LED Headlight City Light Bulbs

[Treyz]

Anyone have any trouble replacing the stock city lights (parking lights) in your headlights? Meaning after a while, they just begin to flicker and then eventually burn out after a while? I had this problem on my old '07 as well. Thought the problem would have been taken care of with the '09's, but seems that it's happening again.

First set were the W5 bulbs from SuperBriteLEDs.com (2 sets) and Eurolite on the '07 and the ones being used now are from Pilot on the '09.

[Chris07LB]

Had my HiLed's (search my posts) since late 2006 without one flicker.

[RedRide]

The front parking lights are the exact same bulb as the rear license plate light.

I suspect the bulb contacts are not making good contact with the bulb contacts and this is causing the flickering.
The 194/168 bulb contacts are just bare wires (even with an LED) that run along the outside of the bulb and sometimes need to be spread from the base slightly to make better contact.

Personally, I'm partial to "Polarg M4-B1 Hybrid" (hyper white) bulbs.
I have been using them for years and they litterally last for years in most aplications.
The very first thing I did when I first got my Yaris was to replace the front parking and license plate light with them as they look great.

I have yet to find a (white) LED that in IMO looks as great as them to replace a 194/168 bulb.

[Lucas13]

V-leds have 13 SMT led ones that look great w/o any flickering. I recommend them.

[mikenacarato]

mine are a 5-led bulb from superbrightleds.com, no issues yet! :)

[1NZYaris1]

I have had mine in for over 12 months
no issues

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Treyz

Anyone have any trouble replacing the stock city lights (parking lights) in your headlights? Meaning after a while, they just begin to flicker and then eventually burn out after a while? I had this problem on my old '07 as well. Thought the problem would have been taken care of with the '09's, but seems that it's happening again.

First set were the W5 bulbs from SuperBriteLEDs.com (2 sets) and Eurolite on the '07 and the ones being used now are from Pilot on the '09.

I see in your garage, that you have a ground wire kit (which is fine). You aren't by any chance running one of the voltage stabilizer modules or something like that?

[thebarber]

ive had led's in my parking lights since i got the car in august 07...2 winters w/ -25C temps and no problems

though i actually hear it higher temps that mess up led's

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by CTScott

You aren't by any chance running one of the voltage stabilizer modules or something like that?

I have a voltage stabilizer. I installed it because I thought it would help when I get my carpc installed. Should I take it off?

[Tamago]

in all my cars that use city lights, i buy amber 194 incandescent bulbs. i have yet to have a bulb failure in 10 years. sounds like your LED's were not up to industry standard? ( superbrightleds.com FTW though)

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by tk-421

I have a voltage stabilizer. I installed it because I thought it would help when I get my carpc installed. Should I take it off?

Not necessarily. I was just looking for something about his car that is different than others who have not had an issue with the LEDs burning out.

I was thinking that if a voltage stabilizer had a boost regulator that perhaps the LEDs were being overdriven.

[Treyz]

I don't have a voltage stabalizer and I thought it was maybe my old 07, but my 09 is doing the same exact thing.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Treyz

I don't have a voltage stabalizer and I thought it was maybe my old 07, but my 09 is doing the same exact thing.

I've noticed with superbrightleds that some of their automotive LEDs are rated for 12 V and others are rated for 14.4 or 14.8 volts. Since our lights get raw battery/alternator output (rather than regulated 12V) maybe the ones that you have bought have the lower rating.

[Treyz]

So your saying I should get bulbs that are rated for 14.4?

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Treyz

So your saying I should get bulbs that are rated for 14.4?

Yes. When the engine is running, the alternator puts out over 14 V.

[Treyz]

I know that, but didn't think that it mattered being that normally anything 12V is for a vehicle no? I'm gonna look into the bulbs and see if they in fact offer something of the sort. Hopefully they won't burn out after a while.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Treyz

I know that, but didn't think that it mattered being that normally anything 12V is for a vehicle no? I'm gonna look into the bulbs and see if they in fact offer something of the sort. Hopefully they won't burn out after a while.

I just noticed that when you look at the specs for superbrightleds automotive products some list the operating voltage range as 12V and others as 14.4V or 14.8V.

If you want to try a test with your existing ones, add a 200 ohm resistor (which would be the difference in required resistance for a 12V rated vs 14.8 V rated device) in series with the LED bulb and see if they stop burning out.