LED headlights don't work
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 170
Likes: 45
LED headlights don't work
I purchased and installed some (expensive) LED headlight bulbs for my '01 E250. The low beams work great, but the high beams wont stay on. They will be on for awhile, then flip off, then back on, off.. the timing is completely random and not predictable.
I contacted the seller and they sent me a pair of "decoders" that wire in-line prior to the bulbs, but they don't make any difference.
Before I throw these bulbs in the trash, does anyone know what's causing this? Or, has anyone purchased good LED headlight bulbs (style 9007) that really work well in their van?
- Thanks
I contacted the seller and they sent me a pair of "decoders" that wire in-line prior to the bulbs, but they don't make any difference.
Before I throw these bulbs in the trash, does anyone know what's causing this? Or, has anyone purchased good LED headlight bulbs (style 9007) that really work well in their van?
- Thanks
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 286
From: Eastern TN
Do you have another car to try them in? Can you hook up a bulb directly to a 12V source?
Are there additional elements for high beam or is there a mechanical shutter like in bi-xenons?
Sixto
07 E350 5.4 197K miles
Are there additional elements for high beam or is there a mechanical shutter like in bi-xenons?
Sixto
07 E350 5.4 197K miles
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 170
Likes: 45
No mechanical shutters - nothing like that. Van is a 2001 E250.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 170
Likes: 45
Almost a year ago I put these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08TQ...5-1f12c69b569f
on my 2006E250.
Fantastic cutoff, lots of good light where it counts.
~5000 miles so far, I am very pleased with them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08TQ...5-1f12c69b569f
on my 2006E250.
Fantastic cutoff, lots of good light where it counts.
~5000 miles so far, I am very pleased with them.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
What are these expensive LED bulbs? Did the truck have any headlight issues before the bulb swap? Any flickering or pulsing with the halogens?
I've had Beamtech headlight bulbs in my 11 E250 for the past couple years with absolutely no issues, but all the other LED bulbs I put in the truck at the same time died at various intervals and have been replaced so clearly these things are not all created equal... some are much better than others.
However I also have LED headlight bulbs in several other vehicles with no issues so it would seem to me your truck has a problem.
I've had Beamtech headlight bulbs in my 11 E250 for the past couple years with absolutely no issues, but all the other LED bulbs I put in the truck at the same time died at various intervals and have been replaced so clearly these things are not all created equal... some are much better than others.
However I also have LED headlight bulbs in several other vehicles with no issues so it would seem to me your truck has a problem.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 170
Likes: 45
Trending Topics
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Just had a thought, Are your bulbs fan cooled? If so you have to make sure when reinstalling the fixtures in the van that the wiring(or anything else) doesn't get jambed up behind the lights and prevent the fans from operating as that would lead to overheating pretty quickly. If the bulbs have built-in protection that may be what you are seeing.. they shut themselves off to prevent self destruction.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 170
Likes: 45
Just had a thought, Are your bulbs fan cooled? If so you have to make sure when reinstalling the fixtures in the van that the wiring doesn't get jambed up behind the lights and prevent the fans from operating as that would lead to overheating pretty quickly. If the bulbs have built-in protection that may be what you are seeing.. they shut themselves off to prevent self destruction.
I need to do some more testing - I also need to check into the wiring or possibly even problems with the high/lo switch.
A simple bulb swap turned into hours if work! LOL..
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 286
From: Eastern TN
Random thought. The van turns off the low beams when the switch is in high beam (push stalk forward). Both light in flash (pull stalk back). Maybe the LEDs need 12V to both low and high contacts to function as high beams. Check if they flicker while holding the switch in flash.
Sixto
07 E350 5.4 197K miles
Sixto
07 E350 5.4 197K miles
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,255
Likes: 1,657
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Random thought. The van turns off the low beams when the switch is in high beam (push stalk forward). Both light in flash (pull stalk back). Maybe the LEDs need 12V to both low and high contacts to function as high beams. Check if they flicker while holding the switch in flash.
I'd follow any installation/wiring suggestions the supplier provides relative to switching and wire gauges. No clue how an in-line "decoder" was supposed to work but unless the bulbs/units were excessively high amp draw they should be simple plug-n-play with stock factory wiring.
What brand are these?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 286
From: Eastern TN
Beamtech mentioned in post 7.
IIRC decoders are fitted so the BCM doesn’t think a bulb is bad because of the low current draw. I don’t think these vans have such logic. Decoders have nothing to do with LED function.
Sixto
07 E350 5.4 197K miles
IIRC decoders are fitted so the BCM doesn’t think a bulb is bad because of the low current draw. I don’t think these vans have such logic. Decoders have nothing to do with LED function.
Sixto
07 E350 5.4 197K miles
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 154
Likes: 21
I purchased and installed some (expensive) LED headlight bulbs for my '01 E250. The low beams work great, but the high beams wont stay on. They will be on for awhile, then flip off, then back on, off.. the timing is completely random and not predictable.
I contacted the seller and they sent me a pair of "decoders" that wire in-line prior to the bulbs, but they don't make any difference.
Before I throw these bulbs in the trash, does anyone know what's causing this? Or, has anyone purchased good LED headlight bulbs (style 9007) that really work well in their van?
- Thanks
I contacted the seller and they sent me a pair of "decoders" that wire in-line prior to the bulbs, but they don't make any difference.
Before I throw these bulbs in the trash, does anyone know what's causing this? Or, has anyone purchased good LED headlight bulbs (style 9007) that really work well in their van?
- Thanks
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 170
Likes: 45