Repost: Turn signal blink rate fix FAQ is done!
01-28-2002, 11:11 AM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Repost: Turn signal blink rate fix FAQ is done!
Clear LED turn signal blink rate fix
Many A4 owners have performed the clear corner modification to remove the amber reflector, and some have replaced their standard lenses with Euro clear ones. Once you have completed this mod, the amber bulb inside the turn signal housing will still show as yellow, and give you headlight the "fried egg" look; a clear lens with a spot of yellow in the middle. To fix this, many have upgraded the turn signal bulbs to the clear/blink yellow LED bulbs. These look sharp and complete the clear look of the headlights, BUT they also cause the blink rate to speed up as if you had a burned out turn signal bulb. This is due to the fact that the LED bulb has little resistance compared to the standard filament bulb, and without that resistance, the turn signal relay flashes in double time.
To fix the blink rate, you need to add a resistor to each turn signal in parallel. If you splice the resistor into each turn signal circuit, it will return the blink rate to the normal speed, and leave you with just the look of nice clear lenses with no more "fried egg" look. This fix will cost less than $5 and take only about 30 minutes to complete.
Parts:
2 Clear/blink yellow LED turn signal bulbs
2 8ohm 20 watt non inductive resistors: Radio Shack part #271-120
4 Scotch locks/tap splices
6 feet or more of wire
4 male & 4 female spade connectors
electrical tape
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p752c577603e14e4a8ca9712620abe255/fdf89322.jpg" border="0">
You will need to remove the headlights in order to get access to the turn signal wires.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/pdf174670c9c0ea51d1bb4e321a5a1a1a/fdf89319.jpg" border="0">
First solder the resistor to the wire you are going to use for the splicing. Leave yourself about 3 feet of wire so that you can mount the resistor someplace out of the elements.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p426a07939a8c890b57f06e19c1c97c09/fdf8931f.jpg" border="0">
Completely wrap the resistor in electrical tape to protect it from the elements. I crimped a spade connector in each wire so that the resistor can easily be removed if you need to feed the wire to a new location or replace the resistor.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/pa50b1672b6bdfecd34b9dd16c15b3edc/fdf8931c.jpg" border="0">
Tap splice 2 wires into the turn signal bulb wires. The turn signal bulb wiring harness has 3 wires: the ground, the turn signal positive and the parking light positive. You will need to splice into the ground and the turn signal positive wire:
For 1999.5 to 2001 A4: The turn signal bulb wires labeled #2 & #3 on the turn signal plug. Be sure to test this with a multi-meter to verify you have the correct wires.
For 1996-1999.0 A4: The turn signal bulb wires are the brown center wire (ground) and the black and white wire. These wires are labeled #2 & #3 on the turn signal plug.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p3e2e6e20e33de5f8467f3947904cb2bf/fdf89313.jpg" border="0">
Wrap the Tap Splices in electrical tape to keep them protected.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p49d2d78e58e8b05ce36aa477162e8517/fdf89312.jpg" border="0">
Now find a location to mount your resistor. Several options are inside the fender just behind the turn signal, or on top of the air box mount like I did:
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p41831016f8103dab8a3eea883f7b7bc3/fdf89321.jpg" border="0">
Connect the scotch locked wires form the turn signal to the resistor, and you are done.
Threads about this modification:
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/991309.phtml"> https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/991309.phtml</a>
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/990329.phtml"> https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/990329.phtml</a>
Many A4 owners have performed the clear corner modification to remove the amber reflector, and some have replaced their standard lenses with Euro clear ones. Once you have completed this mod, the amber bulb inside the turn signal housing will still show as yellow, and give you headlight the "fried egg" look; a clear lens with a spot of yellow in the middle. To fix this, many have upgraded the turn signal bulbs to the clear/blink yellow LED bulbs. These look sharp and complete the clear look of the headlights, BUT they also cause the blink rate to speed up as if you had a burned out turn signal bulb. This is due to the fact that the LED bulb has little resistance compared to the standard filament bulb, and without that resistance, the turn signal relay flashes in double time.
To fix the blink rate, you need to add a resistor to each turn signal in parallel. If you splice the resistor into each turn signal circuit, it will return the blink rate to the normal speed, and leave you with just the look of nice clear lenses with no more "fried egg" look. This fix will cost less than $5 and take only about 30 minutes to complete.
Parts:
2 Clear/blink yellow LED turn signal bulbs
2 8ohm 20 watt non inductive resistors: Radio Shack part #271-120
4 Scotch locks/tap splices
6 feet or more of wire
4 male & 4 female spade connectors
electrical tape
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p752c577603e14e4a8ca9712620abe255/fdf89322.jpg" border="0">
You will need to remove the headlights in order to get access to the turn signal wires.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/pdf174670c9c0ea51d1bb4e321a5a1a1a/fdf89319.jpg" border="0">
First solder the resistor to the wire you are going to use for the splicing. Leave yourself about 3 feet of wire so that you can mount the resistor someplace out of the elements.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p426a07939a8c890b57f06e19c1c97c09/fdf8931f.jpg" border="0">
Completely wrap the resistor in electrical tape to protect it from the elements. I crimped a spade connector in each wire so that the resistor can easily be removed if you need to feed the wire to a new location or replace the resistor.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/pa50b1672b6bdfecd34b9dd16c15b3edc/fdf8931c.jpg" border="0">
Tap splice 2 wires into the turn signal bulb wires. The turn signal bulb wiring harness has 3 wires: the ground, the turn signal positive and the parking light positive. You will need to splice into the ground and the turn signal positive wire:
For 1999.5 to 2001 A4: The turn signal bulb wires labeled #2 & #3 on the turn signal plug. Be sure to test this with a multi-meter to verify you have the correct wires.
For 1996-1999.0 A4: The turn signal bulb wires are the brown center wire (ground) and the black and white wire. These wires are labeled #2 & #3 on the turn signal plug.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p3e2e6e20e33de5f8467f3947904cb2bf/fdf89313.jpg" border="0">
Wrap the Tap Splices in electrical tape to keep them protected.
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p49d2d78e58e8b05ce36aa477162e8517/fdf89312.jpg" border="0">
Now find a location to mount your resistor. Several options are inside the fender just behind the turn signal, or on top of the air box mount like I did:
<img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid28/p41831016f8103dab8a3eea883f7b7bc3/fdf89321.jpg" border="0">
Connect the scotch locked wires form the turn signal to the resistor, and you are done.
Threads about this modification:
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/991309.phtml"> https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/991309.phtml</a>
<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/990329.phtml"> https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/990329.phtml</a>
01-28-2002, 12:07 PM
#6
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Who needs LED bulbs? Come and get 'em!
Myself, Silver Streakin, and Clues are all selling our LED bulbs...drop us a line if you want 'em!
I don't know how much they are asking, but I'll sell 'em for $28 shipped to you.
I don't know how much they are asking, but I'll sell 'em for $28 shipped to you.
