'Stealthing' Amber Bulbs on Clear Lens Retrofit
#1
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'Stealthing' Amber Bulbs on Clear Lens Retrofit
With the growing popularity of replacing the stock amber turn signal lenses with the clear style, you need to replace the bulbs with an amber type to be in compliance with vehicle lighting regs. The downside is that you can see the amber bulb thru the lens, resulting in an 'egg yolk' appearance behind the lens.
Here's how to eliminate that.
First off, I got a set of clear lenses from Nicole - very nice quality.
If available, you could just buy a pair of Silver Vision bulbs of type 2357A. These are a two filament bulb that are coated silver but illuminate amber. Do not confuse these with Silver Star bulbs, which have a bluish colour to them.
If you can't find Silver Visions you can just apply a light coat of silver paint to a pair of standard 2-filament 2357A amber bulbs. Any silver paint will do - does not neccesarily have to be a hi-temp variety.
First clean the bulbs with alcohol (I used Jack Daniels) then apply a thin 'mist' coat - just enough to overlay and hide the amber colour.
The following sequence shows the painting of the bulbs, the painted bulb installed unilluminated, installed illuminated, illuminated with clear lens installed and the 'stealth' look when not illuminated.
Here's how to eliminate that.
First off, I got a set of clear lenses from Nicole - very nice quality.
If available, you could just buy a pair of Silver Vision bulbs of type 2357A. These are a two filament bulb that are coated silver but illuminate amber. Do not confuse these with Silver Star bulbs, which have a bluish colour to them.
If you can't find Silver Visions you can just apply a light coat of silver paint to a pair of standard 2-filament 2357A amber bulbs. Any silver paint will do - does not neccesarily have to be a hi-temp variety.
First clean the bulbs with alcohol (I used Jack Daniels) then apply a thin 'mist' coat - just enough to overlay and hide the amber colour.
The following sequence shows the painting of the bulbs, the painted bulb installed unilluminated, installed illuminated, illuminated with clear lens installed and the 'stealth' look when not illuminated.
Last edited by Randy V; 03-20-2006 at 06:51 PM.
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Why give 'em just another reason to mess with you?
In SoCal the authorities can (and do) pull you over for any vehicle modifications and issue a citation.
In SoCal the authorities can (and do) pull you over for any vehicle modifications and issue a citation.
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Another option is to use amber LED bulbs, they are clear and flash yellow. I used them, had to install resistors to get flasher working, but they look great.
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Go to Pep Boys and just buy the correct ones. This subject has been discussed many a time my friend. I would have thought you knew this.
Go to Pep Boys and just buy the correct ones. This subject has been discussed many a time my friend. I would have thought you knew this.
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Very cool info, Randy! I'm glad you like the lenses and found a solution to hide the bulb. Now, couldn't you have found a better use for that Jack Daniels?
Anyway, I will add a disclaimer to my website stating that these lenses might be illegal in some states, and that it is the responsibility of the buyer to make sure they complly with his local laws.
I had been under the impression that as long as they light up in the correct color, they'd be legal, but just a few days agao a police officer explained to me that that's a misinterpretation of what he referred to as the "street racer's bible" - the California vehicle code. But he also said that I should not worry about having the clear lenses on - they'd usually target vehicles where they have reason to believe the driver engages in street racing, or that have loud exhausts (he does not know I have an RMB on my car)...
Anyway, I will add a disclaimer to my website stating that these lenses might be illegal in some states, and that it is the responsibility of the buyer to make sure they complly with his local laws.
I had been under the impression that as long as they light up in the correct color, they'd be legal, but just a few days agao a police officer explained to me that that's a misinterpretation of what he referred to as the "street racer's bible" - the California vehicle code. But he also said that I should not worry about having the clear lenses on - they'd usually target vehicles where they have reason to believe the driver engages in street racing, or that have loud exhausts (he does not know I have an RMB on my car)...
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Originally Posted by 928ntslow
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Go to Pep Boys and just buy the correct ones. This subject has been discussed many a time my friend. I would have thought you knew this.
Go to Pep Boys and just buy the correct ones. This subject has been discussed many a time my friend. I would have thought you knew this.
yeah, but you can see the blueish hue of the bulb. Sticks out like a sore thumb in that pic.?
The silver paint is the best idea, orlike they do in new cars they have a chrome shroud that covers the front half of the bulb and relfects the light back on to the reflecting surface.
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OK, Here is info on LED's Used with pics
I got the amber LEDs from superbrightleds.com. The part number is 1156 A19. The flasher won't flash because the current draw is too little, so they sell a load resistor to simulate the load of a regular bulb. It is part number RL 650, you need 2, one for left, one for right. Bulbs were $6.99 each, the load resistors are $4.95 each.
You have to install the resistors in parallel with the bulb. I did this by tapping into signal wires at the central panel. For the MY 85, I tapped into the left signal, wire was Black/White at connector P11, the right signal was Black/Green at connector P12. One side of the reistor connnects to those wires, the other side gets grounded. It worked fine, flasher worked normally.
I tried the LED flasher that they have on their web site, but it did not work.
Here pictures, the picture of the bulb looks yellow, I think because of the flash. It doesn't look yellow in person, especially through the clear lens.
You have to install the resistors in parallel with the bulb. I did this by tapping into signal wires at the central panel. For the MY 85, I tapped into the left signal, wire was Black/White at connector P11, the right signal was Black/Green at connector P12. One side of the reistor connnects to those wires, the other side gets grounded. It worked fine, flasher worked normally.
I tried the LED flasher that they have on their web site, but it did not work.
Here pictures, the picture of the bulb looks yellow, I think because of the flash. It doesn't look yellow in person, especially through the clear lens.
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Originally Posted by 928ntslow
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Go to Pep Boys and just buy the correct ones. This subject has been discussed many a time my friend. I would have thought you knew this.
Go to Pep Boys and just buy the correct ones. This subject has been discussed many a time my friend. I would have thought you knew this.
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Sure, if you like that neon blue 'ricer' look, go for Silver Star bulbs! My method (or Silver Vision bulbs) results in a nearly invisible bulb - classy, not ricy.
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I went Keith's route and bought the SilverStars. I guess you can kinda see the blue tint, but you really have to look for it. I still have the old bulbs, so maybe I'll try your trick, Randy, and compare.
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I actually like the super cool blue futuristic bulb refracted around behind the clear lense. It resembles a jewel inside when it catches the light.
I think if my car wasn't white, I would probably do your mod Randy. Nice work!
I think if my car wasn't white, I would probably do your mod Randy. Nice work!