There are several benefits to replacing your car’s halogen light bulbs with LED bulbs. For starters, LED bulbs are longer-lasting and more efficient, burning brighter than most factory light bulbs while emitting less heat. Plus, swapping out your existing halogens with LEDs can instantly upgrade your car. The cleaner and whiter light emitted by LEDs is considered by many to be more modern and driver-friendly than the yellow-ish tint from halogen bulbs.
Surveying the Scene
If you’re considering changing your car’s existing lights to LED versions, the first thing you’ll need to do is survey the interior and exterior lighting throughout the vehicle to find out what type of bulbs are currently installed. Typically, factory bulbs either feature a wedge at the end that pushes into a socket (known as a T10 bulb) or a longer style with connectors on either end. You can determine the bulb type by going online and searching a parts database, checking your vehicle owner’s manual, or simply removing the existing bulbs and taking a look yourself.
After pinpointing your existing bulbs, consider taking a picture of them so you know each bulb’s size and shape, as well as any space considerations in the housing. While LEDs have many advantages over halogens, they are oftentimes shaped differently. Before purchasing new LEDs you’ll want to be sure that they’ll fit in the space allowed.
Removing Existing Bulbs
Interior lighting such as dome lights and vanity mirror lights are easy to remove—just pull off the plastic covers and pull the bulb out. (But be sure to turn the lights off before doing so or risk getting burned.)
Rear license plate lights and brake lights, as well as front parking lights and headlights, can be trickier to locate, so have your owner’s manual handy to know exactly where their access points are.
Also, consider that some vehicle warranties are voided by any unapproved modifications, so review your warranty before performing any lighting replacements.
Installing Interior LED Bulbs
Once you know the type of bulbs needed throughout your car, you can swap out most of them by simply taking out the halogens and replacing them with your new LEDs. Keep in mind that the electrical current in LEDs only flows in one direction, so if they don’t work right away it likely means you need to reinsert them again the opposite way so the polarity is lined up correctly.
When working with LEDs, be sure not to touch the bulb with your bare hands as the oil from your skin can weaken its ability to project light. (Consider holding LEDs with a rag or wearing cloth gloves.)
Fixing Hyper Flashing on Signal and Hazard Lights
Other areas of the car require special attention when installing LED bulbs. For example, because LEDs draw less power than factory halogen lights, they can cause the rapid “hyper flashing” of blinking turn signals and hazard lights. Basically, the replacement LEDs pull so little power that the vehicle’s sensors wrongfully assume the bulbs have burned out.
Luckily, this can be easily remedied by purchasing specific LEDs that already have the necessary resistance built in (the bulb’s packaging should be labeled accordingly) or by installing an LED flasher module that either plugs directly into the factory position or can be wired into the relay socket.
Another option is purchasing a separate resistor unit that slows the flashing back to normal speed. It does this by adding resistance to the circuit, which tricks the vehicle’s system into thinking there is a halogen in the socket.
Using an LED Conversion Kit for Headlights
While the light from LED bulbs is indeed brighter than halogens, it cuts through the dark differently. In some cases, the light emitted doesn’t travel as far. According to some experts, these factors make LED headlights a potential risk in some driving situations. Check with your local Department of Transportation office to find out if there are specific requirements regarding LED headlights.
If your LED replacement headlights are deemed safe, you’re going to need a conversion kit so the LEDs fit into the standard housing. The kit contains two LED bulbs, two corresponding ballasts, and the necessary wiring. Here’s how to install it.
While the car’s engine is turned off and the parking brake is on, pop the hood and find the headlight bulbs. Unplug the plastic wiring and connector and remove the factory bulb. You may need to remove a metal clip before removing the bulb by turning it counter-clockwise. It’s a good idea to keep this old bulb handy in case you need an emergency replacement.
Next install the LED bulb into the socket, turning it clockwise. Then, connect the LED ballast wiring—one end to the new bulb and the other to the original wiring harness. Once you’ve installed the LED bulbs, check the position of the light compared with your old halogens. Because LEDs are brighter, you may need to adjust the alignment of the fixture so it doesn’t project light directly into the eyes of oncoming motorists. Once you know the LEDs are safe to operate, secure the ballasts to the housing.
Color Choice
When choosing LED bulbs for your car, you’ll get the best light output if you match the color of the bulb to the lens color. For example, if you have red covers you should use red LEDs, so the lens will not block any of the light that’s emitted. (Alternatively, if you used a white bulb inside a red cover, only the red portion of the bulb’s light spectrum would make it past the filter, resulting in weaker light.)
If the cover is clear, use the color bulb for the task at hand, meaning red bulbs for turning and brake signals.
While you need to do your research to determine what bulbs in your vehicle are both safe and legal to switch over to LEDs, there’s little doubt that their lower energy pull and brighter light serves as an easy and effective upgrade for many automotive functions.
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.