External LED mods..
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 12
From: Huntsville, AL
External LED mods.. I got another bug to do something different to my car so I spent the weekend working on the lighting. I had already installed the BLS HID upgrades, which are awesome, and I had white LEDs in the DRL/Signal housing, but I wanted to take it another step.
The goal was to replace the standard DRL/Signal housing with the 3157 socket to something a little more modern. What I found was a LED bar that uses both white and amber LEDs. In DRL mode, they show white and blink white/off. With parking lights on, they turn amber and blink amber/off. With the headlights on, they turn off completely and blink amber/off. I was hoping they would stay white all the time and blink either white/off or white/amber but I guess they don't work that way with the Trans Am circuits. This set has two (+) and one (-) leads which I spliced into the three wires to the 3157 socket.
It's not for purists, but here are some pics and video. I'll get another video after dark as well.
http://youtu.be/EfKTZKTn1-o
http://youtu.be/uYkMwkxx7es
I also went ahead and installed the LED high rise stop light with the black housing. I added a bit of window tint to the clear top surface to blend it better.
http://youtu.be/776vaQdusZU?hd=1
The goal was to replace the standard DRL/Signal housing with the 3157 socket to something a little more modern. What I found was a LED bar that uses both white and amber LEDs. In DRL mode, they show white and blink white/off. With parking lights on, they turn amber and blink amber/off. With the headlights on, they turn off completely and blink amber/off. I was hoping they would stay white all the time and blink either white/off or white/amber but I guess they don't work that way with the Trans Am circuits. This set has two (+) and one (-) leads which I spliced into the three wires to the 3157 socket.
It's not for purists, but here are some pics and video. I'll get another video after dark as well.
http://youtu.be/EfKTZKTn1-o
http://youtu.be/uYkMwkxx7es
I also went ahead and installed the LED high rise stop light with the black housing. I added a bit of window tint to the clear top surface to blend it better.
http://youtu.be/776vaQdusZU?hd=1
I like that it goes with the modern twist you have put on your car. Are you able to share where you got the LED strips? If not, could you potentially PM that information to me? Thanks
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Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 12
From: Huntsville, AL
Thanks everyone. Install was pretty easy and straightforward. I removed the 3157 sockets and wired in the two positive and 1 ground wire from the LEDs into the circuit and then mounted the bracket and light. I did have to cut a notch out of the side of the intake area to fit the 7" long bar (opening is about 5"). I don't ever plan on selling this car, so I have no problem cutting, splicing or modifying wherever necessary. The only issue is that they are off with the headlights, but if the headlights are on, then they don't seem essential, especially since the sidemarker lights are there. Signal still works in every mode. I haven't yet decided if this will be the final configuration just yet, so I'm still looking around for a smaller and brighter bar that I can play around with.
Here's a night time video.
http://youtu.be/D_g-aXSQlxM
Here's a night time video.
http://youtu.be/D_g-aXSQlxM
I'm sure there is a way to get them to light up and work as originally planned. I have some light function for another car designed in a similar fashion, I'll bet I could figure out a way to make it work on an fbody with only some slight modification once I look at some diagrams 
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 12
From: Huntsville, AL
Can anyone help me figure out what's going on here? I've attached a quick diagram below. I'm trying to figure out why the ambers don't light when the headlights are on. The DRL is off, and signal blinks Amber/Off. With just parking lights on, DRLs are amber and signal blinks Amber/Off. With all lights off, DRLs are white and signal blinks White/Off.
Ideally, the DRLs would stay white all the time and blink White/Off or White/Amber with lights on.
The LEDs are connected to the three wires: Blue/Brown/Black.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Q
Ideally, the DRLs would stay white all the time and blink White/Off or White/Amber with lights on.
The LEDs are connected to the three wires: Blue/Brown/Black.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Q