Led changeover
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 70
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From: Chicago
Led changeover
was wondering if anyone would know if changing over to led lamps would cause any problems for me. Have a '99 E-150 cargo and would like to install LED tail lamps, reverse lamps and front turn lamps. possibly led headlamps also. I remember on older vehicles the flashers relied on enough current to operate them and led's would not work.
Thanks
Thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
I put all LED signal/running lights in my '88 e250. All it required was changing the flasher to an LED compatible one. I have heard of it causing issues with torque converter lock up with certian years of e4od's since it sees the LED as being a burned out brake bulb. Not sure if that affects yours or not.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
I accidentally converted the truckvan to LED reversing lights because I found someone had installed the wrong bulbs (1157 stuffed into a 1156 socket), but did not have 1156 non-LED units. The LED units are 5W emitters - I call them "buttheadlights" because they actually are extremely bright. It also has LED stoplights in the 1157 size.
I also intend to, but have not yet, replace all running lights (currently the small T10 style wedge bulbs) with equivalent LEDs.
I have not seen any LED headlight product aside from the GE LED Nighthawk like ($$$$$) which actually work - a few friends tried Amazon Specials and Chinese-made tuner parts. All horrifyingly spread-out and impossible to aim.
I also intend to, but have not yet, replace all running lights (currently the small T10 style wedge bulbs) with equivalent LEDs.
I have not seen any LED headlight product aside from the GE LED Nighthawk like ($$$$$) which actually work - a few friends tried Amazon Specials and Chinese-made tuner parts. All horrifyingly spread-out and impossible to aim.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 7
From: NE Tennessee
User Redoval sells an LED headlamp for the vans I believe. Nice looking set and a few guys have them on here. Check his posts for info or send him a message. They aren't cheap but its a whole headlamp set and they look real sweet.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 3
From: Germany
On my '98 I replaced all outside lighting with LED's, including TruckLite LED headlights. Only thing I had to do was changing the flasher to a LED compatible one. No problems with tranny or anything else.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 162
Likes: 5
From: Bremen, Germany
Is your flasher frequency ok? I was wondering if it would cause problems with my trailer module if I changed the Bulbs to LED.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
Any Problems with the TÜV? I run the older yellow turn signal-style taillights in the back with the original Bulbs, but the TÜV made me always keep spare bulbs in the vehicle as the US bulbs are not readily available ... so LEDs would be great I guess.
Is your flasher frequency ok? I was wondering if it would cause problems with my trailer module if I changed the Bulbs to LED.
Is your flasher frequency ok? I was wondering if it would cause problems with my trailer module if I changed the Bulbs to LED.
I didnt have any trailer issues with mine, but its not a TT. Just a utility trailer.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 3
From: Germany
TÜV is happy around here, they even encourage people to use LEDs when converting from to Euro-spec. Our TÜV here does a lot of US vehicle homologation and know their ****. It also helps to have a very lax homologation on my van, which was done by some Ford dealer in Baden-Wuerttemberg when the van came from Italy (ex-US Navy). For lighting my car papers say "Beleuchtung in-etwa Wirkung nachgewiesen", that means that everything but the headlines just have to have the right color 
Headlights have to be E-code, but the TruckLite LED headlights I run are, so no prolem there. The LED flasher is a direct plug in fit and trailer lights are not affected.
I run switchback LED front and rear:
Headlights have to be E-code, but the TruckLite LED headlights I run are, so no prolem there. The LED flasher is a direct plug in fit and trailer lights are not affected.I run switchback LED front and rear:
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 160
Likes: 3
From: Germany
I usually buy at VLEDS or https://www.superbrightleds.com/
Just use the same # as for non LED bulbs, i.e 3057 etc
Just use the same # as for non LED bulbs, i.e 3057 etc
FTE Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 200
From: springfield Missouri area
I think I am going to try these headlights when I get to that point in my truck build.
https://www.hidkitlights.com/ford-hi...Fc61wAodykQGxA
https://www.hidkitlights.com/ford-hi...Fc61wAodykQGxA
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,040
Likes: 137
From: Maryville
was wondering if anyone would know if changing over to led lamps would cause any problems for me. Have a '99 E-150 cargo and would like to install LED tail lamps, reverse lamps and front turn lamps. possibly led headlamps also. I remember on older vehicles the flashers relied on enough current to operate them and led's would not work.
Thanks
Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,040
Likes: 137
From: Maryville
I think I am going to try these headlights when I get to that point in my truck build.
https://www.hidkitlights.com/ford-hi...Fc61wAodykQGxA
https://www.hidkitlights.com/ford-hi...Fc61wAodykQGxA
