Workable LED Tail Lights for a Mera (Page 1/3)
hnthomps OCT 17, 08:59 PM
I am having some issues with the standard incandescent bulbs melting part of my housings that cover the brake and turn lights. Is there a current LED offering that is basically a plug in to the original socket that has sufficient brightness as well as light dispersion so that they can be seen from many angles? I know that this was an issue with LEDs several years ago after reviewing a number of PFF threads on this subject and am inquiring if there has been a decent solution in the meantime.

If a workable solution exists, I will implement it in all four vehicles and evaluate the results on this specific vehicle.

Nelson
Larryinkc OCT 17, 09:25 PM
I have Plasma LEDs from this site in both the red and amber tail lights. They are noticeably brighter than the incandescent bulbs.

https://secure.cougarpartsc...Terms=plasma%20white

I modified my housings with some C4 Corvette tail light reflector parts and bulb sockets. Cut the socket part out of the C4 reflectors with a hole saw and drilled a smaller hole in the Mera reflectors then pop riveted the C4 pieces to the Mera reflectors and sealed them with automotive Goop. It has worked out great so far, probably been close to a year since I did this.




hnthomps OCT 17, 10:17 PM
Larry,

How is the view from different angles when you are behind the car?

Nelson
Larryinkc OCT 18, 07:46 AM
Side illumination is at least as good or better than than the incandescent bulbs.

As far as I am concerned I want the car behind me to know I am turning or slowing down and they are significantly brighter from behind. I also have the LVL2 LED third brake light from
Black Top Racing.
hnthomps OCT 22, 07:56 PM
Did you have to use any resistors or an electronic flasher unit to make the LEDs work properly? Also, did you use clear or red and amber LEDs when you replaced the 1156 and 1157 bulbs?

Nelson
Larryinkc OCT 23, 07:56 AM
Hi Nelson,

I was lucky and the LEDs blinked like they should when I installed them. My plan was for an electronic flasher if I needed it, I used resistors in another car that the flasher is in the BCM and they can get pretty warm. I didn't look at the flasher that is in the Mera so I don't know what kind it is. The front turn bulbs are incandescent.

I used red and amber LEDs, colored LEDs are uaually brighter than white LEDs will be with colored lenses.

Larry
hnthomps OCT 23, 10:33 AM

quote
Originally posted by Larryinkc:

Hi Nelson,

I was lucky and the LEDs blinked like they should when I installed them. My plan was for an electronic flasher if I needed it, I used resistors in another car that the flasher is in the BCM and they can get pretty warm. I didn't look at the flasher that is in the Mera so I don't know what kind it is. The front turn bulbs are incandescent.

I used red and amber LEDs, colored LEDs are uaually brighter than white LEDs will be with colored lenses.

Larry



Were the new bulbs compatible with the existing sockets or did you have to change them out?

Nelson
Larryinkc OCT 23, 03:29 PM
I had to change the sockets when I modified the original Mera reflector housings so I can't say if they will work in the sockets that were on the car. My reflectors were very distorted form the heat from the incandescent bulbs and the sockets were pretty loose in them so I put the C4 parts on them.

I used 1157 amber and red LEDs and wired the turns to the bright illumination side of the amber turns.

The end result was well worth the effort.

Larry
VanGTP5000 OCT 29, 01:52 PM
I assume these would replace 2057s as well as the 1157s right?
hnthomps OCT 29, 02:22 PM
One Mera used four 1156 lights and four more 1157 lights that were creating issues wrt melting lamp holder assemblies. One of my other Meras was all 1157 bulbs with double filaments so I do not really know what the Mera standard lighting configuration is now. Both of these Meras were 88s but I have not looked at the other two 87s to check out their specific wiring/bulb combo.

Larry also replaced the original sockets with the ones used on a Corvette so a stock Mera might have a different socket required.

Nelson

[This message has been edited by hnthomps (edited 11-06-2017).]