HELP!: 2012 G37 Sedan Front Turn Signal Bulbs
Oh boy. Wish I could have chimed in on this a little earlier...
I have switchbacks installed in my 2011 sedan as well and I love them. Yours also look great. I also had the same problem as you did getting them to fit, and unfortunately, I think I may have some bad news for you.
While it is possible eventually to force the bulbs into the housing through careful manipulation and trickery, the bad part comes when trying to get that same bulb back out. My guess is, you put the bulb into the socket and used that to help "steer" it into place. This works fine for going forward into the housing because the bulb cannot press any further into the base. When you go to try and remove the bulb, the tension on the clip inside the socket does not have anywhere near enough strength to allow you to wiggle the bulb back out. The bulb will come loose from the socket and fall down into the headlight.
This would seem like a catastrophe, but never fear, the myG37.com community is here to help.
What you need to obtain is a conical grinding stone:
At least 1" in diameter. You will need to grind the hole open just a bit (Approximately +1.5 mm diameter) to allow the bulb to come back out. Do this by hand, and do it slowly. DO NOT put this grinding stone into a power tool. And just in case you didn't catch that the first time, DO NOT PUT THE GRINDING STONE INTO A POWER TOOL!
The ever so slightly increased diameter will allow you to install switchback bulbs with ease without compromising the retaining tabs or rubber seal required to maintain the bulb base sealed to the headlight.
This would be a very worthwhile mod for anyone to do prior to installing these bulbs. To quote Ben Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Best of luck!
I have switchbacks installed in my 2011 sedan as well and I love them. Yours also look great. I also had the same problem as you did getting them to fit, and unfortunately, I think I may have some bad news for you.
While it is possible eventually to force the bulbs into the housing through careful manipulation and trickery, the bad part comes when trying to get that same bulb back out. My guess is, you put the bulb into the socket and used that to help "steer" it into place. This works fine for going forward into the housing because the bulb cannot press any further into the base. When you go to try and remove the bulb, the tension on the clip inside the socket does not have anywhere near enough strength to allow you to wiggle the bulb back out. The bulb will come loose from the socket and fall down into the headlight.
This would seem like a catastrophe, but never fear, the myG37.com community is here to help.
What you need to obtain is a conical grinding stone:At least 1" in diameter. You will need to grind the hole open just a bit (Approximately +1.5 mm diameter) to allow the bulb to come back out. Do this by hand, and do it slowly. DO NOT put this grinding stone into a power tool. And just in case you didn't catch that the first time, DO NOT PUT THE GRINDING STONE INTO A POWER TOOL!
The ever so slightly increased diameter will allow you to install switchback bulbs with ease without compromising the retaining tabs or rubber seal required to maintain the bulb base sealed to the headlight.
This would be a very worthwhile mod for anyone to do prior to installing these bulbs. To quote Ben Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Best of luck!
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 823
Likes: 83
From: West Palm Beach, FL
Oh boy. Wish I could have chimed in on this a little earlier...
I have switchbacks installed in my 2011 sedan as well and I love them. Yours also look great. I also had the same problem as you did getting them to fit, and unfortunately, I think I may have some bad news for you.
While it is possible eventually to force the bulbs into the housing through careful manipulation and trickery, the bad part comes when trying to get that same bulb back out. My guess is, you put the bulb into the socket and used that to help "steer" it into place. This works fine for going forward into the housing because the bulb cannot press any further into the base. When you go to try and remove the bulb, the tension on the clip inside the socket does not have anywhere near enough strength to allow you to wiggle the bulb back out. The bulb will come loose from the socket and fall down into the headlight.
This would seem like a catastrophe, but never fear, the myG37.com community is here to help. What you need to obtain is a conical grinding stone:
At least 1" in diameter. You will need to grind the hole open just a bit (Approximately +1.5 mm diameter) to allow the bulb to come back out. Do this by hand, and do it slowly. DO NOT put this grinding stone into a power tool. And just in case you didn't catch that the first time, DO NOT PUT THE GRINDING STONE INTO A POWER TOOL!
The ever so slightly increased diameter will allow you to install switchback bulbs with ease without compromising the retaining tabs or rubber seal required to maintain the bulb base sealed to the headlight.
This would be a very worthwhile mod for anyone to do prior to installing these bulbs. To quote Ben Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Best of luck!
I have switchbacks installed in my 2011 sedan as well and I love them. Yours also look great. I also had the same problem as you did getting them to fit, and unfortunately, I think I may have some bad news for you.
While it is possible eventually to force the bulbs into the housing through careful manipulation and trickery, the bad part comes when trying to get that same bulb back out. My guess is, you put the bulb into the socket and used that to help "steer" it into place. This works fine for going forward into the housing because the bulb cannot press any further into the base. When you go to try and remove the bulb, the tension on the clip inside the socket does not have anywhere near enough strength to allow you to wiggle the bulb back out. The bulb will come loose from the socket and fall down into the headlight.
This would seem like a catastrophe, but never fear, the myG37.com community is here to help.
What you need to obtain is a conical grinding stone:At least 1" in diameter. You will need to grind the hole open just a bit (Approximately +1.5 mm diameter) to allow the bulb to come back out. Do this by hand, and do it slowly. DO NOT put this grinding stone into a power tool. And just in case you didn't catch that the first time, DO NOT PUT THE GRINDING STONE INTO A POWER TOOL!
The ever so slightly increased diameter will allow you to install switchback bulbs with ease without compromising the retaining tabs or rubber seal required to maintain the bulb base sealed to the headlight.
This would be a very worthwhile mod for anyone to do prior to installing these bulbs. To quote Ben Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Best of luck!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
First of all, thank you for the awesome suggestion DustinEarnhardt !!!!
Looks like you can still buy the switchback bulbs from DiodeDynamics, their URL is just pointed incorrectly to the Scion bulb, so the real URL fails. Go here to see the list: 7440 / 7443 - Listed by Size - LED Bulbs
You want to buy the 7443 - 60-1210 SMD. Hit up DiodeDynamics on here, or email them from their site, they are always very very helpful
peace!
You want to buy the 7443 - 60-1210 SMD. Hit up DiodeDynamics on here, or email them from their site, they are always very very helpful
peace!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
No, email them. The link is wrong, on that URL I shared that's the right picture but when u click the link it's the wrong bulb, ours is black and flat at the connection, not round. Just hit them up
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
DRL power question with 7443 bulb
I have similar bulb but smaller and want to make it my DRL where is the best place to connect to get power when the car is on? I was thinking cig lighter? Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks and good bump to seller
You're welcome it could also be the angle I was at. I wasnt trying to bend down all the way cuz of back issues, and I only had so far to step back cuz of the work pathway. They are actually pretty bright IMO for daytime running lights that are to be on lower power. I reccommend them!
it could also be the angle I was at. I wasnt trying to bend down all the way cuz of back issues, and I only had so far to step back cuz of the work pathway. They are actually pretty bright IMO for daytime running lights that are to be on lower power. I reccommend them!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
I have ordered from this site for years!!!
Tail Light Brake Light Turn Signal LED Bulbs
http://autolumination.com/switchback.html
Tail Light Brake Light Turn Signal LED Bulbs
http://autolumination.com/switchback.html
I've tried both the 60 LED and 48 LED switchback bulbs from Autolumination. They were pretty much the same in terms of brightness, but I found the "white" color of the 60 LED to be too bluish/purplish for my taste. The 48 LED is a much classier look.
You can find grinding stones from pretty much any hardware store. Ace, Grainger, MSC, McMaster-Carr, etc. Lowes or Home Depot might have it too.
You can find grinding stones from pretty much any hardware store. Ace, Grainger, MSC, McMaster-Carr, etc. Lowes or Home Depot might have it too.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 10
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Has anyone put the resistors up front? If so where did you mount them up there? I'm not changing the rears but does that matter or can the resistor go anywhere on the circut? Or do I need to go LED back and front to get the whole system to work with the resistors? Thanks
You can put them anywhere. Doesn't have to be in the front. Mine are behind the trunk liner in the rear.
Honestly though, if you're going to go to the trouble of putting in resistors, you'd be better off doing the rears too. If you decide you want to do it later, you'll have to swap out the resistors too.
Honestly though, if you're going to go to the trouble of putting in resistors, you'd be better off doing the rears too. If you decide you want to do it later, you'll have to swap out the resistors too.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Fail
I took your advice and tried at it and I FINALLY got them to fit inside my 2012. You know when you have something just a tad bigger than the hole and so you can allign part of it, but then you have to spin it to get it to basically screw in, yeah thats what I had to do with a little bit of force, once that top peice clears, then its easier to get it to shimmy into the housing.
It fits in my 2012, but its just a VERY TIGHT fit, and Im surprised no one has said anything. Thanks again for your assistance. I wired up the resistors and no hyperblink too. AWESOME bulbs!
It fits in my 2012, but its just a VERY TIGHT fit, and Im surprised no one has said anything. Thanks again for your assistance. I wired up the resistors and no hyperblink too. AWESOME bulbs!
I tried to go for the second one. After countless times of trying to spin the LED in it eventually broke LITERALLY right after I got it to fit in the housing. 1 led remained alive and looked stupid. I tried to put back oem bulb and it ended up dying as it fell in as well. Countless fails smh
my autoshop guy didn't want to mess up the housing cause the headlights are atleast 1500 and i tried DIY and terribly failed cause fitment was off and its hard as hell getting it down without taking the wheel off or having a lift
I got mine from www.ijdmtoy.com
Item description: 60 SMD Xenon White/Amber Yellow Dual Color Switchback 7443 (aka 7441 7444) LED Turn Signal Light Bulbs
I got resistors to but I don't think its needed for 2012 ? or is it ?
Question: what is the easiest way to get the light bulbs out of the housing =( I tried using a coat hanger. Fail. and I dont want to take the bumper off but I hear there is a way to take out the headlights by unbolting a few things inside the engine near the grill. Is this true ? Great help is appreciated xT My hands and arms are red as hell!
Please give me a link for a better size bulb that will fit perfectly with no problem please!!!.. I might need the 48 if its smaller diameter. The diameter of the 60 SMD is .87 and wont fit. Will .83 fit perfectly?
Last edited by ConG37xS; Sep 12, 2012 at 10:11 PM.