Got my Electronic LED Flasher for my LED turn signals and decided to do a DIY since it seemed fairly easy and I had a half day giving me enough daylight out in case I run into a snag. By installing a Electronic LED Flasher Module (CF18), this allows you to use LED turn signals or taillights without hyper flashing/blinking, blown fuses or bulb out warning. Hyper flashing/blinking is when your blinker blinks really fast. By law, your turn signal is allowed to blink a certain amount of times within a minute. Instead of installing Electronic LED Flasher Module, you can install load resistors but this requires splicing of factory wire but you keep all functions.
*NOTE: You will lose your parking light flash when you arm/disarm (lock/unlock) your car. I also lost my hazards when no key is in the ignition. This could maybe be because of my Viper 5701. Others who installed the LED flasher module did not have this problem.
Tools needed for DIY:
- LED bulbs
- Electronic LED Flasher Module (CF18)
a. If you prefer to use load resistors, follow this tutorial
- Fingers/hands
- Philips Screwdriver
- Flathead Screwdriver
- 10mm Ratchet Wrench
Total time of DIY: approximately 30-60 mins
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1. Like the DIY for the
LED Glove Box, there is a 10mm bolt (left side) and a screw (right side). You'll need to move the cover out of the way to access the bolt. So you'll need a 10mm ratchet wrench and philips screwdriver for the screw.
2. Now that the screw and bolt is removed, pull on the bottom panel until all clips are dislodged. The cable for the hood will prevent you from removing it from the car. You can probably unclip the cable or something but I left it on there.
3. Once the bottom panel is off, you can remove the two panels to the side of the steering wheel. Both are held in by clips. There are no screws. Just pull them out and place them out of the way.
4. Now we get to the instrument panel. There are two clips at the top of the panel.
5. Push the middle in with a screwdriver or something thin. Than take a flathead screwdriver or your fingernails and pull it out.
6. Once the pins are removed, you can remove the instrument panel cover. Just pull it out and place it out of the way.
7. The instrument cluster should now be visible. There are four screws; 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. Just use your philips screwdriver and remove them. Try not to drop them. I dont know where they would end up if it drops.
8. There is no need to unplug the instrument cluster but you can if you want to give yourself more room. Just move the instrument cluster to the right side (radio) so that its out of the way. This is where it took the longest for me. On the left side, you'll see the DENSO flasher module.
9. First unplug the cable. Either use your fingers to squeeze the tab (you'll have to do it blind and feel for it). I used a flathead to help me as the tab was too small for my fingers and I couldnt get a good grip (module is from electronic LED flasher and for reference on where the tab is located).
10. The flasher module is held in place by a white clip. To remove this, take a flathead screwdriver and get it under the white piece. Pry it up. Once you have the whole thing remove, just stick your flathead screwdriver in between the flasher module and white clip and unlatch it.
11. Once you swapped the flasher module with the electronic LED flasher module, plug the cable into the electronic LED flasher. Before you put everything back, place a LED bulb into one of the rear turn signals (if you havent done so) and make sure everything works by inserting key into ignition and using the turn signal. You dont want to put everything back only to find out something is wrong and you have to take it all apart again. Once you have confirmed that it works, put the flasher back onto the clip. Now that everything is good, put everything back in reverse order.
12. As for the clip from the instrument panel cover, since the center was pushed in for removal, you'll have to push the pin out for when you are inserting it back after everything is done.
End result, fully functional LED turn signals without splicing/tapping into factory wires. Even if you were to change back to regular filament bulbs, the electronic LED flasher will work with it as well. When you unlock/lock your doors with your keyfob, the parking lights will NOT flash for confirmation. However, the flashing confirmation worked with my Viper 5701 alarm. One thing for me that also didnt work is hazard lights with NO key. Hazard lights ONLY work if the key is turned to ON (right before you turn to ignition) or if the car is running. That is the only time the hazard will come on. This could also be due to the fact that I have Viper alarm and this could be causing the problem. Others who dont have an aftermarket alarm system have no problems with hazards with no key.
*UPDATE (9/30/09) - I ended up installing resistors. The lack of hazards with no key was killing me since there were times where I needed them. If you want a tutorial on how to install load resistors, follow this
tutorial.
DRL on with Parking Lights | DRL on with Parking Lights and Turn Signal
Black Housed TSX Retrofitted Headlights on with Parking Lights | Black Housed TSX Retrofitted Headlights on with Parking Lights and Turn Signal
To gain access to the parking light bulbs, you'll have to go through the wheel well. No way to get to them through the engine bay.
LED Turn Signal video -
