Issue with reverse lights - S13 coupe

[Rittmeister]

So, I feel like my white reverse lights barely do anything. I know they're working and I know they're not shining weakly. I think I'd do better holding a flashlight out the window when I'm backing up than depending on the reverse lights.

My car has tint, but not dark tint - in fact the tint on my dd Mazda is darker, and the reverse lights on that car work just fine for lighting the way.

I tried LED lights on the S13 but all they did was light up bluish; if anything they were worse.

So my question(s) is/are - is this out of the ordinary, or do the back-up lights on an S13 just suck? On my old chassis I never noticed the problem but at that time I was also living in an area with a lot more streetlights, so the reverse lights weren't needed as badly.

On a related note - do the reverse lights in the Origin or knockoff half-red-half-clear taillights work any better? I've been considering a set of these for a while and if they were brighter it might push me over the edge.

Thanks!

[1slowS13]

you mentioned that your tail lights are tinted? regular bulbs are somewhat hard to see when your tails are smoked or tinted. most of the v-dub guys in town have it here. when im driving behind them, i can barely notice their brake lights turn on.

im sure the half-and-halfs would do a lot better, even better than stock.

[Rittmeister]

Maybe I wasn't clear. The taillights are not tinted. The WINDOWS are tinted. If I had tinted/smoked the tails, it'd be all my fault.

I was trying to state that I don't think the tint is dark enough to matter. The tint on my Mazda is darker and the reverse lights on that car light up like gangbusters.

[projectRDM]

Get a pair of 35W H3 style bulbs made to fit the 1156 base. Most auto parts stores carry them.

[Dutchmalmiss]

Do you really need those reverse lights? Mine haven't worked since my swap (too lazy to set it up again). I just use the light the brake lights give off for help backing up if I need it.

Also, on a side note, I'm setting up the useless reverse lights to just strobe whenever I feel like partying behind my car for some apparent reason. I'll make a write-up later.

[slothonaleash]

I didn't even know reverse lights were for the driver's benefit - I thought they were solely for warning other drivers that you were backing up? haha

I just go... small children, raccoons, and beach balls have no place at the end of my driveway after dark

[white92_s13]

i have limo tint on my hatch, and i cant see shit for reverse lights, and they are bright as well.

yeah, just back up. kids, bikes, cars watch out lol.

[JAEBEATZ]

i think s13 reverse lights just suck mang:-/ i remember on my s13 i could hardly even tell if they were even lighting up when i was backing up! lol
but i agree with the other guys, i thought reverse lights were for others awareness that you were backing up! guess not? :bigok:

[Rittmeister]

Get a pair of 35W H3 style bulbs made to fit the 1156 base. Most auto parts stores carry them.

Do they have a name, or a part number? And will they melt my taillight housings?

[SpuGen]

You could always just wetsand and polish it. Makes it look new new newwww
It's basically the same procedure as the S14 Zenki headlights.. but on your tails.

[projectRDM]

Do they have a name, or a part number? And will they melt my taillight housings?

From what I've seen, no, they won't, unless you drive with them on all the time. A halogen bulb won't get that hot for just a few seconds. I don't know anything other than I've seen them before at a few places, they even have some with an audible chirp built in if you like the dump truck sound.

[Rittmeister]

So, what stores are we talking? Autozone near me didn't have what you're talking about.

[RedtopTech]

The ground points are very poor in the S13 lamp housings. Simply solder your ground points and your reverse, running, stop, and turn signals will all become brighter and more even.

[Rittmeister]

Are you talking about the screws that serve as grounds in the taillight housings?

[Slammed180]

I didn't even know reverse lights were for the driver's benefit - I thought they were solely for warning other drivers that you were backing up? haha

I just go... small children, raccoons, and beach balls have no place at the end of my driveway after dark

BAHAHA.
I'm using that as my sig

But, yea. I noticed my S13 reverse lights are really dim. And I don't even have tinted windows. Never bothered me though, like said above, I just use my brake lights if I need to.

[Matej]

Buy this.
Autolumination is the best.
http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm
http://autolumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/50watt.jpg

[Rittmeister]

Pretty cool - hadn't run across that site before.

Have you used these?