leds won't work in map light due to voltage?? (pics)

TheRipster · #1 04-12-2013, 12:03 PM

so i bought an LED package for the interior lights, and all of them work great, except for the side reading lights on the dome assemblies... (refer to pics)

i contacted the manufacturer, and they've been useless, just saying that there's a problem with the car's voltage. the regular bulbs (also pictured) work when i plug them back in, but not the LEDs.

anyone encounter this before?

PS - disregard the red circles and pic #s...

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mrbmwx5 · #2 04-12-2013, 12:07 PM

Flip the bulb around.

TerminatorX5 · #3 04-12-2013, 01:41 PM

LEDs are diodes... diodes are polarity sensitive, will work one way and not the other way... the voltage is present in the circuitry, being interior light, it is PMW voltage, so the LEDs should react to voltage somehow. unless the diodes are blown, try flipping them, as mrbmw suggested...

if you have meter and know how to test diodes - test them on the bench, just to be sure

Ricky Bobby · #4 04-12-2013, 01:43 PM

If you have tried them in the housing flipped both ways, want my honest opinion? Those bulbs are probably dead and defective, I had the same brand and lost like 5 bulbs in a few months on my interior. Bought some replacements on Amazon and all is well.

Also, make sure those bulb holders are making contact with the housing on install, and definitely do not be removing and installing bulbs with the housing plugged in, you'll pop a fuse (I've done it before)

TheRipster · #5 04-12-2013, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

If you have tried them in the housing flipped both ways, want my honest opinion? Those bulbs are probably dead and defective, I had the same brand and lost like 5 bulbs in a few months on my interior. Bought some replacements on Amazon and all is well.

Also, make sure those bulb holders are making contact with the housing on install, and definitely do not be removing and installing bulbs with the housing plugged in, you'll pop a fuse (I've done it before)

i've ruled out that at least 2 of those 194s that i have are dead for sure... they don't work in any spots.

i already made the mistake of messing with the bulbs while it was plugged in. do you remember where the fuse is located for those lights? i'll go check it real quick

also, the brand of LEDs i bought are AGT (advanced german technology). are they crap?

i got them off e-bay from a reputable seller so i would hope they are good. did you get something similar off amazon?

i'm wondering if i should just ship them all back and get a refund?

TheRipster · #6 04-12-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

LEDs are diodes... diodes are polarity sensitive, will work one way and not the other way... the voltage is present in the circuitry, being interior light, it is PMW voltage, so the LEDs should react to voltage somehow. unless the diodes are blown, try flipping them, as mrbmw suggested...

if you have meter and know how to test diodes - test them on the bench, just to be sure

yes, i tried flipping them around a few different ways and still couldn't get anything out of them.

TerminatorX5 · #7 04-12-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRipster

yes, i tried flipping them around a few different ways and still couldn't get anything out of them.

dead... see, if they will replace the bulbs for you...

Ricky Bobby · #8 04-12-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRipster

i've ruled out that at least 2 of those 194s that i have are dead for sure... they don't work in any spots.

i already made the mistake of messing with the bulbs while it was plugged in. do you remember where the fuse is located for those lights? i'll go check it real quick

I wouldn't worry as long as the lights on the interior didn't all shut off at once while installing these. I think it was fuse 14 for the LCM that I pulled and reinstalled and all my interior lights came back on.

Beware though when I pulled fuse 14 the chirping alarm goes off until you put the fuse back in! Oddly enough though that's what got my interior lights back on, must be a safety shutdown for the LCM or something.

TheRipster · #9 04-12-2013, 03:09 PM

it ended up being i had a few dead bulbs! i knew i wasn't that retarded...

now after seeing some other guy's interior LEDs... mine don't look as bright at all.

RickyBobby - what brand did you end up with off of amazon? and were they brighter than the AGTs?

since i just purchased these bulbs, i can still send them back for a full refund. i'd rather do that now than have them all die out on me in a few months

Ricky Bobby · #10 04-12-2013, 03:43 PM

bout the same brightness, due to the color being cooler initially you will notice the LED's may not be as "bright" but they are intense, that is something you get used to.

Actually my wedge bulbs were fine I still have the AGT ones in, a couple of my festoons were dead. I replaced with GP Thunder SMD LED's

Amazon.com: GP Thunder GP-1036-C3SMD-W GP Thunder No Error 1036 3423 6418 Canbus SMD LED Light Bulbs BMW Benz Audi White: Automotive

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