Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I call this a "minor BOMB" because it only helps a little, but hey - the factory backup lights can use all the help they can get.
When I replaced the backup light bulb in my wife's truck today, I got to pondering that the 3157 is a dual-filament bulb, interchangable with the tail/brake light bulb. Out of curiosity, I tested to see what happens in reverse, and only one of the two filaments gets lit.
The 3157 is a flat, or "spade" shaped bulb where it plugs in. The contacts for each of the two filaments are diagonally opposite each other on the spade. Looking inside the socket, I noted which side the contacts were touching, which happen to be for the larger (brake) filament. I then carefully bent the tail light wires on the bulb over to the same side so that both filaments come on together. If you want to do this, just pop the bulb out and look at it - you won't have any trouble figuring out what I mean.
When you see both filaments on at the same time, the tail light filament doesn't look like much, but if it adds candles back there, I'll take it. I have the White Knights rig too, but there's never enough, especially backing up a horsetrailer in the dark!
BTW, this mod works regardless of which torque converter you prefer, so let's not have any :-{} about that!
When I replaced the backup light bulb in my wife's truck today, I got to pondering that the 3157 is a dual-filament bulb, interchangable with the tail/brake light bulb. Out of curiosity, I tested to see what happens in reverse, and only one of the two filaments gets lit.
The 3157 is a flat, or "spade" shaped bulb where it plugs in. The contacts for each of the two filaments are diagonally opposite each other on the spade. Looking inside the socket, I noted which side the contacts were touching, which happen to be for the larger (brake) filament. I then carefully bent the tail light wires on the bulb over to the same side so that both filaments come on together. If you want to do this, just pop the bulb out and look at it - you won't have any trouble figuring out what I mean.
When you see both filaments on at the same time, the tail light filament doesn't look like much, but if it adds candles back there, I'll take it. I have the White Knights rig too, but there's never enough, especially backing up a horsetrailer in the dark!
BTW, this mod works regardless of which torque converter you prefer, so let's not have any :-{} about that!
