LED VS Factory Bulbs

[Denali132]

I love all of the LED bulbs I replaced but why do they seem to burn out quicker. Not all of the bulbs go out maybe just one or 2 or the start to blink or flash. I wish they would last longer! I know the ones from eBay and from Hong Kong are cheap and burn out faster than V-LEDS right? I usually by all from V-LEDS unless they are out of stock. Has anyone found out any kind of bright bulb other than LED's? Thanks

 

[OklabyGodhoma]

Just ensure the lamps you get are "SMT" type LEDS. They are constructed to take the voltage flux that is seen in automotive applications. Don't give up on LEDS, it's just like most things in life.....buyer beware!

 

[Modded]

Like said above, get only SMD and SMT led bulbs an you will be good.

 

[zach2011]

Not true. My family's GMT900's seem to be very picky with the LED's they take. The Escalade works all fine except the parking lamps, the left side is very very touchy and will stop working when barely moved, so now we only have 1 working parking lamp which looks great. No matter what LED bulb we put in there, nothing works.

Same goes to my Tahoe's puddle lamps. I can't get ANY LED's to work in them anymore. Nothing lights up except halogens.

 

[OklabyGodhoma]

Zach, get a strong flashlight and look at the vehicle contacts. A tiny amount of corrosion can cause LEDS not to function. A good trick is to get a thin emory board (womens nail file) and trim the end down so you can slide it between the contacts to clean them and then use a tiny amount of silicone dielectric grease on the contacts of the LED and plug it in and out a couple of times. Under NO circumstances use WD-40....it draws moisture.

Even in a new vehicle the dis-simular metals used in the contacts of the vehicle vs. the lamp contacts can set up it's own corrosion. The silicone grease is made just for this reason. It stops the corrosion and prevents moisture as well.

 

[felixgun]

I had so many problems with normal LED's. Basically all of the dome lights, license plate lights, and puddle lamp lights all burnt out. They first start to flicker but then it burn's out and only 2/8 will stay on. Once I got my SMD-LED dome's from eBay and puddle lamp/license plate/vanity SMT-LED's on vled, all of my problems went away. SMD/SMT LED's are brighter and better made, IMO.

 

[Denali132]

thank you guys for all of your help! I love my LED's and they look so much better than the stock. Why doesn't GM put LED's in? They look way better is it because of price? My Dad has a Dodge truck and has factory LED's I think in the puddle lamps

 

[Modded]

Not true. My family's GMT900's seem to be very picky with the LED's they take. The Escalade works all fine except the parking lamps, the left side is very very touchy and will stop working when barely moved, so now we only have 1 working parking lamp which looks great. No matter what LED bulb we put in there, nothing works.

Same goes to my Tahoe's puddle lamps. I can't get ANY LED's to work in them anymore. Nothing lights up except halogens.

Well something is wrong with either your Tahoe or the bulbs you are buying! I went through 3 sets of regular LED plate lights in 2 months, then got the SMD version and have had it for a year!

 

[felixgun]

thank you guys for all of your help! I love my LED's and they look so much better than the stock. Why doesn't GM put LED's in? They look way better is it because of price? My Dad has a Dodge truck and has factory LED's I think in the puddle lamps

My friends Lexus IS has stock LED bulbs for puddle lamps/interior dome/vanity's... It looks the same as my car now

And Zach,

Both my puddle lamps (LED and SMD-LED) light's worked for me. I used the same ones for my license plate and puddle lamps and both came from VLED's website.

 

[zach2011]

I don't get it though! Brand new 2010 Escalade acts the same as my 2008 Tahoe when it comes to LED's...they are so touchy. I have ordered from everywhere I can think of, including V-LED's, and nothing at all works. Even replaced a headlight + harness assembly and still nothing.