How To: LED Festoon map lights

[martinez_josh]

Well. . . I finally just took mine out. The front map lights worked great for like a week then they just wouldn't turn on, so I replaced them with the oem ones. The rear light still works good though.. . only thing is that I have to put it in at an angle? Oh well

[basmoq]

I'm about ready to do the same, these things are crap... They look cool as hell, but the constant need to hit the light fixture to get it working again isn't worth the hassle.

[fesersoft]

I just had one of the festoons go out and I figured out the issue.

There seems to be an issue with the connection between the metal connector and the block holding the leds.

When I twist the bulb back and forth with it connected, it turns back on, so there must be a short.

It was only a temp fix, the road shaking caused it to go right back out.

I will send an email to support to explain the issue.

[basmoq]

I'm gonna attempt disassembly of one of the lights, thinking to fill the endcap with dielectric grease...

[fesersoft]

Originally Posted by basmoq

I'm gonna attempt disassembly of one of the lights, thinking to fill the endcap with dielectric grease...

You have the same issue?

I don't plan on mailing it back so maybe I will do that.

I ordered a blue one that will be here hopefully on friday.

[basmoq]

yup, exact same issue, you have to flick the lights to get them going again, or sometimes remove and re-insert with a lot of jiggling...

[fesersoft]

Originally Posted by basmoq

yup, exact same issue, you have to flick the lights to get them going again, or sometimes remove and re-insert with a lot of jiggling...

I grew up in lakewood, what part of town are you in?

[negativezeroz]

My festoons went in and work without any problems so far. I got white 9leds. Loving the output and color. Alot better than that yellow crap. Also put one in my trunk and on my license (the 194 wedges), then the 15led for brake lights. Ordered the wrong reverse, so the right ones will be here tomorrow. I can post pics tomorrow night.

Si owners = Reverse lights are 194/168 wedge base. Just an FYI.

[basmoq]

I had no problems initially, I believe the shaking of the car is what causes them to fail. I still haven't had time to diagnose the issue. Really need to go to bed, long drive tomorrow... (today)

[Hanzo]

Does anyone know if 31mm 3175 9 LED will work?

[PBJames23]

Just installed a blue Varad "pro-series" LED (3022) in my rear dome light. Good output and the color matches speedo bac. It fits with more room to spare than the stock bulb. Install took about a minute.

I'll post up some pics later tonight.

[PBJames23]

here are some pics of the LED.

[martinez_josh]

So.. has anyone mailed superbrightleds yet cause I really like the look of the leds over the oem but they don't even work!

[ethlar]

what do you mean they dont work, i got all the leds in my car from them and they work perfectly fine.

[FujiBlueSi]

Originally Posted by ethlar

what do you mean they dont work, i got all the leds in my car from them and they work perfectly fine.

I installed mine about 2 months ago and they work beautifully. Bright red LED's to match my dash.

[basmoq]

I have a fix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take the offending lights and carefully pry off the metal caps on each end. The caps are epoxied over extensions of the plastic LED housing. there is a wire going through the plastic and looped over the end that is supposed to be making contact with the metal caps. The problem is, the epoxy covered it almost completely and is preventing it from making contact. Yank it out of the epoxy with a knive, scrape it clean, and stuff the cap back on with a little epoxy on the side away from the wire. Your good to go!!!

[VoLTr0n]

can't wait to get paid friday to pick some of these up for my lx

so excited

[tomasro]

Originally Posted by basmoq

I have a fix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take the offending lights and carefully pry off the metal caps on each end. The caps are epoxied over extensions of the plastic LED housing. there is a wire going through the plastic and looped over the end that is supposed to be making contact with the metal caps. The problem is, the epoxy covered it almost completely and is preventing it from making contact. Yank it out of the epoxy with a knive, scrape it clean, and stuff the cap back on with a little epoxy on the side away from the wire. Your good to go!!!

perhaps some pictures would help with your description :)

[tim711]

anybody have pics of Si with the red festoon map lights to match the gauges?

[HabaneroGuy]

I am reading that a few of you are having problems with the red festoon map lights. So I thought I would make my own. I can not figure out how to post pics, so you can go here to look at what I made. http://public.fotki.com/themodelergu...led_map_light/
Please let me know what you guys think of my creation.