Low Beam Headlight Bulb Recommendation

[boozaro]

Good morning. I've done some research on LED bulbs for my car, and I'm still at a loss.

2004 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 5.4
Levelling kit on the front

I am looking to replace the old Sylvania bulbs with a brighter LED bulb. I live rurally and need the additional light. I’ve ordered a few 9006 LEDs off of Amazon, but the bases (flange pattern) are never the same as the Sylvania bulbs. So, when I installed them, the diodes never faced 3 and 9 o’clock. I have removed them, turned the flange of the base and tried the next possible configuration. Same results. If memory serves, which is rarely the case, I don't believe the OEM bulbs could be installed in more than one base orientation.

I know I’ll probably have to adjust the angle of the light (don't want to blind oncoming) once I find something that works, but as it is right now, the beams are coming out all cattywampus. It’s like they’ve been screwing around corners.

First question - should I be looking for 3 & 9 for the diodes when the bulbs are set?

Second question - What bulb, if any, has anyone used successfully?

I appreciate any insights you all can provide.

-B

 

[Hamfisted]

The beam pattern with any LED bulb is gonna suck in a reflector style headlight assembly not designed for them, and just blind oncoming traffic. The HID bulbs have a better acceptable beam and actually a better throw than any LED can do. Just get a color temperature near 4000 to replicate the original halogen light color.







.

 

[boozaro]

Dammit, Hamfisted! That's not what I wanted to hear. Okay, back to the drawing board then. Time to research HID bulbs.

I haven't really looked at them thus far, but won't I need new light housings with HIDs? It looks like those have some centering lens or *****-magic thing in the middle. I'm not sure I want to throw hundreds of dollars at the beast. It's like Gam-Gam gettin' bolt-ons. You're 90, Grandma. There's only one guy who's gonna see you naked now. The mortician. What's the point?

Okay, I've gotten off topic.

Thanks again for your response, Hamfisted!

 

[whtbronco]

If you live in a rural area maybe just consider some off road lights and wire them independently with the switch mounted in a convenient location. I had KC Daylighters on my 94 Ranger for when I was driving in rural areas or off-road. They turned night into day literally.

You can get some brighter bulbs for your headlights too, but they likely won't last as long. The combination of 30-100% brighter halogen bulbs with some off road lights might do the trick for you though.

Something like these Philips from RockAuto:

More Information for PHILIPS 9006CVP

The Hella bulbs are available at supposedly 100% brighter, but they only last 1-2yrs.

Any of these brighter lights may not last a long time though. They are fairly low cost and rather easy to swap on the Expedition.

 

[boozaro]

I've been thinking about maybe a bull bar. Lights on there would work. Great idea, whtbronco. Thanks!

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Well, having "been there, done this" successfully on 3 different 3rd gen Expy's, I will say that:

1) I'm forever done with Halogen/HID bulbs, anywhere, everywhere, on all my vehicles, mainly due to the extra brightness but also longevity too !

2) I bought my LED bulbs from da Zon (H11/9/8) and they were literally an exact fit replacement for the factory Halogens.

I don't know if these are the correct ones for your Expy though, so you should enter your vehicle info first, then search for "LED Headlight bulbs" to be sure you get the right ones...

3) You have to be mindful of the diode's orientation when inserting them into the assembly. It took me 2-3 times to get them aligned horizontally, which is the only way I could get them to output a properly focused beam that shines DOWN the road instead of out to each side....and also adjust the aim if need be to get them aligned properly...

Note that in 2 of these cases, I also replaced the actual Headlight assemblies too, since the original ones were faded, dinged up and/or yellowed, but that just made the installation of the bulbs easier, since the assemblies were on my workbench instead of sitting on the bumper

see the attached pics of the latest ones I put into my Expy, as part of my ongoing "chrome-delete" project...

 

[boozaro]

Thanks, FordFan!

I appreciate all the info. I've ordered a pair of Sealight LEDs from Amazon. Hopefully, the bases will fit right. The horizontal diodes are the trick. With the last bulbs, they wouldn't sit horizontally. The best I could get was diagonal.

Thanks again for the detailed response and images!

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Yep, mine were Sealights too, so good luck & please post back with the results

 

[Tomorrow]

Good morning. I've done some research on LED bulbs for my car, and I'm still at a loss.

2004 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 5.4
Levelling kit on the front

I am looking to replace the old Sylvania bulbs with a brighter LED bulb. I live rurally and need the additional light. I’ve ordered a few 9006 LEDs off of Amazon, but the bases (flange pattern) are never the same as the Sylvania bulbs. So, when I installed them, the diodes never faced 3 and 9 o’clock. I have removed them, turned the flange of the base and tried the next possible configuration. Same results. If memory serves, which is rarely the case, I don't believe the OEM bulbs could be installed in more than one base orientation.

I know I’ll probably have to adjust the angle of the light (don't want to blind oncoming) once I find something that works, but as it is right now, the beams are coming out all cattywampus. It’s like they’ve been screwing around corners.

First question - should I be looking for 3 & 9 for the diodes when the bulbs are set?

Second question - What bulb, if any, has anyone used successfully?

I appreciate any insights you all can provide.

-B

I have a 2020 Expy and have been playing havoc getting light on the road with my low beams. Went through several different halogens and nothing. Replaced all headlights with LED. Still nothing. Now you are going to think that I am much of a man, but at this point I went to the Ford dealership. For $50, they determined that whoever had the Expy before me used bulbs that were too hot and frosted the inside of the lenses from the heat. Of course Ford want over $1000 per headlight assembly and $500 to put them in. Bought some off of eBay for $638 and put them in myself (pain in the a$$). Bumper cover and grill had to come off. But problem finally solved after a year. Bottom line, watch you bulb heat.

 

[boozaro]

Thanks, Tomorrow. I went ahead and replaced both housings because the lenses were toast. They were 23 years old. It was long overdue. However, a lot of LED bulbs I see on Amazon say, "Not compatible with aftermarket housings."

So this should be fun. I need an LED that has a diode post that's adjustable - something with a set screw that can be loosened to allow for rotation. I did find some Sealight bulbs that installed pretty darn close to 3 and 9 o'clock, but that put the connector facing toward the top of the housing. In this postion, there's not enough room to plug in the connector.

It's friggin headlights. It should be this difficult. LOL I'm just going to duct tape really good flashlights in there, and anytime my wife needs headlights, she'll just have to stop the car, get out and click them on.

Thanks again for the post!

 

[Broncoholic]

Thanks, FordFan!

I appreciate all the info. I've ordered a pair of Sealight LEDs from Amazon. Hopefully, the bases will fit right. The horizontal diodes are the trick. With the last bulbs, they wouldn't sit horizontally. The best I could get was diagonal.

Thanks again for the detailed response and images!

I've been using Sealights in my 03 for a couple years now - low beam, high beam and fogs. The low beams aren't perfectly oriented to 3 and 9, closer to 2 and 8 probably. It's a big improvement and I don't get people flashing at me because they're blinded.

 

[Texasroadlawyer]

before you give up, try reaching out to these guys

Diode Dynamics Automotive LED Lighting - Off Road, Bulbs, Headlights, and more

Automotive LED lighting for cars and trucks including Elite Series Headlights, Stage Series Off Road Pod Lights, Rock Lights, HitchMounts, Vehicle Kits and More!

www.diodedynamics.com

 

[boozaro]

This is plan B.

 

[boozaro]

before you give up, try reaching out to these guys

Diode Dynamics Automotive LED Lighting - Off Road, Bulbs, Headlights, and more

Automotive LED lighting for cars and trucks including Elite Series Headlights, Stage Series Off Road Pod Lights, Rock Lights, HitchMounts, Vehicle Kits and More!

www.diodedynamics.com

Thanks for the link. I'm going to contact them if this last set I ordered doesn't work out. That'll teach me to go aftermarket next time on the light housings. I just wanted to get rid of those darn yellow/cloudy lenses. Live and learn.

 

[boozaro]

I've been using Sealights in my 03 for a couple years now - low beam, high beam and fogs. The low beams aren't perfectly oriented to 3 and 9, closer to 2 and 8 probably. It's a big improvement and I don't get people flashing at me because they're blinded.

That's good to know. I did get the same result - 2 and 8-ish. But on the other side, I get the same, so both bulbs are casting at the same angle - versus one going 2 and 8...the other going 4 and 10.

Did you go 9006 for low and 9005 for high beam?

I've got one more set of bulbs on the way. I've gotta say...I've become a master at pulling the housing out.

 

[Broncoholic]

That's good to know. I did get the same result - 2 and 8-ish. But on the other side, I get the same, so both bulbs are casting at the same angle - versus one going 2 and 8...the other going 4 and 10.

Did you go 9006 for low and 9005 for high beam?

I've got one more set of bulbs on the way. I've gotta say...I've become a master at pulling the housing out.

Correct - 2 and 8 clocking on both sides.
Correct - 9006 and 9005 set.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Yep, those look real close to the ones I have in right now, although I'm not sure they are the exact same ones, but anyways, good to hear that most folks are making some progress