Daytime Running Light (DRL) Upgrade Done...Mixed Reviews by Me...What do y'all think?
10-13-10, 06:35 AM
#17
Driver School Candidate
scdroptop, I tried 18 SMD highbeam LEDs but they flicker in "day time running" mode. In high beam they look like yours. I've read that because the car only sends 50% power to the high beam during the day that the LED is simply not getting enough power. How did you get by this?
Last edited by davidskelm; 10-13-10 at 06:43 AM.
10-13-10, 06:58 AM
#18
Driver School Candidate
New info
I'm curious how the SMD bulb worked out for you. I upgraded mine a while back and I had a issue with flickering of the light. Added the VLED module it minimized the flickering but it is still there... i went back and forth about 4 times with VLED exchanging modules which fixed the flickering for about a week but eventually it comes back. I kind of gave up on the issue and learned to live with the flickering
If your bulb installs fine with no flickering at all, would you be willing to provide a link of the exact bulbs you bought? I guess it would bother me more knowing that it's a cheap fix to get it working right.
If your bulb installs fine with no flickering at all, would you be willing to provide a link of the exact bulbs you bought? I guess it would bother me more knowing that it's a cheap fix to get it working right.
I think I figured it out! For the SC430 you'll need to use a DRL Decoder if you plan to introduce LED 9005 high beam bulbs. I found them here (R4 version):
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/LED-Daytime...decoder-01.htm
Find yourself an affordable 9005 LED at about $10 shipped plus the decoder $25 shipped and your all set at $35 out the door.
Last edited by davidskelm; 10-13-10 at 12:36 PM. Reason: UPDATE
10-14-10, 11:06 AM
#19
Josh
10-14-10, 11:42 AM
#20
Moderator
Standard is the chrome finish. Pebble Beach and other special addition cars have are different. One member Langsdale actually opened his lights up and did the modification. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...u-like-it.html
I suppose you could special order PB lights I suspect you'll pay about 500 each
Check out this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ghts-help.html there is a you tube clip that has all the steps.
I suppose you could special order PB lights I suspect you'll pay about 500 each
Check out this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ghts-help.html there is a you tube clip that has all the steps.
Last edited by VVTiBob; 10-14-10 at 11:58 AM.
I like the bright light look you achieved.
10-14-10, 09:49 PM
#22
I think I figured it out! For the SC430 you'll need to use a DRL Decoder if you plan to introduce LED 9005 high beam bulbs. I found them here (R4 version):
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/LED-Daytime...decoder-01.htm
Find yourself an affordable 9005 LED at about $10 shipped plus the decoder $25 shipped and your all set at $35 out the door.
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/LED-Daytime...decoder-01.htm
Find yourself an affordable 9005 LED at about $10 shipped plus the decoder $25 shipped and your all set at $35 out the door.
10-16-10, 09:44 PM
#23
I think I figured it out! For the SC430 you'll need to use a DRL Decoder if you plan to introduce LED 9005 high beam bulbs. I found them here (R4 version):
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/LED-Daytime...decoder-01.htm
Find yourself an affordable 9005 LED at about $10 shipped plus the decoder $25 shipped and your all set at $35 out the door.
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/LED-Daytime...decoder-01.htm
Find yourself an affordable 9005 LED at about $10 shipped plus the decoder $25 shipped and your all set at $35 out the door.
IJdmToy should send me their DRL modules for free, so I can do some test on them.
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/9005-LED-Da...d_sku45_r4.htm
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...d-drl-mod.html
11-03-10, 05:36 AM
#24
I just did this mod. and wanted to share some hands-on info. I took scdroptop's advice (thanks!) and bought the JDM LED lights, they fit good in the stock housing and look great. They did flicker more than I expected so I bought the JDM decoder (R4). The JDM LED bulb surprisingly does NOT fit the JDM decoder housing. So I had to do some wire cutting and splicing to get them to work. After installation it really helped cut back on the flickering, it's not noticeable (unless you're looking for it). Note: If you have big hands, this mod. hurts lol
11-05-10, 01:57 PM
#25
redliner-NICE! post some pics when you have a chance. Yeah, those brittle plastic tabs and the wedge you have to put your hand through doesn't feel so good, does it?
After nearly a year of having mine in I can say that I never notice the slight flicker from time to time it may have. I often look at my car in the windows of places I pull up to park at and I can't tell and people that have driven in front of me before I've asked to look for the flickering and they cannot see it either. I guess I'm lucky? Maybe some bulbs (we know this already, don't we??) are much better than others? Who knows.
I still maintain this is a really cool mod that improves the look of your car instantly and is very easy and cheap to do.
After nearly a year of having mine in I can say that I never notice the slight flicker from time to time it may have. I often look at my car in the windows of places I pull up to park at and I can't tell and people that have driven in front of me before I've asked to look for the flickering and they cannot see it either. I guess I'm lucky? Maybe some bulbs (we know this already, don't we??) are much better than others? Who knows.
I still maintain this is a really cool mod that improves the look of your car instantly and is very easy and cheap to do.
11-09-10, 09:21 AM
#26
Yea, it was painful but definitely worth it! I can't get over how much nicer they look than stock. I can imagine that the flickering would be different depending on the bulb/car, that's great it doesn't do it on yours. I took a picture after I was done installing the first bulb so I could compare. I actually drove around like this for a couple days until I had time to install the other one lol I'll have to take one of the completed lights. (Left is After ; Right is Before/Stock)
11-10-10, 08:55 PM
#28
Thx! There was one (a lot of good that does, right???) available from X-Vipers on eBay for like $199 a month or go. Someone snatched it because it sold.
Maybe I'm biased, but I love the look of the inner shell being color matched to your car. Imagine LB with jade colored lights inside?? Or an absolutely red or twilight car? Wow!
I wonder how all the Yaris, Matrix, or all the little Toyota cars with big huge bug lights do their inner shells? They look so cool. However they do it, we need to figure out a way to do it on the SC lights.
Back to the DRL's-redliner-looking great!!! No flicker at all? Pics never show the flicker. Mine flicker worse (if they flicker at all) when the car is cold. By the time I get to starbucks they don't flicker!
Maybe I'm biased, but I love the look of the inner shell being color matched to your car. Imagine LB with jade colored lights inside?? Or an absolutely red or twilight car? Wow!
I wonder how all the Yaris, Matrix, or all the little Toyota cars with big huge bug lights do their inner shells? They look so cool. However they do it, we need to figure out a way to do it on the SC lights.
Back to the DRL's-redliner-looking great!!! No flicker at all? Pics never show the flicker. Mine flicker worse (if they flicker at all) when the car is cold. By the time I get to starbucks they don't flicker!
11-11-10, 05:21 AM
#29
The flicker is very minute, even on a cold start. I think I can see it only because I'm looking for it. Before I put on the decoder, it was really bad, almost like a fast strobe light. I'm not a gear head, but I think it has something to do with the alternator, how it pulses electricity to the lights and is not a continuous flow (which I think the decoder helps smooth out).
