Anyone have experience with replacing their 3rd brake light bulb with an LED? After sitting in Labor Day traffic for a few hours, my 3rd brake light housing was too hot to touch. I know this is a common issue. I've found only one plug n play "red" LED replacement for the 889 bulb so I'm taking a chance...https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=Car+886+881+Red+5+LED+Rear+DRL+Bulb+Fog+Light+DC+12V+11W
I highly doubt that it's going to reflect through the housing correctly, but for $7 to prevent more damage to the housing, I'm willing to try. I'll let everyone know what happens once it arrives.
Many could be replacement for 50w bulb that fits same plug and housing. Meaning could be Too bright and at night, blinding other drivers that could rear end you etc. Many are too dim or have other problems. See my Cave, LED poisoning
Current bulb could be wrong too.... Many replace 27 watt 889 lamp with 50w and melt/burn the plastic parts. If so, likely need to replace the reflector at minimum.
Specs for OE bulbs are my Cave, Lighbulbs quick check use light meter app and lay phone on glass. Lux isn't same as lumens but doesn't mater quick check, make sure numbers are close. (Apps use the camera and camera may "crash" after running 30sec or more.) Replacement should never be dimmer the OE. A little brighter should not be a problem but higher can blind as said above.
------------------ 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)
My latest project on the 3800 was an LED brake light that was left buried under the stack of parts when I bought the car. It wasn't made for the car and was too big to be mounted anywhere without modification, so I thought what the heck, lets cut it up. I didn't take any pictures before I started cutting it, but here are the two pieces sitting next to each other. My intention was it cut it to tuck up under the lip of the rear clip at the top of the back window and have it barely visible unless it's lit. This is what's left of it and the piece I was intending to use. Since the wires originally exited the back of the light housing that was no longer there, I carefully drilled a hole in the passenger side of the light and routed the wires out the side using the grommet that was originally on the light. I tested it with a 9 volt to make sure it even worked since I had just found in laying in a pile of parts, and then hacked it up. I had originally planned to fasten the light housing to the the roof section, but after mocking it up, there are too many different contours and surfaces in that area to have a good mounting surface. Since my cut wasn't perfect across the back, and there was no longer a back side to the light, I went to the hardware store and picked up some 90 degree aluminum stock that I mounted to the top of the light and sealed across the back. That will give me a nice flat mounting surface across the back of the light to mount to the glass instead of trying to mount to the recess in the roof. I used 3M double sided tape to mount it to the glass. Here are some pictures of how it turned out. This is how it looks when it not lit. I am really pleased with the way it turned out and I kind of wish I knew what the light originally came from because I wouldn't mind finding another one to modify for my other Fiero.
I bought the kit from Blacktop racing for my '86 GT and I am pretty happy with it. It was easy to install and seems to work as advertised. I'd post a picture but it looks just like the stock housing once installed so there wouldn't be much to see.
I've heard that BTR's LEDs are a bit washed out/pinkish.
I have BTR's brake light and although its nice and bright, yes its VERY pink. I keep meaning to switch back to a regular bulb but have too many other projects ahead of it.
Originally posted by css9450: I have BTR's brake light and although its nice and bright, yes its VERY pink. I keep meaning to switch back to a regular bulb but have too many other projects ahead of it.
Is White LED? If so, Too high Color Temp, the spec in °K.
White Bulb/LED Over 3500°K can look pink to purple under red lenses.
Found this superb datasheet clarifying the types of bulb bases.. Link to 700-800 bulb types So now we know that there are about 5 bulb numbers that all have the same right angle socket.. And some have the tip painted black, and others dunt.. But with LEDs, you will not have the same wattage levels to compare, so it is plug and see.. So I placed an order from Aliexpress for.. [url=https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2X-Yellow-Amber-5-COB-7-5W-LED-881-886-H27W2-Car-Bulb-Fog-Light-Driving/32686447487.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.2.Y1AWT3&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_10,searchweb201602_1_10057_10056_10065_10068_10055_10067_10054_10069_10059 _10058_9911_10073_10017_10070_10060_10061_10052_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_1&btsid=e9d0b1d9-7a4a-4f76-8017-3244debb0c7b]Link to Aliexpress LED bulb[/url] I chose red LED, 881 type, not white. When it comes, I will come back on this thread and give some feedback..
Found this superb datasheet clarifying the types of bulb bases.. Link to 700-800 bulb types So now we know that there are about 5 bulb numbers that all have the same right angle socket.. And some have the tip painted black, and others dunt.. But with LEDs, you will not have the same wattage levels to compare, so it is plug and see.. So I placed an order from Aliexpress for.. Link to Aliexpress LED bulb I chose red LED, 881 type, not white. When it comes, I will come back on this thread and give some feedback..
Fixed your Link (too long, cut at .html .htm for many sites. )
Black top bulbs are for fog and LB HL
Page says "Lumens: 1156 BA15S 1157 BAY15D 9006 881" Is sad... they are socket/plug formats
Red should work... If lumens listed farther down, 700lm, is correct.... allot more then OE at 540lm but several way to dim a bit if needed.
[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-08-2016).]
Hey thanks everyone for the info. Always appreciated. I know that the current bulb is an 889 because i replaced it myself a couple years ago. I remember being shocked that it's a halogen bulb, and not every chain autoparts store carried it. As soon as LED that I bought arrives, I'll let you know how well it works.
The LED works perfectly! See Top Notch's comment for the ebay link...i actually got mine off of amazon, but it's the same bulb. Very bright, lights the entire housing. If you decide to replace the halogen bulb with an LED, make sure the LED lights red. Thanks everyone!
I'm new to the forum since I just bought an '88 GT in June. I just changed all the exterior lighting (and some interior so far) to LEDs, and realized that I'd overlooked the third brake light. So I just ordered this:
for it. Amazon says it will not fit the Fiero but they say a lot of stuff that does doesn't. Taking a while to get here since it's being mailed from China. I'll post pictures after it arrives.
I can’t believe that it’s been four years since I put that bulb in. I just checked my Amazon history and confirmed that the bulb is no longer available from the vendor I purchased from. The brand was “Car” and it was described as compatible with bulb numbers 886 or 881, red 5 LED rear, daytime running light, or fog light. It was $7.93 and is still working well today.
What did not work well for me was the cheap LED bulbs that I used for the tail lamps and indicators (front and rear). There wasn’t enough differentiation between tail light and brake light output. Unless you were watching, you wouldn’t know if I had stepped on the brake. The change in brightness was almost unnoticeable.
Also, because of the way LED bulbs work, and the way the power source to the side markers switches direction. The front side markers would not blink when the headlights were on. Ultimately it was a fun experiment switching all of the bulbs to LED. But I ended up returning them all (Except for the 3rd brake lamp) to incandescents. Was a safety issue, in my opinion.
I can’t believe that it’s been four years since I put that bulb in. I just checked my Amazon history and confirmed that the bulb is no longer available from the vendor I purchased from. The brand was “Car” and it was described as compatible with bulb numbers 886 or 881, red 5 LED rear, daytime running light, or fog light. It was $7.93 and is still working well today.
What did not work well for me was the cheap LED bulbs that I used for the tail lamps and indicators (front and rear). There wasn’t enough differentiation between tail light and brake light output. Unless you were watching, you wouldn’t know if I had stepped on the brake. The change in brightness was almost unnoticeable.
Also, because of the way LED bulbs work, and the way the power source to the side markers switches direction. The front side markers would not blink when the headlights were on. Ultimately it was a fun experiment switching all of the bulbs to LED. But I ended up returning them all (Except for the 3rd brake lamp) to incandescents. Was a safety issue, in my opinion.
To get them to blink you need LED blinker relay's. I have LED's on all my outside lights and everything works as it should.
First, I guess I should apologize for the link I posted in my reply four years ago being dead now. Next time I'll be sure to include a disclaimer.
The information on the LED I used is not too useful anyway, because it had a pretty generic description:
Car 886 881 Red 5 LED Rear DRL Bulb Fog Light DC 12V 11W. (I don't think 'Car' is part of the branding, but part of the application description)
Was sold by uxcell , which, if you've shopped much on Amazon at all, you know seems to be some sort of clearinghouse for some form of just about anything made in China. I've bought stuff like stainless steel hardware and rotary switches, and casters from them. Also passed them by on numerous occasions for better alternatives. I paid $7.90, taking a small gamble that it wouldn't suck.
I'll post a picture later; took one just now but daytime reflections on rear window prevented a good representation of it.
Originally posted by donuteater306: I can’t believe that it’s been four years since I put that bulb in. I just checked my Amazon history and confirmed that the bulb is no longer available from the vendor I purchased from. The brand was “Car” and it was described as compatible with bulb numbers 886 or 881, red 5 LED rear, daytime running light, or fog light. It was $7.93 and is still working well today.
What did not work well for me was the cheap LED bulbs that I used for the tail lamps and indicators (front and rear). There wasn’t enough differentiation between tail light and brake light output. Unless you were watching, you wouldn’t know if I had stepped on the brake. The change in brightness was almost unnoticeable.
Also, because of the way LED bulbs work, and the way the power source to the side markers switches direction. The front side markers would not blink when the headlights were on. Ultimately it was a fun experiment switching all of the bulbs to LED. But I ended up returning them all (Except for the 3rd brake lamp) to incandescents. Was a safety issue, in my opinion.
Brightness of LED are all over the place... Some Common issues are in my cave, LED poisoning
Most LED won't work as Front Side Markers for Fiero and many others and changing Flasher type Does Not matter here. You need to buy extra parts and solder them into front hardness. See my Cave, LED Marker Light
Note that you can run 4 2357 in taillights and is a little brighter and turns on faster for brake/turn too vs 2057 and 1157. 85-88 only use 4 rear bulbs for brake/turn for notchies, 4 red brake and 4 for yellow turn for GT. ("Spare" red for notchies (exception 84) only used for "dim" side and doesn't really matter.) Only use 2357 w/ red lenses. Put them behind yellow rear turn can blind many and be a problem if they hit you. In many places the "road rage" caused for binding people etc can get you hurt or worse. (Many Old and Current cars use 2357 as OEM bulbs w/ red lenses too.) Even then GT might not like the hotter bulb if get stuck in traffic often.
