1157 LED bulbs (front amber blinkers) issue

[rdarlington]

Hi guys,
I picked up these from eBay and they arrived today:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pc-1157-Bay15d-42-3528-SMD-LED-Amber-Orange-Front-Turn-Signal-Light-Bulb-DC-12V-/130926503632?

I popped em in (yes, I replaced the blinker relay with one compatible with LEDs) and they do nothing when I turn the headlights on. When I put my turn signals on, they do light up (and blink) but on the dim setting. They only go in one way as the bayonet pins are offset from each other. So I guess the question is, are these LED lights wired backward, or is the DeLorean ? I verified both circuits in the LED bulb do work using an external power supply but I haven't yet compared it to the 1157 bulb specification for which pin is which function.

Here's what I'll be comparing it to:
http://d114hh0cykhyb0.cloudfront.net/images/specs/other/1157_base_mm.jpg

Unfortunately I had to leave for work so I didn't chase this down yet. Just curious if anybody else had this problem I want to avoid re-wiring these lights just to fit these bulbs. The original incandescent bulbs are fine.

-Bob

[DMC5180]

Bob,

I have LED 1157 type front park / turn and they work just fine. The Signal Flash being brighter than Park lights. Its not the wiring.

How do they work in hazard mode w/wo park lights on? I suspect you may have managed to put the units in backwards or you have poor crusty sockets.

[DeLorean03]

Hi guys,
I picked up these from eBay and they arrived today:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pc-1157-Bay15d-42-3528-SMD-LED-Amber-Orange-Front-Turn-Signal-Light-Bulb-DC-12V-/130926503632?

I popped em in (yes, I replaced the blinker relay with one compatible with LEDs) and they do nothing when I turn the headlights on. When I put my turn signals on, they do light up (and blink) but on the dim setting. They only go in one way as the bayonet pins are offset from each other. So I guess the question is, are these LED lights wired backward, or is the DeLorean ? I verified both circuits in the LED bulb do work using an external power supply but I haven't yet compared it to the 1157 bulb specification for which pin is which function.

Here's what I'll be comparing it to:
http://d114hh0cykhyb0.cloudfront.net/images/specs/other/1157_base_mm.jpg

Unfortunately I had to leave for work so I didn't chase this down yet. Just curious if anybody else had this problem I want to avoid re-wiring these lights just to fit these bulbs. The original incandescent bulbs are fine.

-Bob

Yep, I remember I had a similar issue. I remember they would be SUPER dim, and the only way they would work properly is if one side was LED and the other was incad or had no bulb plugged in.

I bought these and they worked great:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pc-Amber-1157-Bay15d-13x-Super-Flux-LED-Front-Turn-Signal-Light-Bulbs-P21-5W-/370832453349?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=lvj%252FTIuGacd5f5%252FxBZ0M7iVV%252BDU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

They look small in the photo, but they're pretty dang big bulbs. They work pretty well - not AMAZING - but pretty well.

[rdarlington]

I verified that the bulb is wired correctly. Time to go figure out what's wrong with both sockets with these bulbs when the incandescent bulbs work fine.

[kenny]

I also had the exact same problem when I fitted front indicator LED's. I put it down to them being cheap chinese ones and went back to incandescents.

[DrJeff]

I also had the exact same problem when I fitted front indicator LED's. I put it down to them being cheap chinese ones and went back to incandescents.

Same here, but I swapped out the flasher module too (both were reportedly LED capable) in the hope that might have been the problem, but no difference.

[rdarlington]

I'll use these LED bulbs for another project then and will put the original bulbs back in. So strange.

-Bob

[Chris4099]

I just installed a set of LEDs for the front and had the same issue where the blinker works but the marker portion doesn't. After some troubleshooting, I figured it out. Most flasher modules (yes, I too had installed an LED compatible one) grounds the lead going to the bulb when not blinking. It basically switches that side of the circuit between ground and 12+. For some reason these bulbs will not function when one pin is grounded and the other is receiving 12v (what happens when you have the marker lights on, but not the turn signal).

I've contacted the Amazon seller that I bought mine through to request a refund. So anybody have any good recommendations on ones that have actually worked for them and are very bright? The link previously posted has since expired. I don't want to keep ordering different sets of bulbs and having to return them if they keep doing this.

[Chris4099]

I made a quick video explaining how some of the 1157 LEDs may not work in our cars.

http://youtu.be/tci97uxfptA

Sorry for the link, for some reason the site won't let me embed the video.

[rdarlington]

Right on. Thanks for the video. My bulbs are definitely of the cheap variety. I'd love to convert if anybody can recommend an exact part number to order, otherwise I'll keep the original bulbs that are in there now.

[vps3922]

I am in the same boat. Initially I got the wrong bulbs with an 1156 socket, which totally screwed up the whole light system of the car when installed (do not try to force a 1156 into a 1157 socket...EVER!) and then bought a cheap pair of LEDs, which were marketed as super bright and tons of lumen and turn out to look really crappy when installed. They are so dim.

I followed this link from Alex for my LED conversion http://delorean6575revisited.blogspot.ca/2013/07/upgrading-to-led-lights-and-dealing.html to the dot but the GP Thunder GP1157-20A LEDs are not available anymore and I do not want to order another pair to test just to find out that they do not work.

All my bulbs in the car are now LEDs (except headlights, battery light, automatic tranny shifter light) with the big exception of these front indicator lights.

Is there anybody out there who found a nice set from SuperBrightLEDs or another vendor who still sells them?

[Chris4099]

I think these were the ones I ended up purchasing (I tossed the origin invoice):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-1157-High-Power-Cree-Amber-Yellow-Brake-Stop-Tail-Turn-Signal-LED-Light-Bulbs/261497687622?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D23423%26meid%3D7666631334927788229%26pid%3D 100005%26prg%3D10050%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D400 726802250&rt=nc

The center Cree bulb is used by the blinker and the side LEDs are for the marker circuit. So basically two separate circuits instead of a dual brightness LED. Once in the housing, the two sets of LEDs work fine like that and are actually brighter then the previous incandescent I previously had. So I think that's the key is finding a bulb with two obvious sets of lights. That should be a good indication they will be on separate circuits and work properly.

[D Knight]

I'll look through my receipts for the runs I'm running. They dropped right in with no problems. I may even have a set left over.


-D Knight-

[vps3922]

I think these were the ones I ended up purchasing (I tossed the origin invoice):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-1157-High-Power-Cree-Amber-Yellow-Brake-Stop-Tail-Turn-Signal-LED-Light-Bulbs/261497687622?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D23423%26meid%3D7666631334927788229%26pid%3D 100005%26prg%3D10050%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D400 726802250&rt=nc

The center Cree bulb is used by the blinker and the side LEDs are for the marker circuit. So basically two separate circuits instead of a dual brightness LED. Once in the housing, the two sets of LEDs work fine like that and are actually brighter then the previous incandescent I previously had. So I think that's the key is finding a bulb with two obvious sets of lights. That should be a good indication they will be on separate circuits and work properly.

Thanks, I went ahead and ordered a pair from eBay. They are in the mail and I will see if they are brighter. I will have to get another pair if they are not. :frown:

[vps3922]

I'll look through my receipts for the runs I'm running. They dropped right in with no problems. I may even have a set left over.


-D Knight-

Cool, please let me know. I ordered a few of the Cree LEDs from eBay for about $18 and will test them, but I am open for suggestions should these ones turn out to be dim as well. I will take a few pics when they arrive.

[D Knight]

28349here are my LEDs.


-D Knight-

[vps3922]

28349here are my LEDs.


-D Knight-

They are looking great. Way brighter than my cheapo China LEDs.

[Project Vixen]

If your car has had the side-markers-blink-with-the-turn-signals mod, this may affect the ability of the LEDs to function correctly.

[vps3922]

If your car has had the side-markers-blink-with-the-turn-signals mod, this may affect the ability of the LEDs to function correctly.

I like this mod but have not yet installed it. Still the original setup in my car. Thanks for the tip, though.

[Chris4099]

I have LED turn signals and LED side markers with this mod and it works fine. The key is having side markers that are not polarity sensitive and a LED blinker that works like the original in that it grounds the circuit when off. That grounding is what causes issues with some 1157 bulbs, but is not related to the side markers.

So as long as you have an 1157 LED that works when the blinker circuit is grounded and a non-polarity specific side marker LED, you should be fine with the mod. Fortunately in my case the side marker LEDs I got from Super Bright LEDs years ago worked with the polarity in either direction.

[D Knight]

Those aren't even at full brightness. They are brighter when the signals are flashing


-D Knight-

[NightFlyer]

They are brighter when the signals are flashing


-D Knight-

Something only a true raver would say :biggrin:

[rdarlington]

I think these were the ones I ended up purchasing (I tossed the origin invoice):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-1157-High-Power-Cree-Amber-Yellow-Brake-Stop-Tail-Turn-Signal-LED-Light-Bulbs/261497687622?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D23423%26meid%3D7666631334927788229%26pid%3D 100005%26prg%3D10050%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D400 726802250&rt=nc

The center Cree bulb is used by the blinker and the side LEDs are for the marker circuit. So basically two separate circuits instead of a dual brightness LED. Once in the housing, the two sets of LEDs work fine like that and are actually brighter then the previous incandescent I previously had. So I think that's the key is finding a bulb with two obvious sets of lights. That should be a good indication they will be on separate circuits and work properly.

Verified. Those work. I just installed them and they work perfectly. Thank you much!

-Bob

[vps3922]

Verified. Those work. I just installed them and they work perfectly. Thank you much!

-Bob

I ordered those as well and they arrived already. I just have to install them. Maybe next week.