Lariat Front Turn Signal Mod

[gp1200x]

Has anyone modified the front turn signals on a Lariat so that they have a white light on in addition to the orange turning signal. I would like the front turn signal lamps to be white when they are not in use for turning. I realize another wire would have to be added and I would probably need to use an LED bulb since I doubt there is any halogen that has half white half amber bulb. Even if the white filament or led was lit when the amber flashes it may still be okay. The Lariat seems too bare in the front with the existing DLR lights. Do the XL/XLT turn signals...which provide this feature....come with an LED bulb stock from Ford or do they have some type of special halogen bulb to provide this dual color scenario.

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[Baloo]

It is called a switchback turn signal. The XL and XLT did not have them from factory either. The ones you have seen have been changed out to the Switchback turn signal bulbs.

 

[dc73pdsgt]

the switchback bulbs quoted above do not work in the Lariat as the wiring is different. as far as I know there is no option to do the switchback style lighting for the lariat.

 

[Darnon]

It wouldn't be too hard to add. You'd need the socket with the extra terminals. And either add the extra wire to the existing connector or get a connector with 3 wires already (the first option is simpler, really). Then tie it into something like the corner marker wiring.

 

[gp1200x]

It wouldn't be too hard to add. You'd need the socket with the extra terminals. And either add the extra wire to the existing connector or get a connector with 3 wires already (the first option is simpler, really). Then tie it into something like the corner marker wiring.

I already ordered new bulb sockets and pigtails. I will splice in my own watertight three prong connectors so that I can swap between mine and the factory units just in case I need to restore to stock for some reason...like service.

What I am hoping is that with switchbacks the white light leds will automatically shut down when the amber flashers has 12V on them. Not sure they will but somewhere I read that the switchbacks are smart and that is how they perform...have to see to believe this. Otherwise the white leds will remain on when the amber light is flashing....probably still visible to oncoming cars from the front.
Not buying switchbacks until I see how it looks with just amber running and amber turns on the Lariat.

 

[Rlward]

Lasfit LEDs front turn signals. Works for my XLT Hybrid.

 

[CaptKirk]

Being a cheap bastard, and wanting to minimize $$ for an experiment I managed to do this for around $13 using Temu:

First for $10 I got 4 of these:

4pcs 3157 3156 LED Turn Signal DRL Light Bulbs White Amber Switchback - The Lasfits are probably a better choice but these are nice a MUCH nicer price for my original experiment (as I had no idea if I could make this work).

And for $3 got these:

10pcs 2 Pin Way Electrical Connector, Male Female Plug Socket Quick Disconnect Plug Car Waterproof (Note: despite the picture, these are the raw parts- no wires so you get the loose connector pieces you need)

This provides the missing center conductor for the existing Lariat bulb socket - you just need to use two of the female connector pieces from this kit and add your own wire, pull the green center plug out of the connector and insert your wire and connector. You then need to find either the DRL wire (I could not) or tap into the headlight power like I did.

Two or three downsides to this combo:
1. The INDICATOR does the fast flash (not the lights themselves) probably because of lower amp draw of the LEDs (same issue with Lasfit solution) which I will likely disable with ForScan or add resistors.
2. The LEDs act "goofy" as the emergency blinkers - they get out of sync and blink back and forth when on emergency rather than in sync with each other. I have NO idea what causes that.

The optional third downside is that in the course of experimenting, I seem to have disabled the DRL operation somehow. I have the Daytime RUnning Lights option checked on the dash LIGHTING menu but they do not come on during the day- they DO come on with the headlights after dark. I was unplugging and pluggining in connectors with the power on so it just might be a fuse problem - fingers crossed).

 

[AutobahnSHO]

WHY though? Lariat has white LED DRL.

 

[CaptKirk]

WHY though? Lariat has white LED DRL.

And a BIG BLANK area in the middle that normally only lights up when the turn signals go. TO ME, it looks like Ford forgot to put a bulb in there and in a way, they sort of DID forget. With this mod, you have that blank area be lit up white until you hit the turn signal THEN it goes yellow. So you get BOTH the switchback white center AND the DRL led for the Lariet. More light is BETTER!!!

Pretend this is a Lariet headlight with the LED DRL on top. Normally it basically looks like this:

With my change it looks like this:

or this (with the blinker going):

I'll try to get photos of MY truck rather than screen shots off of youtube of someone putting Lasfits on an XL...

 

[gp1200x]

[/QUOTE]

Being a cheap bastard, and wanting to minimize $$ for an experiment I managed to do this for around $13 using Temu:

First for $10 I got 4 of these:

4pcs 3157 3156 LED Turn Signal DRL Light Bulbs White Amber Switchback - The Lasfits are probably a better choice but these are nice a MUCH nicer price for my original experiment (as I had no idea if I could make this work).

And for $3 got these:

10pcs 2 Pin Way Electrical Connector, Male Female Plug Socket Quick Disconnect Plug Car Waterproof (Note: despite the picture, these are the raw parts- no wires so you get the loose connector pieces you need)

This provides the missing center conductor for the existing Lariat bulb socket - you just need to use two of the female connector pieces from this kit and add your own wire, pull the green center plug out of the connector and insert your wire and connector. You then need to find either the DRL wire (I could not) or tap into the headlight power like I did.

Two or three downsides to this combo:
1. The INDICATOR does the fast flash (not the lights themselves) probably because of lower amp draw of the LEDs (same issue with Lasfit solution) which I will likely disable with ForScan or add resistors.
2. The LEDs act "goofy" as the emergency blinkers - they get out of sync and blink back and forth when on emergency rather than in sync with each other. I have NO idea what causes that.

The optional third downside is that in the course of experimenting, I seem to have disabled the DRL operation somehow. I have the Daytime RUnning Lights option checked on the dash LIGHTING menu but they do not come on during the day- they DO come on with the headlights after dark. I was unplugging and pluggining in connectors with the power on so it just might be a fuse problem - fingers crossed).

I use those type of connectors all the time (2,3 and 4 ) but I usually buy them already assembled with 16 ga tinned wire since I use them for marine apps too. I ordered those switchbacks and canbus resistors from Temu. I'll first test and see how amber amber halogens looks before trying white amber leds. I'm wiring my whites or ambers to a hot fused wire that has power whenever the truck is running instead of tapping into the cars DRL circuits or running lights. I'm hoping those switchbacks actually drop the white light when the amber turns light up since the 12v to the whites will still be present. Resoldering all wires with plugs so I can revert to stock if needed.

 

[gp1200x]

And a BIG BLANK area in the middle that normally only lights up when the turn signals go. TO ME, it looks like Ford forgot to put a bulb in there and in a way, they sort of DID forget. With this mod, you have that blank area be lit up white until you hit the turn signal THEN it goes yellow. So you get BOTH the switchback white center AND the DRL led for the Lariet. More light is BETTER!!!

Pretend this is a Lariet headlight with the LED DRL on top. Normally it basically looks like this:

With my change it looks like this:

or this (with the blinker going):

I'll try to get photos of MY truck rather than screen shots off of youtube of someone putting Lasfits on an XL...

Totally agree...it's like they messed up on the Lariat and never finished the lighting. There was no reason for them to leave that space empty....just doesn't look right and should have been DRL or amber running light.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

And a BIG BLANK area in the middle that normally only lights up when the turn signals go. TO ME, it looks like Ford forgot to put a bulb in there and in a way, they sort of DID forget. With this mod, you have that blank area be lit up white until you hit the turn signal THEN it goes yellow. So you get BOTH the switchback white center AND the DRL led for the Lariet. More light is BETTER!!!

Pretend this is a Lariet headlight with the LED DRL on top. Normally it basically looks like this:

With my change it looks like this:

or this (with the blinker going):

I'll try to get photos of MY truck rather than screen shots off of youtube of someone putting Lasfits on an XL...

Your desired change will actually make it more difficult for other drivers to know when your front blinker is on. There are big reasons that the cars with LED DRLs turn the white OFF on that side when the LED amber turn signal turns on.

Your desire for aesthetics will HIDE the blinker function a little bit. No matter how bright or faint the LED is, the contrast between no light and the amber light is a huge signal for human eyes & brains.

 

[gp1200x]

Your desired change will actually make it more difficult for other drivers to know when your front blinker is on. There are big reasons that the cars with LED DRLs turn the white OFF on that side when the LED amber turn signal turns on.

Your desire for aesthetics will HIDE the blinker function a little bit. No matter how bright or faint the LED is, the contrast between no light and the amber light is a huge signal for human eyes & brains.

It is working the same way as all the Xl anf xlt owners who installed switchbacks in that turn location socket

 

[CaptKirk]

The white turns off before the yellow blinks on - it is VERY apparent. It looks WAY more complete.

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