The Scion tC Enthusiast's Resource

This article will show you how easy it is modify your turn signals to use LED’s.  In 14 easy steps, you can have brighter turn signals that will make your car safer and just plain cooler!

Tools:
Dremel (or any rotary tool) and cutting wheels
Clear RTV silicon
Phillips screw driver
small pair wire cutters
soldering iron (small tip)
solder (flux core)
cold beer (21 and over only) to drink and cool the fingers you burn from the soldering iron
Multi meter

Steps..
1. Remove the front portion of the mirror..it pops off real easy…find the seam along the bottom of
the mirror and gently pull it off….
2. Unscrew the turn signal
3. Unplug
4. Looking at the turn signal with the clear lens facing up you will have a
grey backing.
5. Using the rotary tool you will CUT with extreme caution along the plastic
weld on the grey backing just under the clear lens…do your best not to
cut the lens…you may remove “small” portions but don’t worry
6. You will find it difficult when you get to the corners take your time
7. once you have the lens separated from the backing you will take your wire cutters
and cut the old LED’s out.
8. Using the rotary tool again you will have to clean up the contact point
where the old LED’s were. You will see the copper beneath the coating
then you did it right.
9. Using your multi meter check the polarity of your LED’s so you put them
on right. I cheated…I took mine out to the car using a set of tweezers
placed them on the plate and marked them with a sharpie. I broke my multi
meter two weeks before.
10. Once you have that figured out..time to do some soldering. You have to
be quick or you will burn the LED.
11. Once they are soldered in do a quick check by simply plugging the lights
back in.
12. Now that all the hard stuff is done you probably fell real good about
yourself….try again because this is where alot of people have messed
up….
13. Clean the edges of the lens and backing…take the RTV silicone and apply
a bead of silicone about the size of a pencil and allow to get tacky…
approx. 5-7 min.
14. Now take both halves and put them back together, and apply firm
pressure. Using your finger take the excess and spread it along the whole
seam to create a better seal. You will have to hold them for about 20 min.

Do them one at a time…..the reason for such a large bead is to fill in any small gaps that you created when cutting, and helps to seal the sides to aid in keeping water/condensation out of the lights which will ruin them. Now, if you are 21 or over you can enjoy the beer…if you haven’t already…have fun.

Posted for Chyz-Dad