Side View Mirror Flood Lights

3391 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by aldebaran, Oct 9, 2009

1SOUL

Discussion Starter · Mar 9, 2009

Hey guys, I recently tried putting in new bulbs into my side view mirror lights. When I turned the light on, it flickers very quickly like a strobe light. Does this happen for those who swapped out their bulbs too?

Also, where can I get the housing, because as I was popping out the lights, the latch snapped on one of the lights...

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Vash13

· #2 · Mar 9, 2009

How did you get at the light? did you take off the headlight cover? I don't think anybody here has swapped those lights out before. I may be wrong.

carreragt7

· #3 · Mar 9, 2009

Re: (Vash13)

I've taken them out before and never had any problem with strobing...could be the type of light you are using...is it the same kind or an 'upgrade' of some sort?

1SOUL

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 9, 2009

Re: (Vash13)

It's not the headlight. It's the light below the side view mirror. When I replaced the bulb with a white LED, it strobes. I bought the same LED as my DRLs and as a DRL they work just fine, but under the side view mirror, they strobe...

Any ideas?

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tmtalpey

· #5 · Mar 9, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (1SOUL)

Many of the lights on the car aren't provided with a constant 12V, they are illuminated via a PWM (pulse width modulated) signal to soften then and save energy. PWM signals don't work well with LEDs.

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the puddle lights are PWM.

Tom.

mmb.net99

· #6 · Mar 9, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (tmtalpey)

Quote, originally posted by tmtalpey »

Many of the lights on the car aren't provided with a constant 12V, they are illuminated via a PWM (pulse width modulated) signal to soften then and save energy. PWM signals don't work well with LEDs.

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the puddle lights are PWM.

Tom.

yes they must be. this "issue" (issue? lol!

) came up a couple of years ago when some of us were first trying to upgrade to all leds. when i was popping leds into my front running lights, i tried them in the puddle lights first... STROBE...

i ended up using tinted incandescents. too bad, the leds would have looked awesome. the tinted bulbs loose a little in output.

... oh, btw: you have to pop out the mirror glass to get at the puddle lights. feels totally destructive at first when your doing it. but it does work.

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vivek9856

· #7 · Mar 9, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (mmb.net99)

Dropping in a low pass filter and throwing in a capacitor should fix it... Right?

tmtalpey

· #8 · Mar 9, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (vivek9856)

Probably. Give it a try!

Tom.

1SOUL

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 11, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (tmtalpey)

Weren't there some people who changed out these bulbs and not have a problem?

zerocover

· #10 · Mar 11, 2009

I dont have those lights but I want them, could I replace the blank with a bulb and thats it? How do I get the black out last time I tried by removing the mirror and pulling up on the blank (it did nothing).

What size are they? W5w?

1SOUL

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 11, 2009

Re: (zerocover)

This is what we are talking about. When I replaced my bulbs and turned them on, they were strobing.

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mja311

· #12 · Oct 7, 2009

Re: (1SOUL)

Has anyone been able to replace these with LEDs and not get the strobe?

theshadow27

· #13 · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (vivek9856)

Quote, originally posted by vivek9856 »

throwing in a capacitor should fix it... Right?

+1 Right on.

Put a 470-4700uF electrolytic cap across the + and - terminals. It may even fit in the housing.
http://www.radioshack.com/prod...02511

If you feel like driving down to Tyson's some time, I'll give you a couple of caps and put em in with ya.

EDIT: Just saw the dates

Guess this is a little late. I haven't tried this yet, so can't confirm or deny.

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1SOUL

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (theshadow27)

I'm in! Better late than never!!!

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theshadow27

· #15 · Oct 7, 2009

Re: Side View Mirror Flood Lights (1SOUL)

Email sent.

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aldebaran

· #16 · Oct 9, 2009

Re: (mja311)

I've tried LEDs in the puddle lights a few years back, but they were too dim for me. So I have incandescent bulbs in there.

However I have installed white LEDs in the dome lights, glove box, trunk, footwell, license plate and DRLs and they have worked for years. Get the ones rated for 14V if you can.

http://store.42draftdesigns.co....html

One footwell LED is strobing now, which I installed in 2005...or thereabouts.
My experience with LED failures were always in the license plate lights. They worked for a day or two, strobe and then go out permanently. I bought the 14.5V version and the problem never recurred. I've had them for 2 years now.

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