hernanca

I believe there is a way to not trigger the bulb warning when using LED lights. IIRC Nicole had an LED bulb kit which came with everything necessary. I would check out superbright LEDs to see what they have. They were a good source for me in the past (interior LED lights):

https://www.superbrightleds.com


Found my good source of the Honda bulb recommendations - Daniel Stern Lighting. Here is an excerpt from an email with him for my 86.5:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

I tried the HVAC tape at first. It was just too much of a pain in the rear for me to try to cut the right shapes or get them around the curved corners. Unless someone knows some trick, its 2 housings x 4 reflector nacelles x 5 surfaces = 40 cut pieces to stick on if doing them individually.

GT6ixer

Thanks for the links. If going to LED what color of white (6400K or 2900K) do you think would work best? I'll have to look into Nicole's solution closer.

I will also look into the Honda bulbs. My test matrix is getting bigger, but I enjoy this kind of stuff.

hb253

If you use LEDs, I'm pretty sure you need to use red ones for best results.

Hugo

Majestic Moose

LED colors are chosen to match the lens color.
I did forget to mention you will lose cruise control unless you install resistors to the wiring to the brake lamps. If it works now and you use it, that could be a deal breaker.
These were the bulbs I used and should work for all cars except S4 and later. All bulbs were purchased from superbrightleds.com

Rear tailight X2: 1156 LEDBulb - 18 SMD LED Tower - BA15S Retrofit Red
Brake light X2: 1156 LEDBulb - 27 SMD LED Tower - BA15S Retrofit Red
Backup light X2: 1156 LEDBulb - 18 SMD LED Tower - BA15S Retrofit Cool White
Turn signals X4: 1156 LEDBulb - 18 SMD LED Tower - BA15S Retrofit Amber
Adjustable flasher relay: CF13JL-AR LEDBulb Electronic Adjustable Rate Flasher 3 Pin Black Japanese Adjustable Flasher
Rear marker light X2: 67 LEDBulb - 15 LED Forward Firing Cluster - BA15S Retrofit Red
Front marker light X2: 67 LEDBulb - 15 LED Forward Firing Cluster - BA15S Retrofit Amber
License plate light X2: 3710 LEDBulb - 3 SMD LED Festoon - 38mm Cool White

Ad0911

Anyone tried Brush-on-chrome?
https://www.stardustcolors.co.uk/chr...ing-brush.html

Mrmerlin

I have use the aluminum duct tape cut into little pieces then smoothed out in the reflector area,
I used some mothers to polish it to mirror reflectivity
then a coat of wax,
then fit the bulb and lens.

its just about mirror bright,
and will last the life of the car.

NOTE clean the old reflective material with alcohol so the tape sticks,
if no good then a wipe with acetone,
dont dally,
one wipe is all with the acetone, it will melt the plastic.

NOTE on the 87 and newer tail lamps,
putting a piece of this tape on the top side sides of the reflectors of the brake bulbs will reduce the tendency for the housings to melt,
auto cars are more susceptible as they have the brakes on for longer periods.

If you find melted housings then it can be fixed with a piece of the tape placed on the outside of the damaged area.

GT6ixer

Thanks Alex. Can you explain the relation between the brake light circuitry and the cruise control? How are those related?

Hilton

Have you checked the stamping on the bulbs carefully to make sure they're not 24V marine ones? (here, they put 12V and 24V ones on the shelf next to each other)

dr bob

Cruise cancels on brake application, depending on current flow through the bulbs. It's a less-than-stellar method but it's what they used.

GT6ixer

That makes sense at least. Any ideas on the size of resistor needed with a swap to LED?

kombatrok

For what its worth I tried both chrome paint and gloss white inside the housing and found that the white was visibly brighter.

Additionally the backup/reversing lights do not need a resistor to convert to LED as they are not tied in to the warning system on pre S4 cars.

GT6ixer

Thanks. That's Good to know. I have read that on some other forums. And one site claimed flat white was even better than glossy.

Michael Benno

[QUOTE=Majestic Moose;14580119]
Turn signals X4: 1156 LEDBulb - 18 SMD LED Tower - BA15S Retrofit Amber
Adjustable flasher relay: CF13JL-AR LEDBulb Electronic Adjustable Rate Flasher 3 Pin Black Japanese Adjustable Flasher
/QUOTE]

When you used this relay does your dash turn signal indicator (green) work properly, as in not dim? And when the exterior turn indicators turn off between flashed rather than dim between flashes?

Mrmerlin

I had a 78 car that was modded with all of the LED bulbs in the tail lamps, all of the bulbs had very poor light output, T,P B,R.
I told the owner you cant see the brake lights they look just like parking lights.
I removed all of the LED lamps and restored all of them to incandescent bulbs now they light up as they should.
SRSLY some times the old parts really do work well,
and cleaning the contacts will increase light output.
Same goes for the dash lights

Majestic Moose

Michael, if you are making the switch to LEDs for your '88 there are differences in bulbs needed and their functions. This thread concerned the old body style. To answer your questions, yes the turn signal in the instrument cluster will be dim until you replace that bulb with an LED as well. The older body style front turn signals only pulse on/off while signaling. On the S4 this is the same while signaling with lights off but they are always on with marker and headlamps on and pulse between half/full brightness. You need a dual function bulb instead. This video will demonstrate.


I can no longer recommend the adjustable relay. It seems they have changed it and the new version no longer works but there is an alternative. This is a list for S4 bulbs.

Bulbs:
Rear side marker lamps, red X2 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...t-car/169/764/
Front side marker lamps, amber X2 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...t-car/169/764/
Backup lamps, cool white X2 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...t-car/163/724/
-----> These are way brighter than incandescent but I may try the bulbs below that are even brighter (but untested by me for fitment)
-----> https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...retrofit/2622/
Tail lamps, red X4 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...t-car/163/720/
Brake lamps, red X2 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...retrofit/2625/
Third brake lamp, red X1 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...retrofit/2622/
Rear turn signals, amber X2 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...t-car/163/722/
-------> Again these are way brighter but I may move up to the bulbs below (untested)
-------> https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...fit/2622/5696/
Front turn signals, amber X2 https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...retrofit/2625/
Turn signal relay https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...asher/782/836/

There are other considerations to take about the warning lights and cruise control. I've wanted to make a consolidated thread for all this information and I will try and write it up sooner than later.

Mrmerlin, those LEDs sound like they were a downgrade for sure and fit for the garbage, but done right, there is no comparison in brightness. At least we have options to keep up with the brightness of modern cars and I'd like to think it may prevent an accident with all the distracted driving.