LED headlights are relatively new to the automotive industry. Manufacturers use these types of headlights due to their small size and bright light. However, these lights are not compatible with the conventional power system of old cars, which resulted in some issues.
If you are thinking about switching halogen bulbs with LED headlights, this article is going to be more than helpful. In addition, if you have installed LED headlights and are facing some conversion problems, continue reading for the solutions.
Why You May Face LED Headlight Conversion Problems
Before discussing the solutions to LED headlight conversion problems, let’s take a look at what these problems are. For instance, the most common problems relate to flickering LED lights or low light.
Since LED headlights work differently, they have specific power needs. You may especially face power-related issues when converting from halogen headlights. The stock power supply of your vehicle may not work correctly with LED lights, which can cause various issues.
LED headlights don’t require a lot of power, yet they have a unique power requirement. When you don’t keep this fact in mind, it may result in flickering or dim LED headlights. Usually, LEDs are sharp and bright, but they require specific connections and power supply for their proper working.
Since LEDs work on new technology, they don’t appear to be compatible with the conventional power supply of older vehicles. This results in the issues or problems that you may face when installing LED headlights in your vehicle.
LED Headlight Conversion kits Problems and Their Fixture
You can fix a wide range of LED headlight conversion problems by using a retrofitting adapter. This gadget or device is also referred to as the LED ballast or driver. At present, most LED headlights come with a driver or adapter, which makes conversion much more manageable.
Driver Issue
However, there is some bad news, as these adapters don’t work properly in some cases. In other words, they don’t function by themselves during some instances. If you don’t get an adapter or driver with your LED headlight, you have to buy one that is compatible with the power system of your vehicle.
Solution: If your LED headlight comes with a driver or adapter but doesn’t work properly, you have to buy and install an additional device like an anti-flicker adapter.
Issues with Day Running Lights (DRLs)
At present, most cars come with Day Running Lights or DRLs. When vehicles use DRLs, it may cause some problems with LED headlights. If you are facing issues like low LED light or flickering, DRLs may be behind such issues.
Solution: The best possible way to resolve this issue is to bypass the power supply to your DRLs. By offering a separate power supply, you can make sure that LED headlights are getting the right amount of current. You can also use a separate wiring harness or decoder to provide sufficient power to your LED headlights.
Flickering LED Headlights
If you are facing the issue of flickering LED headlights, this might be due to a wide range of reasons. For instance, the LED light isn’t getting the right amount of power, or a weak connection is the cause of such an issue.
In most cases, LED headlights may have their specific drivers or adaptors. These gadgets allow the conventional power system to provide the necessary power to LEDs. At times, these systems may fail, causing LED lights to flicker.
Solution:Before doing anything else, the best way to deal with this issue is to check the connections. It would help if you double-checked the bulb and its housing. If you have a new light, try to swap it with the flickering light to see whether the bulb is defective.
LED Light Doesn’t Turn On
You may experience some issues with the installation of LED headlights. Usually, both the lights or one of them doesn’t switch on. This problem is nerve-wracking, as you have spent a lot of money and the lights aren’t working properly.
Solution: First, if your LED light isn’t turning on after installation, check the connections carefully. The faulty LED ballast may be the reason behind this issue. Check the connection with a working LED light if you suspect that the defective LED bulb is behind the problem.
Some other solutions include:
-
Reverse the ballast input connector
-
Check whether the grounds are connected properly
-
Take a look at the fuse
-
Make sure all the connections are independent and secure
Polarity Problems
This issue is typically observed with a dual filament LED bulb. A standard halogen bulb does not need specific polarity. This means that the ground and power side of the halogen bulb doesn’t make any difference.
However, when installing and establishing the connections of an LED headlight, you have to meet the specific polarity requirements. This problem usually bothers you when using a dual filament LED bulb.
Solution: If the LED doesn’t turn on after connecting it with the power, try to flip around the power and vice versa. In this situation, you can’t blame the LED kit. What you have to do is to switch the connection from one side to another.
Conclusion
If you have installed an LED headlight, it may start to flicker a few days after installation. This is the worst situation and you don’t want to face it. Fortunately, there is no need to panic or blame the manufacturer. The first thing to do is to take a look at the connections.
In most of the cases, the connections may have been loosened due to heat or vibration. Moreover, the adapters, drivers, or decoders of your LED light may have stopped offering the required amount of power.
These gadgets offer additional resistance to the power system, allowing LED lights to stay on for more extended periods. You can use these adapters in almost any kind of vehicle, as they are universal.
