JDM Astar LED Back-up lights... wish I bought these sooner.

[Pyrenees]

I'm surprised it is washing out your rearview cameras. For me, it's only an improvement. It's brighter but that's the whole point. I have a Pyle aftermarket camera running into a Sony headunit, if that makes any difference. Are you guys using factory backup cams?

I was also wondering if the 03+ housings orient the bulbs differently than 98-02. On my 2001, the bulbs point straight back. I am still super pleased with the light output.

I wonder if these things might be subtle differences, since people seem to have varying opinions on the bulbs.

 

[KillerBox]

I'm surprised it is washing out your rearview cameras. For me, it's only an improvement. It's brighter but that's the whole point. I have a Pyle aftermarket camera running into a Sony headunit, if that makes any difference. Are you guys using factory backup cams?

I was also wondering if the 03+ housings orient the bulbs differently than 98-02. On my 2001, the bulbs point straight back. I am still super pleased with the light output.

I wonder if these things might be subtle differences, since people seem to have varying opinions on the bulbs.

Where is your camera mounted? Mine is right above my tag and has little LEDs built in it.

 

[Pyrenees]

Next to trailer hitch on drivers side, sharing a mount with the trailer wiring plug. No built-in LEDs.

 

[MongooseGA]

It's not so much washed out as the screen itself is just so bright now that it's distracting. Liken it to someone turning on a map light when you're driving at night. I can still see the image in the screen, though.

@Pyrenees To answer your question, the bulbs are not positioned pointed straight out. There's a slight angle to them from what I can tell. It could also just be refraction from the angled lens.

TBH, I'd be just as content ditching my rear view camera all together. I learned how to drive when I learned how to drive, so it's just fluff anyway. I'd also be interested in putting the reverse lights on a switch to get drivers behind me to turn off their high beams. Anyone done this yet?

 

[Manhattan]

I'd also be interested in putting the reverse lights on a switch to get drivers behind me to turn off their high beams. Anyone done this yet?

As much as I'd like to have that, I know I'd use it too much... and end up getting a bunch of expensive tickets. I had rear-facing spots on the rack of a Jeep a while back. They were BRIGHT. I hit'em once when a buddy was behind me - just a quick on and off. He said he was totally blind for about 3 seconds... had to just remember where the road was and hope he stayed between the ditches.

I would like to ditch the rear wing, use the holes to mount two small LED lights, run the reverse power/switch to those. One of the many "someday" projects.

 

[Pyrenees]

It's not so much washed out as the screen itself is just so bright now that it's distracting. Liken it to someone turning on a map light when you're driving at night. I can still see the image in the screen, though.

I see. Yeah, my screen is pretty darn bright now, that is accurate. I'll take extremely bright over I-can't-see-anything.

 

[MongooseGA]

As much as I'd like to have that, I know I'd use it too much... and end up getting a bunch of expensive tickets. I had rear-facing spots on the rack of a Jeep a while back. They were BRIGHT. I hit'em once when a buddy was behind me - just a quick on and off. He said he was totally blind for about 3 seconds... had to just remember where the road was and hope he stayed between the ditches.

I would like to ditch the rear wing, use the holes to mount two small LED lights, run the reverse power/switch to those. One of the many "someday" projects.

I think it'd be great because even if you were to get pulled over, they'd have to prove you had auxilliary lights in the back. "No sir, all I have are the original lights as you can see".

When it comes to electrical work I understand broad concepts but I'm completely ignorant. Would it be possible to have a switch put in for the camera? I can see its use when backing up to a trailer or something but other than that, I don't even keep the screen on 99% of the time.

Wing is growing on me a bit now... It may just stay on for the time being.

 

[Pyrenees]

Would it be possible to have a switch put in for the camera? I can see its use when backing up to a trailer or something but other than that, I don't even keep the screen on 99% of the time.

The camera I have simply runs on 12V. One ground, one power lead. As long as there's power the camera runs. I could have optionally connected it to a switched 12V source and pressed a button on my headunit to switch to the camera back there at any time. I opted to tap into the 12V+ reverse light lead instead, only triggering it to pop up on my screen in reverse.

 

[Torontolaggars]

Will these bulbs fit my 1999 LC100? The Ebay guide says no...
Thanks Guys.
JDM ASTAR 2x 50W SMD 7443 7440 White LED Turn Signal Backup Reverse Lights Bulbs 633832403284 | eBay

 

[MongooseGA]

If this info from this thread is correct, then that should fit your '99.

 

[fisherman978]

do you need one set or two sets of reverse lights for the 100 series

 

[Spike555]

My back up camera is still perfectly visible at night with the LED reverse bulbs. I also have LED license plate lights that are super bright, they are on either side of the camera.

You can adjust your display brightness for at night, it is supposed to auto dim after dark, if you have your dash lights set to high the display screen will stay bright as well.

Ideally for night driving you want your dash lights as dim as possible, this prevents night blindness and helps you see the road way better and prevents your eyes from adjusting from the bright light to the dark outside the window, which takes a few seconds for your eyes to do. These seconds could be vital to preventing a accident.

 

[KillerBox]

I only needed one set (a pair) of lights on my 2001 LX. I replaced mine last night and my reverse camera mounted right above my tag shows the details better with the new lights. My guess is the new lights are about 33% to 50% brighter than my OEM lights.

As luck would have it, I installed both my lights wrong polarity and I had to flip the bulbs. Luckily I checked them before I installed them back into the holders. If anyone is wondering, you can turn your engine, then put it in reverse (with the parking brake on) and turn your ignition back on to acc. to check the lights.

 

[KillerBox]

Also when I was installing the back up lights, I noticed a little moisture between my tailgate carpet and my aftermarket Dynmat sound proofing material installed on the tailgate metal.

So I cleaned the little weep water holes in the tailgate and all 4 doors. There are two weep holes in the tailgate and one on each door. The weep holes in the back doors are there but, you have to get on the ground to see them.

Nothing was in them but, it only took about 2 minutes to do them all with some weed eater string. It rains here all the time and I only drive the LX on the weekends, so now I am wondering where the moisture is coming from.

 

[MongooseGA]

I'll play with the screen brightness just in case it was turned up for some reason. Generally I keep them set pretty low, and the screen isn't even on 99% of the time.

Little tip for getting the bulbs in the right way the first time: look at which side of the bulb has the wire legs on it when you pull them out. I just made a note as to which side was up, and put them back in the same way. Both were in correctly the first time.

 

[Spike555]

I realized today while at work that the reverse lights on the Lexus 100 series is on either side of the license plate, which means they are right nest to the camera, and on the Toyota 100 series they are in the tail lights.
So if you have a LX I can see how the extra bright LED’s would mess with the monitor picture. So I apologize to anyone who has the LX and thought I sounded harsh.

 

[Manhattan]

Little tip for getting the bulbs in the right way the first time: look at which side of the bulb has the wire legs on it when you pull them out. I just made a note as to which side was up, and put them back in the same way. Both were in correctly the first time.

Great tip. I'll add another...

When removing the old bulb, do that very carefully. Channel your inner TV bomb squad guy - twist carefully... pull the bulb out of the lens housing as if any sudden move will set it off. I didn't do that... and the bulb jumped out of the socket and rattled around in the lens. I got to play a new game - the flippy lens game. Great game: shake, flip, jiggle... try to get the bulb lined up with the hole... touch it... back in the lens... shake, flip, jiggle...

 

[Pyrenees]

spike you make a good point. My 01 LX has the backup lights inside the taillights like the LC does, so that may be why it doesn't blind my rearview camera as much (and my camera is mounted low, on the trailer hitch).

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Bought these off Ebay ($14 from jdmastar vs $25 off Amazon). Big meh. Not a ton brighter, much more blue that the standard bulb.

 

[suboptimusprime]

Just popped in the JDM Alstar lights in my 2001 LX and they are awesome--what a glorious upgrade for 20 bucks. Because the LEDs are much longer than the OEM halogens, I had to put the LEDs part way into the housing and then plug them in. The wires were tethered too tightly to get the LEDs in if I plugged them in outside the housing. No big deal, just figured I'd contribute however minimally.