Rear indicator lights - need filter?

generationgav · 9th November 2006, 15:12

Odd question and not Civic related - do rear indicator lights need to have a plastic filter or is the bulb being amber enough? My friend has brought a new rear light thing for the back of his car and it isn't filtered amber; I just looked at about 15 cars and not a single one doesn't have a plastic filter, inc the civic.
Is this law or general design?

Bungle · 9th November 2006, 15:25

What do you mean by filter? Like a diffuser lens?

generationgav · 9th November 2006, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungle

What do you mean by filter? Like a diffuser lens?

Yeah; that exactly, orange too, currently you can see his bulb perfectly clearly and with a white bulb in it even flashes white.

Bungle · 9th November 2006, 17:11

That is very illegal then. I am not sure if the lens has to be any colour in particular, but the lamp has to be orange when flashing. No two ways about it.

He has to get the lights changed, the car is dangerous without orange indicators, and he will get pulled very quickly by the plod for it.

Can I ask what car this is on?

generationgav · 9th November 2006, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungle

That is very illegal then. I am not sure if the lens has to be any colour in particular, but the lamp has to be orange when flashing. No two ways about it.

He has to get the lights changed, the car is dangerous without orange indicators, and he will get pulled very quickly by the plod for it.

Can I ask what car this is on?

Sorry...should explain better!
It's only the lens he's bothered about, basically we're not sure if a clear lens with orange bulbs are ok.
The problem is that the orange bulbs from powerbulbs and autobulbs won't fit; so we've had to track down a different company to get them!
In the interim the original lenses are in (flashing orange); but he's shelled out about £50 for the rear section and wants to use them.

It's on a Renault Clio

Edit: it's http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RENAULT-CLIO-2...ayphotohosting he's brought

Bungle · 9th November 2006, 17:24

Oh, OK. As long as they flash orange when viewed, I don't think it matters what colour the lens is. The front indicator on the Civic is clear, and only flashes orange when activated.

I cant help with the bulb issue, I tend to keep the original light clusters in place, they always seem to look metter IMO.

Would Halfauds or any motor spares shop sell orange bulbs?

generationgav · 9th November 2006, 17:26

There's orange and clear bulbs which look identical; the clear bulbs have 2 pins which are parallel to each other, the orange bulbs are slightly "off"

I think this is so you don't accidently fit the wrong bulb in to the wrong hole; but in my friends case it has to be done!

Bungle · 9th November 2006, 17:33

Sorry, can't help any more! The only other thing I can suggest is the LED route, but I know nothing of them in automotive use, other than it can be done and adaptions be made.

Good luck in finding a solution

TTDegs · 9th November 2006, 20:43

The indicators have to flash orange.

How they do this is irrelevant, so an orange bulb behind a clear lens is ok

I don't think there is a legal definition of orange either...

Cheap and simple solution?

Nip into Hobby Craft and purchase some glass paint

Make sure you (he) gets the stuff designed for painting (house) light bulbs, as the window paint will burn

Apply in thin layers, allowing to dry inbetween and test / apply more until the desired colour is acheived

Please note that all the above is my interpretation of the law - and I'm not a lawyer or a police person!

Bungle · 9th November 2006, 21:01

The law is not open to interpretation, TTDegs!!!!!!

Ancient Nerd · 9th November 2006, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungle

The law is not open to interpretation, TTDegs!!!!!!

Yes it is. That's why we have judges & test cases. They sort out the mess that politicians create by making quick laws and preventing scrutiny.

Copycat · 10th November 2006, 06:50

Would this thread be of any use:

Rear Indicator Lights

generationgav · 10th November 2006, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Copycat

Would this thread be of any use:

Rear Indicator Lights

The lights that Allen fitted are exactly the ones my friend purchased and won't fit!

Maybe I should buy them off him??

Copycat · 10th November 2006, 18:32

Our own bulb dealer.

Strange how they don't fit if they are the same. Maybe Allan could help you out here. He seemed to get pretty involved in the whole indicator bulb business.

allan40alt · 10th November 2006, 22:53

The WY21W Philips Silver Vision Amber Wedge bulbs fit easily in the rear indicators and work fine giving a slightly deeper amber colour. There doesn't appear to be any loss of brightness either.

9th November 2006, 15:12	#1 (permalink)
generationgav Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 29th May 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 824 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader: (0)	Rear indicator lights - need filter? Odd question and not Civic related - do rear indicator lights need to have a plastic filter or is the bulb being amber enough? My friend has brought a new rear light thing for the back of his car and it isn't filtered amber; I just looked at about 15 cars and not a single one doesn't have a plastic filter, inc the civic. Is this law or general design?

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This thread is about: Rear indicator lights - need filter?, it's in Any non Civic chat here please! at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Odd question and not Civic related - do rear indicator lights need to have a plastic filter or is the bulb being amber enough? My ...

9th November 2006, 15:25	#2 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,221 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	What do you mean by filter? Like a diffuser lens?

9th November 2006, 17:11	#4 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,221 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	That is very illegal then. I am not sure if the lens has to be any colour in particular, but the lamp has to be orange when flashing. No two ways about it. He has to get the lights changed, the car is dangerous without orange indicators, and he will get pulled very quickly by the plod for it. Can I ask what car this is on?

9th November 2006, 17:24	#6 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,221 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Oh, OK. As long as they flash orange when viewed, I don't think it matters what colour the lens is. The front indicator on the Civic is clear, and only flashes orange when activated. I cant help with the bulb issue, I tend to keep the original light clusters in place, they always seem to look metter IMO. Would Halfauds or any motor spares shop sell orange bulbs?

9th November 2006, 17:26	#7 (permalink)
generationgav Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 29th May 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 824 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader: (0)	There's orange and clear bulbs which look identical; the clear bulbs have 2 pins which are parallel to each other, the orange bulbs are slightly "off" I think this is so you don't accidently fit the wrong bulb in to the wrong hole; but in my friends case it has to be done!

9th November 2006, 17:33	#8 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,221 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Sorry, can't help any more! The only other thing I can suggest is the LED route, but I know nothing of them in automotive use, other than it can be done and adaptions be made. Good luck in finding a solution

9th November 2006, 20:43	#9 (permalink)
TTDegs Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 4th August 2006 Location: Cardiff Posts: 5,634 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	The indicators have to flash orange. How they do this is irrelevant, so an orange bulb behind a clear lens is ok I don't think there is a legal definition of orange either... Cheap and simple solution? Nip into Hobby Craft and purchase some glass paint Make sure you (he) gets the stuff designed for painting (house) light bulbs, as the window paint will burn Apply in thin layers, allowing to dry inbetween and test / apply more until the desired colour is acheived Please note that all the above is my interpretation of the law - and I'm not a lawyer or a police person!

9th November 2006, 21:01	#10 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,221 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	The law is not open to interpretation, TTDegs!!!!!!

10th November 2006, 06:50	#12 (permalink)
Copycat Galaxy class starship Rocketship door handle Join Date: 5th May 2006 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,050 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Would this thread be of any use: Rear Indicator Lights

10th November 2006, 18:32	#14 (permalink)
Copycat Galaxy class starship Rocketship door handle Join Date: 5th May 2006 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,050 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Our own bulb dealer. Strange how they don't fit if they are the same. Maybe Allan could help you out here. He seemed to get pretty involved in the whole indicator bulb business.

10th November 2006, 22:53	#15 (permalink)
allan40alt Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 6th August 2006 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire. Posts: 2,253 Thanks: 13 Thanked 33 Times in 31 Posts iTrader: (0)	The WY21W Philips Silver Vision Amber Wedge bulbs fit easily in the rear indicators and work fine giving a slightly deeper amber colour. There doesn't appear to be any loss of brightness either.