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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 10:03 AM
  #1  
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led bulbs

I have a 2003 f 250 7.3 crew cab and I would like to put led's in the front and rear lights. Can I change the bulbs or do I need to replace the whole units?
 
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 12:09 PM
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They make LED bulb replacements, but most of them aren't perfect. You'll get some that don't project light well because the placement of the emitters aren't the same as the filament of the bulbs. You'll get some that flicker and require kits to stop this. Tail lights won't matter as much, but you really don't have a reason to replace just the bulb in the tail light with LEDs. You won't know it's an LED and it'll cost more than a regular bulb.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 12:49 PM
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I put these in my truck, and am very happy with them! VERY bright and way better than halogen. They are plug and play. Remember when installing them that if they don't "light" remove the plug and turn it around 180°.


BEAMTECH 9006 LED Headlight Bulb, 50W 6500K 8000Lumens Extremely Brigh HB4 CSP Chips Conversion Kit
Amazon Amazon
 
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Old Nov 7, 2019 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by bobkonaben
I have a 2003 f 250 7.3 crew cab and I would like to put led's in the front and rear lights. Can I change the bulbs or do I need to replace the whole units?
i put led bulbs in the headlights and reverse lights of my 2006 F350. plug and play; just bulbs. Significant improvement over the halogens.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 05:28 AM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by johnfist
but you really don't have a reason to replace just the bulb in the tail light with LEDs. You won't know it's an LED and it'll cost more than a regular bulb.
I almost got into an accident once when I went to make a lane change and didn't realize my turn signal bulb on that side was burned out. I'm considering replacing just the rear bulbs with LEDs because they supposedly have a much longer lifespan. I'm hoping that by leaving the regular bulbs in front, there will be enough resistance on the circuit that I won't run into the dreaded hyperflashing.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 06:19 AM
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"Hyper-flashing" is not a "dreaded" problem. Annoying, perhaps, but easily addressed by installing a replacement EP27 flasher unit.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 08:43 AM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by johnfist
They make LED bulb replacements, but most of them aren't perfect. You'll get some that don't project light well because the placement of the emitters aren't the same as the filament of the bulbs. You'll get some that flicker and require kits to stop this. Tail lights won't matter as much, but you really don't have a reason to replace just the bulb in the tail light with LEDs. You won't know it's an LED and it'll cost more than a regular bulb.
In Theory the LED bulbs light faster than incandescent. This give the vehicle behind you more time to stop in an emergency situation. They also catch your eye quicker do to their on/off nature instead of the build up / cool down flashing of a regular bulb.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 08:58 AM
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A couple things to keep in mind, LED’s will not produce heat like an incandescent bulb does, so if you deal with a lot of snow you may want to reconsider. I put LEDs in the front of my truck. I replaced the tail lights on my 7.3L but used 2008 housing, with incandescent bulbs for brake lights, but I used LEDs for back up lights. If I got caught in snow I wanted my brake lights to definitely work and keep the snow melted off of them, so I used incandescent bulbs for the brake lights.

‘Here’s my thread for installation of TRUCK-LITE LED’s....https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tes-led-s.html




Bulbs for backup lights.


 
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Old Nov 8, 2019 | 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by bobkonaben
I have a 2003 f 250 7.3 crew cab and I would like to put led's in the front and rear lights. Can I change the bulbs or do I need to replace the whole units?
You can do just the LED bulb units, and they are cheaper than the better quality halogen bulb units. I installed the newer 05 headlight units in my F350 truck and left the 03 clear style headlight units in the Excursion about a year ago and it made a huge difference in both trucks. You want to get the LED bulb units that mimic the halogen bulbs wire, meaning a thin element with LED's on both sides.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2019 | 04:05 AM
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Originally Posted by projectSHO89
"Hyper-flashing" is not a "dreaded" problem. Annoying, perhaps, but easily addressed by installing a replacement EP27 flasher unit.
I was under the impression that there was no separate flasher on these Super Duty's, that it was controlled by the computer. I have a 2012 F250. Where would I look for the flasher?
 
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Old Nov 9, 2019 | 05:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Optimistic Paranoid
I was under the impression that there was no separate flasher on these Super Duty's, that it was controlled by the computer. I have a 2012 F250. Where would I look for the flasher?
The OP has a previous generation vehicle than yours and you did not identify your model year in your post. His has a flasher, yours does not.

You have to be cognizant of the production year of the vehicle under discussion, especially when yours is almost a decade newer.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2019 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Colorado350
A couple things to keep in mind, LED’s will not produce heat like an incandescent bulb does, so if you deal with a lot of snow you may want to reconsider. I put LEDs in the front of my truck. I replaced the tail lights on my 7.3L but used 2008 housing, with incandescent bulbs for brake lights, but I used LEDs for back up lights. If I got caught in snow I wanted my brake lights to definitely work and keep the snow melted off of them, so I used incandescent bulbs for the brake lights.

‘Here’s my thread for installation of TRUCK-LITE LED’s....https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tes-led-s.html

I see your in Colorado. when I'm driving through unplowed snow here, my tail light housings still get completely covered with snow regardless of my OEM bulbs. IMHO, I don't think they throw off enough heat to melt anything but maybe YMMV...

I want these for my 3157s front and rear:

https://www.vleds.com/shop-products/v6-triton.html

Not cheap but they look kick @$$. I'd go with the Extremes.

I still have my stock H13 headlight bulbs.
 
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