LED Tail Lights
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: MD, USA
LED Tail Lights
Greetings! I recently bought a pair of RED LED tail lights from CarID.com. After asking several questions to the chat operator. He answered them all. I asked him if they would work for all three functions. Braking, lighting, and signaling. He said they work just like the stock bulbs. I was hesitant, but went ahead with the purchase. ($47 for some tail lights is a lot.) He also gave me his coupon code; ak841 for an extra $2.00 off. Shipping was great less then two days, since it came from NJ and I am in MD.
Last night was raining. So during installation I was careful not to let them get wet. I put one in, and tested it. No joy. It would not light up. I figured it was either broken, defective, backwards, or incompatible. So I pulled it out, reversed it and put it back in. Be warned these require a lot of force to get into the socket. I had already turned on the parking lights so when I put it in correctly it almost blinded me! Success!
I snapped a picture with one LED installed and the other stock incandescent light. {attached} They are not much brighter, but they do light up faster, and do output more light. I purchased the RED LED lights, even though I have no intention of replacing the red lenses with clear ones. If I was to do it over again, I would probably go with the white lights, and let the red lenses change the color to red. Oh well. They work great. I also tested all the functions. I pressed the brake and it gets even brighter.
The attached picture isn't the greatest, but it demonstrates the brightness.
The reason I got these is because I am always being tailgated, and since the brake lights are relatively small to the size of the truck, I wanted the extra advantage. I also wanted the longevity of LEDs. I have been behind several trucks that have one or more broken tail lights, and that means they are hard to see at night, difficult to tell when they are braking, and impossible to tell when turning. These should take care of all that.
I fear I have started down a long path of costly LED lights. I already want to replace the reverse lights and the front running and signal lights. Then do the same for my other cars! Very $$$
http://www.carid.com/1995-ford-f-150...hts-96684.html
Last night was raining. So during installation I was careful not to let them get wet. I put one in, and tested it. No joy. It would not light up. I figured it was either broken, defective, backwards, or incompatible. So I pulled it out, reversed it and put it back in. Be warned these require a lot of force to get into the socket. I had already turned on the parking lights so when I put it in correctly it almost blinded me! Success!
I snapped a picture with one LED installed and the other stock incandescent light. {attached} They are not much brighter, but they do light up faster, and do output more light. I purchased the RED LED lights, even though I have no intention of replacing the red lenses with clear ones. If I was to do it over again, I would probably go with the white lights, and let the red lenses change the color to red. Oh well. They work great. I also tested all the functions. I pressed the brake and it gets even brighter.
The attached picture isn't the greatest, but it demonstrates the brightness.
The reason I got these is because I am always being tailgated, and since the brake lights are relatively small to the size of the truck, I wanted the extra advantage. I also wanted the longevity of LEDs. I have been behind several trucks that have one or more broken tail lights, and that means they are hard to see at night, difficult to tell when they are braking, and impossible to tell when turning. These should take care of all that.
I fear I have started down a long path of costly LED lights. I already want to replace the reverse lights and the front running and signal lights. Then do the same for my other cars! Very $$$
http://www.carid.com/1995-ford-f-150...hts-96684.html
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: MD, USA
Thanks for the tip. I knew I should have shopped around. However finding a site that I trust to send me correct parts, and few and far between. Have you used Superbrightleds.com before?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,967
Likes: 24
From: Northeast Ohio
I haven't, but I plan on it. Plenty of guys on here have and they even have a bulb guide specific to your vehicles. To swap them all out when i priced them out is only $50 or so, depending on the bulb you get. They are legit
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: MD, USA
I just browsed similar bulbs for the tail lights, and they don't seem to have as many filaments (diodes) as the ones I purchased. So I don't feel too ripped off, but still those are some great prices!