just ordered replacement LED's for daytime running lights (2010 ES)....anyone have installation instructions?

 

What bulb did you order? From what I understand it's super easy. Just remove the plastic piece in the engine bay.

 

uh...not that simple. Physical installation of the bulb is super easy, but they won't work right under the DRL condition. The DRL, iirc, is done by running the hi-beams at a lower than normal voltage. You need a relay installed between the harness and the bulb to make it so it's constant high beam voltage for the bulbs to work properly.

 

interesting, how much is the relay, where can you get one? Would be interested to see the install. Should post pics!

 

It's this:

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/D...97704-1-3.html

But they're out of stock currently. Similar relays can be found elsewhere though.

Install is no different than changing the halogen bulb, except you place the relay harness between the body harness and the bulb, so it ends up like this:

Stock: Harness --> bulb

LED: Harness --> relay --> bulb

 

Once I replaced the stock headlight bulbs on my daughter's 2003 Mountainer with those fake HID type bulbs. Just plugged in and went. Two months later, the harness melted due to the bulbs. So, always use the relay (or pigtail) when changing the bulbs to higher output.

 

chances are, you just picked bulbs that had a higher draw (wattage) than the factory system. Fords are typically a 35w low beam/55w high beam. I'm willing to bet that the 'high output' bulbs you bought were 55w low and 85w high.

 

Bad link......

 

Fixed, had an extra '.' that I took out of the text, but not the link itself.

 

Don't remember but it was a slight mess to fix.

 

Don't like the yellow tint of the DRLs?Have your dealer turn them off.I've talked to my service advisor and I've thought of doing that but haven't as of yet..Some dealers may do it and some I would think won't.
You can add a LED bulb with the necessary modules but nothing beats the OEM LED strips many auto manufacturers have now.

 

50% increase in current without a 50% increase in wire gauge = melty melty

 

dunno if that's necessary, especially since if you DO want them on but just want them brighter/more noticeable it's a nice feature to have.

FWIW, that relay can also install with stock bulbs to make them hi-beam all the time. It's just that the LED bulbs require the relay or they won't turn on under the low current condition.

 

I wouldn't want the high beam on all the time but I do want the high beam when I want to use it.
I was just adding that if the yellow DRL was annoying,just have the dealer disable the feature.
If you read up on dim DRLs,some testing says DRLs really do nothing for safety.
Now the OEM bright LED strips may be help more safety wise.

 

Then also bear in mind that you will no longer have high beams...which is an important safety issue.

Totally not worth it. "More noticeable" DRLs are not worth lack of high beams. "Looking cool" is all well and good, but safety needs to come first.

On the 2010-2012 the dealer doesn't even have to do it, you can do it through the customizations menu on the nav screen....assuming you've got nav.