Led headlight troubles
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2000
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Led headlight troubles
Bought a 96 Bronco with unknown LED headlights, they are the cheaper ones with the ribbon cooling wire ends. when I got it, the high and lo beams were reversed. Thought it would be a simple swap the hi/lo wires on each bulb........ well......... that didn't change anything, The LEDs light up 2 squares on HI, and all 4 on LO. Makes no sense.
I would just swap in standard bulbs back, but the aftermarket housings don't seem to take standard bulbs.
I would just swap in standard bulbs back, but the aftermarket housings don't seem to take standard bulbs.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah cheap led lights are a total waste, the light pattern produced all comes down to the reflector and the cheap fixtures do a terrible job of it so even if you did msanage to fit different bulbs chances are they still wouldn't be much use.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,987
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From: Boise, Idaho
It's hard to say without knowing which aftermarket LED setup you have.
It sounds like you're going to have to rewire it either way. It's not the bulbs, it's that the "low" is going to the high switch and the "high" is going to the low switch.
Might need to go through it with a voltmeter and see what gets power in what setting and rework it.
It sounds like you're going to have to rewire it either way. It's not the bulbs, it's that the "low" is going to the high switch and the "high" is going to the low switch.
Might need to go through it with a voltmeter and see what gets power in what setting and rework it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,889
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Which is why I would try to either sell them or toss them in the trash and then get a good pair of OEM headlights.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,987
Likes: 104
From: Boise, Idaho
What's your point?
I could see with my stock headlights too. But LED headlights are vastly superior and much brighter. Sure, halogen will work, but they'll never be as good.
It's why I retrofit all of my vehicles with LED now.
I could see with my stock headlights too. But LED headlights are vastly superior and much brighter. Sure, halogen will work, but they'll never be as good.
It's why I retrofit all of my vehicles with LED now.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I had a pair of 100w halogen KC Offroad driving lights on my last van powered through a relay and aux switch. These produce a pinspot beam designed for long distance lighting and yes they are BRIGHT.. made the factory headlights seem like they weren't even on. But the 30w LED bulbs I installed in my new van are brighter, the high beams produce just as much long distance lighting but illuminate a wider area, and the low beams can be seen on the road on an overcast day!!! Best headlights I have had in any vehicle I have ever owned.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: N.W. Alabama
If they are putting the cheap LED lights in, they are blinding on coming traffic, and if they need head lights that blind on coming traffic, they need to stay off the road, at night time, because they are endangering others, because they couldn't afford, but wanted to be cool. and got the cheap LED's, and not the correct expensive LED's, and the cops need to start giving tickets. I know of more than a dozen people at work who have nearly been ran off the road, going to work, and there's more idiots with wrong LED's than right LED's, just because they are cheap, and cool looking.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,987
Likes: 104
From: Boise, Idaho
I'm not sure how cheap LED headlights would make a difference in that regard. They're just bulbs.
The headlights need to be properly adjusted, but that goes with any headlight. LEDs just made a poorly adjusted headlight more noticeable because there's less forgiveness due to the brightness.
I know I got flashed a few times when I first upgraded mine. A few turns of the adjustment screw to point them down fixed the issue.
The headlights need to be properly adjusted, but that goes with any headlight. LEDs just made a poorly adjusted headlight more noticeable because there's less forgiveness due to the brightness.
I know I got flashed a few times when I first upgraded mine. A few turns of the adjustment screw to point them down fixed the issue.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 869
From: N.W. Alabama
Your one of few who attempt to adjust, we make head/tail lights, and the reflectiveness of them dont have to be half as much, as halogen are, and driver/passenger lights are aimed to hit down and center of vehicle, tails are same way, and the projectors have a large maginifing glass(plastic) to concentrate its aim also.
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