Switching over to LEDs - Issues

[cliftonparker]

I have a 1972 Fiat Spider Sport 850 and I want to switch over to LED bulbs but I'm having issues with the turn signals no flashing and the tail light running lights not lighting up. Do I need a certain type of led flasher? Relay? What am I missing?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I don't know about your specific LEDs, but there often are a couple issues with these. First, sometimes the LEDs are polarized in that one connection has to be positive and the other negative, and sometimes the bulb socket is reversed from what the LED needs. Second, LEDs draw very little current and this caused the flasher relay to not work as the relay depends on a certain amount of current flowing through it to heat up the bimetallic strip on and off so that it "flashes". LEDs are typically milliamps whereas nominal outer lighting bulbs are 300 milliamps or so each.

The solution to the first problem (once you've verified that this is the issue) is to either reconfigure the socket or get LEDs with a different polarity. The solution to the second problem is to find a flasher relay that is made for LED lights.

-Bryan

[cliftonparker]

I don't think it's a polarity issue because if I put a tungsten bulb in with the LED in the other signal, it flashes. So I'm thinking it's a relay issue. Do I need to swap the Fiat relay with a newer different relay? I chatted with Really Bright LEDs (I think that's the company name) and they didn't have an answer either.

[spider2081]

I think this flasher will work with your LED's
CF13GL-02 LED Bulb Electronic Flasher
found on https://www.superbrightleds.com/catalog ... %20flasher

[cliftonparker]

That just replaces the current flasher?

[spider2081]

That just replaces the current flasher?

I haven't tried it but I believe it would replace the existing flasher.

[F16Waldo]

I installed LEDs in all of the rear lights and they work great...plug and play. Here you go:

Reverse lights
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VB ... UTF8&psc=1

Running Lights
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VB ... UTF8&psc=1

Brake Lights
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0932 ... UTF8&psc=1

Doing those will take <5 minutes.

I also added this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0827 ... UTF8&psc=1

This module makes the brake lights flash about 6 times and then go steady. Super easy to install...<10 minutes.

Can't take credit, got this info from a Corrado forum.

Enjoy!

[spider2081]

I think the following link should be for the rear lights: brake lights, turn signal and the reverse lights. 1156 bulb replacement
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VB ... UTF8&psc=1
I think the following link is the running light (parking) light LED replacement for the GE67 bulb
https://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Replac ... D_BwE&th=1

The front turn signal and running lights use the dual element bulbs found in this link: 1157 replacement
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0932 ... UTF8&psc=1

[cliftonparker]

I've switched out the bulbs and the flasher unit and now I have hazards but no turn signals. What is going on now? You would think this would be a much easier process.

[spider2081]

with 124 Spiders it's not uncommon for the Hazard switch to cause this type of problem. The Hazard switch has multiple internal sets of switch contacts. One set of contacts switches the power for the flasher from "hot all the time" power for Hazard operation to "hot in start or run" power for turn signal operation. Also I don't know about an 850 but early 124 Spiders used a Hazard flasher/relay and the later cars used the same flasher/relay for both turn signal and hazards. Do you know if your car has 2 flashers or just one? What does the hazard switch in your car look like?
The 2 power sources on the 124 Spiders originates from different fuses. Have you checked all your fuses?