Back up lights (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Backup lights won’t get a lot of use and beam pattern isn’t very important, but quality stuff will be much more likely to last and not suffer early death from water intrusion or other low quality related issues.

You won’t catch me using $30 eBay lights for anything that takes more than a couple minutes to install/replace.
 
I can say the ridged have not yellowed out and not broken through the pounding and vibration. The ridged are quality lights. I have the eBays same length of time, but the eBay have yellowed and the paint came off them. They have both been under water a lot.
 
I have ridged 6-LED mounted on my rear bumper. They really light up the place.

I cut holes in my bumper and then t-tapped into the yellow trailer backup light wire for them to function.

BUT they are wow super bright, but they do not seem much brighter that than those cheep LED 6 light things you get on eBay cheep for $30.

Nice because they flush mount.. not so great the price, but they are from my last vehicle that I sold .. so kind-of-free that way.
I had a set of the cheapo "Nilight" brand lights in my RLC rear bumper when I bought it used. They already had water fogging the lenses, so I pulled them apart and carefully sealed them as best as I could with black RTV. They lasted about a year and quit. Swapping these lights is a PITA so I didn't want to do it again. Replaced them with Rigids, much better light pattern and they have been in there for 2-1/2 years now and still work great.

Pay once, cry once.
 
Bought a set of the Osrams for my 14 inner tailgate backup lights and had a great deal of trouble getting one
to set inside the socket. Dropped the bulb in the housing, had to pull it off and fish the bulb out :bang:
Then tried reinstalling the old bulb and had trouble getting that to sit in the socket. Those Osrams get hot quick.
 
Diode dynamics has some nice bulbs that are plug and play in OEM reverse locations. Won't help given your WILCO, but may help someone without a tire/Jerry mount setup.
 
Diode dynamics has some nice bulbs that are plug and play in OEM reverse locations. Won't help given your WILCO, but may help someone without a tire/Jerry mount setup.

Will switching out to their available LED’s cause the truck to think that there’s a bulb out? In other words, will you need in-line relays to run the LED backups and turn signal bulbs they offer?
 
Will switching out to their available LED’s cause the truck to think that there’s a bulb out? In other words, will you need in-line relays to run the LED backups and turn signal bulbs they offer?
I've had to install resistors(? - iirc) before with some of their "switchback" LED's in other cars. The 200 series reverse bulbs are plug and play. They may have some wizardry tucked in their bulb housing, but nothing the consumer has to do except replace bulbs.
 
I've had to install resistors(? - iirc) before with some of their "switchback" LED's in other cars. The 200 series reverse bulbs are plug and play. They may have some wizardry tucked in their bulb housing, but nothing the consumer has to do except replace bulbs.

Yes, resistors haha. Cool, I might have to give these a try then.
 
@Lou Gill @Tex68w I am guessing OP's rig is around 2010 LX.


plug and play.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I receive NOTHING from DD in recommending their products. Their products are in my vehicles and I have had to get replacements a couple times within the warranty period. Their CS is top notch and I continue to use them for that and the quality product they provide.
 
@Lou Gill @Tex68w I am guessing OP's rig is around 2010 LX.


plug and play.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I receive NOTHING from DD in recommending their products. Their products are in my vehicles and I have had to get replacements a couple times within the warranty period. Their CS is top notch and I continue to use them for that and the quality product they provide.

I just purchased these for 2013-2015 LX570 in the highest output available, as well as LED turn signals (front and rear), front low HID bulb replacement, front high LED, and SS3 fogs - all from diode dynamics - not the cheapest, but high quality, made in USA. Hoping to install this weekend. Will try to post a before and after.
 
Bought a set of the Osrams for my 14 inner tailgate backup lights and had a great deal of trouble getting one
to set inside the socket. Dropped the bulb in the housing, had to pull it off and fish the bulb out :bang:
Then tried reinstalling the old bulb and had trouble getting that to sit in the socket. Those Osrams get hot quick.
You should only need to nudge the contacts on each side of the connector. All you are doing is closing the gap. You will be happy with these lights. The best most expensive LEDs on the market will match the brightness of the osrams but the throw and color reproduction are much better with the osrams. I have 5 years on my set. I have never needed a warranty or customer service.
 
Last edited:
You should only need to nudge the contacts on each side of the connector. All you are doing is closing the gap. You will be happy with these lights. The best most expensive LEDs on the market will match the brightness of the osrams but the throw and color reproduction are much better with the osrams. I have 5 years on my set. I have never needed a warranty or customer service.
Thanks. Should have been super easy. Right now I have one new bulb in and one old bulb in. When I have the time, I'll try to use a pic to close the gap on the socket or get a replacement socket.
 
I just purchased these for 2013-2015 LX570 in the highest output available, as well as LED turn signals (front and rear), front low HID bulb replacement, front high LED, and SS3 fogs - all from diode dynamics - not the cheapest, but high quality, made in USA. Hoping to install this weekend. Will try to post a before and after.
The LED turn signals likely will need the resistors. I know the other cars I've put them in needed them anyways. I did NOT replace my rear turn signals with LED's as I remember the resistors being a PIA to deal with IMO.
 
The LED turn signals likely will need the resistors. I know the other cars I've put them in needed them anyways. I did NOT replace my rear turn signals with LED's as I remember the resistors being a PIA to deal with IMO.

Yep, you’re right. I also ordered DD’s plug and play flasher module that solves that issue. They still sell resistors but to your point seemed easier to just plug one module in under the dash.
 
Yep, you’re right. I also ordered DD’s plug and play flasher module that solves that issue. They still sell resistors but to your point seemed easier to just plug one module in under the dash.
Solid call! They don't offer this for 2016+ IIRC, but saw that as an option now that you mention it!
 
In terms of replacement options for the OEM backup lights, I've used the XPR led backup bulbs from Diode Dynamics in my LC for a little over a year. I echo others comments that these are plug and play and the youtube video posted earlier in this thread shows how you can access the OEM backup bulbs.

While I love how bright the XPR bulbs are, I just switched them out today for DD's HP36 LED bulb. The main issue I've had with the XPR bulbs is that they regularly fall out of the socket under normal driving conditions. I'm not sure if anyone else has encountered this, however it was happening to me maybe 1-2x a month and they are just not worth the frustration of having to fish out of the housing and re-install on a regular basis. I've tried to bend the socket connectors inward for a tighter connection to no avail. Also tried taping the bulb to the socket housing, however the tolerance is so narrow that you cannot even have 1 wrap of electrical tape and get the socket back into the light housing. I think the primary reasons they keep falling out is that (1) the XPR bulb is much larger and heavier than a standard bulb, (2) the XPR base seems slightly more narrow than other bulbs like the standard bulb or the HP36 and doesn't seem as solidly held in the socket, and (3) the backup bulb, when installed, is positioned ever so slightly in a downward position that gravity works against you (included a photo for reference). YMMV with these, but if someone figures out a way to keep the XPR bulbs in without them falling out of the socket regularly, I would love to hear.

For reference, I've also included a photo comparing the size and brightness of the DD XPR bulb to the HP36 bulb (XPR on left and HP36 on right in both photos).

IMG_0371.jpg


IMG_0372.jpg


IMG_0374.jpg
 
Last edited:
Wow, that is a bummer about the XPRs falling out. I was about to pull the trigger on a set. Are the HP36s brighter than stock? Are they still worth it as an upgrade?
 
In terms of replacement options for the OEM backup lights, I've used the XPR led backup bulbs from Diode Dynamics in my LC for a little over a year. I echo others comments that these are plug and play and the youtube video posted earlier in this thread shows how you can access the OEM backup bulbs.

While I love how bright the XPR bulbs are, I just switched them out today for DD's HP36 LED bulb. The main issue I've had with the XPR bulbs is that they regularly fall out of the socket under normal driving conditions. I'm not sure if anyone else has encountered this, however it was happening to me maybe 1-2x a month and they are just not worth the frustration of having to fish out of the housing and re-install on a regular basis. I've tried to bend the socket connectors inward for a tighter connection to no avail. Also tried taping the bulb to the socket housing, however the tolerance is so narrow that you cannot even have 1 wrap of electrical tape and get the socket back into the light housing. I think the primary reasons they keep falling out is that (1) the XPR bulb is much larger and heavier than a standard bulb, (2) the XPR base seems slightly more narrow than other bulbs like the standard bulb or the HP36 and doesn't seem as solidly held in the socket, and (3) the backup bulb, when installed, is positioned ever so slightly in a downward position that gravity works against you (included a photo for reference). YMMV with these, but if someone figures out a way to keep the XPR bulbs in without them falling out of the socket regularly, I would love to hear.

For reference, I've also included a photo comparing the size and brightness of the DD XPR bulb to the HP36 bulb (XPR on left and HP36 on right in both photos).

View attachment 3223846

View attachment 3223849

View attachment 3223850

That is annoying. Tough because the output is so much greater on the XPR.

I am going to try running them in my 2014 LX570 even though DD does not explicitly say they are compatible. Here’s hoping they fit.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom