Anoyone made thier reversing lights better?

[djheath]

Strange question I know, but the reversing lights on my 1999 406 are just rubbish. A pen light would be better! I have to reverse down a dark unlit track occasionally and can never see anything!! I end up putting my rear fogs on as this adds more light. And yes the reversing lights do work!

Anyone done anything to make their lights brighter or better?

[HimBigChief]

LED reversing bulbs? TBH I have to reverse down an unlit bit of raod too and I don't have any problems myself.

[steve_earwig]

I can't say I've had much of a problem either - nowhere near as bright as headlamps of course but seem to be enough for most eventualities. Maybe yours are going dim - have them out and have a squint to see if they're going foggy. There seem to be a few LED upgrades available if you're still not happy, if you do upgrade let us know 'cos it's always interesting...

[djheath]

No problems? Hmm. I'm sure it gets darker when i start to reverse. I just thought talk 406's were bad, cos of the pink hue on the lenses. I'll get the cluster out i think then and change the bulbs for fresh ones. Thanks

[Doggy]

Generally speaking LED's aren't the answer. They can be very bright to look at, but don't give give off as much light as tunstens.
(I don't know how Audi running lights etc. would compare).

Fitted some LED equivalents to metal halide 250W floods at work - £300 a piece and about half the light output, but these are almost impossible to get at for lamp changes etc. so I judged it was worth a try - 6 months on, so far so good.....

[djheath]

Well I changed the bubls but they still dont seem bright enough to me. I seems the way the lense breaks the light up is the problem I would say. The fogs and brake lights are all the same wattage and they shine really bright, but the reverse lights I can stick my eyes right up close to the light and not feel blinded.

With LED's at £12 to £15 I dont think I will be buying them. What I really think I need is a larger wattage but dont think there are any for the 382 type bulb.

[steve_earwig]

Sounds like they're not getting the full 12 volts, dirty reversing light switch?

[Doggy]

Just a thought, have you definetly got 21W bulbs? - you can get 6W and (I think), 12W the same size.

[406IT]

I wanted to brighten up the interior boot space for when loading during the night as the interior lighting was not btight enough.
I purchased from ebay 24LED Strip lights (Like the ones some kids put in thheir lights) item number 270514661090 and mounted them discreatly under the plastic.
If I had to reverse down a dark lane I would mount 2 of these strips under the rear bumper and wire them upto the reversing lights - The amount of light they produce is really good - I will post a pic of my interior lit up tonight .
I know its unconventional and not everyone's choice but better safe - any they would not be noticable if mounted correctly. and they would not interfear with the original lights and cheaper then LED bulbs.

[406IT]

sorry for the rubbish in the boot





Not cased them in yet - interior light upgrade

[HimBigChief]

Could you not get a spotlight and mount it on the parcel shelf in the bottom corner pointing out the back window? Like one of those search light type affairs the cops in America have mounted on their A pillar.

[hammerman]

I too think my reverse lights are poo.I`ve put new 21w bulbs in,but they are still not as good as my other cars.They just dont seem to put out much light,& they are getting good voltage when on.
I have thought about putting a 55w spotlight somewhere that i could plug into the fag lighter.
I spend alot of time in quarrys,& if i can take my car in safely,i will.Its then in the morns when its pitch black that you find out the reverse lights are rubbish.

[djheath]

Thanks for the input guys.
406IT those strip lights do look bright. Might try and faff something together to make things a bit better and try and not change the look of the car too much.

Glad I am not the only one hammerman. I will post back if I can come up with anything interesting.

[maglite1]

buy a cheap pair of rectangular front fog lights , fit some 55 whatt bulbs and wire them to reversing light with a relay in toe they will be as good if not better than head lights , ignore the existing high and low beam in following diagram and where it says optional swithch find a ( switched earth ) from existing foglight .

[omega]

by law you cant use bigger than 21 watts, but dont think you would get pulled ...