ok, so i know that this mod has been done but i cant seem to find enough information on it. i want to swap out the license plate light bulbs for those super white LED ones. like those on the lexus IS250.

first, i need to know where to buy the bulbs.
second, i need to know how to exactly do this swap.

i have a 2006 xA, here are pics of bulb housing on my rear hatch.


closeup.


some help please.

ps. i called the parts dept. at the local toyota dealership and they did have replacement bulbs but they don't know how to replace them.

 

Eautoworks.com says it is a 194 Wedge bulb. You can buy from them, but I have never done business with them so I can not vouch for them.
Source: http://www.eautoworks.com/html/bulbS...1-SCION-xA.htm

You can order an LED replacement from here http://autolumination.com/194.htm. I have ordered from them before and would recommend that you get the SMT Tower 194 LED, it has 5 LEDs in one bulb. I have one in the little "oven" compartment in my xA. As for the swap, my main computer is broke so all my car diagrams are inaccessible right now but I'll see what I can come up with and get back to ya later.

 

You just want to swap out the regular peanut bulb for an led one? Thats easy to do on the car, sometimes the bulb can be hard to find locally. I replaced the two peanut bulbs in the corner of my head lamps with amber ones from autozone. The pack was ten bucks and last pack they had. They seem brighter and I think it looks more American to have the amber parking lights up front than clear.

Yeah, I would of done white led in a 1 or 3 watt module, but they caution against using those led lamps of those sizes in a head lamp bucket as it may over heat and fail. If those lamps in the corne rof the bucket were on a seperate circuit and turned off with the head lamps, that would be an awesome day time running light mod. Maybe hook it up so it comes on with the acc fuse and off with the head lamps are on low or high.

I wouldnt mind replacing the oven light with an led or just removing it. I keep my dome lights off so I can sneak in and out where I live. The cops leave theirs off and seems like a good idea in a high crime area. Specially if it will remain on 20 seconds after you walk away or shut your door..

 

thanks for the feedback guys. sanchez i'll be looking forward to those diagrams of yours. i read through the other threads regarding this mod and it seems like i need to 'pop' off the inside panel of my rear hatch. the only problem is.. i dont know how to do it safely. i dont want to end up cracking the panel or messing up one of those latches that hold the panel onto the hatch. if anyone knows how to 'pop' off the panel safely please do tell me.

i also found out that the bulb used on the lexus IS250 are the same ones that go into our xA's. i tried calling the lexus parts desk but they already closed and won't be open til monday morning. i'll post what i find out from them [availability/price].

 

Ok, here is what I found using the manual on ScionLife. The diagrams I have might be different so when I get my laptop back on Wed I'll post again.



It looks like you'll have to get to it from behinde by removing some of the interior trim. hope this helps some. BTW, I have never seen the lexus light before. Do you have a pic of what it looks like?

 

Bah! I forgot to post page 76. Here it is...

 

Are you just wanting to replace the bulbs? Because I swapped mine with 5 LED 194 bulbs from superbrightleds.com. All I did was remove the panel on the inside hatch, then pull the bulbs out.

However, I don't recommend the 5LED setup...The beam was too focused. Get a broad beam setup.


Try this..http://xateam.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297 Hope it helps.

 

This isn't a mod, this is replacing two light bulbs. I use the 5 LED 194/168 wedge bulbs from www.superbrightleds.com.

 

^^ doesn't get any simpler then that!

i got lucky and found some pilot white LED tag lights for 7.99

im Lexus quality now! looks killer! ill take a pic soon.

 

well haha....

i just tried to take a pic, but since darkness and cameras don't mix, the pics don't do any justice.

and it also doesn't help when your half in the bag....... :-/

 

These guys! http://www.oznium.com/194
They are very bright and a crisp white light. I've got them in my 4runner, and soon to be in my tC.

Please forgive me for not having a better description or photos up on the product page, I'm still working on it

 

ooh i like that one a lot!