Any dangers retrofitting LED headlights?

Before anyone freaks out, I have searched the forum and i haven't found any answers to my question.

Are there dangers associated with retrofitting LED headlights? I want to install some in my low beams and fog lights but i dont want to risk burning up anything or shorting something out. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Also, I have been looking at the OPT7 and the Morimoto 2stroke LEDs. Does anyone have any experience with either of the two??


Austin

 

Anybody??

 

Heat. Cracked my OEM lenses with Lifetime LEDs.

 

On your 2016?

 

Oops, nope. But I also hope to one day destroy one of those due to poor judgment.

I'll go back to lurking in the 2nd gen section now

 

I'm also interested in LED conversion for my headlights and fog lights.
My concern is the possible heat associated issue as well like melting or cracking of the lens.

 

Just to your wallet...

 

I've always experienced LEDs run cooler than stock, which was always thought to be a potential downside as it may not melt snow/ice off your lenses as easy... I have replaced my lows and fogs on my '17

 

What headlights did you go with?

 

For drop in LEDs into stock styles headlights and fogs, read this first:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

Full projector retrofits (like the 3rd gen has stock) with LEDs are a different story.

 

I think OP has a 2016... vs your thread on a 2nd gen. Anywho, I put OPT7's on a 2017 and the beam horizon thing looks great. I think there is an entire thread on OPT7's for 3rd gens somewhere.

 

That is a VERY good posting--however as a number of those responding to it stated there will continue to be far too many magazine mechanics and rice boys stuffing LEDs and HIDs into stock halogen housings--because of the "cool factor"...

 

For some reason I thought I saw it he had a 2010 2nd gen, but you are right, that wasn't the OP. LEDs are safe to run in the 3rd gen headlights, but the thread still applies to why they should not be run in the 3rd gen fogs. Instead Morimotos LED complete foglight assembly replacements should be considered.

Thanks, I try to demonstrate functionality over "cool factor" but it is still lost on many.

 

This almost screwed me over during my last drive to Southern Utah.

 

I run OPT7 H11 bulbs for my low beams and fogs, i used OPT7 in my 2013 fusion for 4 years and never had an issue they were great! ... here is a link to my build thread and it has links to all the LEDs i used in my 2017 and pics of results. They are great!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/because-taco.473098/

 

Other have already done a great job in answering your question on LED replacement bulbs for your headlights. So I'll address your question on the fogs.

Like LED replacement headlight bulbs, LED replacement fog light bulbs have the exact same issues with messing up the beam pattern and causing excessive glare for oncoming drivers. I replaced my OEM fog lights with Morimoto xB fogs which are a complete replacement, not just a bulb change. This allowed the designers to come up with a complete / correct solution and I absolutely love them. The beam pattern is actually tighter / better than the OEMs and glare for oncoming drivers is actually less. So I achieved my goals of increasing the amount of usable light on the ground and reducing current draw. BTW, what are your goals in upgrading your lights?

If you want my 2 cents, don't waste your time on half baked solutions to lighting issues. Do it right or don't do it at all.

 

As compared to halogens, they are more efficient, but are actually not any more efficient than HIDs in lumens/watt. The thing with LEDs as compared to HIDs and halogens is that halogens and HIDs give off heat in the infrared light range, which heats up the housing. Infrared is also easily absorbed by water, allowing snow and ice to melt. LEDs give off heat at the base, requiring the use of large heatsinks to dissipate the heat.

 

Put my brand new OEM (2nd gen tacoma) headlights in oven at 240 and it cracked the lens within minutes...brutal

 

That hurts.