Tech Tip: How to Install LED Bulbs
Tech Tip: How to Install LED Bulbs
Although the question can appear simple, there are situations when it's unclear how to install an LED bulb. Various housings, bulb shapes, fans, and vehicles alter this process.
We'll be examining several types of bulbs today and how they affect how they fit your car. To get on the road or trails in your car, SUV, truck, ATV, or anything else, we will examine how to install and aim the headlights.
TYPES OF LED BULBS
There are many different sizes and forms of LED bulbs. This pertains to both the bulb's and its heat sink's overall size and how well they fit in the housing for which you bought it. Sometimes, a smaller bulb will be required to suit the narrow opening behind the headlight housing of your automobile or truck.
Bulb Size
With a few outliers that we shall discuss, most LED bulbs will be between 70 and 90 millimeters (mm) in length. They are scarcely wider than 50 mm, as you will discover.
A list of all the bulbs we sell, together with their varied measurements, was created by Better Automotive Lighting. We advise consulting their guide if you are uncertain whether the bulb will fit.
In a light output competition, GTR Lighting's CSP Mini bulbs will at least outperform your halogen bulbs, even though they aren't the brightest available. Most significantly for this guide, they will fit most applications due to their tiny shape.
The bulb's lettered and numerical code should also be taken into account. Find out which bulbs—H11, 9012, D2S, 880, and so forth—will work with your car's headlights. The bulb sizes should be specified in the handbook for your vehicle.
Types of Heatsinks
The heatsink is the primary factor that determines the bulb's size. Several varieties include fins, a sealed fan, or an external cooling fan. They are all there to keep the lightbulb cool.
Types of Heatsinks
External Cooling Fan Sealed Fan Fins
This diagram shows how cool air enters the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0 through the front to show how the heatsink functions, then exiting the heat extractor on the other side of the bulb stalk after going via the internal fan.
If your car has a dust cover over the lightbulb and uses one of these fans, you can still use it. The distinction is that, especially if your bulb has an external fan, you will require a dust cover to protect the fan if you are going off-road and through unclean circumstances. An aftermarket dust cover that provides extra space can also be necessary, depending on the size of your lightbulb.
LED Chip Orientation
The type of bulb you are using will dictate which way you orient it when you install it. We will provide some examples, but remember that every lightbulb is unique. If you encounter any difficulties not covered in this post, please leave a comment or email our customer service.
- A feature that allows you to twist the bulb into place is found in adjustable bulbs, such as the Morimoto 2Stroke 3.0. Twisting and applying pressure to the collar accomplishes this. Similar to the packaging of an over-the-counter medication.
- With screw-adjusted bulbs, such as the GTR Ultra i-LED Series, you can modify the collar to fit your car using tiny screws that are included with the bulb. Although you can use those screws to change the actual fitment into your housing, you still need to rely on the numerical bulb size (e.g., 1156/1157, 4257, 7440/7443, etc.). Even when your indicators employ these lights, including this other collar is crucial.
Regardless of your bulb's collar style, your beam pattern should resemble the image below. A GTR Lighting Ultra Series in a reflector housing is on the right, while a GTR Lighting CSP Mini in a projector housing is on the left. We placed both up to help you understand what a decent beam pattern looks like for each type of housing.
GTR Lighting CSP Mini in a Projector Housing, GTR Lighting Ultra 2 in a Reflector Housing
INSTALLING THE BULB
The actual process of inserting the lightbulb into the housing is relatively easy. Remove the dust cover as soon as you can reach the back of your headlights, which you can do by removing your fender liner or opening your hood.
Next, unscrew the lightbulb counterclockwise. It can be challenging if you have never removed an OEM bulb.
Once the old LED bulb has been removed, please insert the new one into the housing by twisting it in. Twist until you encounter resistance.
After that, insert your lightbulb into the OEM connector and, if necessary, cover it with a dust cover.
CK Wiring and Factory Connector Issues
You can put any of our lights straight into your original equipment's connectors. Unfortunately, the connection with the OEM electrical center is not always that simple.
One thing to watch out for when installing LED bulbs is whether they use a CK socket. CK sockets, also called SCK, SACK, or SRCK, are uncommon and are only found in a few cars manufactured in specific years by a select few automakers. They are at the end of a bulb's size number (for example, 3157CK, 3157SACK, 3157SRCK).
Manufacturers of cars and trucks occasionally alter the wiring layout that powers the brake light and turn signal bulbs. The "CK" type wiring differs from standard wiring, with positive and negative terminals on either side of the lightbulb.
We have a blog article here with a comprehensive and regularly updated list of cars that need this.
Regarding factory connector problems, some lights may flicker or be too dim, depending on your car. Changing the Daytime Running Light (DRL) fuse or just installing a resistor kit to stop hyper flashing are two solutions, while there are other causes.
CONCLUSION
This addresses all the essential information required to install LED bulbs in your vehicle.