May 20, 2016, 01:52 PM
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Convert front DRLs and turn signals to LED
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: western wisconsin
Convert front DRLs and turn signals to LED Anybody know how to convert the front turn/DRLs to LED. I've searched and and can't find anything on a straight forward conversion. I'm just trying to remedy the melting and cracking housings from the OEM bulbs getting too hot. I want to keep it just plain stock with lighting color. I purchased the "switchbacks" from superbrightleds but they go to a white light when the headlights are on which is not correct, otherwise they work fine. The other options from superbright say "not suitable for GM daytime running lights". I just don't like the white LED color when the headlights are on since it doesn't match the color of the other stock lights. It also draws unwanted attention from the boys in blue at night. 
all you will need is a load resistor. I bought my LED turn/DRL LEDs with a load resistor and they work perfect. idk if im allowed to post amazon links but this is what I ordered
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: western wisconsin
Thx for the info. The bulbs in that amazon link look just like the ones I already have. I've changed out my flasher relay so I don't think I need a load resistor, the switchbacks I have work correctly. They are xenon white and switch to amber for turn signal when the headlights are on. With the headlights off they stay amber. I just don't like the white xenon color that doesn't match the other lights. I bought these from superbright and we'll see if they work. https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...led-tower/802/
I've been using Trition V3 for the DRLs and love them. They were 100% plug in play, and have an option to add a fuse to activate a resistor, so an aftermarket flasher is not necessary. I bought only the amber versions, and already have an aftermarket flasher (for my sequential tailslights) so I cannot comment how the, "resistor" option works.
The downfall is they are very expensive, but they run cooler than the halogen bulbs so the DRL housings should last longer. They are also just as bright as the halogen bulbs, and function exactly the same.
Here's a thread about them with pics and videos: https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...installed.html
The downfall is they are very expensive, but they run cooler than the halogen bulbs so the DRL housings should last longer. They are also just as bright as the halogen bulbs, and function exactly the same.
Here's a thread about them with pics and videos: https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...installed.html
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
When you see listings that LED bulbs are not suitable for GM DRL, it doesn't apply to 4th generation f-bodies. That warning is for later GM vehicles that use pulse width modulation (PWM) to reduce power to the DRLs. PWM uses an extremely short cycle square wave signal alternating the voltage between 14V and 0V to produce an overall average of close to 8V. Ordinary bulb filaments don't care - they just illuminate at the reduced average voltage. But LEDs react fast enough to the variation to flicker and significantly shorten their life.
F-bodies use full battery voltage to the DRLs so the warning doesn't apply. However, be careful about the vendor. Even some well-known vendors like V-LEDs won't warrant use of their LED bulbs in ANY DRLs because their bulbs aren't capable of dissipating enough heat. Superbrightleds.com is not one of those vendors and they do cover constant-on usage like in a DRL installation.
F-bodies use full battery voltage to the DRLs so the warning doesn't apply. However, be careful about the vendor. Even some well-known vendors like V-LEDs won't warrant use of their LED bulbs in ANY DRLs because their bulbs aren't capable of dissipating enough heat. Superbrightleds.com is not one of those vendors and they do cover constant-on usage like in a DRL installation.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: western wisconsin
Thx for the info. The bulbs in that amazon link look just like the ones I already have. I've changed out my flasher relay so I don't think I need a load resistor, the switchbacks I have work correctly. They are xenon white and switch to amber for turn signal when the headlights are on. With the headlights off they stay amber. I just don't like the white xenon color that doesn't match the other lights. I bought these from superbright and we'll see if they work. https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...led-tower/802/
Last edited by Bigbee; Sep 11, 2014 at 10:12 PM.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: western wisconsin
Just using a standard EL12 from NAPA. It's an electro-mechanical flasher I think. I have standard bulbs in the rear lights yet so the electrical load is enough to make it work. If you change everything over to LED I think you need to get the LED specific flasher which is quite a bit more expensive.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
Led bulbs not flashing I recently got new LED bulbs that are drop ins for the factory DRL on my 2000 and they light up just fine but when I go to use the turn signal the green arrow on the dash will stay solid and neither the front lights or the tail lights will flash. When I put the hazards on however they work just fine so I’m wondering what I need to do to get them to work properly.
I recently got new LED bulbs that are drop ins for the factory DRL on my 2000 and they light up just fine but when I go to use the turn signal the green arrow on the dash will stay solid and neither the front lights or the tail lights will flash. When I put the hazards on however they work just fine so I’m wondering what I need to do to get them to work properly.
