HOW TO: Trans Am DRL Switchbacks
03-14-2010, 11:54 PM
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HOW TO: Trans Am DRL Switchbacks Finally got all my parts in and got everything installed. I'm really happy with everything and how it all came out. I also replaced my DRL housings because they were old and the lenses had fogged up.
For those that don't know, switchbacks are LED bulbs that are amber when the headlights are not on and flash on and off like normal when the turn signals are activited. When the headlights are on, the light turns white and flashes between amber and white when the turn signal is activited. These should look great once I get my projector HID Kit from BLSolutions.
Here is a video after it was all complete. Sorry for my horribly loud headlights.
Parts:
2 - 3157 60 LED SMT Towers Amber-White (AW) Switchbacks from autolumination: $29.99 ea
PLEASE NOTE I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE BULBS. I'M WORKING WITH AUTOLUMINATION TO GET THE PROPER BULB WORKING PROPERLY FOR OUR CARS. WE THINK RUNNING THE 48 LED SMT TOWER SHOULD WORK PROPERLY. PLEASE STAY TUNED UNTIL WE GET THIS FIGURED OUT.
2 - EL12 Electromagnetic Flashers from Napa: $10.99 ea
Here is a shot of the LED tower vs the stock amber bulb:
It is as simple as replacing the bulbs with the LED switchbacks and the turn signal and hazard flasher modules with electromagnetic ones to work properly with the LEDs.
Here are the flashers I bought at Napa:
The flashers are located under the dashboard on the driver side below the steering wheel. Remove the 2 screws and 2 bolts that hold the panel on to gain access. Also note these flashers DO still click when the signal is on. I actually like the sound better than the thermo ones...sounds less like a school bus and more like a regular car.
Turn signal flasher is by where your right knee would be. There is a clip that holds it inside a small rail. The clip is marked by a white mark on my car.
Hazard flasher is by where you left knee would be. I had to pop the clip completely out and flip it around and clip it on the outside of the rail because the new flasher is larger than the stock one. The pic shows the new one in place so it would look like the previous one before you pop it out from behind the rail.
All of this should also work with Camaro's but I believe only the 20 LED towers fit in the Camaro housings.
Special thanks to Brian @ BLSolutions for helping get this all figured out for my car.
Let me know if you have any questions.
For those that don't know, switchbacks are LED bulbs that are amber when the headlights are not on and flash on and off like normal when the turn signals are activited. When the headlights are on, the light turns white and flashes between amber and white when the turn signal is activited. These should look great once I get my projector HID Kit from BLSolutions.
Here is a video after it was all complete. Sorry for my horribly loud headlights.
Parts:
2 - 3157 60 LED SMT Towers Amber-White (AW) Switchbacks from autolumination: $29.99 ea
PLEASE NOTE I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE BULBS. I'M WORKING WITH AUTOLUMINATION TO GET THE PROPER BULB WORKING PROPERLY FOR OUR CARS. WE THINK RUNNING THE 48 LED SMT TOWER SHOULD WORK PROPERLY. PLEASE STAY TUNED UNTIL WE GET THIS FIGURED OUT.
2 - EL12 Electromagnetic Flashers from Napa: $10.99 ea
Here is a shot of the LED tower vs the stock amber bulb:
It is as simple as replacing the bulbs with the LED switchbacks and the turn signal and hazard flasher modules with electromagnetic ones to work properly with the LEDs.
Here are the flashers I bought at Napa:
The flashers are located under the dashboard on the driver side below the steering wheel. Remove the 2 screws and 2 bolts that hold the panel on to gain access. Also note these flashers DO still click when the signal is on. I actually like the sound better than the thermo ones...sounds less like a school bus and more like a regular car.
Turn signal flasher is by where your right knee would be. There is a clip that holds it inside a small rail. The clip is marked by a white mark on my car.
Hazard flasher is by where you left knee would be. I had to pop the clip completely out and flip it around and clip it on the outside of the rail because the new flasher is larger than the stock one. The pic shows the new one in place so it would look like the previous one before you pop it out from behind the rail.
All of this should also work with Camaro's but I believe only the 20 LED towers fit in the Camaro housings.
Special thanks to Brian @ BLSolutions for helping get this all figured out for my car.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Last edited by skytower31; 03-19-2010 at 10:00 AM.
03-15-2010, 08:25 AM
#7
Myself and The Alchemist both bought switchbacks from V-Leds and they work fine as switchbacks, IE: they flash white and yellow on turn signal but do not work on DRL's(as listed on their website too) so maybe autoluminations are different, dunno, I don't want to spend another $60 to find out though...
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03-15-2010, 05:17 PM
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don't the firebirds and camaros use the same 3157 (iirc) bulb? why does only the 20 tower fit in camaro housings if the one you got is the same length as the bulb?
03-16-2010, 02:54 PM
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QUESTION!!
If I have sequentials tail lights with LED Bulbs can I still use the switch backs up front??
Another question. You replaced two flashers or is it just one??
..Oh and this is on a 2001 Trans Am
If I have sequentials tail lights with LED Bulbs can I still use the switch backs up front??
Another question. You replaced two flashers or is it just one??
..Oh and this is on a 2001 Trans Am
