Door panel lights
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: East Coast
Door panel lights I recently replaced all my interior bulbs with led bulbs to freshen the interior.
However, before I thought he pass side bulb was out. I put the led one in and it nearly blinded me. But when I installed it into the holder in the door panel, barely any light is appearing.
Anyone else ever have the issue? If so, what's the fix? I'm not sure if it's the translucent plastic piece being dirty or what.
However, before I thought he pass side bulb was out. I put the led one in and it nearly blinded me. But when I installed it into the holder in the door panel, barely any light is appearing.
Anyone else ever have the issue? If so, what's the fix? I'm not sure if it's the translucent plastic piece being dirty or what.
The red lens will reduce the light a bit but there are other things to consider.
If its dirty, you'll see a difference in the performance between your two doors.
What color of LED are you using? LEDs do not produce a balanced light similar to a regular bulb. You should be using a red LED in that application.
A regular bulb produces 7 colors of light and the holder filters that light to only let through the red. If you are using a "white" LED that is heavy towards the blue end of the spectrum, the holder will filter out all of it and barely anything will get through.
If its dirty, you'll see a difference in the performance between your two doors.
What color of LED are you using? LEDs do not produce a balanced light similar to a regular bulb. You should be using a red LED in that application.
A regular bulb produces 7 colors of light and the holder filters that light to only let through the red. If you are using a "white" LED that is heavy towards the blue end of the spectrum, the holder will filter out all of it and barely anything will get through.
You may have purchased the wrong LED. The LED I used in my doors looks like a tiny circuit board with 3 leds on it. One on the tip, and one on either side of the board. It's bright as all hell at night. I heard the ones with just one LED light were fairly dim in there. Honestly, if the door LEDs were any brighter than they are now, they'd completely distract and annoy me. That's how bright I think they are. 74-xHP3 oh... and, not only that bulb, but you need to use the RED bulbs. As long as you want red that is...
My bulbs were just burned out on mine and that was fine with me. The external light on the switches just looked annoying in the pictures I've seen.
I want to find a way to backlight the switches like most newer vehicles... heck the 93 Taurus I used to drive still had backlit switches
I want to find a way to backlight the switches like most newer vehicles... heck the 93 Taurus I used to drive still had backlit switches
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odd, i had the same issue. i ended up noticing something slightly different about the pass side if i remember correctly, like inside the holder, theres plastic piece that directs the light and i think that was the issue.. it just didnt seem to direct the light quite as well as the driver side.. i think i put something reflective inside to help, but its been a long time. pretty soon i'll have to replace it though, the LED is going out..
edit: as far as you guys talking about red, keep in mind this isnt a bird...
edit: as far as you guys talking about red, keep in mind this isnt a bird...
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: East Coast
I've went with the white led's. I believe their the 74-xhp's. Can't find my invoice.
Essentially, it's a rectangular bulb with 2-3 LEDs per side. When not in the enclosure they are bright, but put in place the lights almost non existent.
Let me go take some pics real quick. Currently only have net access on my iPhone so uploading them will be interesting.
Brb with pics.
Essentially, it's a rectangular bulb with 2-3 LEDs per side. When not in the enclosure they are bright, but put in place the lights almost non existent.
Let me go take some pics real quick. Currently only have net access on my iPhone so uploading them will be interesting.
Brb with pics.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: East Coast
Here we go:
Driver side:
Passenger side (Hard to see, but it's the little spec toward the lower left) This is with the bulb through the little hole:
Passenger side out:
Hard to see in the picture but it's like the tip of the clear plastic is not transmitting the light through.
[IMG=http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/905/img0053kyy.jpg][/IMG]
Any ideas?
Driver side:
Passenger side (Hard to see, but it's the little spec toward the lower left) This is with the bulb through the little hole:
Passenger side out:
Hard to see in the picture but it's like the tip of the clear plastic is not transmitting the light through.
[IMG=http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/905/img0053kyy.jpg][/IMG]
Any ideas?
Send 'em back for the 74-xhp. The lens in the panel is just a small square, so only the light coming out of the top LED is visible. Is the top LED working in the bulb you are having problems with?
I had a similar issue with the passenger side not being as bright as the drivers side. Inside the piece the bulb goes into there is a piece of clear plastic that directs the light onto the switches. The clear plastic piece in my passenger side door bezel was clouded so i RIPPED it out and taped the light into the hole. Then I bought another door bezel with a GOOD clear plastic light "deflector" ? and all is well now. Hope this helps.
The clear plastic pieces people are referring to are waveguides - they are what let the light turn such a tight corner. Unfortunately, they are designed for standard incandescent bulbs, and is why you are having problems...the driver's side works for whatever reason, but the passenger side is dim as hell when the LED is fully seated, regardless of design. I fought this issue a few years ago, and the problem has to deal with the extremely directional nature of LEDs. Unfortunately, the 74 type LEDs are really small, so there aren't many good options to find a suitable LED configuration with a full 360* light pattern. I even tried the 3 LED SMT version referenced in this thread...still didn't work right.
What I ended up doing is finding an LED with a phosphorescent coating that gives a full 360* light pattern, and that ended up working the best, although it required some custom work to fit it properly and keep it fully plug and play (a resistor was required). SuperBrightLEDs sells them...just look under the component LEDs.
What I ended up doing is finding an LED with a phosphorescent coating that gives a full 360* light pattern, and that ended up working the best, although it required some custom work to fit it properly and keep it fully plug and play (a resistor was required). SuperBrightLEDs sells them...just look under the component LEDs.
