LED Turn Signals/DRLs

[MPRCTCL]

My switchbacks required no extra circuitry other than wiring the DRLs to the small running lights.

Could you describe or make a sketch of how you wired them into the running lights? Do they operate the same way when set to "auto", or do you need to turn on the parking lights for the white DRL to light? I haven't taken the headlight unit out yet, and I don't have a wiring diagram, but it seems like if the parking lights were off and the "auto" setting wanted to turn the old style DRL's on, the LED's wouldn't know that it wasn't the turn signal being called for.

 

[MPRCTCL]

Progress

Could you describe or make a sketch of how you wired them into the running lights? Do they operate the same way when set to "auto", or do you need to turn on the parking lights for the white DRL to light? I haven't taken the headlight unit out yet, and I don't have a wiring diagram, but it seems like if the parking lights were off and the "auto" setting wanted to turn the old style DRL's on, the LED's wouldn't know that it wasn't the turn signal being called for.

Still hoping to hear how Pinakeli achieved it, but I've been working on it myself. I designed and built a circuit that goes inline with watertight connectors so I can undo it later. I also use switchback bulbs, but with the circuit, everything operates as normal (even "auto" mode) except I have white DRL and amber turn signals. The only clue that it is hacked is that the DRLs come on amber for (literally) one second, then switch to white.

I'll post some pictures when I get a little farther along. So far, it's all running on the bench and not packaged nicely.

 

[Sli1]

I was cleaning my headlights today and noticed cracking lenses in front of my turn signal bulbs inside the headlights. What now! So I opened XLR-net.

Thank you for sharing the information and links in this thread! What a great site and helpful members with experiences, good explanations and instructions! My XLR is a 2008, so apparently it took a while for the damage to begin. I ordered new LED bulbs today. I have decided to keep “Baby” as long as I can, so I am having to become a bit of a mechanic. I have previously been thru the wheel well, so this should be a pretty straight forward repair.

Thanks again.

 

[Sli1]

Post installation feedback for 2008 XLR:

Parts:
I ordered the LED turn signal and parking lights from SuperBrightLED using the above link.

Installation:
I will not repeat everything from above, but here are some additional observations. I found it difficult to see what I was doing with only the wheel turned, so I removed the tire. Just be sure you use both (for safety) a jack and jack stands.

The three bolts holding the headlight are easy to identify because they are silver/gray and have large matching washers.

Cracked lenses:
My lenses over the turn signals were partially cracked and melted, but the cracks did not go all the way through the lenses. They seems secure for now, so I left the lenses in place.

Hyper-flashing turn signal:
Even on my later 2008 model, I got the hyper-flash with the LEDs. I ordered the SuperBrightLED resistors from the link above. I mounted them on the composite walls near the headlights. Concerned over heating, I offset the resistors with leftover washers (as heat sinks) and nylon spacers. I could have used metal bolt nuts instead of nylon spacers, but I just do not believe it will get hot enough to melt them.

Resistor wiring:
Both of the turn signals were fed by similar wires, blue wire with white stripe. Resistors normally work the same in either direction. For one lead of the resistor, I used the connector that came with the resistor. That way I did not have to cut the blue/white wire. It was hard to get the connector to cut through the insulation around the wire, but keep trying.

I did NOT identify the ground wire, but rather I loosened a nearby bolt/screw and wrapped the “ground” side under the bolt and re-tightened.

See next post for pics.

 

[Sli1]

Pics

 

[lextoy]

Question, if I get the LED bulbs for the drl/blinker, will it set off any service messages? Or just hyper flash. I'm not really interested in wiring in any resistors.
Same question if I replace the side marker bulbs, the ones under the orange lenses, and I replace the little clear triangle bulbs near the headlights, not sure what they are called. Any warning messages if I go to leds?
Any other bulbs I should do while I have the headlights out? I think 3 pair of LED gets everything except the high/low beam. Just don't want to set off any service messages, like "bulb is out"
I was going to order everything from superbrightleds

 

[lextoy]

Next dumb question. The bulbs under the orange side markers, are they amber or white.
I'm getting led amber switchbacks for the drl/blinker, but no idea if the side marker bulbs should be clear or amber. Seems like the side markers take a 194 bulb... The same as the little triangle lights.
I will get a cool white bulb for the little triangle lights. I think they are a 194 as well.

 

[MPRCTCL]

Next dumb question. The bulbs under the orange side markers, are they amber or white.
I'm getting led amber switchbacks for the drl/blinker, but no idea if the side marker bulbs should be clear or amber. Seems like the side markers take a 194 bulb... The same as the little triangle lights.
I will get a cool white bulb for the little triangle lights. I think they are a 194 as well.

Switchbacks don’t work without modification because of he way they are wired. The system sees the bulb as either there, or not. It’s a DOT requirement to make sure that the bulb is working and various brands do that differently. Decades ago, it was simple but now LEDs work differently.

 

[mickeytee]

The switch back referes to the bulb being ye!low on turn signal and switches back to white on drl. Theynw make bulbs with led resizors made in tgat sitchback and give no hyperflash. Tbey do get hot and can melt the plastic housing if you sit with the turn signal on for miles and miles. regulat led bulbs will nyperflash but no lights. Clear peanuts or 194 bulbs the actual healight bulbs are not that expensive. If you have the lights out,id chnge them. Go stock not some blue daylight bulb.. Unless they have been changed recently just new bulbs may be a lot brighter