An inexpensive & simple LED Tail Light Upgrade!

[MDO]

Ok, we covered my front running light/turn signal LED upgrade.

Now let's cover the easy & cheap taillight LED upgrade.

I used Sylvania Zevo super bright LED bulbs to replace the stock 3157 bulbs. They are a direct replacement & work with the Freewheeler's CAN Bus system.

1 installation note, check each light before reinstalling the lens cover for proper operation & if they do not work initially, remove them & reverse the bulb/polarity. Also, like the front bulb swap, you will get an error code, but just clear it & your good to go. I got them at my local Advanced Auto Parts for about $25, but I had a $5 coupon. I believe you can order them from Walmart for around $20 The # is 3157R. With all LED bulbs, you match the bulb color to the lens color or get clear/smoke lens. Also, they are bright enough to illuminate your plate.

Here is a link: On the link page they show 2 3157R, I got the top ones that say super bright. Sylvania said they were brighter than the other ones & have a lifetime warranty.To me, at night, they look about 20% brighter than the stock bulbs.

https://www.sylvania-automotive.com/products/interior-and-exterior-bulbs/zevo-led/3157r_zevo.jsp

 

[Jack Klarich]

Good deal, I am a big fan of LED lighting

 

[MDO]

Good deal, I am a big fan of LED lighting

Me too. I am researching a bulb to replace the main headlight bulb, but the stock quartz halogen bulb does a good job for me at night, I don't like the overall yellow look to it, but there is no hurry.

I was glad I found the Sylvania ones. They are impressive for the price.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Me too. I am researching a bulb to replace the main headlight bulb, but the stock quartz halogen bulb does a good job for me at night, I don't like the overall yellow look to it, so there is no hurry.

I was glad I found the Sylvania ones. They are impressive for the price.

Take a look at this drop-in LED Headlight bulb. Might be just what you're looking for.

Kevin

 

[YYCBOB]

Red LED taillight bulb

Ok, we covered my front running light/turn signal LED upgrade.

Now let's cover the easy & cheap taillight LED upgrade.

I used Sylvania Zevo super bright LED bulbs to replace the stock 3157 bulbs. They are a direct replacement & work with the Freewheeler's CAN Bus system.

1 installation note, check each light before reinstalling the lens cover for proper operation & if they do not work initially, remove them & reverse the bulb/polarity. Also, like the front bulb swap, you will get an error code, but just clear it & your good to go. I got them at my local Advanced Auto Parts for about $25, but I had a $5 coupon. I believe you can order them from Walmart for around $20 The # is 3157R. With all LED bulbs, you match the bulb color to the lens color or get clear/smoke lens. Also, they are bright enough to illuminate your plate.

Here is a link: On the link page they show 2 3157R, I got the top ones that say super bright. Sylvania said they were brighter than the other ones & have a lifetime warranty.To me, at night, they look about 20% brighter than the stock bulbs.

https://www.sylvania-automotive.com/products/interior-and-exterior-bulbs/zevo-led/3157r_zevo.jsp

I am confused, why put a red bulb behind a red lens? Would white not be better as it also lights the license plate?

 

[MDO]

I am confused, why put a red bulb behind a red lens? Would white not be better as it also lights the license plate?

These red LED bulbs are bright enough to illuminate the plate to make it visible out to legal limits.

If you Google this you would probably get a better explanation, but with LED's, if the lens is not clear or smoke, the bulb should be the same color as the lens.

The information below is from Sylvania's website:

[h=2]Did you know – The color of LED replacement bulbs matters?[/h][FONT=&quot]The color spectrum of an incandescent bulb is different than color spectrum of a white LED. This impacts the color LED you should purchase, but the easy general rule is that the bulb should match the color of the lens that covers the bulb.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Clear Lens: Depending on the application, either a white or an amber bulb can be used behind a clear lens.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Red Lens: Always choose a red LED bulb behind a red lens. If you place a white LED behind a red tail/brake lens, there will be too much orange/yellow and the light will appear pink/orange.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Amber Lens: Always choose an amber LED bulb behind an amber lens. If you place a white LED behind an amber lens, the light will appear greenish.[/FONT]

 

[firebikerd]

LED Bulb

Ok, we covered my front running light/turn signal LED upgrade.

Now let's cover the easy & cheap taillight LED upgrade.

I used Sylvania Zevo super bright LED bulbs to replace the stock 3157 bulbs. They are a direct replacement & work with the Freewheeler's CAN Bus system.

1 installation note, check each light before reinstalling the lens cover for proper operation & if they do not work initially, remove them & reverse the bulb/polarity. Also, like the front bulb swap, you will get an error code, but just clear it & your good to go. I got them at my local Advanced Auto Parts for about $25, but I had a $5 coupon. I believe you can order them from Walmart for around $20 The # is 3157R. With all LED bulbs, you match the bulb color to the lens color or get clear/smoke lens. Also, they are bright enough to illuminate your plate.

Here is a link: On the link page they show 2 3157R, I got the top ones that say super bright. Sylvania said they were brighter than the other ones & have a lifetime warranty.To me, at night, they look about 20% brighter than the stock bulbs.

https://www.sylvania-automotive.com/products/interior-and-exterior-bulbs/zevo-led/3157r_zevo.jsp

I just saw these ZEVO 3157R at our Walmart but was not sure of the number! They had the full selection of Led's on the rack and I think this one was $18.95??? CRS anymore! Gonna get them next time I'm there!

Thanks for the good info!

 

[MDO]

I just saw these ZEVO 3157R at our Walmart but was not sure of the number! They had the full selection of Led's on the rack and I think this one was $18.95??? CRS anymore! Gonna get them next time I'm there!

Thanks for the good info!

Just make sure they say "Super Bright" I don't understand why they have 2 different bulbs using the 3157R part number.

 

[YYCBOB]

These red LED bulbs are bright enough to illuminate the plate to make it visible out to legal limits.

If you Google this you would probably get a better explanation, but with LED's, if the lens is not clear or smoke, the bulb should be the same color as the lens.

The information below is from Sylvania's website:

Did you know – The color of LED replacement bulbs matters?

The color spectrum of an incandescent bulb is different than color spectrum of a white LED. This impacts the color LED you should purchase, but the easy general rule is that the bulb should match the color of the lens that covers the bulb.

Clear Lens: Depending on the application, either a white or an amber bulb can be used behind a clear lens.

Red Lens: Always choose a red LED bulb behind a red lens. If you place a white LED behind a red tail/brake lens, there will be too much orange/yellow and the light will appear pink/orange.

Amber Lens: Always choose an amber LED bulb behind an amber lens. If you place a white LED behind an amber lens, the light will appear greenish.

I learned something, Thank you.

 

[MDO]

I learned something, Thank you.

No problem Bob, I learned myself just a few months back when I started studying replacement led bulbs.

 

[Sunman]

This is good info MDO. My Walmart has them too but before I buy them I will check and see if they say Super Bright. Thanks for posting.

Sunman

 

[ItBeMe]

I am going the LED route on mine, And everything is LED but the head lights. :clapping:

 

[MDO]

This is good info MDO. My Walmart has them too but before I buy them I will check and see if they say Super Bright. Thanks for posting.

Sunman

No problem. with the Sylvania brand, just make sure they say "Zevo" They are the super bright ones.

 

[Sunman]

No problem. with the Sylvania brand, just make sure they say "Zevo" They are the super bright ones.

Thanks!

Sunman

 

[firebikerd]

Sylvania Zevo Super bright

Sylvania Zevo super Bright 3157R bulb pack of 2 Available on Ebay @ $16.99 free shipping no tax.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SYLVANIA-Z...ash=item4d5b99cef3:g:SXAAAOSwaG9XI8QT&vxp=mtr

Just found this thought I would pass it along!

Dave

 

[Bikerchik6912]

So how do I clear the code when I put these bulbs in my 2016 FW?

 

[firebikerd]

Nice led's

So how do I clear the code when I put these bulbs in my 2016 FW?

I just installed the 3157R Zevo Super Bright from Ebay at $16.99

They are pretty bright but wouldn't light up Initially!? Then I remembered MDO saying turn them around and change the Polarity! I did one at a time and turned Ign on Left first it lit; ign off turned right around ign on it lit! put the 4way flasher on so the brain box would recognize the led's and it did and turn signals and break lights functioned normally! Piece of cake and nice bright lights!

To see and clear codes you hold down your selector button on top of Left side hand control and turn on tour ignition holding the button till: D??? ; can't remember what is says but it will come up. Then let go of the button and push it once ECM should come up Y means you have an ECM code with ECM Y on you hold down the button until the code appears let go. There may be more than one you push button down once and it will scroll to the next one if there is one. If not It will go to BCM with a Y or N if codes are present! with BCMY displayed hold down the button until the code appears and let go.

To clear a code you hold down the button with the code in the display until CLEAR comes up! lift up and press once it should clear the code. I believe one press clears all the codes in you BCM? The push of the button should take you to SPED with a Y or N its speedometer codes.

When you clear a code you will see a part number scroll by. Hope this helps I may have missed something but it pretty easy to do and you have to have your Key Fob present to do this or you may get a enter PIN !

Oh when you first hold down that selector button and turn your ignition on you should see your speedo arm go all the way over to the right then back to the left when it does that you should see that word come up in the little screen where your speedo milage is displayed Etc.

I had a BCM code when I installed the bulbs and cleared it; didn't right it down.

Jack Klarich has a post with all the codes and how to do this that's how I figured it out!

A big thank you to Jack!

Hope this helps! Kind of long!

Dave

 

[Rick405]

Thanks MDO for the post on these LED's. Just installed them on my '17 and they work very well. The info on the polarity saved me some time too. I had a 50/50 chance and I missed it on both bulbs.

Interestingly, when I started it up it did not throw a code. The same thing happened when I replaced the headlight bulb with an LED from DK Custom. No code?? Not complaining just surprised.

Thanks again

 

[MDO]

Thanks MDO for the post on these LED's. Just installed them on my '17 and they work very well. The info on the polarity saved me some time too. I had a 50/50 chance and I missed it on both bulbs.

Interestingly, when I started it up it did not throw a code. The same thing happened when I replaced the headlight bulb with an LED from DK Custom. No code?? Not complaining just surprised.

Thanks again

Good to hear & glad to help. I got 1 out of 2 on the 1st. try.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Michael, thanks for your info with the change over on your lighting

If any one needs the DTC info you can find in the Stickys or do a search in the search bar upper right corner

Use the search phrase harley engine codes

 

[dabimf]

MDO regarding the Sylvania Zevo bulbs replaced your tail light bulbs with did you have to put a resister in line to prevent hyper flash with the turn signals? Thanks Mark

 

[MDO]

MDO regarding the Sylvania Zevo bulbs replaced your tail light bulbs with did you have to put a resister in line to prevent hyper flash with the turn signals? Thanks Mark

No Mark, not on Harleys after I believe 2013 or so.

Removing the bulb will give you an error code when you do your next diagnostic test.

Just clear it & it won't return.

 

[dabimf]

Thanks for the info I appreciate it. Mark

 

[Sully]

LED Blub's are very bright and look good when you see them straight on, but when seeing them on an angle say 45 degrees or so they are dim looking, not bright. I noticed that on a buddy's tail lights when I was following him.

 

[MDO]

Thanks for the info I appreciate it. Mark

No problem. Glad to help.

 

[dabimf]

LED Blub's are very bright and look good when you see them straight on, but when seeing them on an angle say 45 degrees or so they are dim looking, not bright. I noticed that on a buddy's tail lights when I was following him.

Regarding your friends lights and that you say look dim at an angle may be caused by the type bulb he put in the housing.

The best type LED would be one that sheds light 360 degrees. Some of the LEDs project a very narrow beam of light causing what you have seen in your friends lights. Many LEDs will state the range in which the light is projected. Just a thought as to why what you observed might be happening.

 

[RKplus10]

Michael It's been a few months, did your codes return? Also, do the indicators on the dash hyper flash? That wouldn't really bother me.

 

[MDO]

Michael It's been a few months, did your codes return? Also, do the indicators on the dash hyper flash? That wouldn't really bother me.

No. I said that they are a 1 time code because the system senses the change.

The indicators don't hyper flash because the Can-Bus system adjusts for the change in amperage due to switching to LED's. An older vehicle & you would have to install load balancing resisters.

The Sylvania LED's work great. There are other bulbs available, but this was an easy way to go LED for me.

 

[RKplus10]

Thanks, I should have listened to you. I used a different LED because I always think I have a better idea. Just ask my wife. Anyway, I keep getting the "open" code on both sides. The signals flash fine but indicators on dash hyper flash. I did run flashers for about ten minutes, several times. I guess I've tried everything but fresh blinker fluid.

 

[MDO]

Thanks, I should have listened to you. I used a different LED because I always think I have a better idea. Just ask my wife. Anyway, I keep getting the "open" code on both sides. The signals flash fine but indicators on dash hyper flash. I did run flashers for about ten minutes, several times. I guess I've tried everything but fresh blinker fluid.

Sorry your having problems, but that should not be happening with a 2015 & I only have 1 explanation.

The LED bulbs you have are not CAN Bus compatible.

Not all are & I had contacted Sylvania to verify theirs were. That's another reason I picked them.