[SGs FUZION]

Hi All....with the improved vision at nite due to greater illumination afforded by the foglite/lobeam mod a few weeks back...i embarked on upgrading the backup lites as they...at least to me...are not as brite as they should...or could be. I back out of my garage & down the driveway in darkness and putting my brakes on affords much more lite then the backup lites do. The OEM 921's are 21 candlepower...the brightest of the 900 series with the T5 wedge terminal. Bought a set of multi wide angle super brite LED's for @ $12. in hopes of briter lite....major dissapointment in overall illumination. Sooo...time for a mod. Researched bulb specs on D.Stern ...the 1157/2057 gives 32 candlepower & with the second contact wired ..another 3...35 total. The 2357 is 40 candlepower with 2nd contact wired...43 candlepower...twice the 921's. Picked up a set of universal push in dual contact sockets for $4. ea. and a set of 2357 bulbs for a buck a pop... did the mod yesterday...took about 3 hours. I removed the housing from the body...3 nuts ...cums rite out. Placed it on a microfiber towel with the bulb hole facing up and cut throw plastic with stanely knife...took some effort...but had virtually no particles fall in. Anyway...significant improvement in backup lite at nite.

Sockets & bulbs...$10.00

reflection of OEM 921's

left is multi LED 921 bulb... right is OEM 921

reflection of LED on right ...& 2357 on left...way brite!

Ok...the 2 socket wires were cut to @ 2", stripped & twisted together & crimped into one end of the blue union...the other end was crimped to the positive (green) wire of the backup lite harness after i cut off the 921 socket. The red terminal was crimped to the negative wire (black) of the backup lite harness and pushed onto the sockets blade connection. The o-ring was slipped over the 6 'fingers' as a seal.

Now the 'fun' part....the 921 connector 'hole' was cut (enlarged) to accept the push in socket (@1" round hole). As the housing is sealed with NO WAY to open it up...care must be taken not to get ANYTHING (plastic particles) in it. I removed the housing...3 nuts...and used a 'stanely' knife to cut the hole...the diameter of the round surface the 921 twist in socket is in...and vacummed out the minimal particals that fell in...do not up end the housing...leave it with the hole to be cut in the up position until done.

Socket & bulb installed...

Pic from outside of new bulb...

done deal...both 2357's installed...significantly briter!!

 

[Jaysen]

Wow, great results and good write-up. I could see alot more people doing this in search of things being brighter while backing up.

 

[SGs FUZION]

Hi Jaysen...THANX!!! for your compliments & support!!! Yep...and you can do it with a single contact socket & 1156/2056 or the briter 2356 bulb and still have increased illumination for safety and better backup visibility @ nite.

 

[cueball]

That's pretty neat. I have never, ever thought of those backup lights as being for the driver though - I have always considered them being for other people and vehicles to know that you are backing up.

 

[Jaysen]

[quote author=Cueball link=topic=67498.msg1168258#msg1168258 date=1169736953]
That's pretty neat. I have never, ever thought of those backup lights as being for the driver though - I have always considered them being for other people and vehicles to know that you are backing up.
[/quote]

and to perhaps light up the road at night that you are backing into.

 

[SGs FUZION]

Hi Cueball & Jaysen...Yes...my primary goal with this upgrade was to aid me in nitetime visibility backing outta my garage & down the driveway...and then to hopefully aid motorists & pedestrians in seeing me better as I back outta a parking space....worthwhile inexpensive 'safety' upgrade.

 

[midmichmicrotech]

Hey this is a simple question...what is the easiest way to pop out the christmas tree plugs used to hold the carpet and plastic molding in place so I can access the tail lights to make the change

 

[Fusion4u]

Excellent job with the mod SGF,

Now you don't have to ride the brakes coming out of the driveway!

Great job with the patience level as well.

Happy reversing!

 

[SGs FUZION]

Hi midmichmicrotech...they are a pain...but i have a tool that looks like a straightslot screwdriver with the blade end V'd and slightly angled which slips under the cap and pry's them out...otherwise...start it with a flatblade screwdriver...then get your fingertips under it & yank the sucker outta there.

 

[SGs FUZION]

Hi Fusion4u...Thanx!! Appreciate the compliment! Yes...a BIG improvement in rear illumination which affords significantly better visibility in reverse. A very worthwhile mod.

 

[midmichmicrotech]

Got the tool and did the modifications. Also did the flashing side markers on the rear as well. All looks good. Funniest thing is I have not had to back up at night yet so I can't tell the difference lol. Hope to see it soon

 

[sback2]

thanks for taking the time to write this up. I gave me the motivation to go out and mod my back up lights also. I used what I had around and my old H11 fit the bill after doing the H9 headlight mod.

 

[The Only MTS]

Any pictures with them on? Or have they melted the housing? LOL

 

[JaguarJohn]

Hey!
That sounds like a really great fix . I wasnt able to see your pix of the handiwork! link=topic=67498.msg1160994#msg1160994 date=1169409801]
Hi All....with the improved vision at nite due to greater illumination afforded by the foglite/lobeam mod a few weeks back...i embarked on upgrading the backup lites as they...at least to me...are not as brite as they should...or could be. I back out of my garage & down the driveway in darkness and putting my brakes on affords much more lite then the backup lites do. The OEM 921's are 21 candlepower...the brightest of the 900 series with the T5 wedge terminal. Bought a set of multi wide angle super brite LED's for @ $12. in hopes of briter lite....major dissapointment in overall illumination. Sooo...time for a mod. Researched bulb specs on D.Stern ...the 1157/2057 gives 32 candlepower & with the second contact wired ..another 3...35 total. The 2357 is 40 candlepower with 2nd contact wired...43 candlepower...twice the 921's. Picked up a set of universal push in dual contact sockets for $4. ea. and a set of 2357 bulbs for a buck a pop... did the mod yesterday...took about 3 hours. I removed the housing from the body...3 nuts ...cums rite out. Placed it on a microfiber towel with the bulb hole facing up and cut throw plastic with stanely knife...took some effort...but had virtually no particles fall in. Anyway...significant improvement in backup lite at nite.

Sockets & bulbs...$10.00

reflection of OEM 921's

left is multi LED 921 bulb... right is OEM 921

reflection of LED on right ...& 2357 on left...way brite!

Ok...the 2 socket wires were cut to @ 2", stripped & twisted together & crimped into one end of the blue union...the other end was crimped to the positive (green) wire of the backup lite harness after i cut off the 921 socket. The red terminal was crimped to the negative wire (black) of the backup lite harness and pushed onto the sockets blade connection. The o-ring was slipped over the 6 'fingers' as a seal.

Now the 'fun' part....the 921 connector 'hole' was cut (enlarged) to accept the push in socket (@1" round hole). As the housing is sealed with NO WAY to open it up...care must be taken not to get ANYTHING (plastic particles) in it. I removed the housing...3 nuts...and used a 'stanely' knife to cut the hole...the diameter of the round surface the 921 twist in socket is in...and vacummed out the minimal particals that fell in...do not up end the housing...leave it with the hole to be cut in the up position until done.

Socket & bulb installed...

Pic from outside of new bulb...

done deal...both 2357's installed...significantly briter!!

[/quote]

 

[bttlefedc10]

Why not just put some bright led bulbs in there?

 

[biggee72]

[quote author=BttleFedC10 link=topic=67498.msg4263721#msg4263721 date=1345834160]
Why not just put some bright led bulbs in there?
[/quote]

Led bulbs dont scatter light enough to be effective. Theyll look bright when you look at them but youll see nthing when reversing.

 

[jlong]

I know this is old but I have to say WTF to this part of the writeup.

"...3 nuts ...cums rite out."

It's a slow day at work, LOL.

 

[Botts]

Here's hoping someone saved the photos! CarDomain switching up their website appears to have toasted a ton of the images on FFC.

 

[dbcoop]

wondering if anyone got photos of this install handy?

 

[Applefish]

Well, since someone resurrected this post, here's my LED mod I did yesterday. Straight 19 SMD LED Wedge Base Tower SuperBrightLEDs. They are rated highest Relative Intensity at 5/5 bulbs.

Original 921 bulb

Replacement 921/T5 miniature wedge bulb

The difference side by side (in daytime)

...and at night.