I need some help installing LED tail lights... (1 Viewer)

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RU4wheelin

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Mar 15, 2013
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Has anyone ever converted their fj40 to jeep style LED lights? I am using a set of round LED Lights that are suppose to be used on a jeep, where the Brake light acts as the turn signal. I used a trailer 5 wire to 4 wire converter to compensate for the fj40 turn signals. I'm no electrical engineer but i am fairly skilled in wiring and reading diagrams but seriously i'm ready to SHOOT this damn thing. Does anyone have any Layman termed wire diagrams or a link or any help on wiring these lights?

Thanks
RU4wheeelin
 
The problem isn't that the lights are LED. The problem is that landcruiser uses one wire to actuate both brake lights, one wire to actuate the Left turn signal, and one wire to actuate the right turn signal. The lights that I am installing use the brake lights as the turn signals. Like you would see on a chevy truck or a jeep.
 
They are doin the same conversion in that thread. I am just using a different converter. Mine is from Uhaul, but its basically the same thing.
 
look into the older landcruisers, my 1968 is like that from the factory, just not LED's you may need a new turn signal switch, our turn signal switches and columns are different, there has to be a way, but maybe some older landcruiser schematics could help you... With LED's don't forget load resistors to make sure your blinkers don't flash too fast.....
8478308019_b6e1f47054.jpg
 
I had difficulty with the three to two wire converter as well, I finally bought a more expensive one it worked but not well. They are designed for a trailer so they when used as a stand alone, not as a slave off of the normal light system do not pull the proper load for the flashers. You may want to try an electronic flasher as well. I just added a second light for the turn signals on each side, for me simple is better on a cruiser
 
I wired mine with the converter under the dash
and repaced the rear harness mess with a 7 wire trailer cable
Think there was a plug were rear taillight harness plugs into dash harness
I used the plug from old tail lite wireing and wired the converter there
And then followed the trailer wireing color
And have extra wires to the back for back up lights etc now

had to add a resister for turn signals to work
My front turns are led as well
 
Chamba, where did you source those? I'm going to build a new bumper and wanted to upgrade the lights to something like what you show.
 
davegonz said:
Chamba, where did you source those? I'm going to build a new bumper and wanted to upgrade the lights to something like what you show.
Click to expand...

I got them at the trailer place on Grand Junction Road in Adelaide, but they are made by Narva. You can get them online and they ship to America. They are fantastic.
 
My set up isn't wired yet..... but the vehicle was already going to need pretty much every wire replaced and most of the electrical pieces are under scrutiny whether they work (exposed to the elements for the better part of 30 years).

With that in mind - I went searching for an original 1970 turn signal/brake diagram.... it's overly complicated. I believe it uses a 6 wire system (most these days use 4, 5, or 7), runs through the hazaard switch first, then through the hazaard flasher, then through the brake switch, then through the turn signal flasher, I believe there was 1 or 2 other components.... I also faintly recall most of the wire colors on the turn signal cam switch being pretty much the same...

I decided to go with a univeral 'hot rod' style turn signal cam... picked one up on ebay for like $50-60... it comes with (only needs) 1 heavy duty flasher set up for LED's and has a hazaard switch built in. The diagram comes with the specific set up to use front turn signals independently from the rear combination brake/turn. In wiring all of my tail lights (which is all I've done on the frame wiring wise so far) all I had to run was:
Running light
Left brake/turn
Right brake/turn
reverse

The front turn signals will have a separate output. Simple, to the point, and easy to diagnose/fix if ever goes wrong.
 
Just get some diodes from radio shack and put them in line with the supply wires.

You need four. Split the brake lamp feed and put one diode in the wire to each lamp, then put one diode in the supply from each blinker to each lamp.

R blinker----diode-----R lamp
Brake--------diode-------^
Brake--------diode-------v
L blinker----diode-----L lamp

1a rectifier diodes of some type should work fine. You could even use 12v LEDs in a pinch or as a test.
 
brew8 said:
I had difficulty with the three to two wire converter as well, I finally bought a more expensive one it worked but not well. They are designed for a trailer so they when used as a stand alone, not as a slave off of the normal light system do not pull the proper load for the flashers. You may want to try an electronic flasher as well. I just added a second light for the turn signals on each side, for me simple is better on a cruiser
Click to expand...

I tried multiple converters as well to convert my vehicle to a 3 wire and none of them worked. I added an electronic flasher and that didn't help. I have to agree that the converter is designed for a trailer and you still must need the load of the car flashers to make it work right. I thought about screwing around with some resistors or even using a a NOR gate IC and some diodes to make my own converter, but decided it was easier just to add amber marker lights for turn signals.
 
Vae Victus said:
See above.
Click to expand...

OK, fine, here ya go:

http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/model-42-4

I have had these on my rig for about three years both in Australia and in the US now. I have submerged them, driven them in 125° heat in the Australian Outback, on the beach in South Australia at Kangaroo Island and through sub-freezing snow in the New Mexico and Colorado and covered them with mud, bulldust, ice and road grime. They are virtually indestructible and incredibly bright (I notice drivers occasionally shielding their eyes at night behind me at lights when I'm stepping on the brakes). They fit perfectly inside the Specter tail light guards and are only about 1" thick. If you get the style with backup lights in them, they are VERY bright. I used to have a flood light which I used when I backed up my driveway in Australia at night, but after putting these on my rig I did not need it.

Because the light is flat, I had all that space behind the light shield where the old cups used to be, so I used that area to wire in my resistor (when you install LEDs, you have to install a resistor for the indicator in order to get a steady flash). I originally purchased an LED flasher unit, but it then could not handle my trailer lights when I hooked it up, so I went back to the classic Toyota unit. I used this resistor, which is also very durable and has not failed yet, despite full submersion, road salt and ice.

http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/led-load-resistor-2
 
Last edited:
I emailed Narva, and they will not ship small retail quantities to the U.S., and they have no dealers here - but they did refer me to these guys in Australia who supposedly will ship here. I have not contacted them yet.

http://www.repco.com.au/
 
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