LED Position Bulb Install
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:31 am
While I was in Japan a little while back, I picked up some LED position bulbs. Position bulbs are often used in Japan as people turn off their low beams when they are stopped at a traffic light to reduce the glare into the eyes of other drivers. Because of this, JDM cars nearly all have dedicated position bulbs and many people customize them with nicer LED bulbs.
I picked up a pair of PIAA LED bulbs to replace the incandescent ones in my Kizashi. The bulbs I got were Made in Japan PIAAs, but they were decently priced as they were the "Value Model". I paid around 1,200 yen ($13 USD). High end, high power LEDs can go as high as 7,800 yen ($84 USD) and there is everything in between at the auto parts store I visited in Japan
I got 6000K bulbs to match my HID low beams (also 6000K).
As many of you know, installation of just about any bulb in the headlight of the Kizashi requires the removal of the bumper and the headlight.
Here's a walk-through on the position bulb replacement.
1) Remove the bumper and headlights.
2) Remove the cover of high beam bulb housing. The position bulb is also accessed via the high beam housing as the position bulb is located directly under the high beam bulb.
3) Disconnect the high beam bulb harness.
4) Unhinge the bulb holder to remove the high beam bulb. The hinge is easily removed by squeezing the wire hinge, pushing forward, and then towards the opening.
5) Once the high beam bulb is removed, you have access to the position bulb housing and holder. Using pliers, carefully pull the plastic holder of the position bulb. It comes out will little effort.
6) Pull off the position bulb.
7) Push in the replacement bulb (LED in my case) into the holder, but NOT into the headlight housing yet.
8) VERY IMPORTANT: Turn on the headlight to the middle (position light) position. Make sure the position bulb lights up. LED bulbs require the correct polarity to illuminate. If the bulb does not illuminate, pull it off and turn the bulb and re-insert so it is in reverse position. It should light up.
9) After the bulb illuminates, turn off the lights and insert the bulb into the headlight housing.
10) Re-install everything.
Photos below.
I picked up a pair of PIAA LED bulbs to replace the incandescent ones in my Kizashi. The bulbs I got were Made in Japan PIAAs, but they were decently priced as they were the "Value Model". I paid around 1,200 yen ($13 USD). High end, high power LEDs can go as high as 7,800 yen ($84 USD) and there is everything in between at the auto parts store I visited in Japan
I got 6000K bulbs to match my HID low beams (also 6000K).
As many of you know, installation of just about any bulb in the headlight of the Kizashi requires the removal of the bumper and the headlight.
Here's a walk-through on the position bulb replacement.
1) Remove the bumper and headlights.
2) Remove the cover of high beam bulb housing. The position bulb is also accessed via the high beam housing as the position bulb is located directly under the high beam bulb.
3) Disconnect the high beam bulb harness.
4) Unhinge the bulb holder to remove the high beam bulb. The hinge is easily removed by squeezing the wire hinge, pushing forward, and then towards the opening.
5) Once the high beam bulb is removed, you have access to the position bulb housing and holder. Using pliers, carefully pull the plastic holder of the position bulb. It comes out will little effort.
6) Pull off the position bulb.
7) Push in the replacement bulb (LED in my case) into the holder, but NOT into the headlight housing yet.
8) VERY IMPORTANT: Turn on the headlight to the middle (position light) position. Make sure the position bulb lights up. LED bulbs require the correct polarity to illuminate. If the bulb does not illuminate, pull it off and turn the bulb and re-insert so it is in reverse position. It should light up.
9) After the bulb illuminates, turn off the lights and insert the bulb into the headlight housing.
10) Re-install everything.
Photos below.