So today I'm wandering around Wal-mart waiting for my daughter to get done shopping and I come across these.
Obviously the wheels start turning as I have seen many fieros with LED marker lights so I thought I'd give it a try. Seems simple enough. So I buy these tax and all for about $18. This package can be cut into 4 6" strips. So anyway I bring these home and immediately start tearing things apart. I first did my front marker lights. I pulled them out and carefully took an exacto knife and kept cutting the back plate loose until I was able to pop them out. Once I had them apart I cut my 1st strip to 6".
Its hard to see from the flash but on each LED strip there is a line to tell you where to cut them at so as not to ruin the internal wiring. Once the strips are cut I measured off about 12" of wire and cut it from each of the two pieces I had that still had the wires attached. Using a 40 watt soldering iron I carefully resoldered wires to the positive and negative pins of the cut strips. These strips have 3M tape on the back side so they are a snap to secure to the backplate of each light assembly.
After I secured the lights to the backplates I routed the wires through the existing light socket hole and installed connector plugs.
Once the lights were assembled again I cut my light socket from the car and installed the female connectors so I could plug in the new lights.I didn't take a picture of the final assembly before installation but this is how they look complete on the car.
With Flash
Without flash
Now on a final note I will say this. If you plan to do this little mod do yourself a favor and buy a set of fiero store marker lights. My front marker lights are from the fiero store and they were much much much easier to disassemble without worry of breaking something. The factory marker lights are glued all the way around the lens and are incredibly hard to get apart without breaking. Fact is I cracked the 1st one but not so bad it couldn't be used. However the other marker light is not complete because I cannot get the last one apart without breaking it. Spent over an hour trying to cut around the backplate to break the glue loose with no luck. The fiero store lens are only held together with a rubbery like glue on each side of the backplate and it is very easy to cut through. I will ordering a new set of rear markers to finish this little mod.
If you want even easier and cheaper there is another type that is flat you buy only one light and cut it up with scissors. Total cost to finish lights under $5 delivered from ebay.
IP: Logged
02:18 AM
donnie072003 Member
Posts: 1956 From: LaSalle, IL. Registered: Feb 2010
That the way these were too. Flat and you cut them with scissors at the line between the strips. Just have to solder on new wire where ever you cut at. Dang wish I had seen them for that cheap on e-bay though. I thought I got a good deal! LOL
That the way these were too. Flat and you cut them with scissors at the line between the strips. Just have to solder on new wire where ever you cut at. Dang wish I had seen them for that cheap on e-bay though. I thought I got a good deal! LOL
I know they flash when the parking lights are on but I didn't think to check them when they were off. I'll do that in a little bit once I get out to the garage.
You need a small mod in front to make it work right. Easy and cheap mod but LED will not work correctly w/o it. See cave. LED marker in lighting section.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Hahah I got really lucky I called to order the side molding kit, and the full marker light kit from the Fiero Store. He said that they were out of stock on the round molding marker lights.... but.... hold on a minute. After being on hold a couple minutes, he comes back to tell me he has some defective round molding marker lights. I ask what is wrong with them? He says the glue from the factory did not hold and the lenses separated from the molding. Doing all I could do to keep from laughing, I said I'LL TAKE THEM! So, I got lights I do not have to cut apart, to put my LED's in them, at a discounted price Sweeet!
IP: Logged
06:39 PM
donnie072003 Member
Posts: 1956 From: LaSalle, IL. Registered: Feb 2010
Now on a final note I will say this. If you plan to do this little mod do yourself a favor and buy a set of fiero store marker lights. My front marker lights are from the fiero store and they were much much much easier to disassemble without worry of breaking something. The factory marker lights are glued all the way around the lens and are incredibly hard to get apart without breaking. Fact is I cracked the 1st one but not so bad it couldn't be used. However the other marker light is not complete because I cannot get the last one apart without breaking it. Spent over an hour trying to cut around the backplate to break the glue loose with no luck. The fiero store lens are only held together with a rubbery like glue on each side of the backplate and it is very easy to cut through. I will ordering a new set of rear markers to finish this little mod.
Donnie
There is a youtube video of a guy who replaced his factory side markers with leds. he used a heat gun to remove the backing. look here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVGcZy29vM
IP: Logged
12:07 PM
Sep 25th, 2010
Rick 88 Member
Posts: 3914 From: El Paso, TX. Registered: Aug 2001
So after doing some research it sounds like all you need is a 1.4A, 100V full-wave bridge rectifiers to get it to flash. (This is assuming I read the article correctly)
Actually I have not. I keep forgetting to bring home the heat gun so I can get the other rear marker light done. Once I'm done with that I will work on the flashing part again. Been really busy with work for the past month or so and a few home projects too. So my little toy has been on the back burner a lot lately. Hoping that in the next couple of weeks I can get back to work on her.
IP: Logged
11:57 AM
Mar 26th, 2011
elusivedotone Member
Posts: 231 From: Capital City, MI Registered: Feb 2011
Now on a final note I will say this. If you plan to do this little mod do yourself a favor and buy a set of fiero store marker lights. My front marker lights are from the fiero store and they were much much much easier to disassemble without worry of breaking something. The factory marker lights are glued all the way around the lens and are incredibly hard to get apart without breaking. Fact is I cracked the 1st one but not so bad it couldn't be used. However the other marker light is not complete because I cannot get the last one apart without breaking it. Spent over an hour trying to cut around the backplate to break the glue loose with no luck. The fiero store lens are only held together with a rubbery like glue on each side of the backplate and it is very easy to cut through. I will ordering a new set of rear markers to finish this little mod.
Donnie
I know this thread is older, but I came across it while reading your 86GT Build thread. I wanted to post a video I saw on youtube on how to cut away at the notchback style side markers as they are glued in place. This guy gives a pretty good tutorial about how to do it, if you are looking to save a little money and not have to buy replacement lights.
IP: Logged
11:42 AM
donnie072003 Member
Posts: 1956 From: LaSalle, IL. Registered: Feb 2010
Its funny you posted this while I was running to work to grab the heat gun! LOL Gonna try and get that last one opened up tonight so I can get the strip in it.
Ha finally got that last marker light done. It was very stubborn but the heat gun did the trick! LOL I'll try to get a few pics up tomorrow if I get time.
I called to order the side molding kit, and the full marker light kit from the Fiero Store. He said that they were out of stock on the round molding marker lights.... but.... hold on a minute. After being on hold a couple minutes, he comes back to tell me he has some defective round molding marker lights. I ask what is wrong with them? He says the glue from the factory did not hold and the lenses separated from the molding. Doing all I could do to keep from laughing, I said I'LL TAKE THEM! 
