Looking to replace my rear lights (tail/brake) with LEDs, including the brake light strip mounted under the rear deck spoiler.

I verified that the bulbs used are 501 capless as mentioned in the owners manual, also known as W5W T10 bulbs.

I am working with Gil Keane of Better Car Lighting in the UK, he is trying to locate the correct LED replacements that won't trigger the dash bulb-out warning lamp. I've ordered some via Amazon to test in the meanwhile.

Has anyone here had success in accomplishing this?

 

inertian,

I've just completed part of a project to fit LEDS to stop / tail lights, front sidelights and indicators on my facelift XJS. Working with Gil, I managed to find a way of retaining the bulb failure modules for the front and rear lights without resorting to the addition of transistors. I'll post pictures of the articles just published in the JEC magazine showing how I did it.

I'm still working on a cost-effective way of getting the brakelight bulb failure module, which is separate, to work also. Until then I've disconnected it as also shown in the magazine.

I can tell you that none of the normal reduced-current LED bulbs you can buy will enable the bulb failure system to work correctly unless you do my fix for the taillights, and find a similar type of fix for the brakelights, as I am doing.

However, the good news for the spoiler brakelight is that, if you look in the wiring diagram, it doesn't go through the bulb failure module. So give my regards to Gil, who helped me hugely on my project, and tell him that he doesn't need to worry about those bulbs. His standard LED bulbs will be fine for you.

Cheers

Paul

 

Paul -

Appreciate the detailed information.

Four of the seven bulbs in my spoiler brake light are out, tried to get some temporary bulb replacements until the LEDs arrive. However, what my local Advance Auto said would fit (2825) had a much larger base, so I didn't get them.

Any suggestions what LED will fit?

 

I can't suggest an LED equivalent, but I wonder if the 2825 fits the earlier facelift that has the supplemental brake light mounted on the boot lid. I have used this website to find appropriate replacement bulbs in the past: Automotive Car Replacement Visual Light Bulb Finder Specifications Dimensions

Incidentally, I got replacement dash LEDs from Gil and they work well; I just used 'regular' LEDs for most exterior lights and live with the bulb out warning🤷

I am also in NYS - about an hour south of Albany.