1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Switching to LEDs - anything to watch out for?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Gouda Cheez, Feb 1, 2014.

  1. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2013
    903
    155
    2
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Watch out for SMD LEDs in the parking bulb spots however. I had some get too hot there and burn up, leaving a smoke film on the inside of my headlight assemblies.
     
  2. Gouda Cheez

    Gouda Cheez Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    73
    10
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good to know!
     
  3. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2013
    903
    155
    2
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
  4. GAM

    GAM Australian Prius Owner

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2009
    14
    24
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I had an issue with mine. When I replaced the parking lights with LED's I notice that whenever I went in to my work carpark, I lost radio signal and got static. Turned out that my parkers were turning on automatically and introducing static. It was not noticeable when I had good signal strength but with lower signal in the car park is took the radio out completely. Turned lights off and problem went away. The problem also occurred with the interior lights on LED but not as noticable as usually the car radio is off before you open a door.
    Put original bulbs back in and no probs.
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,036
    1,110
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
  6. Gouda Cheez

    Gouda Cheez Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    73
    10
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So far I've gone with white LED's for the license plate bulbs and that's it. May do more LED's down the road, but I'm very happy with just the plate lights so far.
     
  7. Gouda Cheez

    Gouda Cheez Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    73
    10
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Forgot to mention... for parking lights I went with a regular 168 amber bulb. For whatever reason I like the egg yolk look.
     
  8. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2013
    903
    155
    2
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    Try these, they're cool:

    PIAA 19173 168 Plasma Ion Yellow Wedge Bulb - 2 Piece : Amazon.com : Automotive

    [​IMG]
    from
    Review: PIAA Plasma Ion Yellow 12v/5w 168 wedge bulbs | Balancing Act

    However, I've never understood why people put LEDs on their license plate though. I guess if you have a personalized plate it makes sense, but it just makes it easier for the cops to read your plate...
     
  9. Gouda Cheez

    Gouda Cheez Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    73
    10
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I drive a Prius for MPG's... not too worried about cops looking at my plate. :) I put white LED's in the plate lights of all cars I own. Don't know why... just like how clean they look.

    I love the orange in the parking light vs. the yellow.
     
  10. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2012
    681
    282
    0
    Location:
    northern Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Marc, I just noticed your question. I switched my PiP a while ago to a kit sold by ExLEDUSA, suggested by another thread on PriusChat. You get to pick your colors (I picked blue). Easy install and they work great. Good instructions on their web site on how to choose and how to install.
     
  11. MarcSmith

    MarcSmith Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2014
    471
    150
    0
    Location:
    Northern VA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    thanks... hows the blocker working?
     
  12. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2012
    681
    282
    0
    Location:
    northern Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Awesome - keeps me warm ;)
     
  13. pauerbach

    pauerbach Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2013
    101
    34
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five

    I switched all the interior lights to LEDs, but started blowing the same fuse over and over. So much for a lower power consumption...
     
  14. mediahound

    mediahound Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2013
    903
    155
    2
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Probably a short, rather then a power issue.
     
  15. pauerbach

    pauerbach Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2013
    101
    34
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    So how might I remedy this? I'm not electrically inclined haha!
     
  16. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,292
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Which fuse is blowing?

    VS980 4G ?
     
  17. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2005
    3,686
    699
    2
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    lets start from the beginning, you have to identify in witch circuit the fuse blew.
     
  18. pauerbach

    pauerbach Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2013
    101
    34
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    It's the 10 amp fuse for the interior lights: map lights, dome lights, puddle lights, etc.
     
  19. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    When you replaced the bulbs with LEDs, did you have a hard time removing and reinstalling any of the bulb holders/harnesses?

    It might be possible that you pinched a wire against a sharp sheetmetal edge when reinstalling everything. Now you have a short circuit to ground (car body) that's causing your fuse to blow.

    SCH-I535
     
  20. Joele3

    Joele3 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2010
    118
    190
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I've read on a different posting that there were issues with the TPMS light and LEDs in the license plate postion. Well I have a 2010 and it took roughly 2 weeks for that same issue to show up. I used ebay LEDs . I've been driving with the light coming on and off. I may just put back the factory bulbs or I may try another manufacturer.