Installed Interior Led's
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,103
Likes: 368
From: Beantown
Installed Interior Led's
So I took the time to install some LED's in my fathers car as the interior has a whole lot of 194 wedges everywhere. They look brighter than they are and for 10 of them it was only $9, pretty good and quality wasn't bad at all from Amazon.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: CA
Looks nice, do they dim normally?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,103
Likes: 368
From: Beantown
Yes they do no problems and they look 10X better than the other ones I ordered.
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Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: CA
Thanks for the idea and the product info bigblack06, I just completed the LED replacement without breaking anything off. =) Used an old credit card to very cautiously pop out the diffusers (a screwdriver is never a good idea when working with car interiors)
There were a total of 13 bulbs replaced. A good thing to note is since there are only leads on one side of the LED wedge bulbs, they only work when oriented one way and are not reversible. Check that the light comes on before re-assembling the housings.
4 - door courtesy lights
2 - vanity mirror lights
3 - front overhead console
3 - rear overhead console
1 - trunk compartment
The only thing left to replace would be the puddle lamp bulbs, but I don't feel like taking that on (at least at the moment)
The LEDs from the link posted above worked perfectly. Easy plug-in replacement and the light is a crisp bright white. Definitely nicer than the factory bulbs. Lexus should have used these from the factory. No error codes, dims and fades as normal, and doesn't get hot to the touch like the original bulbs.
There were a total of 13 bulbs replaced. A good thing to note is since there are only leads on one side of the LED wedge bulbs, they only work when oriented one way and are not reversible. Check that the light comes on before re-assembling the housings.
4 - door courtesy lights
2 - vanity mirror lights
3 - front overhead console
3 - rear overhead console
1 - trunk compartment
The only thing left to replace would be the puddle lamp bulbs, but I don't feel like taking that on (at least at the moment)
The LEDs from the link posted above worked perfectly. Easy plug-in replacement and the light is a crisp bright white. Definitely nicer than the factory bulbs. Lexus should have used these from the factory. No error codes, dims and fades as normal, and doesn't get hot to the touch like the original bulbs.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 11
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Thanks for the idea and the product info bigblack06, I just completed the LED replacement without breaking anything off. =) Used an old credit card to very cautiously pop out the diffusers (a screwdriver is never a good idea when working with car interiors)
There were a total of 13 bulbs replaced. A good thing to note is since there are only leads on one side of the LED wedge bulbs, they only work when oriented one way and are not reversible. Check that the light comes on before re-assembling the housings.
4 - door courtesy lights
2 - vanity mirror lights
3 - front overhead console
3 - rear overhead console
1 - trunk compartment
The only thing left to replace would be the puddle lamp bulbs, but I don't feel like taking that on (at least at the moment)
The LEDs from the link posted above worked perfectly. Easy plug-in replacement and the light is a crisp bright white. Definitely nicer than the factory bulbs. Lexus should have used these from the factory. No error codes, dims and fades as normal, and doesn't get hot to the touch like the original bulbs.
There were a total of 13 bulbs replaced. A good thing to note is since there are only leads on one side of the LED wedge bulbs, they only work when oriented one way and are not reversible. Check that the light comes on before re-assembling the housings.
4 - door courtesy lights
2 - vanity mirror lights
3 - front overhead console
3 - rear overhead console
1 - trunk compartment
The only thing left to replace would be the puddle lamp bulbs, but I don't feel like taking that on (at least at the moment)
The LEDs from the link posted above worked perfectly. Easy plug-in replacement and the light is a crisp bright white. Definitely nicer than the factory bulbs. Lexus should have used these from the factory. No error codes, dims and fades as normal, and doesn't get hot to the touch like the original bulbs.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,297
Likes: 1,589
From: SE PA
Thanks amphiprIOn. Nice info, especially since I'm inclined to break things and the cc may work for me too. I may try to attempt this change if its much better than the OEM. Is it worth it, and how long did it take you to change out the 13 lamps? No rear license plate and are the puddle lamps difficult to change out?
Probably a plastic picnic knife would work perfectly as well.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 1
From: CA
The license plate came stock with an extremely bright white light, (don't know if it's LED or not) so I didn't change that out. Also, I did see a video of someone replacing the puddle lamp bulbs, and it looks a little scary in a couple of spots. Not sure if it's worth it to DIY the bulbs with the hassle of replacing motorized, heated, auto dimming side mirrors if something goes wrong.
The tricky part is that you think that you're going to break the lens by prying it out, but if you're careful you won't. One thing, I only saw one courtesy light per door - not two ?Total of 11 bulbs. I'm fortunate enough to have a trim removal tool that I used.
Probably a plastic picnic knife would work perfectly as well.
Probably a plastic picnic knife would work perfectly as well.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,297
Likes: 1,589
From: SE PA
It took me about half an hour, but I could definitely do them in under 15m now that I know which side and where to pry on the light covers. Alternatively instead of a credit card you could get a pry tool from your local auto store or amazon http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Dash-Rem.../dp/B0057DHMFG
The license plate came stock with an extremely bright white light, (don't know if it's LED or not) so I didn't change that out. Also, I did see a video of someone replacing the puddle lamp bulbs, and it looks a little scary in a couple of spots. Not sure if it's worth it to DIY the bulbs with the hassle of replacing motorized, heated, auto dimming side mirrors if something goes wrong.
Yes, there is only one courtesy light per door for a total of 4. I'm guessing maybe you didn't replace the vanity light (the light that comes on when you slide the sun visor mirror open) ?
The license plate came stock with an extremely bright white light, (don't know if it's LED or not) so I didn't change that out. Also, I did see a video of someone replacing the puddle lamp bulbs, and it looks a little scary in a couple of spots. Not sure if it's worth it to DIY the bulbs with the hassle of replacing motorized, heated, auto dimming side mirrors if something goes wrong.
Yes, there is only one courtesy light per door for a total of 4. I'm guessing maybe you didn't replace the vanity light (the light that comes on when you slide the sun visor mirror open) ?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 11
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Thanks Bill and Amp.
Sounds pretty easy, but Murphy knows me all too well. Easy is one thing, but doing it right is another. In my case, what can go wrong, will go wrong
. Those trim removal tools look pretty imposing. I've broken my share of clips and torn a few panels when I didn't know better years ago. A plastic knife or CC may do better, but I'll to a test run today to see how tough they're to remove before I order the LEDs. They do look sharp, and as long as they dim too, than that's pretty cool.
Sounds pretty easy, but Murphy knows me all too well. Easy is one thing, but doing it right is another. In my case, what can go wrong, will go wrong
. Those trim removal tools look pretty imposing. I've broken my share of clips and torn a few panels when I didn't know better years ago. A plastic knife or CC may do better, but I'll to a test run today to see how tough they're to remove before I order the LEDs. They do look sharp, and as long as they dim too, than that's pretty cool.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,103
Likes: 368
From: Beantown
Thanks Bill and Amp.
Sounds pretty easy, but Murphy knows me all too well. Easy is one thing, but doing it right is another. In my case, what can go wrong, will go wrong. Those trim removal tools look pretty imposing. I've broken my share of clips and torn a few panels when I didn't know better years ago. A plastic knife or CC may do better, but I'll to a test run today to see how tough they're to remove before I order the LEDs. They do look sharp, and as long as they dim too, than that's pretty cool.
Sounds pretty easy, but Murphy knows me all too well. Easy is one thing, but doing it right is another. In my case, what can go wrong, will go wrong
. Those trim removal tools look pretty imposing. I've broken my share of clips and torn a few panels when I didn't know better years ago. A plastic knife or CC may do better, but I'll to a test run today to see how tough they're to remove before I order the LEDs. They do look sharp, and as long as they dim too, than that's pretty cool.