DIY: Custom License Plate LED Fabrication
 

Hey guys,

I didn't know whether to put this in the DIY section or here so mods feel free to move it around if you feel is necessary.

I checked out the direct plug n play bulbs you can get from vleds for the rear license plate lights, but i felt it didn't do an adequate job and i've also been hearing that those burn out so i decided to fabricate a much better solution. The result is an extremely well lit completely OEM looking solution. It is almost identical in color to the Lexus OEM ones but much much brighter. I can now reverse in complete darkness and have the leds illuminate all of the rear area.

1.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0289.jpg
Remove the housing and the bulbs. Just slide the entire housing sideways and it pops right out.

2.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0292.jpg
Pry open the housing. Take a small flathead and start prying from the corner with the most clearance. You have to apply quite a bit of pressure until you hear a crack. This is not going to crack the housing so you don't have to worry. You're just cracking the dried glue.

3.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0294.jpg
Take an LED panel such as this. This one could not fit any more perfect than it did without trimming anything.

4.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0299.jpg
Take a glue gun and create a pair of spacers between the LED panel and the surface of the housing. This helps run the wire out of the housing hole much easier and protects the led panel in many ways. This simple step sometimes is the difference between having a panel last 3 months to 5 years.

5.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0302.jpg

6.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0304.jpg

7.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0304.jpg

8.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_0305-1.jpg

9.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0301.jpg

10.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_0307-1.jpg
Then you just glue the housing back together, attach connector that comes with the led panel and plug the baby in.

11.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0309.jpg
Voila! Sorry i don't have any night time pictures yet but i will take some and post them tonight. These daytime pics do not do the lights any justice. They are so so bright and so white it is pleasing to my eyes when i look at them.

12.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_0310.jpg

13.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_0312-1.jpg

Thanks for looking and stay tuned for nighttime pictures later on!!

Tim

Update: Night pics!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_3362.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_3363.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_3366.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_3370.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/IMG_3372.jpg

Where did the LED panel come from?

these ones weren't from vled. they were just two pieces of scrap lying around for a while.

Looks like now the cops can read your lic plates from a mile away. lol
Thanks for providing an alternative, Good Job! :tup:

Thanks dude. HAha yeah hopefully i won't do anything stupid and try to run or i'm straight PWNeD. The lights i noticed helps me back up at night. Funny cuz that's the last thing i even had on my mind and ended up being the most beneficial part of the mod.

Wow... thats very bright for a license plate light... i bet it can be used to locate dead frogs on the road :driving: hehehe

dat is bright!!! awesome dood!!!

Nice write up.

did you seal it up with some silicon? (too lazy to read your post).

also, remember that contratry to wat most people think, when your rear is super bright cars behind you will tend not to focus on your car because they can't see very well... = rear end collision.

Nice DIY, great pics, +1 rep :tiphat:

i believe he used hot glue. same difference. i would recommend it for sure.

:bump: for an awesome DIY.

Questions

a. I just need regular superglue (i.e. crazyglue ) right? Nothing special?

b. Any special tips how to take the white cover off easily?

I'm gonna try 24 led circuit boards :excited:.

thanks

I looked and it doesn't seem like anyone asked this - but what was the Outside measurements or better yet - specific ID of the LED panel from the website indicated? Normally I'd try to figure it out on my own... But the OP said it was a perfect fit, that makes a difference to me. Looks like a simple upgrade, and with lifting it off the housing that way I am guessing that it will operate cooler - increasing the life span.

AK,

I'm assuming you're asking about the spacers correct? If so, you cannot use crazy glue. Crazy glue is too watery to form any kind of a shape. The acidity will also damage the LED panel. You have to use a hot glue gun, one where you insert a rubbery tube like substance into a gun that heats it and turns it into a thick jelly like thing that hardens as it dries. I recommend you practice a few times on two plastic pieces to get the method down if this is your first time. If you mess up, the LED panels are now garbage.

The white cover comes off but you must stick a very small flat head to one of the corners and pry with a good amt of pressure. The trick is that one corner of every housing has the most amt of clearance for the flat head to fit. You just have to find that corner by prying lightly on each corner and feel which one has grabs and has most leverage. Once you found the corner, just hold the entire housing with your hand and push and pry pretty hard outward. Keep applying more pressure til you hear a big crack and break loose the hardened glue from the factory.


Dark Path,

To be honest with you, i have no information on the led panels. These panels were leftovers from past projects that go back 3 years. I just found them laying around and decided to see if it fits. You can go to any lighting hardware store with the housing and do a testfit. If it fits, you know what model they are. Gluck!

Would heating the housing with a heat-gun help remove the housing lens? Or baking it in the oven?

Baking, would be the way to go.

Thanks :tiphat:

Tbone, just did mine today http://www.the370z.com/exterior-inte...tml#post575961

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...D/DSC04136.jpg

Wow turned out great. Hahahah told ya u gotta pry hard!

I love it! Car looks so nice from the back at night :drool: I never thought I can pry open it. Thanks :tup:

Here's mine:

http://www.the370z.com/members/yamah...4-l1020623.jpg

SWEET! Post some post install pictures Meow!!! :icon17:

Here you go:

http://www.the370z.com/members/yamah...6-img-0018.jpg

Same panel for interior (in pitch black garage):

http://www.the370z.com/members/yamah...7-img-0016.jpg

Checking in with the OP to see if these bulbs have burnt yet.

Something like this might also work

2x T10 168 W5W 9 SMD White LED Wedge Signal Car Lights - eBay (item 150520451323 end time Dec-14-10 17:11:19 PST)

Yes you can OR you can support our forum vendor Yourledshop. I bought mine from him and they are perfect! no burn out or anything. The 24 led surface leds are VERY reliable! After this license plate DIY install, I changed ALL MY LIGHTS to square SMD 24 led.

http://www.the370z.com/body-interior...your-370z.html

My thread: http://www.the370z.com/exterior-inte...tml#post568159

Would not think 24 of those would fit. Now I see why yours are blinding bright.

So the bulbs the SMD's that normally come in the kit for the lisence plate are just bulbs and not the panels? I didn't see on the site where to specify when you order. I only saw the SMD Panel menu option for the trunk lighting. So I only received 1 panel, and 4 smaller bulbs. I have no idea what goes where now.

looks great

Looks great!!!! Not sure I always like people seeing my number plate though. Sometimes I get a bit spirited..... if you get me.

Totally! I was wondering when somebody would point that out. :)

:koolaidwall: