I wonder if adding bulbs to the brake light circuit might damage the cruise control. I recall reading a warning in a catalog somewhere about this or a similar issue.

Also, tell me about these 12V 1 watt LED "bulbs;" are they available with an OEM style socket? I'd be tempted to upgrade to these as my tail-lamps burn out. (Except for the brake lights; I'd want a knowledgeable tech to give the ok for that change.) I imagine that an LED would have a much, much longer life than a tungsten incandescent bulb.

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Robert W. Roe
1984 300SD 165,445 miles

I have not tried an LED unit in a car - just in a high intensity lamp. Several companies, including www.LEDtronics.com, manufacture bayonet base 12V Low current high brightness LEDs that - aside from a narrow beam pattern - should work on a 12 volt auto system if the power is clean enough. (I believe LEDtronics only sells to distributers, but there are a lot of other sites I haven't explored yet from a metacrawler search of 'LED automotive lights'). I know a lot of manufacturers are pushing these for new car tail lights and 3rd brake lights, but I don't know of one made as a specific bulb equiv. replacement. I wonder if the low current draw (1-2 watts) might not appear to be a burned out bulb and mess up the bulb indicator on some cars. That's why I thought about using it with the existing bulb - shouldn't run the current over 35 watts. If I find anything I will post it here.

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JCE
87 300E 53,000 miles
Shadow Silver


[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 09-07-1999).]