Apparently, the resistors that superbrightleds.com aren't enough to lower the forward voltage to a safe range for the leds. In my headlights, one led is semi burned out, with 2 leds no longer firing (out of 5). On the other headlight, the led will pulsate sometimes and sometimes not work at all. I mean, it was only a few bucks for these lights, but LEDs are meant to last forever. superbrightleds.com has decided to take the route of initial luminiscity rather than engineering leds that live up to a key characteristic: "eternal" life. My only defense for them would be that the fact that in a car, your voltage is going to vary a good bit. However, this should have been compensated for.

I need to find some conventional blue replacements now. Meh!

 

Mine burned out ina couple of months as well. I was not happy, only because they charge $5 shipping no matter what you order, so buying 2 leds for $1.50 and then paying the $5 shipping doesn't make sense.

 

all i can say is oznium.com, $2.99 shipping on anything and that stuff will last for ever.

 

How long have you had your leds? Also, I'm having trouble finding the replacement LEDs for our headlights/dome lighting. Maybe you are talking about a different category of leds? I/We are speaking about the oem light replacement leds that go in headlights, dome lights, etc.

 

http://www.lc-led.com/View/itemNumber/97

been using these since last summer. no problems.

 

Not sure which LEDs you're talking about but superbright does say that some should not be used in headlight housings.... If you want blue bulb lights, check out this place...

http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm

I've ordered some blue 194s from there... haven't gotten them yet... Buddy of mine ordered red bulbs from them to replace the parking lamps on his grand am.... black grand am with red parking lamps looks EVIL..... I ordered two blue and red to see which i like better and it was $10.50 shipped... sold in packs of two.... might be able to find them elsewhere though... I just bought them from there cause I know my friend got some....

 

My first pair lasted 6 months and next pair one went out in a month...i have been told that the heat created by your headlights will eventually kill them....all of my leds inside my car are runnning strong almost a year now but my parking slowly will die...just buy extras...its what i do.....superbright leds have good prices and quality leds...thats were mine are from!!!

 

Does sound like they arent using the proper limiting resistor if it is happening other places than the headlights as well. It would be a good idea to connect an ammeter in series with them to see what they are pulling. If it is just in the headlights though it sounds like heat is killing them. The sporadic operation mentioned sounds like this may be the cause. Overcurrent will typically kill one outright rather than causing an intermittent issue.

 

In followup, I agree with the heat related reasoning. It makes sense. As well, in a few weeks I will purchase some 5w 168 size bulbs to place in there instead. A few bucks more, but I wont have to replace them again in 3-6 months.

My rear dome light, however, is out as well. I will pop it off and take a look at the light, to see if the connection is simply loose, which is a possibility with the design of that dome light.

 

rivulent, first, check out this thread, pretty much covers everything we're discussing here: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=72234

but yes, mine have "burned" out as well and stopped working. i've had two sets now in the head light housing and one set in the car for my door/map lights that have gone out.

i switched to varad led'svarad led's and they have lasted quite a while and no problems. you can get them in several different colors. and they are not as bright as the superbrightleds.com brand, but they have been much more reliable up to now and are still working great.

so, if you want brighter led's, use the one from superbrightleds.com. if you want some that will last longer, go with the varad's.

comparison pics:
superbrightleds.com 921 9-pin led bulbs, super white:




varad pro (3-led), super white:

 

^^^^Thanks for the tips and pics....i have never seen those other ones....maybe i will give those a try when i run out of my superbrightleds supply!!!

 

Just go to AutoZone and get the Blazer Xtreme Lites. They have lots of colors. I've almost had them installed for a year with no problems. They are bright by themselves, but when you turn on your headlights they are not even noticable. (If you get colored ones like me. Good for keepin' the 'fuzz off your back.) I feel like a picture horror, but here's mine...

Best part? $2.99 + tax!

 

i, too was a lil bit worried that it wont last after all the other people's testimonials of the superbrightled products. though i bought some for my indoor map, dome, and license plate lights and for the park lights i bought the PIAA extreme white 194 wedge bulb. i thought it would be a better option rather than worrying that it would burn out or melt. i am happy with it and 4 months still no problem. it makes a nice little hint of blue to the reflectors in the day while its not on.

 

I had the PIAA extreme white wedge bulbs also, but after 6 months the heat from the headlights caused the blue coating to flake off. I drive at night everyday so my headlights are almost always on.

I suspect any coated bulb or LED won't last very long if you use your headlights a lot.

I have LED's for the interior and rear license plate and no problem with those. It's the heat from the headlights that are killing the lights.

 

^^ random question... do you have 2 tc's, or just like the old corolla engine code? heh heh

 

http://www.lightlens.com/coloredbulbs.htm has "no fade" bulbs.... but I haven't tried them so I don't know if they're worth the money.... I just bought regular bulbs from them... if I ever do try the no fad bulbs, I'll let yall know how they are....

 

Hehe, I only have one tC and my previous car was an old corolla, but not the old one you mention. My SL name comes from my real name, Tu.

 

Really!? those things are a little bit costly...and i never turn off my headlights. i bought them becuase i am very certain PIAA's wont be giving me any problems. just hope mine doesn't flake. i even assumed like the glass was blue, not like it was coated to be blue.

 

^^ Same here with the lights. I use them as daytime running lights so they never get turned off. Especially in the winter and spring rainy season.

 

so speaking of superbrights.... I just got mine... So how do you get to the interior dome lights without breaking the plastic?? I don't suppose its too hard but I haven't tried yet because I want to know if anyone has any tips for the easiest way to do it....

EDIT:

nevermind