Third Brake light/ Cargo light

I'm just so tired of replacing bulbs often, having a melted reflector behind the lens, and what seems like not really illuminating the bed well with OE setup (maybe because often 1 bulb down). Lens cover and gasket are ok so was thinking either trying some LED replacements next, or swapping the whole unit with AM.

 

So you bought that third option?

After reading here, seems like the cargo lights don’t even really do anything. I swapped the brake light bulb out since I had it apart. But I’m not sure I’ll replace the cargo lights. Seems like this is what we’re stuck with. Aftermarket leaks. OEM melts the plastic and burn out frequently. And for me, I’m going to have to make a big mess breaking the bulbs.

Are there no LED swaps?

 

Think some replace with Sylvania Zevo 921 LED.

 

I did. Then I went out and bought a full assembly during one of the sales, because I've been thru a rodeo with 3rd brake lights in the past with my GMT400. That's in a box. But I swapped the halogens out for LEDs when I popped the cover off, tested to make sure polarity was good, and popped the cover back on. That was around 70k original miles, I think, and yes, my plastics above the old halogen bulbs were melted to shit also.

ZEVO are the way to go. I think I used some extra LEDs I got in my FyreFlys kit.

 

I went to Napa and got led bulbs to fit the broken ones. The cargo lights are great, but I’m not certain I got the third b light going or not, it’s my neighbor’s rarely driven 2nd vehicle.

 

Wait there's an easy plug n play option with LEDs?? Why doesn't everyone do that? The connector is the same? @shifty` - which LED did you get?

I just replaced my brake light with the halogen. Just went to O'Reilly's and asked for the compatible bulb. I think it would be worth it to break the glass and pull the old cargo lights if I could swap in LEDs.

 

It’s on the list verify and correct.

 

Yeah just go get them from the auto store

 

Did you get the Sylvania Zevo 921 LED? Do you happen to have the part number?

 

I’d need to see what the Sylvania bulb would be. You can use the bulb finder at their site. Just make sure you get the ZEVO one, and make sure they’re not the colored ones (those usually have a letter after the number)

https://www.sylvania-automotive.com...421&gbraid=0AAAAAC19r1GfgSb8OOEnqqxUykV5Ed6gc

 

I installed this kit about a month and a half ago. Replaced all the interior lights and the cargo lights with LEDs. Everything works except the glove box, but that didn't work before. And the price is cheap enough that if they all die in 6 months, it's not a big deal. Cargo lights are definitely brighter now.

$25 Xpismii 11 Piece 6000K White Tundra LED Interior Light Kit Package Replacement for Toyota Tundra Extended/Access Cab 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006, with Placement Diagram and Install Tool

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDTTB8M3

 

These were all just plug n play? That's an amazing price. No adapters or anything?

 

Yeah, comes with a trim tool and a paper showing where each bulb goes. A JIS screwdriver would be handy to have as well.

And no adapters or anything needed. The hardest part was the driver's foot well and the glove box lights.

 

the only thing you need to know for the cargo light is 194 or 921, which is a very popular bulb in a DC. I think some people use 921 but the last thing I need is more plastic melting. I ordered a bunch from china for less than $1 a piece.

These are cheap, my 8 year old son loved this project. It’s that easy. Took a pic before I swapped out the reverse light on the left. Even cheap LEDs destroy the old school bulbs.

 

Think the Zevos are this for $26...

https://a.co/d/8L2QMuf6.

But if $1 bulbs rock, then looking hard at that. Got a link? Many I've seen have reviews with them burning out soon. How long have you had them?

Full replacement kit for $24 seems enticing Want to do the kicks, map lights, and backups too. Eventually think I'll go OSRAM Northstar AV Halogen 69378 for the backups, but they just went from about $7 to 16 each, and have two trucks to mod!

$17 Osram Northstar AV 69378 Bare Lamp Replacement

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BMUFN8

Been reading this on backup lights:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gy6-35-hir-921-reverse-light-upgrade-vs-high-power-leds.474996/

 

Anybody know where I can get a clear third brake light lens? Not one of the janky all-in-one led units, just a clear lens I can put led bulbs behind.
Also need the same for tail light housings.

 

The best solution (IMHO) is to put red 921 LEDs behind your existing red lens.

 

I already have color matched LEDs on the whole rear of the truck, (the whole truck actually). I just got clear turn signals for the front and I’ve realized that now the back looks dumb with all the red and amber. Need clear lenses all around, and I’ll just keep the red and orange leds in the sockets.

 

To that point, if you're buying the Sylvania ZEVO and you want red, blue, or whatever, they use a common system, where they put a letter after the bulb number. Like red is 921R, blue is 921B, orange/amber is 921A and plain white bulbs have no letter suffix.

This is the difference between a standard yellow halogen bulb and the LED amber/orange ZEVO bulb in the parkinglight ("teardrop") position: https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-1800#post-3442809

Note the packaging: If it doesn't say "ZEVO" on it, it doesn't have the lifetime warranty. I think the ZEVO package is typically black, and the non-ZEVO is white? More info here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-lunch-table-general-discussion.60450/page-2033#post-3529276

Always look at the package color. And use the Sylvania bulb picker to figure out which is correct.

 

I just ordered auxito. You can get them on Amazon or Alix if you want to wait two weeks.

$26 seems kind of crazy unless they can prove the emitters aren’t coming straight from china. I’ve had expensive LED bulbs go out and the warranty process is just stupid enough to not bother. Not unlike axles I suppose.



Put one of those cheap amazon kits in my wife’s van 8 years ago and not a single one has had an issue. Pieced together some straight from china bulbs for a Honda and I did lose one dashboard one that needed replaced after 9 years.

 

I think I paid $18 for mine. I got them at Advance Auto using a coupon I found online, ordered online using that 20% or 25% off coupon, for in-store pickup.

There's a few reasons I chose the Sylvania:

• They use a fogged cover, which helps avoid hotspots by diffusing the light equally
• They come with a lifetime warranty, and in past cases where I had to warranty w/Sylvania it was painless (but I couldn't find anyone online that had to do it w/ZEVO bulbs which is great)
• They don't have polarity issues like cheaper bulbs, which means you never need to worry about installing backwards
• They don't have hyperflash/resistance issues like cheaper bulbs, which is another huge plus
• They have the reputation of a large company behind them
• Considering it's a bulb critical for safety, I don't want to trust a cheap Chinese brand with my life, when I can trust a major name brand that'd be easy to sue in the event of accident due to part failure

I guess everyone has their thing, but at the end of the day, paying $18 for a pair of bulbs I should never need to change again, in a safety position, won't have hassles with install, and shouldn't have issues with longevity, it's worth every penny. The number of people I've seen on here who've had cheaper LEDs fail, even from name-brand places like SuperBrightLEDs, is too damn high for my taste. I don't check my brake lights more than a couple times per year. I don't want to find out the hard way, i.e. someone rear-ending me, that my brake lights aren't working.

YMMV, I'm not knocking anyone's buying choices, and I understand cash is strapped for a lot of us these days. Me spending $18 for a pair of bulbs is partially because I have it on-hand, and partially because the cost to me in the event of failure (with brake lights at least) would be higher if someone hits me.

 

PS - I ordered my bulb kit from FyreFlys @ https://fyreflys.com/

I picked it up thru eBay. Only mentioning to say, I'm not really opposed to using cheaper LEDs, and their kits are not only quality, and support is good, but it's generally great bang vs. buck. I just don't usually use them with exterior lighting for safety purposes.

That said, I wish more of these LED companys would use a frosted diffuser, because it really pisses me off when you can see each emitter's location, and you get way better light cast/distribution from a frosted cover.

 

Every single bulb on my truck is a Zevo. Except for the ones that don’t come in Zevo, those are just the regular Sylvania LEDs. The main headlight bulbs and a few interior ones for example. The only non-led I have is the ashtray light because the LED behind the green film was way too bright and didn’t match all the other greens, so I put the incandescent back in.

Haven’t had any go out yet, but I lost one of the fog light bulbs when it came unplugged and fell out of the housing somehow.

 

Yeah, the A/C control lights are way too bright after I installed the ZEVO bulbs, but after a few weeks, I stopped noticing it. I was thinking about possible solutions there, but I do like the white light more than the stock green, and can't bring myself to switch back.