DIY: License Plate LED Replacement & Trunk Light LED Replacement

[gui]

Which ones are you guys getting from warden_jp2002? The $2.50 single wedge one or the 5 power SMD one thats like $8.50?

Originally Posted by srrod88

hey here are the pics sry i dont have a digital camera so i used my phone i hope this helps you guyswondering about it.. this is a awsome DIY the lights look like the lexus's even though it doesnt in the pic's

Which ones did you use here? They look nice...

[J_Bone]

I'm using these from superbrightleds.com for my License plate and trunk....

WLED-WHP LED Wedge Base Bulbs

High Power - Pure White 194/168 wedge base bulb
This bulb has 1 High Power LED which is about as bright as the 6-LED bulb seen above
At 4500K, the Color Temperature is between Warm White and Cool White

The License plate looks really nice!! But for the trunk I will be looking for a different type of bulb.

[BigMoney8481]

Originally Posted by srrod88

hey here are the pics sry i dont have a digital camera so i used my phone i hope this helps you guyswondering about it.. this is a awsome DIY the lights look like the lexus's even though it doesnt in the pic's

what kind of LEDs are these?

[BigMoney8481]

^bottom of page 3

[itzbinnice]

I am considering adding more light to the trunk of my 08 LX sedan. I came up with this possibility. I intend to mount a 12" LCD light bar using two sided tape right behind the existing light fixture.
I want to keep things as simple as possible, I don't want to use a cold cathode tube since it requires a transformer and adding more clutter. The LCD can be wired direct to the existing switch.

From what I could see I discovered the trunk light does not operate on a mercury switch, the only time it will shut off is when you close the trunk. Within the locking assembly, when the trunk is closed it breaks the negative wire going to the light, the light has a constant hot on in it. Doing the littlest damage possible my intentions are to solder two wires directly to the switch and snake them in to the existing short harness to the LCD light bar for a nice clean install.

If you remove your trunk light you will see two exposed brass bars one is hot, the other a ground. I want to solder in two small male terminals to these bars, then connect the two female connectors wires going to the LED bar. I suppose I could just solder the wires to the bars but I’d like something a little stronger. In theory this setup should work using the existing wire with no damage due to splices. If down the road you're not happy, simply unsolder the two terminals from the switch, pull out the wires, and remove the bar and you'll be back to original factory setup.
For those not having soldering irons, if you use two T-taps into the existing wire should work, but you will have to remove the short piece of wire loom to get at the wires, and more than likely leave it off once the tap has been made.

Two problems I am having, I can't seem to locate a 12" led bar that is rigid and comes with two sided tape. I did a google search as well as superbrightleds.com and unable to find a suitable bar. The second problem is the male terminals that will need to be soldered. I would need a terminal configured with a 90 degree material. One part of the terminal flat that I could solder to the switch, the other portion of it shaped that it will accept a small female terminal.

Any opinions on this setup are welcome as well as suggestions of what bar to use and how or where to get the terminals needed for the connection to the LCD light bar.

[kirks07si]

i ordered the flank led's from warden and neither of them work upon installation...wtf

[J_Bone]

Originally Posted by kirks07si

i ordered the flank led's from warden and neither of them work upon installation...wtf

Flank? Which ones are these? The trunk uses wedge LED's.
Are the polar? WHen I installed mine, of cource they were backwards. I flipped it around and then they worked.

[tda1337]

Originally Posted by itzbinnice

I am considering adding more light to the trunk of my 08 LX sedan. I came up with this possibility. I intend to mount a 12" LCD light bar using two sided tape right behind the existing light fixture.
I want to keep things as simple as possible, I don't want to use a cold cathode tube since it requires a transformer and adding more clutter. The LCD can be wired direct to the existing switch.

From what I could see I discovered the trunk light does not operate on a mercury switch, the only time it will shut off is when you close the trunk. Within the locking assembly, when the trunk is closed it breaks the negative wire going to the light, the light has a constant hot on in it. Doing the littlest damage possible my intentions are to solder two wires directly to the switch and snake them in to the existing short harness to the LCD light bar for a nice clean install.

If you remove your trunk light you will see two exposed brass bars one is hot, the other a ground. I want to solder in two small male terminals to these bars, then connect the two female connectors wires going to the LED bar. I suppose I could just solder the wires to the bars but I’d like something a little stronger. In theory this setup should work using the existing wire with no damage due to splices. If down the road you're not happy, simply unsolder the two terminals from the switch, pull out the wires, and remove the bar and you'll be back to original factory setup.
For those not having soldering irons, if you use two T-taps into the existing wire should work, but you will have to remove the short piece of wire loom to get at the wires, and more than likely leave it off once the tap has been made.

Two problems I am having, I can't seem to locate a 12" led bar that is rigid and comes with two sided tape. I did a google search as well as superbrightleds.com and unable to find a suitable bar. The second problem is the male terminals that will need to be soldered. I would need a terminal configured with a 90 degree material. One part of the terminal flat that I could solder to the switch, the other portion of it shaped that it will accept a small female terminal.

Any opinions on this setup are welcome as well as suggestions of what bar to use and how or where to get the terminals needed for the connection to the LCD light bar.

As for a usable LED light bar, they can be found at most walmarts and pepboys, they are a standard brand that makes them and they will definitely work
BUT
u obviously missed that im in the middle of a DIY 3W led setup, which will throw out 95 lumens into the already there reflector, no soldering on your car... meaning ur warranty will still be intact!!!!

As for the flank leds, warden sells 1W NONPOLAR ones... problem is my package got lost and hes being a dick to me about it
im waiting another week to see if i get them then im filing a claim
if ne other people have had problems with him please let me know

Now ive received my 3W blue (35 lumens) and my 3W white led (95 lumens) as my test subjects for a custom festoon bulb and trunk light, but i got the wrong resistors!!!!
for 12-13volt operation u need a 12 or 15 ohm resistor (go with the 15 for safer operation) but i dont know wat wattage resistor i need yet, i gotta go back to my alternator to find that out (if someone knows private message me and ill go about picking it up at radio shack and finishing the DIY)

the 3W led will provide more lumens than the light bar and will use the stock reflector, for good light distribution!!

[gui]

I ordered mine on 12/31 and they still aren't here. Im being patient though because they are coming from hong kong...

[SiLVER Surfer]

Originally Posted by gui

I ordered mine on 12/31 and they still aren't here. Im being patient though because they are coming from hong kong...

it took me a week and a half or two weeks to get them. hang in there, they should be here any day now

[tda1337]

quick update, seams if i went with just a resistor, it would be bigger than the festooon bulb itself
so instead im gonna use a driver, a much smaller resistor, and something to attach it all too.... hope to god it fits in the small as space...... this project has become a nightmare llol

[Jgams]

^ You guys are going all out for the trunk light mods, post up some pics when you're done

[ndee]

i have a quick question. my clumsy hands broke the plastic housing when i pinched (too hard) to take out the bulb housing. can anyone tell me where i can get a new plastic housing? thanks so much.

[gui]

lol, i did the same thing...

I went to my dealer and told them it broke on its own and was just dangling there when I opened my trunk one day....

they replaced it for free cause the warranty covered it.

you can probably order it on Majestic Honda - New and Used Cars - Civic Accord Element West Warwick, RI, go to their auto parts online catalogue, it might be under the trunk lid section... it has it all disected into individual parts... but you would prolly pay double just cause of shipping.. just go to your dealer and have them order a new part for you or just do what i did.


SHHH DONT TELL >_<

[jynxlee317]

order mine pairs from superbrightleds.com on jan 14... will post pictures when installed

[remarqable23]

Got my LEDs from Superbrightled today and immediately installed it. Removing it was no problem, installing the LEDs took a little push. Everything looks great though.

Before:



After:

[imdahn]

looks sharp. just ordered mine a couple days ago... can't wait to install them.

[jynxlee317]

mine juss arrived, but im having a great time tryin to wiggle out the OEM blubs...... i been tryin for like half hour now

[jynxlee317]

man finally installed

but those little suckers really make me break a sweat....

if you got big chubby or even regular size men fingers.... good luck

if you r tryin for this mod, stick your index finger in the tiny gap between the housing and the blub and thumb in the front opening of housing, and then PULL, wiggle a little and PULL... this i found most efficient

i broke both of my housing tryin to install this thing, i only have 1 security click thingy now on both housing, but it hangs fine so i wont bother to get new ones LOL!!!!!

[Jgams]

Man, does everyone have super human strength on this forum?? I can't see how so many of you guys broke the clips!


Oh, and nice before and after remarqable23!! They look tight!