430 Rear light mod. | FerrariChat

430 Rear light mod.

Discussion in '360/430' started by lilleprins, Oct 20, 2010.

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  1. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

    Apr 19, 2010
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    Anders T.
    #1 lilleprins, Oct 20, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    In EU and maybe US the braking light is just half of the outer taillight. And the two inner rearlights is just foglights and a white reverse light.

    To get the brakelight to light up the whole 360 deg. area is an easy fix. To have all four
    taillights to light like orfdinary rear lights is a bit more complicated.

    This looks all much better now. Ooops - I can see now on the picture that a bulb in the lower horisontal segment right side, is gone. Tonights fix.
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  2. djastral69

    djastral69 Formula 3
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    That's a good question?
     
  3. pmotoring

    pmotoring Formula Junior

    May 8, 2009
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    May I know how to get it done on the whole 360 deg. Any threat?

    Thanks
     
  4. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

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    #4 lilleprins, Oct 20, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Yes I took some photos of it. Start taking of the whole lamp unit. 3 nuts M6 / 10 mm.
    Release the cable fitting and open up the back of the lamp unit. 2 screws.

    Now - if you look down into this back panel you will see - at the bottom - a string that is cut. It is not so easy to solder this one, so instead I used a M3 screw. Drilled at hole straight through the plastic back and screw it tight with a nut. Now you have contact.
    Put in another 21/5 W bulb in the empty socket and you are done.
    In my case the bulb was already there.

    Look at my pictures and you will understand. If not let me know.


    All the best

    Anders
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  5. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    #5 SfefVan, Feb 22, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Great idea Anders. Just found back your thread while I was checking my taillights. On my car, the outer lights work a bit different. When the position lights are on (5W), both bulbs will light on (2 halfs). But you're right, the 21W part (braking light) works only on one of the 2 bulbs. Indeed, the metallic link between both 21W pos. is not made. I will connect them as you explained, trying to solder them or putting a screw there.

    I'm wondering how you were able to light on also the inner lights when braking. Actually, only one half is equipped with a bulb holder which is used for the fog lights (specific 21W bulb). The other one is empty as shown in the picture below. How did you fit a bulb in the empty one? I suppose you changed also the wire harnesses? Did you remove the fog light functionality or you added a relay to switch between brake or fog?

    BTW, I'm considering to replace these 21/5 bulbs by led bulbs because in Swizerland, we drive always with the lights on. I noticed that a lot of water vapor is getting there with the bulb heat. With LED's, this issue should be resolved for good.

    Many thanks
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  6. Nashtyboy

    Nashtyboy Formula Junior

    Sep 8, 2010
    429
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    I personally think the way they do it in the EU version (only half the tail light lit) looks cooler, but I assumed this was illegal in the states.
     
  7. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

    Apr 19, 2010
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    Hello StefVan -

    If I remember - I used my Dremel and cut a new hole. Bought a separate lamp holder and glued it in. Took away the fog light and installed a 5W lampholder there.

    Wired all 5W to rear light. 2x21W in outer lamp to brake light and the new 21/5 in inner lamp to fog light.

    This way everything is working just the way as before. There is only one thing to observe.
    Now you are running 4 x 21W for braking - that is 7A instead of 3.5.

    If you blow the fuse you will not be able to get your gear into neutral, since the gearbox gets a signal the brakelight.
    God idea to switch to 21/5 diod lamps. Got mine yesterday and will change the 4 in the outer lamps.

    I think this modification looks realy nice.

    all the best

    Anders
     
  8. F430addict

    F430addict F1 Rookie

    Sep 17, 2010
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    Looks fantastic! But I reckon it takes much more tech skills to pull this one off than the led angel eyes.
     
  9. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

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    I don´t think so. Do it step by step. Both myself and Stefvan can help.

    //A.
     
  10. F430addict

    F430addict F1 Rookie

    Sep 17, 2010
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    Hahaha....thats obvious. There's nothing the two of you can't pull off. Us lesser beings have fumbly fingers that don't seem to fit anywhere around a F-car. LOL. But thanks for sharing. I'm starting to feel a tad bit of confidence and soon I will embark on the led angel eye project before knocking up more courage to do this. Thanks once again.
     
  11. SfefVan

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    That's cool, thanks very much for your feedback Anders. Where did you buy your 21/5 LED lamps? How many leds have each lamp? I'm interested in this because there are so so many available LED lamps (BAY15d) that I can't make up my mind which one to choose ;)

    You're right, I want to keep the overall power consumption under 3.5 Amp. I have to check what's the consumption of a 24 led BAY15d lamp.

    Thanks,
    Stef
     
  12. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    Keep on reading our posts;) you'll get very familiar with the subject and as Anders said, make slow moves, take your time when you do something the first time. Study everything carefully before going to the next step so that you can remember how it was. Never remove everything at once so that you still have a reference in case you don't remember anymore how to put it back. I will post some detailled picts/procedures once I'll start the mod. For now, I'm studying the subject ;)
     
  13. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    Anders, if I read well your post, you kept also the foglight isn't?

    In this case, if I resume:

    Normal position position light: 4 x 5W = 20 W
    Braking light : 3 x 21 W = 63 W
    Fog light: 1 x 21 W

    Is that right?

    Thanks,
    Stef
     
  14. ELP_JC

    ELP_JC Formula 3

    Dec 13, 2008
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    #14 ELP_JC, Feb 23, 2011
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2011
    That's for 430s, right? I'd like to get all 4 lamps to light up rather than 3 with the easy screw fix, but could that potentially blow the fuse Stef? If so, the mod has to be done along with an LED change to be safe, no? I have a manual, but blowing a brake lamp fuse is not a safe thing to mess with.

    Hey, wouldn't the better option be to buy another 'outer' base, so you can light up the entire lamp with just one bulb??? Take care gang.
     
  15. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    JC, as Lilleprins wrote, you better go with LED lamps because 3x21W or 4x21W will blow the fuse for sure. You have to keep it all together under 3 Amps to be save.

    This mod is definitely for the F430. I prefer to keep my stock lights as LED's will be perfect and a cheap solution. Also LED's will resolve the heat problem I have with normal bulbs and they are good for 50.000 hours ;).
    Cheers,
    Stef
     
  16. ELP_JC

    ELP_JC Formula 3

    Dec 13, 2008
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    Thanks buddy. Thought we had 3 already, so we only have 2 brake bulbs per side, correct? Will wait until somebody posts pics of the LED lights to make sure they're at least equally bright from all angles, especially from the side. Also want to make sure there won't be a dash light, in case this car (manual here -I know F1 does) monitors the brake lights. Take care.
     
  17. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    #17 SfefVan, Feb 24, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Attached is a first guide to understand the wiring of the taillights before doing any mod. I based this guide on the European version. Be aware that the US version is different as they don't have tail fog lights. If some can come in with the specifics of the US version, that would help the US community ;)

    More to come later ;)
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  18. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

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    Sorry folks. The 21/5 diod lamps is not up to standard. To me it seems more like 15/10 W
    and thats not OK to drive with. People behind might not observe tahat ypu are braking.
    Stef - cancel your order. The diod string is out aswell.

    /Anders
     
  19. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    Thanks for warning, you're right, the led bulbs you bought have "only" 24 leds and that will never match the brightness of a 21W bulb. I bought those having 35 Xenon white leds. But even that will not be bright enough I'm afraid. I will add a double led ring glued inside the lights which is based on very bright SMD 5050 Leds (see details about SMD in the Angel Eyes thread). One ring for position lights, second ring for stop lights. Led rings + 35 Xenon white led bulbs should give a brighter result than classical bulbs. In addition, I will implement this on all four lights (currently, the stop light is only on one half light). With 4 lights lighting up when I'm braking, I hope to scare a bit more those who can't resist to tailgate me ;) I will add a relay to switch between the fog light and brake light.

    Of course, lights off, all this will be totaly unvisible which is my second goal.

    More to come later ;)
     
  20. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

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    Ok. Just ordered new kind of SMD strips and new 21/5 ´s.
    Sooner or later this will work out just fine.

    /A.
     
  21. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    #21 SfefVan, Feb 26, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Some new followup on this suject. Attached, you'll see the stock wiring of the F430 EUR taillights (one side - 2 taillights). The second image is a proposal of the modified wiring so that all 4 position lights and all 4 stop lights will work. When the fog light is switched on, a relay will give the priority to the 2 fog lights of the inner taillight. This will work only if LED bulbs are used as classical 21W bulbs would take too much Amps.
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  22. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    #22 SfefVan, Feb 26, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  23. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

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    Haha - like a Christmas tree when braking. 5 brake lights. Must check if it is not too much before I go your way.
    Nice with the relay.

    //A
     
  24. SfefVan

    SfefVan Guest

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    It's a proposal Anders ;) Everything need to be validated in real conditions once I'll get all the LED lamps and strips. If it will looks like a Xmass tree, than it's a no way ;) My goal is to create something very effecient but "invisible" at the same time.

    I'm still working on the relay to find something more integrated like a switching IC. As the Amps to switch is very low, there is a good chance to not use an electromecanic relay (coiled).
     
  25. lilleprins

    lilleprins Formula Junior

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    Then we have the interior lightning. Changed the ugly yellow lamp but have not got all functions to work peoperly. Have ordered some small resistors to see if this helps.

    //A
     

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