Front Turn Signal Mod. $25.00 for safety

[Steve M.]

So finally acting on an idea I had a few years ago to make my survivability on the highways a bit better.
Basically taking the rear edge of the front fiberglass bumper and mounting an amber LED on it that is connected to the front turn signals.

I had a choice of a single round LED or something a bit larger to so it has more surface lighting up to catch the eye of the car in my blind spot in the lane alongside the rear quarter.

Both are equally bright, but the longer LED has more LED’s in it which is better then a single LED because it one burns out the others are still there giving warning you're moving over into the lane next to you.

So the long LED mounted on the flat rear edge of the bumper.

I added a waterproof quick disconnect to attach it to the wire harness and adhesive lined heat shrink to waterproof the wiring.

All the parts need to do the job. Most gotten through Amazon.

The LED Lights. $9.50 for a pack of 10 lights-5 red and 5 amber.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GKQXOP0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The waterproof connectors you find on cars younger then the Vanagon! Cheap at $5.99 for a pack of 5.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A6LTK44/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Long LED’s need a 6/32nd x 1/2" screw tapped into the bumper.
Home Depot stainless screws for about $3.00

A 7/64th’s Drill bit and 6-32 NC tap sold as a pair at Home Depot for maybe $5.99
The tap you can just put in the drill and screw it into the bumper and reverse it out. the fiberglass resin used in this bumper is not the hardest resin in the world.

All told less then 25 bucks for safety.

The round LED I picked up at the local FLAPs. I'll find a use for it somewhere.

I do not have the bumper back on the Syncro yet so you just have to use your imagination to visualize it.

EDIT: here's another thread along similar lines for getting the side marker lights to blink.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=644824
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[4Gears4Tires]

I did something similar to this on my SV650. Great idea for the van as well.

I will store it away for one of those days where I just want a simple project to tool around with.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[erste]

I really like that LED you chose, way better than the circle. Looks good!

[tjet]

Perfect timing. I'm doing a mod this weekend with a couple of side lights I installed. I will start a thread on it as well.

[jimf909]

Neato. I'd love to see it in action. Thanks for sharing this tip.
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- Jim

[VicVan]

I like the idea. Do you have a picture of what it looks like once back on the van?
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[Steve M.]

[Steve M.]

[Steve M.]

[djkeev]

Didn't an Overseas Version have a front bumper with the turn signal integrated into it?

Or am I getting my Super Beetles mixed up with Vanagon?

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[Steve M.]

[DuncanS]

Need a photo. Can't quite visualize what it looks like or where it goes. The rear edge of my front bumper is angled so the front door trim will miss it. Did you remove the cladding?

[Steve M.]

[Zeitgeist 13]

If you have power mirrors, that little round light might fit into the removable cap at the base.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Steve M.]

[Steve M.]

Okay pictures of them on the Vanagon

Passenger side:

Why could you not take this

And do this?

The Turn Signal reflector inside it is aimed forward and does not really give light out to the side, certainly does not show behind the front end. If you look at it- this side is just a reflector molded into the plastic.
It has the same flat space that is visible on the rear as the bumper does.

The wiring run would be easier for one. However, considering how soon these turn signals fade from the UV rays that (I change them out almost yearly). I would rather have the LED permanently mounted on the bumper so it’s one less thing to do having to remount it on a new lens. It also just doesn’t look that good to me.

This is the one on my Drivers side I just changed 2 wks ago and it seems to have some small provision for trying to show some of the light to the rear. If you look inside it there is channel in the reflector allowing some light to show rearward? I’ll have to look at it in the dark to see if it does.

Just showing the clearance of the door when fully opened.

These LED's would look much nicer if I took the time to cut an opening in the bumper to mount them from the inside to sit flush on the surface.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

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[Steve M.]

So night time shots of the Front Turn Signal lens does show what I thought earlier.

The new one I just put on does actively show the light out through that channel I saw in the reflector
The one I put on about a while back does not have that channel and you can see the difference.

The latest Turn Signal:

I turned the exposure way down to show what my eyes were seeing-the end of the LED bulb.

The other older Turn Signal.

While you can see this at night I doubt if it's going to be as eye-catching in daylight to a driver who is not paying attention.

So i'm going to continue installing the LED lights on the end of the bumper.
It is good to see that whoever is making the Turn signal lenses is making improvements in it.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[Zeitgeist 13]

[Steve M.]

[jimf909]

Thanks for the photos and the mirror mod suggestion.


This is what I thought the designers had in mind with the raised housing so I was confused when you said a reflector prohibited the amber light from shining to the rear.

Is the new housing with the reflector stamped DOT?

This reminds me that I also want to do the simple ground wire mod to include the rear side marker in the turn signal loop.
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- Jim