Replacing BU & Rear Turn Signal lights -> LED

Just spent literally about 10 minutes replacing the rear turn signal and backup lights with LEDs on our two-week old 2020 ST. Used Alla bulbs from Amazon as they carried a lot of 5-star reviews. Job was pretty easy ... here's what I did:

1. Remove this panel

2. Here's the door. The little angled ridges point down ... doesn't work well using it any other way!!

3. Tools ... used the 11mm screwdriver to remove the only screw holding the lamp assembly in. The small screwdriver pried off the trim door easily and left no marks.

4. The assembly pulls pretty much straight out at a ~90º angle from the side. But, it does take some pulling and minor moving up/down to finally spring it off. I used easy pressure ... not a yank. No damage was noted!! (The second one was a lot less "stressful")

5. The two bulbs were easy to access.

6. Just as easy to replace. Totally "plug & play".

7. Unit just reverses back on. Takes a bit of firm pressure to lock everything. The video I watched show removing some trim pieces ... I didn't remove any and it was still easy. In fact it seemed to go back in easier with the trim still attached. Once the time pieces were back on, I started up and tried Reverse and the 4-way flasher. Worked perfectly!!



I choose to use Forscan to fix the hyper blink as I had experience using it on our '15 & '17 F-150's. But, that being said, I'm not much of a "hacker" and only changed two things. I told the rear tail lights I was using LEDs (thus stopping the hyper flash), and that I want to use "Bambi" mode which allows the fogs to remain on when the high beams are on. Here's my "as built" with the two mods listed.

All is working perfectly, no codes or warnings noted. Can't wait to go for a ride tonight and "see" what a difference this makes!!

By the way, I do have the replacement LED bulbs for the license plate lights, but when I tried to pry off the lens, it didn't want to budge with the small screwdriver and light amount of force I was using. I'll try again sometime, perhaps with a different screwdriver ... I sure didn't want to break anything!!

Cheers!!

Ken

The plate lights pop out easy but the little tab is a locking tab...push it towards the bulb housing as you pry down.
Then go find the thread I started a few days ago showing how to flip the passenger side light so it actually shines on the plate. lol

Great instructions. Thank you. Looking for them on amazon now.


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So many of them. Do you have the part numbers from amazon?


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Here you go!! The backup light looks a bit weird, but seems to work perfectly!!


Cheers!!

Ken

FOLLOW UP: went for a ride late last evening and everything seemed to work perfectly!! Although the bulb for the backup lights looks a bit weird, in practice it's really nice light. I'd estimate at least twice as much light as the stock bulbs. The amber turn signal bulbs are also perfect (once the code is set via Forscan to eliminate the hyper-flash) and, if anything, are a bit too bright!! Which, considering the murky, rainy weather we have 300 days a year ... is not a bad thing!!

The only oddity I noticed was I had to move the light switch from AUTO to ON, then back to AUTO for the automatic headlamps to work properly. I suspect it may have something to do with changing the code for the fog lights/high beams to stay on together, perhaps it reset the module in some way. Once I did that manual change ... all worked perfectly!!

Happy Explorin'

Ken

Excellent. Thank you.


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Anybody replace the brake lights with red led's?

The brake lights are LED.

So only backup and turn signals arent?

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That is correct.

As well as the license plate lamps.

Got it, thanks.

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Any reason not to replace the turn signals with Red leds? I think it would look better.

In order for the turn signals to look right in red, I think they’d need to match the red brake lights. Might be tough to do since the brake light lenses are red.

I don't like the rear amber signal lights, and I've never had good luck with LED 'replacement' bulbs.

Instead, I just used Forscan to disable the rear amber signal lights altogether,
and then changed the brake light mode to combination brake/signal.

Now the LED brake lights do dual function as both the brake and signal lights.

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Can you post the forescan data for that?

It was all point and click, no modification needed in the As Built file.

I made the changes in the BdyCM Module Configuration menu, which is below the BdyCM (AS BUILT) Format menu.

Scroll down until you find the left and right rear turn signal items. Double click on them and select disable.

Find the left and right brake light items. Double click on them and change them from brake only to brake and turn signal.

Write the changes and test to make sure they're functioning.

If I just replace the reverse lights with LED, is there anything I have to do with Forescan? I've never used it and don't have the software or adapter at this time.

It looks like perhaps they changed the way the LEDs look? Don't look quite so odd.
https://www.amazon.com/Alla-Lightin...=alla+lighting+led+7440&qid=1622261985&sr=8-6

You shouldn't need to, the change I made with FORScan was specifically for the turn signals if I remember correctly. Don't worry too much about the design of the bulb, you can't really see them once they are installed.

If anything, it will pop up a "behind the scenes" code that you won't see anywhere on the dash, only on a computer program when it thinks the reverse lights are out. If a dealer saw it, they'd check the bulb and realize it's LED and just ignore it. It won't affect anything else.

If you're looking for other bulb choices, I bought mine from https://www.diodedynamics.com/. They have a lot of options for your desired brightness level.