1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Factory LED Headlights & LED Kits?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by ArmyChief, Apr 7, 2020.

Tags:
  1. ArmyChief

    ArmyChief Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2020
    71
    49
    0
    Location:
    North Port, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    COVID-19 has me delayed picking up my new-to-me 2013 Prius Persona. I've been researching and building up my Amazon cart. One thing I want to do is replace ALL the lamps that aren't LED. I've scoured the forum..lots of threads..but I haven't found a good list of bulb numbers& quantities, so I can order on Amazon. Most of the threads had links that are dead now.

    1. According to this link: (Prius Two vs. Three vs. Four vs. Five vs. Persona Series: Comparing Trims - Miller Toyota Reviews, Specials and Deals), the factory headlights are LED. However, does anyone know there lumens and if AM LED lamps would be brighter?

    2. Anyone have a good list of the bulb numbers and quantities so I can order on Amazon?

    TIA
     
  2. Ronald Doles

    Ronald Doles Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2019
    230
    280
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    One word of caution if you are also considering replacing interior lights.

    I ordered a replacement lamp kit (11 led's) for our 08 Odyssey from Amazon. The kit included every interior lamp. The original incandescent lamps were nowhere near as bright as the new LED's and I was originally pretty happy with the upgrade.

    One drawback with the LED's was when the door was closed the lights dimmed gradually and then extinguished and that dimming time was considerably shortened.

    After a couple years and one by one, each of the overhead LED's began flickering. Now with a door open all the overhead and door LED's are flickering and it is pretty annoying. I think it may be a compatibility issue with the Honda lamp controllers or even a failed lamp controller but since it started happening to the LED's one by one, I expect that it has more to do with the LED's. I don't know why it went from barely perceptible to being so much worse unless the LED's were not compatible with dimming and the dimming somehow damages them.

    Fortunately I saved the original lamps and now with the coronavirus quarantine, I have plenty of time on my hands so I can go back and replace the original lamps and see if it remedies the problem.
     
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,137
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The cars that are not designed for led lights seem to have the most problems.
    Obviously, there are different quality of led's on the market. I've been tempted to replace some of mine,
    but with all the problems 90% of the people have, it's not worth it to me.

    You probably need an LED dimmer. I replaced the chandelier light I had in the dining room. I couldn't get it high
    enough to keep me from hitting my head on it.
    I used an led light. It is definitely a huge improvement. It is suppose to work with the dimmer switch I had.
    It only semi works. It dims about a third of the way, then goes out.
    I read somewhere that dimmer for incandescent bulb don't function well with the led because they run on 5vdc
    and not 117vac.
    I decided $50 for new switch was not worth it! :)
     
    ArmyChief likes this.
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Low quality led will get ya. Most them are designed at run at 12v, when car on ready, it’s a bit above 14.x volts so lifespan if led is even shorter. Forget kits, go through each bulb and write down their sizes then order multiple of each bulb individually. They look great but needs to be replace sooner than you want to. I personally do that myself, have a stash ready to go.
     
    #4 Grit, Apr 8, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2020
    ArmyChief likes this.
  5. ArmyChief

    ArmyChief Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2020
    71
    49
    0
    Location:
    North Port, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    So know one has done this (you stated you did) and has a list of ALL the bulb numbers ?

    Also, I'm assuming know one has looked at the factory LED bulbs to determine lumens?
     
    #5 ArmyChief, Apr 8, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2020
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,137
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    There needs to be a resister going to each light to reduce the 14+ volts to 12volts.
    That would probably resolve a lot of the problems...
     
    Grit likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Factory LED headlights are not just different bulbs, whole 'nuther housing, different part no.
     
    ArmyChief likes this.
  8. Ronald Doles

    Ronald Doles Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2019
    230
    280
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    120 Volt LED replacement lamps don't respond well to standard dimmer switches. The LED's flicker and you often don't get the full range of control.

    They used the simple form of dimming which only required about 4 cheap components. They switch the power on at some point in an A.C. sine wave.
    upload_2020-4-9_9-51-25.png

    The expensive LED dimmers use pulse width modulation which means that they charge up a capacitor with a d.c. voltage and then switch it on and off at a high frequency to create the equivalent of a sine wave. When set to a low level the pulses are narrower and for more power the pulses become wider.
    upload_2020-4-9_9-49-30.png
     

    Attached Files:

  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,837
    3,137
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks!
    Yep, that's pretty much what I read about them.
    The standard dimmer switch was about $10. LED one was about $50.
    I almost never use it, so it wasn't worth it. "IF" it comes down to $10, and I have the money,
    I'll probably get one. :)


     
  10. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    You can generally do okay as long as you're willing to experiment and try a few different parts. The makers of these LEDs are changing their designs very rapidly, so a part number that worked last month might not work this month. These are moving targets.

    If you want to do it all in one order and one installation you might be a little disappointed.
     
  11. ArmyChief

    ArmyChief Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2020
    71
    49
    0
    Location:
    North Port, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Thanks, If I could get a list of the OE bulb numbers for all the NON LED bulbs..I could start to research the potential LED replacements. I've yet to see/get that list.

    I'm not worried about a dimmer (that was mentioned above with a Honda)...as the Toyota isn't effected by that (no dimmer) - Watched NutaboutBolts video.

    Lastly, I'm guessing one of my original questions was also answered above. The FACTORY LED headlight option is an actual DIFFERENT housing and is NOT the non-LED housing with just LED bulbs. So, upgrade of the FACTORY LED headlights would encompass replacing the headlight housing with a NON-LED housing and then using aftermarket LED replacement LED bulbs.
     
    Robert Holt likes this.
  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Maybe start with an application guide specific to that car. Most bulb makers publish these in a format to allow you to replace every bulb on the car with THEIR part number. This will not be sorted with regards to bulb type, but most entries on it will not be LEDs from the factory.

    Then you can add a column to that list and start figuring out appropriate replacements.

    Having been down this road before, you may run into situations where you'll find one bulb type used in several places on the car, but the LED equivalents aren't a slam dunk for both roles- you may want to replace x with y in one position while replacing x with z in another for optimal results.

    You are correct, LED headlamps are completely different bucket assemblies with their own reflectors and lenses. Be aware that it may go deeper- the body computer in many modern cars is able to monitor the headlights electrically to detect burnouts and other fault types. If you change the headlight bucket type, you can inadvertently present the computer with a situation it would normally never face, which often awards you with a "check engine" lamp. This is a very common problem when trying to change HID burners to LEDs or halogens. In addition, beam select and DRLs may be handled differently than with your native headlights, so there's several chances for trouble.
     
    ArmyChief likes this.
  13. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2014
    534
    551
    13
    Location:
    The Middle
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Your car does not have factory LED headlights; only the 5 and PiP Advanced w/ Technology Package had them.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,480
    38,108
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    @ArmyChief, notions, once they get rolling, can be hard to stop, regardless of their benefit or lack thereof. Maybe this mod is more trouble than it's worth?
     
  15. ArmyChief

    ArmyChief Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2020
    71
    49
    0
    Location:
    North Port, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Did you see the link I posted above. I was only going by what that Toyota link said. The 5 and Persona are supposed to. Guess I'll find out..thanks
     
  16. ArmyChief

    ArmyChief Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2020
    71
    49
    0
    Location:
    North Port, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Yes, if my Persona HAS LED headlamps, I will stick with the OE's. However, I will still want to replace the non LED bulbs (Door, Courtesy, Map, cargo..etc)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2014
    534
    551
    13
    Location:
    The Middle
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes, I saw the link. You are confused, I think, because it lists the Persona after the Five. However, the Persona edition did not have LED headlights, and no option for them from the factory--according to Toyota's own product information for the 2013 Prius which I downloaded and checked just to make sure.
     

    Attached Files:

    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  18. ArmyChief

    ArmyChief Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2020
    71
    49
    0
    Location:
    North Port, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Thanks for clarifying and providing that PDF.
     
  19. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2014
    534
    551
    13
    Location:
    The Middle
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No problem! That said, I did retrofit factory LED headlights to my Two a year ago. Happy to answer any questions if you have them.
     
  20. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,382
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Was it straightforward or were there any weird gotchas along the way? I admit my only interest is in hearing about a headlight swap success story, they seem rare lately.