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LED Interior Lights

37K views 91 replies 27 participants last post by  cobralov3r 
#1 ·
Very proud of myself, beyond filling my Jeep with gas I'm able to do little beyond what must guys would consider routine maintenance. SO, this is very easy to do. Great youtube vid - search: Jeep Grand Cherokee LED interior, to get the steps. I ordered this light kit off Amazon for 15.99, I also ordered a trim removal tool, but was able to remove all the pieces with a table knife and leather man. The difference is great, really looks nice, especially with vanity mirror. Light is more bright and all white - replaced vanities, map lights, foot well lights, rear hatch lights and back seat reading lights. Thought I would share my success, haha. Hopefully the pictures come through ok. Also have some LED fogs coming 6500K color, they should match up well. I'll post those pics here too. 2014 JCG Summit, FYI.



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#2 ·
Very proud of myself, beyond filling my Jeep with gas I'm able to do little beyond what must guys would consider routine maintenance. SO, this is very easy to do. Great youtube vid - search: Jeep Grand Cherokee LED interior, to get the steps. I ordered this light kit off Amazon for 15.99, I also ordered a trim removal tool, but was able to remove all the pieces with a table knife and leather man. The difference is great, really looks nice, especially with vanity mirror. Light is more bright and all white - replaced vanities, map lights, foot well lights, rear hatch lights and back seat reading lights. Thought I would share my success, haha. Hopefully the pictures come through ok. Also have some LED fogs coming 6500K color, they should match up well. I'll post those pics here too. 2014 JCG Summit, FYI.



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Very nice. I replaced all of my interior and reverse lights with LED's but spent much more than you through another website. How did you determine all of the lights needed from Amazon to make the swap? Is there a package being offer now through their website? Also, curious what lights (brand/type) you are using for your fogs.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I got a cheap led interior light kit from eBay, only 11.99. They have been in for a week and notice one light lost a little brightness but it came with a total of 18 lights when I only need 13, so I just swapped it out.

Did you guys switch out the glove box light? Any tips on that?

Wlhnlh. What reverse led light did you pick up? I think that's my next swap.
 
#7 ·
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Did you guys switch out the glove box light? Any tips on that?
I did install an LED bulb in my glove box. Boy, it was fun. The service manual says to open glove box door, reach in and pull bulb out with 2 fingers. I don't know how thin the person's fingers are who wrote that but there is no way that bulb will come out with 2 fingers.

I wound up removing the glove box door, and inner glove box parts and removed the side panel on side of dash to slooooowly get at that bulb. I just hope the led bulb lasts as long as I keep the vehicle since I don't want to do that again. And yes, it did make a good difference, so I guess??? it was worth it.

Now those 2 dull yellow looking overhead courtesy lights are bugging me. Especially since installing 2 led bulbs in the rear part of the overhead courtesy light console. Don't know if I feel like unsoldering and resoldering some leds in place. Oh it never ends.
 
#11 ·
Just my $0.02:

Do NOT buy cheap LED's...you will end up replacing them and/or having them fail when needed. Spend over $40k on a vehicle but cheapen out on the lights? No thank you!

Have done many LED installs, and 3 WK2's in the last couple weeks. All LED's from XenonDepot (vendor on JeepGarage) and I could not be happier (did not solder the over head)! I will let the pics do the talking...and the reverse lights are like HID's! HAHA
 

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#14 · (Edited)
Very proud of myself, beyond filling my Jeep with gas I'm able to do little beyond what must guys would consider routine maintenance. SO, this is very easy to do. Great youtube vid - search: Jeep Grand Cherokee LED interior, to get the steps. I ordered this light kit off Amazon for 15.99, I also ordered a trim removal tool, but was able to remove all the pieces with a table knife and leather man. The difference is great, really looks nice, especially with vanity mirror. Light is more bright and all white - replaced vanities, map lights, foot well lights, rear hatch lights and back seat reading lights. Thought I would share my success, haha. Hopefully the pictures come through ok. Also have some LED fogs coming 6500K color, they should match up well. I'll post those pics here too. 2014 JCG Summit, FYI.
To OP, thanks for posting up the pics of the lights you replaced! Really helps others out...and FWIW I did not get expensive vanity lights...those are 3-LED eBay specials (10 for $11; 1 arrived DOA)

So you left the overheads stock since those are the ones that need to be soldered and just did all the rest of the interior lights?
That is correct...and those pictures reflect what I was saying about it not bothering me (LEDs take over). And trust me, $hit BOTHERS me.!!I can deal with it based on the amount of work required and my lack of the proper tools (solder gun mainly)...and I don't want to mess with the electronics more than I have to (already am).

Half of the Precision LED bulbs that I spent over $80 have failed within 6 months, next ones are going to be the cheap kind.
It is called Lifetime Warranty :thumbsup:
 
#54 ·
That is correct...and those pictures reflect what I was saying about it not bothering me (LEDs take over). And trust me, $hit BOTHERS me.!!I can deal with it based on the amount of work required and my lack of the proper tools (solder gun mainly)...and I don't want to mess with the electronics more than I have to (already am).
To those complaining about the factory warm LEDs in the overhead - simple solution... replace the filament bulb with a plenty bright 194 LED solution, and cover up the factory warm LEDs with black electrical tape. Zero light shines through. You'll never miss them, and you don't have an ugly color mismatch.

On the topic of lights not working due to lower current draw... I have this problem when the truck is OFF. Lights don't come on when I hit them. Have to open a door, hit the switch for all the lights, etc. Have only replaced the interior (minus the hatch) so far, but I plan on doing the hatch and reverse lights. Brake lights and turns are a PITA and probably won't look very good inside a halogen reflector anyway, so I'm probably going to leave them be.
 
#25 ·
XenonDepot is where I have been getting mine for 7+ years...great customer service and stick behind their product. Also JG members get a discount :thumbsup:

Install is straight forward, but you do have to remove the rear cargo interior trim. With the right trim stick, takes 5 minutes to pop off/on (having a 2nd person helps FYI). I have done 3 WK2's now and could do all reverse lights in under 10 mins now.

Was curious - I believe I got that sale kit off Amazon.. Supposed to include the license plate bulbs as well..
So I was at it this past weekend swapping interior bulbs.. For whatever reason, I am unable to remove the map and license plate lights.. I didn't want to destroy the bulbs just yet. So am I missing something? Maybe a release of some sort? I had no problem with the rear passenger (upper ones with the handle).. Which are the same style bulb..

Digging the better light output so far!
Thanks,
MacK
My license plate bulbs are already LED's and I think yours are as well...I did not need to change mine out :confused:

Those lenses have pretty tight tolerances so is everyone using a flat head screwdriver? What took works best? How long was the install and are these bulbs the kind you can't touch with your fingers because of the oils in your body may transfer to the inside and weaken them?
I used a watch screwdriver for the tight spots; and strong tape on the overheads helped. A couple different plastic trim tools also helped out a lot!
 
#16 ·
Was curious - I believe I got that sale kit off Amazon.. Supposed to include the license plate bulbs as well..
So I was at it this past weekend swapping interior bulbs.. For whatever reason, I am unable to remove the map and license plate lights.. I didn't want to destroy the bulbs just yet. So am I missing something? Maybe a release of some sort? I had no problem with the rear passenger (upper ones with the handle).. Which are the same style bulb..

Digging the better light output so far!
Thanks,
MacK
 
#17 ·
Was curious - I believe I got that sale kit off Amazon.. Supposed to include the license plate bulbs as well..
So I was at it this past weekend swapping interior bulbs.. For whatever reason, I am unable to remove the map and license plate lights.. I didn't want to destroy the bulbs just yet. So am I missing something? Maybe a release of some sort? I had no problem with the rear passenger (upper ones with the handle).. Which are the same style bulb..

Digging the better light output so far!
Thanks,
MacK

I did not do anything with the rear license plate lights, I'll just use those sent in the kit as replacement bulbs if any of the interior bulbs go out. So far so good, on my cheap $16 install kit. And by kit, I really mean bulbs. The map lights require soldering, no members that I know of our soldering those bulbs. Just living with them. At night the LEDs overpower those small map light bulbs. The lens removal over the front overhead lights are not as easy as they youtuve video indicated, I got pretty forceful and was happy nothing broke, but they do come off and you can replace them, just takes some finesse.

Reverse lights and fog lights are coming in a couple months, with mirror tap hardwire install, will post pics of all this stuff coming.
 
#19 ·
in my OP, I used a table knife and leatherman. Obviously skinnier the blade the better. For removal of the overhead lighting I put scotch tape around the bulbs to create some context between the bulbs and needle noseplyers for extraction, again it worked well. I was not conscience at all about handling the leds.
 
#48 ·
I changed out my overhead and floor 194 bulbs and found a very effective way of getting the bulb out. Use a piece of rubber or plastic hose almost the same size as the bulb - 3/8" or so. Slide the hose over the bulb and pull. Worked every time.
 
#22 ·
For the front map lights I just put electrical tape over them. It's a great way to hide the awful yellow light.

There was a thread, I wish I could find it, but there were a couple of people who did the soldering. You basically have to take down the whole center console to get to them. I will continue to look for it and will try to post a link if/when I find it
 
#24 ·
And here it is..... http://www.jeepgarage.org/f176/2014...replace-headlamp-fog-56940-14.html#post880722


It's a great thread for anything about lights interior and exterior.
That remove process has me pretty nervous! Might do electrical tape. At night, I'm sure I'm the only one who notices those small yellow map lights. Wish there is a fuse I could pull for those. I didn't do the rear license plate lights since they are already pretty white. Order four more reverse lights for that swap, fogs and mirror tap. I think I'll have those done professionally. Hopefully within the next week or two.
 
#29 ·
The WK2 didn't get factory LED plate lights until 2014.

So back to interior lights. I tried some on my 2014 Summit when I had that and they worked fine with the exception of them not turning on sometimes. Say you want to turn an individual bulb on sometimes it wouldn't go on. Its almost as if the lack of draw from the LED bulb isn't enough for the Grand Cherokee electrical system to realize there is a bulb installed and wont turn it on. They all come on like normal though when opening doors. Are people just dealing with it or what?
 
#34 ·
Good news, got my reverse lights installed - pic attached. Not the best photo, but it captures the white light and the similar white hue and brightness, WAY brighter great for night-time reversing, lol.


Outside reverse lights - Putco White 7440 360 degree plasma LED bulbs ($64 Amazon)
Inside reverse light - JDM Astar super bright 30-ex chipsets 921 912 LED bulbs ($17 amazon)


Install was a breeze, cause I paid someone to do it. Also hardwired my radar detector and fog lights.
 

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#37 · (Edited)
Phillips 921's and Putco Plasma 7440's for reverse from XenonDepot. Pics are up-hill with no ambient lighting and brake/HL off. Did the install in 1 hour (fule LED, with reverse), and now have done 3 WK2's. Can change all 16-18 bulbs to LED's in under 30 minutes.

Hardwired Passport Redline, the currently MAX 360. $15 cord from Amazon and the MAX mount is much better than the other models dual-suction cups. Link to install info:

Hardwire Radar Detector WK2


Love the reverse setup...almost HID-quality in dark/rural areas with no ambient light at night. I am very impressed. :thumbsup:
 

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#38 ·
Guys I have another question. As I mentioned before by replacing the interior bulbs with a 194 LED, they do not work perfectly in that if you go to turn on an individual bulb like say while you are driving, it will not go on...I assume this is because the LED draws much less power and it simply will not turn it on. I honestly don't know how you guys can live with that considering it means in most situations you don't have functioning interior lights lol.
I did try them in my 2015 as well and same results.

So now that leads me to this question. Maybe we need the can-bus LED bulbs instead? Is that what you guys are running? My understanding is that a can-bus bulb will draw the same amount of power as the original bulb, this allowing the bulb to turn on exactly the same as the original. So I'm tempted to order some can-bus bulbs and I can only assume that will take care of the issue here.

Is that what you guys are running to take care of this issue I speak of? I'm not a fan of "cool white", so I plan on ordering the "natural white" 194 can-bus bulbs from superbrightleds.com.
 
#41 ·
So I just ordered these canbus 194 "natural white" bulbs for my interior from superbrightleds. I have some Osram 6000K bulbs laying around and they have too much of a blue hue to them. I want pure white similar to what we are seeing come factory on some new cars now. The reviews seem to be very good and people love the color of the natural white. As usual I will report back when I get them installed with pics.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/1127/
 
#46 ·
I went with all JDM AStar interior lights and after a few weeks of functioning properly, if I have the interior lights on too long (car on or off), say with the hatch or a door open, they begin to flicker like strobes intermittently. Guess im startin over. None of them are individually out (if on some circuit), they just do it after being on for about 45sec straight. bummer.
 
#49 ·
Looking into replacing my 2011 interior lights as well. Read through the thread and I am more confused than before. Some say the more expensive kits don't hold up well over time. I am a little nervous about the under 20.00 kits. Precision LED kit would run me about 80.00 to do the interior, reverse, and license plate lights. Their kit comes in 2 white options. Which one are you guys using? I just want the most bang for my buck and I don't want to have to keep replacing these every year. Thanks for all your input.
 
#52 · (Edited)
Sorry just saw it now. I used the superbrightleds non-canbus natural white 194 bulbs everywhere inside. Footwell, overhead, and rear liftgate. The color is absolutely perfect and you will not be disappointed, trust me. As you may have seen I also did the factory LED map lights as well, but that requires some fairly complicated work. I did not know the footwell bulbs were different. My 2015 HA had the exact same bulb that was used for all the other lights. Mine definitely was not a larger bulb. Maybe they changed that at some point. Mine is a Dec/2015 mfr date. So yes those got the same 194 LED and works great.
I original went with the canbus version of these, but after realizing that did not make a difference I returned them and bought the non-canbus. Plus the canbus ones got kind of hot which I didn't like.
Here is the link to the bulbs I bought. They are awesome! So nice infact that I just ordered another full set for my wife's new Honda Odyssey lol. Not the cheapest thing, but worth it IMO.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...d-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/206/
 
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