LED lights

[Babyburr]

Anyone replace headlights, taillights, signal lights with LEDs ? If so, easy or PITA?
Thanks

 

[ColonelColt]

Never replaced headlights with LED type but the others should be no more difficult than replacing individual bulbs. Be advised…installing LED lights can sometimes play hell with a cruise control and/or turn signal flashing speed.

 

[Babyburr]

Never replaced headlights with LED type but the others should be no more difficult than replacing individual bulbs. Be advised…installing LED lights can sometimes play hell with a cruise control and/or turn signal flashing speed.

Thanks for your input. I had never heard about the issues with cruise control and flashing speed.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

The flasher problem would only be with replacing tail lights and parking lights. Others have posted about LED headlights here, never heard of the cruise control issue relating to that. Can you elaborate?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

My 2003 Cartier

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[ColonelColt]

I've seen certain cars...depending on the brand and design of cruise control...have issues with LED lights as the current flow is different than their design...don't know if that's the proper explanation. It may be related to aftermarket cruise control designs...don't know. Cars today don't really have a flasher circuit like they used to...it's all in the computer programming rather than a plug-in flasher. With an older car there could possibly be issues.

I do remember a car in a shop having all LED lights installed giving the techs fits with the cruise contro not workin properly. They ended up calling the cruise control maker for a fix...had something to do with current resistance. If I remember...it was the brake light circuit where the problem was with the LED lights.

 

[Action]

A LED light consumes less power than an incandescent light.

Older turn signal flashers use current flow to heat up a bi-metalic strip that opens the circuit and cools the reconnects the circuit. Which creates the flash on and off for turning. With lower current flow of a LED the bi-metalic does not heat up and the turn signal light just stays on.

Speed control systems use the brake light circuit to shut off. This is a safety measure as a driver you do not want to slow down by stepping on the brake pedal and the speed control is accelerating maintaining speed that was set. With that said, some systems shut down with the brake application. Other systems are more or less on pause, The system is not shut off. It is just paused. Reactivation can be done by pressing the accelerator button, It is this system that will not work well with LEDs. The speed control system may not pause.

LEDs for any exterior running lights or interior illumination should have no adverse impact on other systems.

Action

 

[N1ASS]

A LED light consumes less power than an incandescent light.

Older turn signal flashers use current flow to heat up a bi-metalic strip that opens the circuit and cools the reconnects the circuit. Which creates the flash on and off for turning. With lower current flow of a LED the bi-metalic does not heat up and the turn signal light just stays on.

Speed control systems use the brake light circuit to shut off. This is a safety measure as a driver you do not want to slow down by stepping on the brake pedal and the speed control is accelerating maintaining speed that was set. With that said, some systems shut down with the brake application. Other systems are more or less on pause, The system is not shut off. It is just paused. Reactivation can be done by pressing the accelerator button, It is this system that will not work well with LEDs. The speed control system may not pause.

LEDs for any exterior running lights or interior illumination should have no adverse impact on other systems.

Action

Very good input and answer Action.I have LED Hi+Low Headlights and Turn signals ,Brake lights Installed on all 4 of my Designers for over 2 years now with no affects on cruise control or any other system .For Turn signal,Brake lights it's a little more involved to do the conversion,had to go in the LCM on printed circuit board and modded to a electronic relay to eliminate Hyper Flash.

 

[PantherX3]

I just did this conversion on my 07 Town Car. They look great with no effect on vehicle systems. My only concern is the front turn signal load balancer sliding into the opening with the headlight assembly. The assembly slides in normally with no binding but the load balancer becomes invisible. I'd like to position it metal on metal, vs any plastic contact. OTOH, that may not be much of an issue since the load balancer doesn't heat up unless the turn signals are operating, a few seconds at best. Thoughts on this?

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[Babyburr]

Guess I’ll just forget it. Don’t need any hassles in my old age

 

[Action]

LOL
Effort = hassle
Just depends on if the end result is worth the effort/hassle.
Which is a value judgement.

Getting out of bed in the morning can be called a hassle. Most of us believe the end result is worth that hassle.

Action

 

[PantherX3]

LED Conversion
After studying this for a while, I just did the external conversion. Most lights were plug and play except for installing a total of 6 Sylvania LED load balancers on the front and rear turn signals. I did have to drill small holes in the trunk close to the rear light assemblies. This was to mount 4 load balancers onto bare metal away from plastic and fabric. With continuous operation, they can reach over 300 degrees F. I sealed the holes with paint as I installed the rear ones with small gauge sheet metal screws.

I didn't use the quick clips that came with the load balancers, I soldered them to the turn signal and brake light wires. Also had to cut down the plastic bulb retainers on the low beams to get the LED bulbs (equipped with fans) to fit. Because the front turn signal load balancers hang over the outside of the lighting assembly dust cover, I was concerned they might come in contact with plastic. I don't think that is the case because the assemblies slide into the fender opening as usual. I may pull it out just to make sure there is no problem. Overall, I'm satisfied with my installation, how they look and how they work. I think my effort was worth it. Regarding longevity, we'll see over time.

 

[TexinaTC]

I just did LED headlights but had to (lightly) modify the locking ring on either the high beam or low beam (sorry, can't remember which). I used the Philips Ultinon LEDs and they look/work fantastic, just what I was going for.

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[Babyburr]

I just did LED headlights but had to (lightly) modify the locking ring on either the high beam or low beam (sorry, can't remember which). I used the Philips Ultinon LEDs and they look/work fantastic, just what I was going for.

Ok, ok. I will try and get the LED lights installed. With duct tape and vasoline I can geterdunn!

 

[Babyburr]

LOL
Effort = hassle
Just depends on if the end result is worth the effort/hassle.
Which is a value judgement.

Getting out of bed in the morning can be called a hassle. Most of us believe the end result is worth that hassle.

Action

Well, ya talked me into the hassle of installing LED headlights. I have been researching and watching installation videos and I see the small modification that needs to be done on the high beam side.

 

[TexinaTC]

Well, ya talked me into the hassle of installing LED headlights. I have been researching and watching installation videos and I see the small modification that needs to be done on the high beam side.

Good luck, they're totally worth it.

 

[rifleman56]

I replaced th3e back up light with LED. I couldn't see a thing with the factory lights. I have no issues with LEDS.

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[Babyburr]

I replaced th3e back up light with LED. I couldn't see a thing with the factory lights. I have no issues with LEDS.

Outstanding! I’m in the process of going LED in my bulbs