|
Main Menu
|
|
|
|
My 2007 4Runner
|
|
|
|
My 1999 4Runner
|
|
|
|
4Runner History
|
|
|
|
Links
|
|
|
|
|
Concept.
This page describes the details behind changing many of my Toyota 4Runner's exterior lights from standard automotive incandescent light bulbs
to Led (light emitting diode) type lighting. This was done in order to increase brightness and at the same time change the color of the warm yellowish
factory incandescent filament bulbs to a more whiter, cooler color range.
Back-Up Reverse lights:
Factory Bulb: 921
Factory Wattage: 18.0 watts
Factory Amperage: 1,386 milliamps
Led Replacement Bulb: V-Leds High Power 19 M-SMT 8.0W HID White 921
Part no.: 921_19_HP_W
Led Type: 19 high power M-SMT
Advertised Kelvin color rating: 6,000k White
Advertised Wattage: 8.0 watts
Recommended forward DC Voltage operating range: 11.5-14.5 volts
Actual metered Amperage: 304.8 milliamps
Actual calculated Wattage at 12.5V (W=V*(MA/1000)): 3.8 watts
Approximate Luminous Flux: 250 Lumens
Comments:
This is V-Leds top of the line Led bulb in the 921 size. The bulb consists of 19 high power surface mount (SMT) 6k leds that total 8 watts of power.
This bulb is made up of 15 radial firing 1/2 watt High Power LED's. Each 1/2 watt LED produces 10 times the output of a standard M-SMT LED.
When lit up, these radial mounted leds perfectly fill out the chrome reflector backup lamp housing on the 4Runner.
In addition to the radial firing leds, there are 4 standard M-SMT forward firing LED's to fill out the front of the lens.
All the leds are mounted on aluminum circuit boards to provide superior cooling and protection. This bulb uses IC controllers, not basic resistors,
to supply power to the leds. This compensates for an uneven input current by sending an even amount of power to the light emitting diodes.
As you can see by the pics below, these leds are significantly brighter than the factory 18 watt incandescent 921 bulbs. When lit, they look great with a
crisp pure white color, even considering that the stock 4th generation 4Runner backup reverse lens is lightly smoked in color.
Installation is very simple. Using a flat head screwdriver, pry open the covers on either side of the interior cargo area. The back-up bulb is the
bottom most of the three bulbs. They are removed with a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction, then pull straight out of the housing. The bulb
itself is removed from it's holder by pulling straight out. The led bulb gets installed in the same manner. Leds, as well as all diodes, are polarity
sensitive. This means that the positive and negative terminals must be connected correctly for it to operate properly. If upon installation they don't
work, reverse the orientation (polarity) of the bulb.
Factory Incandescent #921 Bulb |
Factory Incandescent #921 Bulb
Led #921 8.0W Bulb |
Incandescent #921 amperage
1,386 milliamps |
Led #921 8.0W Bulb |
Led #921 8.0W Bulb |
Led #921 amperage
304.8 milliamps |
Back-Up Reverse light removal |
Back-Up Reverse light installed |
921_19_HP_W Led Size |
Incandescent |
Incandescent (left)
Led (right) |
Led |
Incandescent |
Led |
 |
Back up camera
Incandescent |
Back up camera
Led |
|
License Plate lights:
Factory Bulb: 194
Factory Wattage: 5.0 watts
Factory Amperage: 372 milliamps
Led Replacement Bulb: V-Leds High Power 1 M-SMT 0.75W 5k White 194
Part no.: 194_HP_W_5K
Led Type: 1 high power M-SMT
Advertised Kelvin color rating: 5,000k White
Advertised Wattage: 0.75 watts
Recommended forward DC Voltage operating range: 11.5-14.5 volts
Actual metered Amperage: 50.4 milliamps
Actual calculated Wattage at 12.5V (W=V*(MA/1000)): 0.63 watts
Approximate Luminous Flux: 24 Lumens
Comments:
The license plate bulb housing does not contain a chromed reflector, therefore a radial firing bulb is not of much use here. Hence my choice of a single
down firing high power led bulb. The led utilized in this particular bulb has a nice wide 180° lighting pattern. The license plate bulbs are on whenever
the running lights are on, therefore a bulb with an integrated heatsink is a logical choice. It's integrated heatsink allows for higher output with
greater reliability.
Again, Installation is very simple. A #1 phillips screwdriver is used to remove the two screws holding each license plate bulb lens in place.
The lens will then drop off and a rubber gasket will drop out with it. Now you can pull the bulb housing out a little to make removal of the bulb a little
easier. The factory 194 bulb is a wedge type bulb, and to remove you simply pull straight out. The led bulb goes back in the same way. Though you should
have your lights off when removing the factory bulbs as they get hot quick, you should turn the lights on for installation of the led bulbs.
Leds are polarity sensitive. This means that the positive and negative terminals must be connected correctly for it to operate properly. If upon
installation they don't light up (with the light switch on), reverse the orientation (polarity) of the led bulb and confirm it works.
Factory Incandescent #194 Bulb |
Factory Incandescent #194 Bulb
Led #194 0.75W Bulb |
Incandescent #194 amperage
372 milliamps |
Led #194 0.75W Bulb |
194_HP_W_5K Led Size |
Led #194 amperage
50.4 milliamps |
License Plate light bulb removal |
License Plate bulb removal |
License Plate Led bulb installed |
Incandescent (left)
Led (right) |
Incandescent |
Led |
Parking lights:
Factory Bulb: 194A
Factory Wattage: 5.0 watts
Factory Amperage: 359.9 milliamps
Led Replacement Bulb: V-Leds High Power X5 M-SMT 2.5W Amber 194
Part no.: 194_X5_HP_A
Led Type: 5 high power M-SMT
Advertised Kelvin color rating: Amber
Advertised Wattage: 2.5 watts
Recommended forward DC Voltage operating range: 11.5-14.5 volts
Actual metered Amperage: 90.0 milliamps
Actual calculated Wattage at 12.5V (W=V*(MA/1000)): 1.1 watts
Approximate Luminous Flux: 50 Lumens
Comments:
The parking/marker light bulb housing contains a chromed reflector, therefore a radial firing bulb is a must here.
The led utilized in this particular bulb light up amber when on, but are clear when the lights are off. This cleans up the look a little when off.
The VLed bulb uses four radial firing 1/2 watt LEDs that fire perfectly into the chrome reflectors of the 4Runner's parking lamp assembly, and another
1/2 watt forward firing LED to fill out the front of the lens. The amber color of this led is a deeper and richer orange than the factory incandescent
bulbs.
Installation is very simple. Under the hood locate the parking/marker bulb socket. Give it a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction, then pull
straight out of the housing. The wedge type bulb is removed from it's holder by pulling straight out. The led bulb gets installed back into the socket
in the same manner, with a firm push. After removal of the factory bulb, but before installation of the Led, turn the parking lights on. Leds are polarity
sensitive and if they don't light up when initially installed, reverse the orientation (polarity) of the bulb. To install the socket back into the light
housing, slide the socket with bulb attached all the way in until fully seated, then give a quarter turn clockwise. You do not need to move the battery
out of the way to get to the driver side bulb. This can be done with it in place.
Factory Incandescent #194A Bulb |
Factory Incandescent #194A Bulb
Led #194A 2.5W Bulb |
Incandescent #194A amperage
359.9 milliamps |
Led #194A amperage
90.0 milliamps |
Led #194A 2.5W Bulb
194_X5_HP_A |
Led #194A 2.5W Bulb
194_X5_HP_A |
194_X5_HP_A Led Size |
|
Parking Led Installation |
Parking Led Installation |
Led Parking Light Installed |
Led Parking Light Installed |
Incandescent |
Led (left)
Incandescent (right) |
Led |
|
Quick Reference Lighting Chart:
Special Offer:
I have purchased all the above Led lights from one source, V-Leds.com.
The decision to go with them for all the lights was based on much advance research into their product line, communication
with them via email as well as customer feedback found on a wide variety of online automotive forums. I have had nothing but
excellent customer service from this company.
V-Leds Coupon offer:
Join the V-Leds Newsletter and get 15% off your next order!
One Year Update:
I have had various V-Leds bulbs installed for over one year now and I have had absolutely no issues or problems at all.
I continue to return to them for all my automotive LED and HID bulb needs.
|
|
