Rear light upgrade

[DaveF]

Afternoon folk,

Any recommendations to make my rear lights brighter? Apparently it's quite difficult to tell when my brake lights are on?

 

[Ian]

Check the wiring is ok, voltage and resistance.

If its anything like the other lights on these cars then the current goes through the switch, so check the wiring at the brake light switch also. (I could be wrong on this)


Could upgrade to LED.

 

[MCBladeRun]

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High quality LEDs, Relays and fittings for Vintage Classic and Modern Cars, Motorcycles and Caravans at great value prices. Designed as a straight replacement for standard Incandescent bulbs. Long term Classic owners that know the benefits these LEDs bring. LED Bulbs and Globes.

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These are the guys I used

 

[AliK]

Erm, off piste suggestion but - mine passed three MOTs before the fourth MOT tester failed it and told me why the brake lights weren’t bright enough.

It’s laughably easy to insert the bulb holders the wrong way round into the back of the light cluster. So my brake bulbs were sitting behind the reflectors!!!! Check they are the right way round before going to spend on brighter bulbs.

On that note, I went LED to reduce the load on the alternator. But they are not brighter, just more instant and less load on the wiring etc.

 

[DaveF]

Erm, off piste suggestion but - mine passed three MOTs before the fourth MOT tester failed it and told me why the brake lights weren’t bright enough.

It’s laughably easy to insert the bulb holders the wrong way round into the back of the light cluster. So my brake bulbs were sitting behind the reflectors!!!! Check they are the right way round before going to spend on brighter bulbs.

On that note, I went LED to reduce the load on the alternator. But they are not brighter, just more instant and less load on the wiring etc.

I did a quick check last night....and they are LED's already! Still not much difference between brakes and rear lights though, so I'm wondering if the bulbs fitted are cheap versions?? Didn't have time to fully get into it, but I'm going to check these (and the wiring at the switch)

 

[AliK]

Always good to check the wiring and switch. The switch can be had off eBay relatively cheaply.

I would say try some ordinary bulbs in first - they are pennies these days as I had exactly those issues with cheap LEDs before from eBay.

 

[DaveF]

Always good to check the wiring and switch. The switch can be had off eBay relatively cheaply.

I would say try some ordinary bulbs in first - they are pennies these days as I had exactly those issues with cheap LEDs before from eBay.

Funny you should mention that Ali - I was thinking to go back to ordinary bulbs to see what they'd be like too!

 

[MCBladeRun]

Is your rear cluster clean as well? Stupid question. Some LED bulbs go dim over time because they're not manufactured well.

 

[toopy]

The older style led bulbs (below) weren't always as bright as you'd think/hope for, where as the newer style (bottom) are way brighter if not too bright some times!