Caseoane

I know they sell kits for these things, but I opted for a DIY project: buy the LED lights, and then reverse polarity manually.

Step One: Solder a cable to each pole and make a connector. Note that you have to insulate the light or you'll short the socket.




LED Light with insulation and reversed polarity.

Step 2: use existing socket to connect to the right pole.





Installed LED. Note how we are using the same socket (no mod to the car itself) and simply connecting the light to the oposite poles).

The result...




Result...

430keeper

Nice...is that LED rated for 12v ?

Caseoane

Yup... These are the lights.... I bought them thinking they would fit right in, but then discovered they were the wrong polarity...


Maybe you'll be able to find them with the right polarity somewhere?

430keeper

No instrument panel warning light with the LEDs ?
Sometimes a different resistance will trigger a
dash light.
By the way, do the map light lenses get hot to
the touch with the LEDs ?

Caseoane

Hi!

Nope, no warning... at least not for now. The LEDs run way cooler than incandescent lightbulbs, so heat is never a problem.

If you are going to try this, I suggest you buy a more powerful bulb than the one I used, though. The color is fine, but I wish they were a bit brighter.

cs

430keeper

What about something like this?

DarthSid

I have similar LED lights like this that give off plenty of light without ever heating up the lens.

Caseoane

That's nice, but isn't it too bright?

DarthSid

Yes they are brighter than the OEM bulbs, but better than having weak yellowish lighting. I guess it's a matter of choice.

430keeper

How do you remove the map light lenses ?

Caseoane

Gently pry them open with a flat screwdriver. Very easy and very low risk of breaking them if you are careful.

430keeper

thanks...will give it a go.

Harold57

I found a seller on ebay that would sell reverse polarity LEDs. They worked just fine.

On the LEDs, just pay attention to the lumans output and compare them to the original bulb to make sure that you are in the ball park. Some of the newer LEDs are brighter than the older ones.

Nice work Caseoane.

OBP

hope this nice mod works for you - I managed to get a set of flat panel LED's with a reversible polarity adapter as part of the kit and that really upgraded the map lights in my SC. Highly recommended. I adapted a stand using the ends of plastic toothpicks to keep the flat panel from touching the lens cos I was a little concerned about direct contact between the LEDs and the plastic lens. Been about 2 years now and no issues. Man those LED's are bright.

Caseoane

Thank you, Sir.