Searched the posts and could not find any info on members' experiences/recommendations on LED brake/tail bulbs and the flasher unit for Es. At this point all I want to do is put in the red LED brake/tail bulbs and the recommended flasher, with the SNG Barratt DBC11383/DBC11383UR bulbs, SBS9552N flasher). Are these pretty much plug and play/pray?? Also have the LED festoon bulbs for the back up lights. If I put in that LED compatible flasher and leave the other OE style incandescent bulbs in place (turn signals, instrument lights, etc) will that all function? (no photo on SNG site for the brake bulb)

 

Putting in LEDs in older cars (that have no electronics) is pretty much plug and play, except (as you know) for the flasher as the low voltage draw will prevent the flasher from working properly. It shouldn't be a problem using some LEDs and some incandescent bulbs on the same circuit except if you have a flasher on the circuit. Maybe there are some flashers that can handle both at the same time but from my experience you need to be either all in or all out on those circuits. Note that unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs are polarity sensitive. If it doesn't light up turn the LED bulb around 180 degrees and it should work. It won't hurt the bulb if you put it in the wrong way, it just won't light up!

 

The flasher also controls the hazard lights, I think. I can probably replace those brake/tail lights with the LEDs, and try them with the old style flasher. I don't think the back up lights would be affected. If the old style flasher doesn't work, I can try the new-style LED compatible unit. Thinking now that I could replace the front turn signal bulbs with LEDs, then all on that "flasher circuit" would be LED and it should work, (plug and pray)

 

Your original flashers are thermal devices and operate at the correct speed only if the current is correct meaning there must be the correct number of bulbs of the correct wattage. This is a design feature since it notifies the driver when a bulb has blown. You have in fact a separate flasher for the hazard warning since twice as many bulbs are flashing.

It is possible to have one electronic flasher control all led bulbs but it takes significant rewiring. I think it would be simpler to convert both of your current flashers to electronic versions then change all of the bulbs. All flashers are not pin compatible so check that the ones you purchase match the current ones or swap the wires as needed. One drawback is that most electronic flashers provide much quieter clicking that can be hard to hear. Some people have have used their current flashers with leds and put resistors in parallel with the signal lamps to keep the current unchanged. The resistors I think, are readily available. One drawback here is that there is no indication of a blown bulb. Despite the claims of almost infinite life, leds seem to fail quite readily. Good luck.

 

Thank you for this very complete explanation of the task ahead of me. If I understand you correctly, I will need to replace the turn signal flasher unit (drivers footwell), the front turn signal/amber bulbs, the rear red turn signal bulbs (1156?) and the dash turn signal indicator bulbs. Then I will need to replace the hazard flasher unit behind the dropdown instrument/gauge cluster door, as well as the Hazard flashing bulb on the dash and the rear brake bulbs (1157?) this is a 1969 series 2 LHD coupe. The only wiring change was to add relays when I upgraded the headlights to halogen units. Please advise if I've neglected something.

 

I think you have it correct, Valerie. You might hold off on the dash lights, they draw very little current anyway and will probably not effect the flashers. They can also be difficult to get to. Once again, good luck. Bill

 

I have made the transition to all LEDs with load resistors for turn signals and brakes. I am trying to transition to the new flashers and have issues with pin compatibility. Can anyone confirm if the flasher by the battery is the hazard and the one in the dash for the turn signals.

I have also put in LED headlights. still under 30 day eBay approval period. Very bright and very user friendly! unbelievably different.

 

Not sure which year/series car you have. The hazard flasher is on the firewall, behind the drop down instrument cluster, on my 1969 series 2 coupe. The turn signal flasher is under the dash, in the drivers/left side footwell. There is something called a 3AW, an ignition warning lamp control module, which looks like a flasher. here is a link to the part on SNG:

https://www.sngbarratt.com/English(U...20%60%203AW%60

and here's a photo:

 

@ryejag I’m very interested in the LED headlights you describe. Can you provide a link to them, or the specifics of the brand/model? Any further update or information on your experience with them? I “upgraded” the original headlamps in my ‘73 OTS to halogen sealed beam units. The good news: very inexpensive. And a better result than the ones they replaced. But still not very good overall lighting IMO.

Thanks!

Rick

 

Thank you for your complete explanation of the flashers. The turn signal flasher is tucked away for sure. Need to search for an open circuit now. the hazard circuit fuse 8 was blowing fuses, that flasher appears to be defective.

Curious if you went the electronic flasher route or load resistors for the turn signals. I have a 69 XKE as well.

RyeJag

 

I am still in the 'making the list' stage for this project. I want to be able to obtain all the flashers and bulbs from one place and do the work with everything I need. I did read BillB's suggestion (above) on not doing the little dash bulbs, so will leave them alone for now. As for your hazard circuit blowing fuses.... early in my ownership I had a circuit blow and it turned out that there was an exposed wire in that bundle at the back of the drop down inst cluster. Many years of opening/closing that door had simply worn the woven fabric covering off. After disconnecting the battery, I carefully wrapped the wire with upgraded 3M elec tape (blue spindle), replaced the fuse and no more issues. Not to say the flasher in your case is not calling it quits, but do check for wiring issues. You are probably way more advanced than I using a MM. This link has some good help:
Troubleshooting Parasitic Electrical Drain In Your Vehicle
Please do post on what you found and how you resolved it.

 

A couple of comments. The normal and the hazard flashers are not the same. I don't know if using the incorrect one will blow the fuse or damage the flasher but I wouldn't be surprised. ryejag, I think you mentioned fuse 8 has blown but on my car (68), the hazard flasher is on fuse 3. So perhaps something else is going on. Lastly, the 3AW unit is not a flasher and I do not understand why Jaguar chose that kind of package. The green color is supposed to warn you that it is different. Good luck all.

 

Well the problem has been resolved. Thank you for all your input. First of all, I had a wire that shorted out in the fuse door hinge and 2 that were intermittent and needed splicing all in the fuse door hinge. Sounds familiar? Perhaps the same technician assembled both 69 XKE's! I did relocate the harness a bit to the right of where it was to keep it away from the hinge.

Once that was resolved the flashers would not operate. I initially replaced with newer LED capable flashers, which clicked but did not blink lights. Turns out they have a different pinout, so the old style mechanical flasher did the trick! I also replaced my emergency flasher switch which was very fragile when I investigated it and would probably not work in an emergency!

Its off the local ice cream stand tonight!

RyeJag

 

Valarie,

I am in the process of converting my 73 2+2 to LED's. Moss Motors has kits available to make the process easier. I have the headlight and rear light kits and the flasher. Check www.mossmotors.com

Brian

 

Thank you so much for that offer! A few weeks ago I got an E 'shopping list' from another forum member for superbrightleds.com. I am just doing the front turn signal fixtures, the backup lights and the rear brake/tail fixtures. Superbrights had all the bulbs and the hazard flasher, but not the TS unit, so waiting for that to arrive from another vendor. Taking the old boy to Road America this weekend, so will hold off on the bulb transplants in case something goes badly. I had replaced the OE lucas headlights with Halogen units with added relays a few years ago. I did, however, put in the new LED back up bulbs, festoons and BOY are they bright. I also learned from another post here that my backup lights were on upside down.. should be wires at the bottom not at the top, like I had them. Wires at the bottom doesn't look right, but the bulbs are angled in the fixture to shine downward and wires down is the only way those bulbs will shine downward.

 

Thank you to all who who provided help and guidance for this project. Yesterday I made time to step myself through the bulb and flasher install. All four red bulbs in the rear lamp fixtures are now LED with amazing brightness. The flashers went in with no issues. The turn signal flasher had a ground wire and that went under a nearby bolt that I think holds the steering column. The hazard flasher went in behind the Instrument panel. In the front, new amber LEDs went in the front lamps, again with amazing brightness. I had wanted to get this done for several years, so I really appreciate all the input.