Installing License Plate LED lights = PITA on 2012

[Ogata]

Sooo I just installed some LEDS on my GF's 2012 and man it was a PITA to remove. It took me awhile to figure that you had to shift the holder up before it can slide down. That and I did NOT expect the styrofoam in my way as it made things harder compared to my 1st gen where it pops up easily. I even had to remove the license plate to give myself more room. Anyone else run into issues on 2010-2011 or is it just the 2012's that started having styrofoam in the rear bumper?

[awagawa]

It took a bit of fudging around to figure out how to safely remove the housing without breaking anything. But yeah, that styrofoam did get in the way.

[ottoyu34]

For my 2010, you can use a small screwdriver with a cloth and lightly pry open the clear lens part from the black housing.

[htc***]

Check around the lens and you will see a small slot then uses small screwdriver to pry it open.

[Ogata]

It wasn't so much the clear plastic housing.. it was getting outer housing off the fit the light in as some 194 lights require some force to go in.

[Ogata]

To make matters worse...one of the bulbs are not lighting up now after a couple of days despite them lighting up before!! I sure hope it was just a loose connection on the bulb or @#(U@#$@#*$@#$@#$@#$&@#)(&$

[Nova 3 GT]

To make matters worse...one of the bulbs are not lighting up now after a couple of days despite them lighting up before!! I sure hope it was just a loose connection on the bulb or @#(U@#$@#*$@#$@#$@#$&@#)(&$

Problably is a loose connection because I to have a license LED bulb that likes to play peek-a-boo with me. :bang At first, I thought it was burnt. However, after going thru the bumpy streets, holy behold, it came back to life...:rolleyes

[Ogata]

Problably is a loose connection because I to have a license LED bulb that likes to play peek-a-boo with me. :bang At first, I thought it was burnt. However, after going thru the bumpy streets, holy behold, it came back to life...:rolleyes

Merci Shinken Red. I hope that is the case but I don't understand how a loose connection can happen.

[awagawa]

Merci Shinken Red. I hope that is the case but I don't understand how a loose connection can happen.

Crappy bulb perhaps? Where did you buy them from?

[Ogata]

Crappy bulb perhaps? Where did you buy them from?

I hope not..I got my bulbs from v-leds.com and they don't make em cheap either.

[McGuyver_3]

Merci Shinken Red. I hope that is the case but I don't understand how a loose connection can happen.

the led bulbs have a very high contact point and when you push the leds all the way in they lose the connection causing the lights to flicker. I simply used tin foil and extended the contact points. Works like a charm. The holders are also rather simple to remove without the removal of plate

[Ogata]

the led bulbs have a very high contact point and when you push the leds all the way in they lose the connection causing the lights to flicker. I simply used tin foil and extended the contact points. Works like a charm. The holders are also rather simple to remove without the removal of plate

Hey Dan! I noticed when I removed the bulb, the contact point was somewhat bent? Maybe I pushed it in too hard. Hmmmm...tinfoil I'll try that if it goes out next time. But damn that Styrofoam is annoying. I have to keep removing the back license plate so it has room to come out. I don't have to do that with my Gen 1

[Nova 3 GT]

By the way , a little off-topic :

For the license plate lights, it is better to go with wide angle LED rather than those 1W straight-firing LED bulb???

[McGuyver_3]

Personally I would say it doesn't matter. The important part is they work and the single led ones that shoot straight down are super bright from the get go.

[Ogata]

WEIRD!! Its not flickering at all now. I'm not sure if its because of the weather or some wire doesn't like the cold weather but they are lighting up properly last night.