Running/Turn Signal mod to 1157 bulbs

Any suggestions on how best to convert front turn signals from single to dual ( running and turn lights 1157 ) units on a 1982 XJ550RJ Seca ?

 

i thought about these
their cheap enough, just glue them in the back of the housing. i don't know how bright they are but 2 or 3 or even 4 wouldn't be a whole lot of money and they'd be easy to hook up

 

Go to a NAPA store and look through their light socket catalogue, bring the one that is in your light now and find one that is close. You might get lucky and find a exact match , I found some for my XJ11 that only needed a tab removed and work nicley.

 

Sure. You just need "guts" from Yamaha signals that HAD "running lights."

(Or aftermarket "pattern" signals with similar construction.)

Then you tap 'em into the taillight circuit.

 

thanks sounds like a nice simple upgrade

 

Update - Parts awaiting warmer weather to install - purchased two generic trailer lights ( dual element 1157 bulbs ) - removed them from plastic housings - using original black rubber two wire seal will a new hole in it to feed ground wire to prevent water from entering the turn signal housing - need to solder a ground wire to socket body and extend the lengths of the two original wires before re-installing - can do job for about $ 8.00.

 

Pics and a write up if you feel ambitious, might help the next guy do it a bit easier. Just a thought.

 

No pics sorry, here is a step by step :

1982 XJ550RJ

A - Purchase a set of rear trailer lights ( the cheap ones are good enough because all you want are the sockets ) check to make sure they are dual filament 1157 running / brake lights ) - B - remove the lens - C - remove the bulbs - D - remove the nuts on the back and carefully tap the two studs to remove them from the inside of the housing, one of these studs is ground and is attached to the light socket - E - carefully remove the sockets by breaking the back of the plastic body around the studs - F - with the sockets removed, use a 6 inch pair of diagonal cutting pliers to remove what is left of the black plastic and ground strap or metal that used to go to one of the studs - G - solder a new wire to the back side of each socket ( this will be your new ground wire ( make it long enough to go all the way from the light to inside the headlight where it needs to be connected to the wires you previously marked as ground(s) - H - put aside the two double filament sockets and 1157 bulbs

REMOVAL OF OLD SIGNAL LIGHTS

A - open headlight - B - unplug both turn signals ( mark wires left or right and ground so you can re-connect remembering from factory each signal has one ground and the other power to the signal light ) - C - remove both turn signals feeding the wires out of the headlight assy - D - unscrew ( philips screws ) the yellow lens from each chrome housing being careful not to crack the lens or damage the rubber gasket that prevents water from entering - E - remove the bulbs - F - remove the two screws holding the socket down - G - using some needle nose pliers on the socket wiggle the socket back and forth slightly to remove it from the housing - H - snip the connectors off both wires furthest from the light socket - I - then slide the black rubber boot off the two wires

INSTALLATION OF NEW SOCKETS

A - drill small third hole in back of black rubber boots to fee your new ground wires - B - slide the rubber boots up all three wires and push on socket so it looks just like the original two wire set-up - C - extend the lengths of the wires to match the length of the new soldered ground wire ( this should make all wires long enough to feed into headlight for connection ) - D - solder wires to extend length and tape or use heat shrink tubing to cover with insulation - E - cover the outside of the black boots with a thin layer of silicone adhesive - F - using needle nose pliers carefully wiggle the black boots and sockets back into position in the chrome signal light housing ( you should push the socket assembly in until the the middle of the bulb is centered in the reflector - just like it was with the factory single filament socket ) note : the silicone adhesive takes the place of the top clamp and two screws that were on the original factory sockets

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

from each signal light we are attaching a ground , a turn signal and a running light wire - three wires from each signal

A - add the proper male connectors to all wires - B - plug the left into the wire you marked left and the right into the other you marked right, you need to make sure that when the turn signal is flashing it is much brighter than the running light ( you may need to reverse the power wires on each side to make this happen ) - C - plug your new ground wire to the wires you already marked ground in the headlight - D - find a constant power source other than the headlight and attach the two remaining wires to it - E -double check that the turn signal is brighter than the running light on each side - F - make sure your connections are tight and insulated - G - make sure all the wires in the headlight are positioned so the back of the headlight has lots of room to be put back in housing - H - re-install headlight

Sounds much more complicated than it is

Feel free to ask any further questions

 

Nice write up.