Anyone found a SIMPLE cure for the dim Highlander backup lights?

They suck in most vehicles. They're not designed to help you see so much as to alert other drivers that you threw your tranny in reverse. If you have a hitch and depending on its design, I had a pair of rectangular 55 watt fgs from Pep Boys marketed as reverse lights on the hitch of my old truck. They were wired to an interior switch so they'd go on in reverse or when I flipped the switch. 30 bucks with tax. 4-5 times as much light as the stock bulbs.

They suck in most vehicles. They're not designed to help you see so much as to alert other drivers that you threw your tranny in reverse. If you have a hitch and depending on its design, I had a pair of rectangular 55 watt fgs from Pep Boys marketed as reverse lights on the hitch of my old truck. They were wired to an interior switch so they'd go on in reverse or when I flipped the switch. 30 bucks with tax. 4-5 times as much light as the stock bulbs.

I like that idea..

well its connect a wire to the battery hot, have an inline fuse, but then where do you run the wire to get it inside the car to a switch then back out to the rear end where the light will be?

Two good choices, I have both on different vehicles so I can speak from experience.

1. White Night Reverse Light System, if you have a hitch, $100, not worth adding a hitch just to use this system though. Taps into the factory 7 pin on my Sequoia and the 4 pin to 7 pin I had converted on my wifes Highlander. When you put the car in reverse they automatically turn on.

2. V-leds.com License Plate Reverse Light System, $70, for those without a hitch. Tap into the factory reverse light wiring so when you turn on your reverese, these automatically come on as well.

I haven't found any better systems out there besides these 2.

HI GUYS
I have a 2007 Tundra and used one of the 20.00$ back up lights that go into the 7 pin plug.Worked for a while than blew a fuse.NEVER NEVER do this at home kids, went and put a tad higher rated fuse in,BAD BAD BAD, blew the circuit board behide the fuse block!!! A 500.00$ backup light fix.

Two good choices, I have both on different vehicles so I can speak from experience.

1. White Night Reverse Light System, if you have a hitch, $100, not worth adding a hitch just to use this system though. Taps into the factory 7 pin on my Sequoia and the 4 pin to 7 pin I had converted on my wifes Highlander. When you put the car in reverse they automatically turn on.

2. V-leds.com License Plate Reverse Light System, $70, for those without a hitch. Tap into the factory reverse light wiring so when you turn on your reverese, these automatically come on as well.

I haven't found any better systems out there besides these 2.

Pics of the White Night? You are running these with the OEM hitch, right?

The WNS is mounted on the factory hitch. Here is some comparison shots;
1. V-led license plate reverse light system, you can see across the pitch black street but I was at the end of the driveway.
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2087/picture026c.jpg

2. White Night on Sequoia at beginning of driveway;
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5117/picture031z.jpg

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/746/picture030v.jpg

3. Wifes Highlander, 1st pic factory, 2nd pic White Night
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3793/picture140.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3562/picture138.jpg

Wow - Very nice mods- those reverse lights look great.

Here is a pic of my PIAA back-up lights..... hope it helps you find a solution...


http://www.tundrasolutions.com/gallery/files/1/3/2/9/5/2/img_2953-1.jpg



:cool:

Exactly what I needed. Those V-LEDs license plate frames add more than enough light without needing a hitch and without bolting 'fogs' to the back.

Thank you JMSinMD. 18watts, how did you wire them? What color frame(chrome/black/grey) did you use? can you post pictures of it mounted on your vehicles?

Exactly what I needed. Those V-LEDs license plate frames add more than enough light without needing a hitch and without bolting 'fogs' to the back.

Thank you JMSinMD. 18watts, how did you wire them? What color frame(chrome/black/grey) did you use? can you post pictures of it mounted on your vehicles?

I had my local shop tap into the reverse light system. I choose chrome b/c it was going on a silver RX330 with chrome emblems. It really is personal choice. This is on my mother in laws car so I don't have any pics of it mounted.

Go here for pics, etc
V-LEDS HIGH POWER 18W LED BACK-UP LIGHT LICENSE PLATE FRAME (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/License-Plate-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HIGH-POWER-18W-p7516915.html)

I would not think the stock wire size would support too much extra amperage , and that a seperate power feed wire would be needed.

Many of the trailer converters "boxes" only allow 10 amps (FOR all the lights on the trailer, some trailers have two tail lights and also several side lights on each side)

I just ordered two, black and black-chrome.
V-LEDS HIGH POWER 18W LED BACK-UP LIGHT LICENSE PLATE FRAME (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/License-Plate-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HIGH-POWER-18W-p7516915.html)

The stock two 921 incandescent bulbs use 36watts. Replace them with 1 watt led 921's and you have 34 watts to play with in the circuit. Add in the 18watts license plate farm and you still have 26 less watts than stock.

A stock 10amp fuse x 12volts is 120watts. Even with the stock 36 watt OEM blub +the 18 watt license frame, you're still only at 54 watts. Plenty of headroom for a 10amp fuse. Will even work with a 5amp fuse.

LEDs rule. I'll be tying the license light directly into the stock reverse lighting.

Getting these to replace the stock incandescent back up bulbs 921's.
V-LEDS HID WHITE 19 M-SMT 8W HIGH POWER BULBS 917 918 920 921 922 923 (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Parking-Light-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HID-WHITE-19-M-p7526829.html)
V-LEDS HID WHITE 14 M-SMT 3W HIGH POWER BULBS 917 918 920 921 922 923 (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Parking-Light-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HID-WHITE-14-M-p5682764.html)
906 921 Interior Lights (http://www.autolumination.com/906.htm)
T15 Wedge 906 921 auto led lights (http://www.ledlight.com/t15-906-921-auto-led-lights.aspx)

More light and less power, what more could you ask for?

I just ordered two, black and black-chrome.
V-LEDS HIGH POWER 18W LED BACK-UP LIGHT LICENSE PLATE FRAME (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/License-Plate-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HIGH-POWER-18W-p7516915.html)

The stock two 921 incandescent bulbs use 36watts. Replace them with 1 watt led 921's and you have 34 watts to play with in the circuit. Add in the 18watts license plate farm and you still have 26 less watts than stock.

A stock 10amp fuse x 12volts is 120watts. Even with the stock 36 watt OEM blub +the 18 watt license frame, you're still only at 54 watts. Plenty of headroom for a 10amp fuse. Will even work with a 5amp fuse.

LEDs rule. I'll be tying the license light directly into the stock reverse lighting.

Getting these to replace the stock incandescent back up bulbs 921's.
V-LEDS HID WHITE 19 M-SMT 8W HIGH POWER BULBS 917 918 920 921 922 923 (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Parking-Light-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HID-WHITE-19-M-p7526829.html)
V-LEDS HID WHITE 14 M-SMT 3W HIGH POWER BULBS 917 918 920 921 922 923 (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Parking-Light-LED/White-LED/V-LEDS-HID-WHITE-14-M-p5682764.html)
906 921 Interior Lights (http://www.autolumination.com/906.htm)
T15 Wedge 906 921 auto led lights (http://www.ledlight.com/t15-906-921-auto-led-lights.aspx)

More light and less power, what more could you ask for?

I replaced her stock back up lights with Sylvania Silverstar halogen (same wattage) and am still using the stock fuse and haven't had it blow. I belong to Club Lexus and I believe the code ClubLexus saves an additional 10% off. These are also great for license plate lights 2 HID 5K WHITE SMT 5 LED LIGHT BULBS 194 168 158 2821 (http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/CornerSide-Marker-LED/White-LED/2-HID-5K-WHITE-SMT-5-p6985865.html)

what is a lumen (light) out put comparison for the leds vs stock bulbs - anyone have the numbers?

Stock 921 bulbs are ~200-250 lumen each(longlife on the lower end and regular bulbs 250+).
Fancy GE Nighthawk 921 are ~300+. I'd wager that the Silverstar 921 would also be similar.
Nighthawk/Silverstar are a must for anyone wanting to stick with the stock backup bulbs. My last trip to the autoparts store yielded a pair for ~$10.

Most LED replacements for the 921 are pretty weak(<1watt). They make OK "license plate lights" and interior lights, but they are NOT too good at reverse lights.

$60 for a pair of V-LEDs is pricey in that 921 size(19 1/2 watt smt LED's) and is rated at 250 lumen. I think that the OE bulbs "flood too much" while the LEDs are more "spotlight". So, even though the Lumen is the same, the light output and color are visually better. But, $60????? Just buy the license plate frame for $70!

The VLED back-up license plate frame is 18watts of LED(3w*6 bulbs) and ~1300 lumen. So, your stock 921 bulbs are all but useless and not needed anymore. So, if you're are worried about 'fuses' or 'wiring harness', you can just replace the stock useless 921's for lower power cheesy LEDs. To reduce the risk of theft, I'll be using 'locking' license plate screws that use a 'keyed' wrench.

I was looking to center-drill/mount a couple SSC P7 LEDs to the silly bumper reflectors. Now I don't have to go through the trouble.

Backup lights are only used for seconds at a time. You can replace a 921 with a 37.5watt(893) or 50watt(885) by cutting the plastic connector off. These are fog lights and they will heat up. You will need run your own fuse/wiring, or relay/wiring for that much power.