Changing to led's

[mikegigabyte]

Ive done my license plate light to led and looks great, so I want to do my dome lights, and the light in my mirrors that shine on the ground when I open the doors. Now those I cant figure out how to take apart, actually I cant figure out the dome light either.

But what I want to know is what size watts are my domes, they look to be a tube
also any part number for my outside mirror lights, I can cross reference to led if I have a number.

Im looking at something like this for the dome lights, just need to figure out which type

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-5-36mm-6413-6...304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa308fd88

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dome-8-LED-Car-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4aa219cbf9

http://cgi.ebay.com/41mm-White-5050...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item335e07127a


these are examples there are many to choose from, just need a idea on the size and wattage for the domes. Im also going to try to take them apart again

 

[mikegigabyte]

Well I figured how to take the domes apart, the front dome, map lights and rear dome are all same size, but all have different part numbers

0713 578b map lightsx2
0783 578c front dome
30877 578 rear dome

Its raining out but I still couldnt figure out my mirror lights, there is a tab but it seemed to crack a little so I stopped, but im guessing they drop out somehow.

Anyways the domes I need to oreder from china, but im betting the mirrors use the same types as the license so I can get those from the US

 

[mikegigabyte]

Looks like I can get the domes in the usa too.


Rigid Loop Festoon bulb with SMD LEDs this is the only lamp that goes with the 578 number and since all the domes used the same size im guessing these work.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...on=DispPage&Page2Disp=/festoon.html#rigidloop


This is where I bought my license plate lamps from they are super white
and im guessing the same lamps will work in my mirrors, I just need to search around for a part number I guess

 

[mikegigabyte]

This says 41mm festoon but they measure the points where in reality that doesnt matter, I measured mine with calipers and they were about 39mm.
Here is where I got them from http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160437906631&viewitem=



bad news on the mirror lights, I figured how they come out, like a hinge. but the lamp is sealed in them. its very tiny like an inch long and the size of the old glass fuses, I will take a trip to an auto store to figure out the size. Since they are sealed I guess you must pop off the clear lens to access somehow without breaking it. Not sure if im going to even attempt it, im guessing you would have to buy the whole unit to replace the bulbs. Sucks as those were the ones I really wanted to change to led's

if I can find the led's I will still get them, and maybe attempt it one day, im wondering if a heat gun could melt the glue and have the lens pop off

 

[PaisanNYC]

I am really interested in this also! Please keep us posted

 

[GAINMOB]

go to sylvania.com ....choose[/url] automobile and put in make, yr, vehicle and it will bring up every light bulb for your vehicle with part numbers...take the part numbers and shop on ebay and LED's will pop up...i've searched on ebay a couple of months ago and ran across a company that will sell you every bulb needed for every source for $55...and they have them in different colors...

 

[mikegigabyte]

go to sylvania.com ....choose[/url] automobile and put in make, yr, vehicle and it will bring up every light bulb for your vehicle with part numbers...take the part numbers and shop on ebay and LED's will pop up...i've searched on ebay a couple of months ago and ran across a company that will sell you every bulb needed for every source for $55...and they have them in different colors...

I found that site but doesnt list my mirror lights, but I went to an auto store and found the size I think they are without taking mine apart, part number de3021 so im going to look up that on ebay. I saw this same one at pep boys but its a measly 2 led and very tiny. Im willing to bet they wont put out any light. Its the normal size small leds you have probably seen everywhere, not those super tiny ones like on e bay. And at $8 each too pricey to try. Im sure I can find those on e bay.

Here were the ones I got for my license plate bulbs, very white very bright, almost too bright at night. Bad thing is though they sort of shoot straight down, the ones I picked have led's that shoot out 90 degrees and some that shoot straight down but they just dont radiate enough light. They look fine but not as much sideways output like the stock ones. choose wledx5 http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/mini-wedge.html

one day I will get a pic, they do look good



Ive used these led's in my instrument gauges on my scooter, they work great for that application

 

[mikegigabyte]

found an overseas site for my mirror lights, free shipping

http://stores.ebay.com/superb-lights/_i.html?_nkw=3021&_sid=898719061&_sop=2&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14

going to look up usa store too

 

[mikegigabyte]

So I got all orders in, from overseas so probably a few weeks until they show but at a fraction of the cost so I can wait. Hopefully I can get the mirror lights taken apart without ruining them, and I hope I ordered the correct bulbs too. If anyone has experience in working on those let me know, im either going to use a blade to separate the lens, or heat. Not sure yet.

So maybe one day I will post up night pics of everything illuminated.
I did change my headlights with a brand from pep boys, it has blue glass with a chrome tip and puts out white light, not like hid like I was hoping but better then the yellow it used to be. They also leave a weird blue ghost image during the day from the glass reflecting all over. They claim to be DOT approved on the box too, my highbeams are the same but not dot approved. Even got the blue glass for my off road lights, but they still put out the yellowish color like the old ones did, but for $4 each I guess I cant expect the white look. The headlight and high beams were like $40 a set.

 

[GAINMOB]

ddmtuning.com has excellent HIDs for $40 per set...a lot of people on here have bought their HIDs from them and havent had any problems...a few people say you can find good ones on ebay as well for $40...i'm buying from ddmtuning personally because of the word of mouth reputation from this site

 

[mikegigabyte]

ive never researched hid's because ive read most of those type that just slap in your lens doesnt really focus the beam at all, and those are all those idiots that I see at night blinding everyone. Is this correct if I install those will the beam be scattered or will it look decent. Plus I like the white look, all I see are blueish or purple hid's that look awful.

I will check out that site, only set I ever looked for once was like $175 on e bay but they had alot of colors temps to choose from

 

[ELVATO]

All my dome lights, as well as my mirror puddle lights and plate lights are LED.

For my rear one that lights up the 3 row area, I used a panel (with a festoon adaptor) that my friend had laying around. I used to have a festoon type bulb, but the panel was brighter. I forget the size.

The 2nd row lights are also festoon, IIRC.

The map lights in the first row are the 194 base. You pull down the whole overhead console, pull out the twist in base, and change them. You have to make sure the bulb you get is side firing (forward firing is optional) since the bulb points into a reflector of sorts. Not sure why Ford did it this way, considering that these 2 lights are the only illumination for the front.

The one for the puddle light in the mirror is a 194 bulb. Pull the mirror out, and the bulb connector will be visible. Twist off, being careful to keep the bulb on there why pulling it out. If the bulb falls in, you'll have to take the bottom part out. I ended up using the 1W plate light bulb I had, and put my 6 LED 194 back in the plate area. It was pretty much the only place those lights would fit. I worked out pretty well, since the 1W is forward firing only, and the mirror bulb points straight down.

Here's some pix.



The mirror lights aren't as bright as they should be because I sprayed the light cover with Nite Shades to match with the black plastic. Even so, the 1W LED punches enough light through to make it noticeable that you have an LED. Also, the bright light you seen in the back in the panel.



As you can see in this pic, the lights are decently bright, but they don't illuminate all the front area. I've been meaning to get footwell lighting to better light up the interior.



Rear area lit up. I'm not sure if this was with the panel or the festoon I originally had.

It really does kind of suck to see how underlit these SUVs are. Considering the size of them, you'd figure they'd put in more than 5 interior bulbs. All my friends with European cars have lights everywhere. Everything is nice and evenly lit up, especially when they convert to LED.

------------------------------

As for the HID question, as long as you aim them down, the glare isn't all that bad.





Just make sure you get 4300k bulbs for an OEM colored look. Plus, 4300k has the most output. 5000k will lose some lumens, but would be better if you want a cleaner, white light.

Be aware that different suppliers will have slightly different colors for the same color temp. Yesterday, a friend of mine pulls up with his 5000k bulbs, but they looked like 6000k by how blue they were. My 4300k Retro Solutions bulbs were white, with a splash of purple fill color. They didn't put out purple light at all, but it wasn't a 4300k output either. Not sure how to explain it.

 

[mikegigabyte]

I think my puddle lights are different then yours.. I can take them out from outside below the mirror just a clip but they are sealed in a half round housing with 2 prongs that stick out for wires to plug in. No easy way to access the bulb

They look just like this about 1 inch long
http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/enkmall/SL-31-4W-1.jpg

Also all my domes and map lights are the same and I dont have an overhead console

I still am not 100% sure about the puddle lights as I was looking though a frosted lens but I think I got the right ones, reminds me of the small glass fuses years ago

 

[mikegigabyte]

is this the correct page, im guessing the 55w and I think the main lights were 9006 socket type 9005 were high beams. http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W

do I need any of these HID Harness
Error Eliminator
Adaptor cables

 

[mikegigabyte]

Hey thanks for the hid tip. Had no idea they were local, only about 20 min away so I got free store pickup. Im guessing I needed no adapters looking at the pics so I ordered a set.

if it works out a know a few people that can use these and being they are local its nice to save money and pick them up, and at such a great price

I got the 55w 4500k
going to leave high beams as is right now since I rarely use them

 

[ELVATO]

Yours isn't like this?



You pull off the mirror, and have access to the puddle light (connector on right with white rubber ring) and the turn signal (if I had one). On the left side is a squeeze clip, that is used to take off the bottom portion. To full take it off, though, you need to take also take out a torx screw that is visible when the mirror is half folded in.

No error eliminators (we don't have bulb out warnings) are needed. Relay harnesses are not needed, but you might need to get one if you start having trouble...

 

[mikegigabyte]

your alot braver then me to take out the mirror, I had no idea it came off.
too hard to see your pic, but my wiring connection is 2 separate spade jacks sticking out of a plastic thing, and 2 loose wires with spade connectors. I know I did not have a white rubber ring. I was able to drop out of bottom of light with a dental pick.
maybe tomorrow I will pop out and take a pic. Maybe the size of a half dollar coin

if it matters mine is a 03, but the stereo wiring harness is an 04 for some reason, I found that out the hard way

read the harness info , glad I chose the correct thing

 

[jmciver]

You might want to consider changing the wattage to 35w vice 55w. You are right about your stock headlights not being designed for HIDs. HIDs in your stock headlights will scatter more than non-HIDs due to the increased brightness of HIDs, and lead to potentially "blinding" oncoming traffic as you mentioned (and I have seen). This is why OEM HID lights are installed in projector housings.

Aiming them down will help with the blinding effect. But using 35w instead of 55w will also help since 55w is a lot brighter than 35w and since you are putting them into non-HID headlights, the extra brightness really is not needed IMO (the 35w HIDs are still significantly brighter than stock). That is why I went with the 35w HIDs when I upgraded my headlights to HID.

I also agree with Elvato about color as well. I ended up going with 6000k since I wanted a slightly blue look. But again, they are still significantly brighter than the stock bulbs so the overall light output is better than what it was when stock. Also, for my HID upgrade, I did notice some more scatter, but it does not seem that bad compared to some other HIDs in non-HID headlights that I have seen.

 

[mikegigabyte]

well I already got the 55w. I will aim them correctly and not be a dick like some people, im sure they arent even aware how annoying they are. I will put a mark on the garage how it is now, and try to stay under that mark after I installed them and then do a few tests. I have a hard time seeing at night thats why I use extra lights but if these are bright enough I wont have to use the extra lights.

hopefully the heat wont be an issue

 

[ELVATO]

Yea, mine is an 03 as well, which is why I was confused when you said your puddle light was a festoon type?

The mirror is made to be pulled out. If you feel behind your mirror, on the outer edge, there is a handle to pull on the mirror. Makes it very easy Then you just snap it back in place.

Here's the picture, but highlighted

Red - dangling green and black wires that end in female spade connectors, used for the heated mirrors
Green - 194 connector, twists off, puddle lamp connector
Blue - spot where I suppose the turning signal would go if I had the orange bottom (like the EBs)
Orange - clip used for releasing the bottom part (will also need to release a torx screw by the pivot point, visible from underneath when folding mirror in)

I only have one set of spade connectors, which are plugged into the back of the mirror, for the heated mirror which, for the longest time, I didn't know I had since my mirrors don't have the heated logo on them.

EDIT: Here's the picture