pics of the side markers, the first is OEM and the second is LED. Excuse
the photo quality as I was just using my phone, but I think you get the point.





These are the photos of LEDs in the drivers side rears only. Backup light is
amazingly bright.

Lights on:



Backup lights on:



And brake lights on:

 

That looks awesome! I might have to do this down the road. Thanks for the specific part numbers etc!

 

I have almost all my lights converted to LED on mine. Figured any draw I could get rid of on this primitive electrical system would be a plus!

 

Exactly, plus these lights are brighter so I will be seen on the road better.

 

Great info! Thanks. I tried LEDs about 5 yrs ago and they were (1) expensive (I think I dropped something like $100 for the whole exterior set) and (2) HOPELESSLY dim. I actually had people telling me I had no brake lights! (I did, but they were too dim). So I thought I'd better wait till the LED market matured. So it looks like it HAS! I understand the LED flasher-type lights can be problematic without a replacement Flasher unit. Would like to hear how you solve this and what part you used t_g_?

Plse keep us posted.

[and is it me or do people SEE t_g_'s car photos? I see the Amazon link images. nothing on my Browser ]

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Yes, this is cool. I also wonder how the turn signals will work? Maybe there is a LED type flasher available?

Good work on reducing amperage draw. Less load is free HP!!

Rich

 

I will definitely update this thread as I complete the front ambers and fix the flashing issue.

The whole budget for what I did so far was about $60.00 not including the 1157s I returned.
I expect to come in around $100.00 for both the interior and exterior lighting. I still want to
do the license plate lights but they are a pain to get at.

 

Great info. And super thorough, which seems to be your trademark.

As I've read here in the forum, you already upgraded your headlights to the relay switched harness and better H4 bulbs, so I expect you are not planning any changes there, but did you ponder that at all?

 

I did but the latest reviews showed LED headlights were still lacking. I could get LED H4 to
try out but after the review I read I shelved that idea. It was a threadon here recently. I'll see
if I can find it later.

 

For my money, the relay harness and h4 bulbs where the way to go. Much brighter then factory and replacement bulbs can be had cheap at wal-mart. I was surprised how much brighter over stock they are. $100 and done for the headlights.

 

For anyone having issues with the pics, heres a link to the google album containing them.

Thank google for this advanced imaging service.

https://goo.gl/photos/bnzHVAfj9X2DbsLTA

 

Meant to update this thread with the flasher I used to fix the LED signal lights. I got this one on amazon:


Then I wired up a small harness to convert the 3 wire harness connection to 2 wires for this flasher. Slapped a velcro patch on it, attached the wires and vecroed it to the side of the existing flasher unit. Flasher works great but you lose the click-click sound when flashing, cause its digital. I'll get pictures and diagram the wires by this weekend.

 

Any plans to convert the cluster or dash lighting?

 

I did the dash lighting and it worked just fine with the facotry dimmer. I have an 83 GSL.

I made my own "bulbs" out of strip LEDs mostly because I had the strip stock and it was a fun thing to do. Were I to do it again I would just buy a bunch of these/similar things:


Maybe before you go crazy with pulling the cluster, burn them in on the bench to weed out the inevitable failures.

My thread here: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...uster-1106582/

 

I took the 194s I used for the marker lights and put them in the cluster (4 lights). Worked great. The dimmer has a small effect and is more of an on/off switch.

 

Something I've been considering doing in my 80 as the dash lights are somewhat dim. Just tossed the idea around.