replace backup lights?
 

Hey all:

New poster here. Well, actually, I was on this forum several years ago when I was in the process of buying an MPV. Love it as a family car, and it's fun to drive as well.

Has anyone ever thought that the backup lights are too dim, or is it just me? I am always feeling like there is inadequate light at night when going in reverse. It's certainly a big change from my 91 VW Vanagon bus, and the car that the Mazda replaced - a 1985 Toyota Tercel.

Has anyone replaced their backup lights? Would it just be a matter of putting in a higher-wattage bulb, and maybe a new fuse? I wouldn't want to do anything to damage the electrical system. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Carlos

RE: replace backup lights?
 

Reverse lightiing is fairly weak on the older MPV. My wife drives a 91 and I was able to greatly increase the light output by simply removing the lens and cleaning the layer of dust from the inner surface. Another option you might look at is replacing with an LED equivalent. Try this web site. they seemed to have a zillion different ones. Another interesting thing I read about installing LED replacements in the brake lights is that they reach full brightness in almost 1/2 second faster than a standard bulb. May not seem like much, but at 65 mph on the freeway, that gives the driver behind you an extra 48 feet to react and stop before rearending your car.

http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm

RE: replace backup lights?
 

Thanks for the response.

This is not an older MPV, it's a 2002. I realized that part of the problem is the tinted windows. But still - it's really difficult at night to see behind me looking out the back window when in reverse. I think I'll check with the local dealer to see if there are any options - like those LED lamps. I'm assuming they just plug right in to the incandescent lamp's socket. I might have to have some honkin' big light installed somewhere - this is clearly unsafe.

I would chalk it up to being 52 and bad eyes, but they're not bad - and there is plenty of vision and light with my 91 Vanagon bus.

Carlos

RE: replace backup lights?
 

For your reference in finding brighter bulbs, the ones currectly installed for the back-up lights on a 2002 MPV are bulb trade #194 and are 18.4 Watts each. One of the LED bulbs at lightlens.com was rated at 25W so that should improve visibility to some degree.