How to Convert Your Headlight Bulbs to LED

Intro: How to Convert Your Headlight Bulbs to LED

All vehicles fitted with halogen headlight bulbs from the factory are suitable for LED conversion.

The main advantage is a massive increase in road illumination and therefore improved safety when driving at night. The kit I used features CREE LED bulbs that have an output of 3,200 lumens. Typically, factory halogen bulbs have an output of just 1,000 lumens.

STEP 1: Find Your Headlight Bulb Type

The easiest way to find your headlight bulb type is to search for it in the Sylvania online database.

The two possible results are as follows:

1) Single Beam Bulb - the high and low beams use two separate bulbs

2) Dual Beam Bulb - the high and low beams are combined in one bulb

If your vehicle is not listed on the Sylvania site you could try these other methods to find your bulb type:

• Check your vehicle owner's manual
• Contact the vehicle manufacturer via your local dealer
• Remove a headlight bulb and read the bulb information

*Make note of your bulb type*

STEP 2: Purchase an LED Conversion Kit

Now that you know your bulb type you need to purchase an LED headlight conversion kit. A variety of online stores sell these. The kit I used for this instructable is a CREE LED type that was purchased from MotorFiend.com for $119 including shipping.

STEP 3: Unboxing Your LED Conversion Kit

Once you receive your LED headlight kit check that you have all the correct components. There should be two LED bulbs, two ballasts and wiring.

STEP 4: Take Some Photos

Take some photos of your halogen headlights before you install the LED headlights, so you can compare the difference later

STEP 5: Locate Your Headlight Bulbs

First ensure your vehicle is secured. Engine off, keys removed from ignition, parking brake on.

Pop the hood and locate your headlight bulbs

Unplug the plastic wiring connector from the bulb.

Tip: If you haven't ever replaced a headlight bulb the plastic clip might need some gentle assistance with a flat screw driver.

STEP 6: Remove Your Halogen Bulbs

Depending on the bulb type you may need to remove a metal clip first, then you simply twist anti-clockwise and pull out the bulb

Tip: Store your halogen bulbs in a safe spot. You may want them in the future.

STEP 7: Install the LED Bulbs

Install the LED bulbs into the headlight socket while being careful not to touch the LED with your bare fingers

Gently twist the bulb in a clockwise direction to secure it

STEP 8: Connect the LED Ballast

Connect the LED ballast wiring. One end goes to the new bulb, the other to the original wiring harness.

STEP 9: Check the Cut Off

Power up your headlights and check the position of the cut off.

You don't want to be blinding other drivers with you bright new lights, so you may need to adjust the position of the headlights. You can do this by adjusting the headlight alignment screws. Check your owner's manual for more information

STEP 10: Secure the Ballasts

Secure the ballasts using either double sided tape or plastic zip ties

Tip: You want to keep the ballasts away from excessive heat, vibration and moisture. I mounted mine on the back of the headlight housing

STEP 11: Test Drive

Time to test out your new LED Headlights!

Comments

[KingWhiskers]

In the UK I believe it is illegal to fit Led bulbs to your car if it was not originally fitted with them. They should be checked at your annual MOT (Road worthiness test) but judging by the amount of vehicles that have blinding headlights I doubt it is done at every MOT station. There has this last year especially been an increase in road accident and deaths caused by blinding headlights.

So buyer beware when messing around with your road vehicle, be sensible.

[SSLLIIMM]

Wearing clean gloves when handling halogen bulbs is highly recommended, the oils and dirt from hands will damage them.

[FThatMakeThis]

Spoken true. You can test them and see them work after using bare hands but the extreme heat can cause oils transfered to the bulb to lead them to explode with use.

[FThatMakeThis]

These you installed are illegal in every state per Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (max. 3,000 lumens) for road use. States then vary. In CA it is capped at 2,513 lumens. Many drivers like myself encounter illegally blinding headlights like this on the roads nearly nightly.

When they end up leading to injuries or death be ready for a lawsuit potentially leading to imprisonment and/or losing everything you have (the vehicle, home if owned, current and future income, etc.). No insurance will cover you for an illegal mod. causing injury or death.

Don't be a "if you can't beat them join them driver" people! An eye for an eye leaves us all headlight blinded on a crash course for each other. Open your eyes (and allow me to!). 😑

[alfiedarlin]

I have Nissan installed HID Headlights but would light to go LED, is there anything different to consider or do when converting.
Your advice would be appreciated
Alfie
(2005 Pathfinder)

[jacks699]

to convert halogen bulb to led bulb, does battery need to be disconnected?

[crenskers]

Ultimately YES you "should" disconnect the +positive battery terminal when working on your vehicle anything electrical. If you are careful and have more than a kindergarten education then you can get the job done without disconnecting terminal.

[LeanneTahoe2002]

So I took out the halogen bulbs and disconnected the plugs very easily.. I installed the HIGH BEAM LED BULB & the plug (ballast) but when I TRIED to install the LOW BEAM LED it will NOT fit! I tried all different angles... PLEASE HELP
2002 CHEVY TAHOE

[wavev]

check this installation guide, maybe this will be helpful https://www.automotiveglobespecialist.com/installation-for-hb4-h4-h11-led-lights

[LorieV1]

On my 2008 Chevy Cobalt can I use a LED low beam high beam headlight 9006/hb4 instead of a 9007?

[gasanthony]

Do I have to remove my old ballast when I convert to led? The old ballasts are buried under headlite

[spudslatte]

Do yourself a favor if you have a BMW - buy some sylvania silverstar ultra bulbs, which will increase visibility over your std halogens - too many horror stories of cheap LED kits which will blind people, DOT compliant or not. If you really want good grade LEDs, buy a car with them

[ChrisS925]

What are ballasts? I have A 2012 Kia optima EX (h11b) came with halogen....why is upgrading to led such a hassle
I got 4 bulbs, low beams with plugs on them, high beams with wires.

[danielmiller4454]

A ballast basically changed the voltage etc. if I am remember correct they are easy to install they plug in on one side where the old halogen plugged in and the other end to the led the ballast are there to prevent flickering of bulbs error codes on some cars among other things they sound complicated but are not literally just two plugs to protect the bulbs but led do burn out faster due to heat and other things so really if you want bright lights but the leds but expect to replace them more and spend a lot more money they are over priced for what they are you want ones that are high quality and ones that can cool at a faster rate than cheap led bulbs it’s worth it to spend money one good ones as you get the safety of more light and they last longer as well as some led bulb manufacturers offer anywhere from 1-3 year warranty if they burn out best to find a company with a warranty as for the ballast once you connect it you should not have to ever replace the ballast again

[DenverFirefighter]

Bro, I think you made some good points, but I can't say for certain because you didn't use a single punctuation mark. I'm not sure where your sentences end and where the new ones start.

[gineokat]

Sentences? It looked like part of one sentence. He did start the sentence with a Capital Letter though...+1!
Have to admit I didn't read his whole post though. I was afraid I would've ended up with a headache.
Think I'll probably stay with the Ultra Bulbs instead of going to LED this time.

[chas.krish]

Just a bit bit picky, but LED’s don’t use ballasts, the use drivers. Slightly different things that control the different makeup of each type of light source.

[alanferguson008]

My cars harness has 3 wires the new lights only have 2 what do I do

[GeoffF18]

As an EET & LED Consultant for years, I have to warn you to be sure that the LED bulb replacement is DOT certified. Many LED bulb conversion kits and even LED Fixtures for buildings found on AMAZON & EBAY are not certified for the North America marketplace. If you are in a car accident resulting in a person(s) being injured, the injury lawyers are now checking to see if aftermarket LED bulbs were installed on the cars and if they were DOT CERTIFIED. If they are not properly certified, then you are screwed financially. The injured party will properly win a substantial amount of money, your car insurance will properly drop you because you didn't use a DOT approved product leaving you to dispose of your assets to pay your legal bills and settlement to the injured party. The news gets worst because your family will be either living with you parents, under a bridge or divorce all for a LED bulb. The good news is you may be able to sue the retail store or AMAZON/EBAY....no, you won't because you won't have any money....you will be broke.

[ChrisS925]

The ones I bought are certified and below max lumens.