Is it possible to change the US rear turn signal lights to the much better (but illegal) Canadian type. Will just a wiring mod. allow the active LED's to work?

 

Pulled this from an article as to why they are illegal in the U.S.
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https://jalopnik.com/we-can-t-get-th...gov-1729310906


"how does the RX’s turn signal not qualify? I mean, the damn thing lights up, and lights up more, and lights up more, and then at the end it lights up most, like a turn signal doing its very best impression of a firework.

Well, according to the Lexus people, the problem is this: the 2,200 square millimeter measurement doesn’t apply to the turn signal as a whole, but rather every single little bulb that lights up in a row.

So while the Mustang’s signals get a pass because each segment of that turn signal is larger than 2,200 square millimeters, most of the RX’s segments are smaller. The result is that RX customers in foreign markets get the cool, graceful, fluidic turn signal, while we Americans are stuck with regular old crap."

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A word of caution when it comes to mods for a vehicle in the U.S., if you change the turn signals, and are in an accident, a good attorney could claim you failed to signal properly. Pretty easy to figure out especially with social media these days.

 

Thanks Chuck. I was hoping that if I took a look inside I would see the Canadian model with a shorting wire or something nice and easy to mod. Shame.

 

They do look nicer, much nicer.

 

Canadian models have the same lights as the US models, eh.

 

NO! check your facts

 

I just checked out my window. Yup, I live in Canada alright.

I also double checked the invoice on my 2020 RX. Yup, I purchased it new in Canada.

 

According to "most" people the turn signal lights on Canadian models operate like the new Mustang ie they have LED's that light up in sequence. Maybe that is no longer correct in Canada (despite the sarcasm)??

 

I do know for a fact that sequential turn signals are on Japanese RXs. I would assume they are found on European models as well given some Audi signal designs (fully sequential in Europe but not N.A.) but I have only seen 2 or 3 RXs in Europe during my travels so I can't say for sure.

I have never seen sequential turn signals on any Lexus RX in Canada.

Just the facts.

 

Thank you. I have obviously been given incorrect "facts" . Amazing that so many RX owners in the USA seem to think the same thing. I do appreciate you correcting me.

 

No problem. Gave me a nice break from shovelling the snow outside my igloo. Time to break open a two-four and relax on my chesterfield.

 

Agreed, i think we have the same equipment as USA cars , other than method speedo meters and climate controls.

 

2017 here and doesn't have the sequential signal, though I'd have love to have it. In the EU they do have it, lucky b*stards 😁

 

[QUOTE=Sevn86;10814582]So just to get clarification, for those that have the factory triple beam and led taillights there is currently no module or wiring harness that we can buy and just plug in? I know many are trying to add the LED taillights but i already have them just want them to be sequential.[/QUOTE

maybe changing flasher relay to the overseas (sequential) might do the trick. Any thoughts?

 

Here's where I'M confused. My RX definitely has a light bar underneath the backup lights. Those X number of LED's in a line above the red brake light and below the reverse light. Is that what you are referring to when you say "light bar"? I don't have the RX with me now otherwise I'd go check what it does on my vehicle, but I can't recall that it does anything. My turn signal is definitely only the incandescent part on the outermost part of the light, not on the trunk hatch, and above the red brake light. There's no way that light bar is being used for reverse, and if it was being used for brake I feel I would remember that. Really need a breakdown of all the different variations of RX tail lights on the market from OEM, this would clean up information easily in the thread. So many people saying different things, "my RX has this not that", "my RX has that not this", "my RX ate my dog with its large grill". It's tough to understand what has what and works with what, when, where, and/or how.



If it's of any importance, my RX is (as listed on the original window sticker as "installed options" , not standard) 2018 with the navigation, premium package (Leather Trim Seats, power-folding outside mirrors, driver's seat/steering wheel/mirror memory, rear armrest with storage box), power moonroof / aluminum roof rails, towing prep package, heated and ventilated front seats, touch-free power rear door, 20" wheels, blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic braking and intuitive park assist.

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• 2018 ASSEMBLED IN CANADA
• Navigation package w/ 12.3" screen
• Premium package
  • Leather Trim Seats
  • Power-folding outside mirrors
  • Driver’s seat/steering wheel/mirror memory
  • Rear armrest with storage box
• Power moonroof / aluminum roof rails
• Towing prep package
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Touch-free power rear door
• 20" wheels
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic braking and intuitive park assist

It has no triple-beam headlights, and neither does it have the highest end tail lights I have seen on the RX (which I believe only comes on the highest lighting package or luxury package in general), the ones that are REALLY luxurious and have the brake light above the turn signal and reverse light. They show up at 4:57.



WHILE RESEARCHING to make this post I've found another thread that discusses about the tail lights more, it's a short thread but TL;DR is that there IS a difference between the triple-beam lighting package tail lights, and the base lighting package tail lights at least for the 2018 model year. I attached some pictures to show the difference, top is part of the base lighting package with an incandescent on the outer part of the turn signal where the "light bar" on the trunk hatch does not activate and is there for show, bottom is apparently part of the triple-beam package in 2018 where the "light bar" does activate on the trunk hatch as well as the incandescent on outer part of the turn signal is now a divided LED look. Where the above mentioned "really luxurious" tail lights come into play I have no idea at this point. Maybe they show up as part of the triple-beam package in 2020+ and not earlier for some reason?

2018 standard lighting (above) ||| 2018 triple-beam lighting (below)



Damn, I didn't realize how hard it really is to scour forums like many enthusiasts complain about having to do for their mods.