DIY JDM style side mirrors combo lights (Signal+Parking+Courtesy lights)

nice...LOL

 

Xman Live,

Can you briefly explain the part number of the extra rubber piece and door seal from Home Depot.

I'm about to install mind and would like to avoid the whistle effect.

 

Thermwell Products Frost King 3/8 in. x 17 ft. White Ribbed EPDM Cellular Rubber Weatherseal Tape (2-Pack)
Model # V23WA
Internet # 100145681
Store SKU # 518441
$4.98 /EA-Each
Each strip is double the width you will use. Each strip has two adhesive strips. Split the strip in half. Easy to pull apart and leave you with twice the material. I chose this material as I did not want to use foam as was thinking air could still get in. This is a bit more money than foam weather strips. I installed product about 1/8 of an inch back from edge of turn light, see old post for picture.

Note I also used 1/4 inch wire loom....

 

A further clarification: Turn signal blinker relays are sensitive to the current draw when the turn signal lights are on. When a regular bulb goes bad, not as much current flows thru the relay and it switches faster. This is a indicator to the driver that a bulb has gone out - the turn signal indicator on the dash flashes much faster than usual.

LED lights draw far less current than incandescent bulbs. This leads to the turn signal relay running much faster than normal, hence the term "hyperflashing". Either a load resistor to ground on the LED light power lead (simulates incandescent bulb current draw) or a different relay that works normally with lower light current will stop hyperflashing when LED turn signal lights are installed.

 

And now for something slightly different: my side mirrors won't stay fastened to the mounts. They were held on by clips plus a white adhesive in the middle of the back of the mirror. The white adhesive has become useless, and the clips alone won't hold the mirrors in place.

I've tried a progression of double-sided adhesive tapes, and I'm now using 3M trim adhesive tape on the back of the mirrors, which should be next to permanent. This is the tape used to put on trim on cars (like bump strips, logos, etc). This tape seems to last about two weeks, then it too fails to keep the mirrors from un-clipping. My next step would be a couple of dabs of Gorilla Glue, or just go get replacement mirrors with new OEM adhesive in the middle. I don't want to permanently fasten the mirrors to the mounts in case they every need to be replaced for other reasons. Anyone else run into this and found a fix?

 

Did you get something in contact with the white adhesive while you had the mirrors out that rendered it useless? When my installer re-mounted the mirrors, the adhesive still appeared sticky.

 

I have the same problem. The last time it came lose, I really pushed hard on the mirror for a long period of time. Hopefully that will do it, but if not, I will be looking for a solution too. I wonder if an auto-shop would carry that adhesive?

 

From my trials with double-stick tape, it appears that (at least some) adhesives won't really bond to the black plastic material on the back of the mirror and the material in the mirror mount. I thought the 3M auto trim tape would make the mirrors impossible to remove, and I tried this as a "last resort".

Update: after some investigation on the intertubes, I'm now trying hot-melt glue in the backs of both mirrors on the white tacky areas. More in a couple of days.

 

Are you sure you are snapping it back in all the way it took me more than one try... a few times I thought I had it. I think the adhesive is more to keep mirror from vibrating. For me one side did not have tape at all. I added 3m foam tape same size on my other mirror... I will find out if this is a problem in a bit as I am going to order Blue mirrors with LED turn signal mirrors very soon and will remove again.

 

why...:focus:

 

I ordered the following on Ebay:
PRIUS 2010-2011 LED mirror cover turn light lamp WHITE -- color painted (120776699517) & I am wondering if anyone who lives in the Charlotte, NC area knows of a qualified installer for this product. I am not a DIY person in this case! Thanks!!

 

The 3M foam tape used for posters lasted about a week before letting the mirrors pop loose. The 3M auto trim tape (about half the thickness) lasted about the same. The mirror with the hot-melt glue is still mounted securely.

 

You guys are referring to the signal covers that were added onto the mirrors, I assume, so are they all from the same place, like the eBay seller, for example? Just wondering if there's a common denominator to the issue.....

 

No, we're referring to the mirrors themselves, not the covers. There's some white adhesive in the middle of the back that helps secure them to the mirror mounts from the factory. In some cases, the adhesive won't work again after the mirror is removed & reinstalled. The mirror(s) then unclip from the mounts while driving. They don't fall off, but they do start vibrating vertically.

 

So, what was your reasoning for having removed them in the first place? I am now wondering if mine are going to do the same thing when I remove the mirror glass to install the running LED's behind it...

 

I have been following this thread from the beginning and have spent endless hours trying to make sense of it all. Kudos to all who have posted pictures of their install and tried to make the task easier for those of us that are not quite competent in doing the same. However, can 2011V contact Nigel's Tommy, the expert, and have him write up a point to point list of where he connected the five wires! This would be so helpful to those who don't have an expert like Tommy in their area!

 

You have to transplant the mirror innards to the new mirror covers and this involves first removing the mirror. However, if you're having it professionally installed, they shouldn't make mistakes that render the adhesive useless. DIY installers are bound to make amateur mistakes, including myself when installing the Valenti lights.

You're asking a professional installer who makes his living doing this to provide a point to point list in a public forum. Don't think that'll work too well. Locating the elusive blue wire isn't an exact science because of the way it's hidden and its location differs between the trims. However, the other wires are easily located and detailed in the OP and throughout this thread.

 

Ok, point taken. What type of professional installer would I have to look for that can do this type of mod. Perhaps, one that does car stereo equipment, alarms etc.? A Toyota dealer wouldn't touch this, unless it was an OEM option!

 

They will do anything for money.

We can step you through the process, no problem.

 

Yeah, the Toyota peeps will do it. I asked them about my tail lights, wiring up my power converter, swapping my emblems out for me, covering the door panels w/ leather for me.... Everything can be done.....but at their hourly rate!