LED Turn Signal Lights - How to

[interestedguy]

So I got all four of my turn signal lights replaced with LEDs and it was allot easier than the brake lights.

First off you need a electronic/digital flasher. The insight uses a EP34 size flasher, autozone has them, in my case it was even in stock.
Autozone EP34 electronic flasher
Though you could likely order one online as EP34 is a standard size.
Electronic EP34 flasher I found on google

With flasher in hand you need to replace it, it is in the top of the fuse box that is beside the clutch petal. It is easy to find because you can leave the turn signal on while you look for it and you can feel the switch moving when you put your finger on it.

Now comes the hardest part, getting the old flasher out, there are clips at the top and the bottom, I was only able to ever get one or the other to come off. When I would release one the other would reengage. After about 30 minutes I had enough of that and grabbed the pliers, released the top clip and ripped it out. Luckily for me the tab on the old blinker broke rather than the socket. With the old one out putting in the new one took 30 seconds. I tested and all the lights worked as usual with the incandescent bulbs.

Then I got four new LED bulbs from SuperbrightLEDs.com model 7440-x18-T in amber. LED turn signal bulbs

I then followed the procedures found in the manual to change the bulbs out, in the front just be aware that the bulbs take all the available space so you have to make sure to put them in strait.

They work and look great, I would say they are a little dimmer than the stock bulbs but entirely usable.

[azaviator]

I saw you replaced your brake/tail lights as well as the turn signals. I'm considering doing this as well.

Now that some time has passed, could you update us on how the LEDs are working out? Are they all still original, or have any gone bad? I have a travel trailer that I switched to LED lighting and had a few go bad within just a couple of weeks (granted, I replaced a LOT more lamps than the Insight has!!), so my experience with LEDs hasn't been stellar.

Do you mind explaining which of the bulbs were replaced? I assume the front and rear turns and tails (as stated), but did you replace the markers as well? What about interior lighting? Did it create a measureable difference in wattage versus normal bulbs?

Any and all answers are appreciated. I just want to say THANK YOU for doing these writeups to help those of us who aren't as capable at researching/tinkering as yourself!!

[interestedguy]

I have done two insights now, the one I did when I first posted this and I just did my second one. I sold my first insight about 3 months after the LED upgrade and none of the bulbs had failed to that point.

I got all my LEDS from LED Lights, Bulbs & Accessories - SUPER BRIGHT LEDS
In the top left they have a bulb finder that I used to find which bulbs to get, the only failing it has is it does call out bulbs that the car doesn't have like the "rear sidemarker", "Stop light" and Tail Light are all the same one bulb on the insight. To their credit all three are listed as being the same bulb. I just walked around the car and made sure I was only buying replacement LEDs for bulbs I really had. All the bulbs were accurate in size though which is good.

I did do 100% of the bulbs on the car, inside and outside with the exception of the headlights which I changed to Silver Star ultras. Yes I even did the little yellow side markers in the front too, superbirght has a warning that the headlights' heat may shorten the life of the LEDs but at 5 bucks I am willing to take my chances. The brighter, whiter license plate LED looks really good and I would recommend "warm white" LEDs for inside my daylight ones are a little harsh but they are so much brighter when you open the door at night.

On superbright's website they list the mA required to drive the LED if you put a decimal point in front of the mA and multiply by 12 volts you can get the watts needed to drive the bulb. The red tail light bulbs pulls 165 mA on high (when you press the brakes) so 0.165 X 12 = 1.98 watts. The standard bulb is I remember correctly is 21 watts, so it is a pretty big difference.

Between the first insight and the second one they came out with 45 LED turn signals 7440-A45-T, they cost more but I went with those for the fronts and they are at least as bright a the bulbs they replaced. For the rear, do to the difference in the reflector, the cheaper 7440-x18-T looks fine to me so I went with that.

Glad to help.

[jeff652]

pictures

pictures

pictures

[interestedguy]

I would love to post pics but this forum and my mac don't seem to get along for posting pictures. I even took pics of the step by step for mod'ing the brake LEDs but no such luck getting them to post. Sorry