how to fit larger LED tail lights and blinkers.

[andrew e]

I have been annoyed withg my tail lights for a while, they kept blowing globes, and the older style county globe holders were starting to fall apart with age. I have always liked the flush look of the truck style LED lights, but couldnt find any small enough. Anyway i eventually bit the bullet, and bought some larger ones (almost 5" round), but recessed them, and fitted them without the surrounds, so they look smaller (about 3" round). Anyway heres some pics.

The lights, about $100 ish all up from fleabay.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/318.jpg


My favourite tool. an air hacksaw very handy for snorkels too.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/319.jpg

All marked out.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/320.jpg

All cut out. If it was a car which the paintwork mattered, i would probley put masking tape around where i cut to stop it scratching when i slip.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/321.jpg

I love it when i buy somthing brand new, and cut it up with the grinder to make it suit my purpose.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/322.jpg


All fitted
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/323.jpg

Repeated on the other side.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/324.jpg

Tail lights on
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/325.jpg

All on (Hazards, brake and tail)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/326.jpg

Also i got some matching reversing lights, but ran out of time to recess them, so i just painted the surrounds white to look smaller.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/327.jpg


The blinkers flash faster now due to the less resistance, but i will just put a resistor in when i could be stuffed.

You may notice i dont have any numberplate light anymore (it hadnt worked for 3 years), I have a new one on order (LED) i will post up pics of that too when i have it on.

Andy

[scott oz]

Andrew,

Why not just by the correct flasher can. However you won't get the "cliicking" with the electronic ones but it beats using resistors.

[andrew e]

Because the flasher on my county is behind the fuse box, which is a pain to get to (several layers of sound proofing and a cover that never wants to go on) and getting at the lights is easy. Now i think of it, i could put it in the hazard switch aswell, as the blinkers run through there too.

Andy

[extreme]

Good stuff.

[rar110]

only question I have is WHAT THE HELL SIZE IS THAT TYRE ON THE BACK.

Otherwise looks very safe :).

[lardy]

only question I have is WHAT THE HELL SIZE IS THAT TYRE ON THE BACK.

Otherwise looks very safe :).

do you reckon you need a specially built trolley jack to hoik that mothers son around looks a huge tyre !!!

Is there an ADR issue with led's ?

[andrew e]

The lights have some sort of adr approval written on them (i only glanced at it), so i assume there fine. I dont really care, aslong as they work (the old ones didnt always).

The reversing lights are good enough for reversing vision, but as you might see, my windows are pretty dark. So i will be puting a spot on there too. Now, wheres that HID kit i had laying around...

Thats a 35 inch spare, not that heavy really, although i have never weighted it, its not that much more than a standard. I have 6" long studs on the carrier, so it slides on easier.

Andy

[VladTepes]

I think you'll find the lights are ADR approved for trailer use only.
Unlike the standard lights, these are not visible if you are located beside the vehicle, only if you are behind it !
Apparently the ADR people get upset by that, fror god knows what reason.

So while I reckon your solution is safer than the dim lights that are standard, i also unfortunately think they would not be egal.

Sorry.


As for the tyre - the sooks up here won;t let us go more than 15mm above rollig diameter of the tyre fitted stabndard to the vehicle from factory ! Really really sucks !

[andrew e]

I think you'll find the lights are ADR approved for trailer use only.
Unlike the standard lights, these are not visible if you are located beside the vehicle, only if you are behind it !
Apparently the ADR people get upset by that, fror god knows what reason.

So while I reckon your solution is safer than the dim lights that are standard, i also unfortunately think they would not be egal.

Sorry.


As for the tyre - the sooks up here won;t let us go more than 15mm above rollig diameter of the tyre fitted stabndard to the vehicle from factory ! Really really sucks !

Thanks for that info, i was curious if they were adr legal, and both the rego blokes that i go to said they didnt see any problems, but i figured there would be some silly fault. Actuallly, the way i have mounted them without the factory shrouds, they protrude about 5mm, so mabe this is enough to be classified as visible from the side.

They also have tyre laws like that in nsw too, luckily they just dont enforce it when i'm around. I have upgraded the brakes, and factory full floating axles and it passes rego every year, so personally i dont see a problem.

Andy

[sclarke]

You do know that NEW factory lights with sockets are about $25 each......

Then you would not have had to cut up the car and have a light that is not legal fitted...

From behind, yep can see them, but to the side????

[dobbo]

Looks good Andy, looking at doing exactly the same thing after I sort of did a George of the Jungle whilst performing a 50 point turn up at Freemans last week.

Before I do so can someone explain why they would not be legal? What Australian Design Rule makes them illegal? Why they are legal on a prime mover, car trailer or Caravan but not a Land Rover?

[scott oz]

Before I do so can someone explain why they would not be legal? What Australian Design Rule makes them illegal? Why they are legal on a prime mover, car trailer or Caravan but not a Land Rover?

You've asked the question that no one has been able to specifically point to a regulation, be it ADR or RTA regulation (NSW) that specifically deals with the use of LED's as an alternative to incandescent bulbs. Or that requires after market parts to be ADR or RTA approved.

Takes a bit of researching as opposed to asking some of the fools at the RTA.

(This post will get me into trouble)

[andrew e]

i had a look in the dark last night, and the 5mm they stick out through the body makes them visible from the side.

If it does comply with adrs, it would be the only thin on my car that does:D

Number plate lights came in today. i'll post up some pics when they are on.

Andy

[lardy]

You do know that NEW factory lights with sockets are about $25 each......

Then you would not have had to cut up the car and have a light that is not legal fitted...

From behind, yep can see them, but to the side????

you can get a set complete from the u.k. are nas led's 55 quid but as they are landy shaped hope they meet ard bs as i am aiming at getting them !!!

[lardy]

Thanks for that info, i was curious if they were adr legal, and both the rego blokes that i go to said they didnt see any problems, but i figured there would be some silly fault. Actuallly, the way i have mounted them without the factory shrouds, they protrude about 5mm, so mabe this is enough to be classified as visible from the side.

They also have tyre laws like that in nsw too, luckily they just dont enforce it when i'm around. I have upgraded the brakes, and factory full floating axles and it passes rego every year, so personally i dont see a problem.

Andy

i had to cut off 65% of my roo-bar off because the rego nazi's said you cant see the(front) indicators from the side even though i argued it has side indicator ...subsequently the brush guards and steps went ...now looking for new steps painful

[dobbo]

Still searching for the ADR's considering Nissan Exa, 300ZX, Honda CRX just three off the top of my head all have flush mounted tail lights that could not possibly be visable from the side yet all were built after Andy's and My County's so would have to comply with these same ADR's.

[andrew e]

You do know that NEW factory lights with sockets are about $25 each......

Then you would not have had to cut up the car and have a light that is not legal fitted...

From behind, yep can see them, but to the side????

They were $13 each for brake and $11 each for the blinker from karcraft the other week, but to fit the later defender style with the rear-remobable globe you need to cut the hole in the body bigger anyway. I have found that they are always filling up with mud and corroding the globe holders as i can never get them to seal.

definately visible from the side though. :)

[VladTepes]

Found this:

Landrover Tuning :: LED Set of 8 lamps for all Defender - Exterior Defender - Defender - Default Store View (http://www.landrovertuning.com.au/shop/default/defender/exterior/led-set-of-8-lamps-for-all-defender.html)

More expensive though - are yours similar / the same ?

[andrew e]

Found this:

Landrover Tuning :: LED Set of 8 lamps for all Defender - Exterior Defender - Defender - Default Store View (http://www.landrovertuning.com.au/shop/default/defender/exterior/led-set-of-8-lamps-for-all-defender.html)

More expensive though - are yours similar / the same ?

Similar, but by the looks they stick out like the NAS lights. I wanted mine almost flush so they had less chance of damage. Those also would fit with less (none at all?) mods.

these are the ones i got
LED STOP&TAIL LIGHT CHROME SURROUND TRUCK/TRAILER 5543R - eBay, Parts, Accessories, Trucks, Commercial Vehicles, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 30-Jul-09 12:17:31 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LED-STOP-TAIL-LIGHT-CHROME-SURROUND-TRUCK-TRAILER-5543R_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c39Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3911Q2ec0Q 2em14QQhashZitem3a5132add4QQitemZ250470378964QQptZ AUQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQQsalenotsupported )

Andy