Vehicle LED FAQs & Supplemental Information

Why Switch to LED?

LEDs not only give your vehicle a clean, modern look but, with proper use, will out last any halogen bulb and even your car! Low energy draw, high lumen output, and instant on/off LED technology out shines stock bulbs in every way. Increase the amount of usable light or customize your interior from a variety of vivid colors to match your style.


Q. Which bulbs are used in my vehicle?

Using the Vehicle LED Bulb Finder, you can select your vehicle's year, make, and model, then choose the application you want to replace or upgrade from stock. For inquiries about specific vehicle application bulb sizes, see the Vehicle LED Bulb Finder. Note that our bulbs are sold individually, not in pairs, for aftermarket use.

May not comply with SAE or U.S. DOT standards
Product Warranty void if used in applications other than standard automotive replacement bulbs
Vehicle Warranty may void with unapproved modifications. Check your Vehicle Warranty before replacement
All product specifications are subject to change without notice

white bulb versus red bulb behind red lens white bulb versus red bulb behind red lens

Q. Which Color LEDs Should I Use?

For best results, the LED color should be the same as the lens color. If the bulb is behind a clear lens, use the appropriate color for turn and brake light functions.

When installed in a housing that has a matching colored lens, red and amber bulbs will appear brighter than white LED bulbs.

As an example: a red lens will filter out all but the red portion of light from a bulb, so if the light being emitted from the bulb is all red, none or very little light will be blocked by the lens. The light from a white LED bulb contains very little light in the red portion of the visible spectrum, so most of the light that contributes to its higher lumen value would be filtered out by a red lens. This makes the white bulb appear dimmer than the red bulb.


Q. This bulb looks longer than my stock bulb. Will it fit?

Vehicle housings come in all shapes, sizes, and colors - just like our LEDs. LED bulbs that are notably larger than their inferior halogen counterparts have been marked "oversized" in the notes box under the color selection in their respective product pages. For 100% certainty, compare the measurements provided on the Specifications tab, located on every SBL product page, to the measurements of your factory housings.


Q. What is the difference between color temperatures?

LEDs are capable of producing an wide variety of whites. On the lower end of the scale, Warm Whites have a yellow or amber hue, producing a color similar to that of halogen bulbs. These are best suited for projects where you want to upgrade to LED technology and keep the OEM look.

Natural Whites, the midrange color temperatures, contain very little to no hint of amber or blue. Natural Whites are great for highlighting detailed interiors.

The high end of the scale contains the Cool Whites. These are what most people think of when they look for LEDs. The crisp hint of blue in Cool Whites will give your vehicle a modern, clean look.


Q. Why do LED Bulbs cause turn signals to blink so fast? 

LED lighting draws much less power and lasts much longer than standard stock, incandescent lighting.  Hyper flashing is when the turn signals blink rapidly and happens because your new LED bulbs draw so little power, your vehicle's system thinks the bulb has burned out.

Can I fix it?

The easiest method to remedy hyper flashing is to install an LED Flasher Module. This module will replace your factory turn signal/hazard warning flasher module with little to no modification. Most modules will plug into the factory position, while others will require jumper wires or a relay socket. LED Flasher Modules are designed for specific vehicle wiring and not all vehicles have LED module replacements. We list all of the flasher diagrams on the Specifications tab on each product. Our LED flashers function with both LED and incandescent bulbs simultaneously, so even if you have LED turn signals in the back and incandescent in the front, you can use our LED Flasher Module with no problems.

Be sure the flasher you order is the proper cross reference for your vehicle. 

If there is no replacement LED flasher module, or if you would like a more hands on approach, a Tail Light Load Resistor Kit will also relieve hyper flashing. The kit achieves this by adding resistance to the circuit and making it look like there is an incandescent bulb in the socket to your vehicle's electrical system. A detailed instruction guide on how to install aTail Light Load Resistor Kit can be found HERE.


Q. What are CAN Bus Bulbs?

CAN Bus LED bulbs are simple plug-and-play bulbs made specifically for CAN Bus-equipped vehicles. These bulbs work with your vehicle's advanced computer system, so when your vehicle's computer reads them, they respond back correctly. View All CAN Bus Bulbs Here

Applications

  • Marker Light
  • Map Light
  • Dome Light
  • License Plate Light

Applications

  • Tail Light
  • Brake Light
  • Turn Light
  • Parking Light

Applications

  • Trunk Light
  • Cargo Light
  • Dome Light
  • License Plate Light

CAN Bus means Controller Area Network Bus. This system monitors your vehicle and reports operating conditions. CAN Bus systems are commonly found in European vehicles such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Porsche, and in many American vehicles. While most late model American vehicles have CAN Bus systems, it is always good to check with your vehicle dealer to see which system your vehicle has before purchasing electrical products.

Each vehicle has different requirements that the CAN Bus system is looking for, but in most cases CAN Bus LED bulbs should prevent a “bulb out” indication in areas such as tail, brake, and running lights. If you use a standard LED bulb that is not a CAN Bus application, you would consistently get a “bulb out” dashboard indicator because your system can't communicate with a standard LED bulb.

CAN Bus bulbs will not prevent hyper-flashing of turn signals. These bulbs are communicating with the CAN Bus system, but the relay still needs an appropriate amount of load to operate correctly. Your electrical system could require load resistors or an electronic flashing relay to stop hyper-flashing. The factory relay causes the hyper-flash when it thinks there is not a bulb working. For more information, click the question "Why do LED Bulbs cause turn signals to blink so fast? Can I fix it?" above.

CAN Bus LED bulbs should not be used in non-CAN Bus applications because in most cases they can cause other vehicle circuits to have problems. Electrical systems are much like the flowing water in a river; if a log or other obstacle is placed in its path, the water backs up, but then finds another route. A CAN Bus LED bulb presents more resistance than the stock bulb due to built-in resistors and may cause feedback into other circuits in the non-CAN Bus electrical system.

Pin Configuration of Wedge Based bulbs (CK Type and Standard)

Halogen bulbs are non-polarized, and can't tell the difference between a standard and CK wiring configuration in your vehicle. Because LEDs are polarized, an LED bulb wired for a standard socket won't work in a CK socket. Be sure to check your vehicle's factory configuration before ordering.

Warranty Information

Super Bright LEDs bulbs come with a warranty which will be documented on the product page. If you experience an issue with a product, a technician from our support team may be able to diagnose the issue. Technical support is available by phone, chat, and email. The Warranty is valid and only applies when Super Bright LEDs products are properly used for their intended applications.