Can You Put LED Bulbs in Halogen Headlights

Many car owners are looking to replace their halogen headlights with LEDs. This is because LED headlights produce more light. They also consume less energy and take up less space. They are also easier to design to match a particular vehicle’s distinctive style. 

Not many people can afford to retrofit their vehicle’s headlights. As such, you may wonder if you can put LED bulbs in your halogen headlights. The answer is yes. It’s possible to put LED bulbs in halogen headlights. The same applies with HID bulbs. 

What you’ll need is a HID or LED headlight conversion kit. This is a kit that allows you to replace your halogen bulbs with HIDs or LEDs without tampering with the headlight assembly. This guide provides all the information you need on how conversion kits work. 

LED and HID Headlight Conversion Kits

LED and HID headlight conversion kits typically include a headlight bulb and a connector. Both are compatible with the factory halogen headlights that come with your car. 

LEDs have drivers that regulate current flow from the car’s battery to the bulb. For HIDs, ballast and ignitors are included to regulate how much power the bulb consumes.

The kit comes with locking plugs and tabs that match those of your car’s headlight assembly. The bulb fits perfectly into the housing and easily connects to the power harness. 

How to Put LED Bulbs in Halogen Headlights

Below are the steps to take to convert your halogen headlights into LED headlights. All you need to do is replace the bulb. 

Step 1: Identify the bulb type

Start by identifying the type of bulb included in your factory headlights. Bulbs are either single beam, meaning that there are two bulbs for the high beam and the low beam, or dual beam where both high and low beams are combined in the same bulb. 

To confirm what bulb comes with your car, consult your owner’s manual or do a search online. You can also reach out to your local dealer or vehicle manufacturer to find out. The last method is to remove the headlight bulb yourself and check if there’s any information printed on it. 

Step 2: Buy an LED or HID conversion kit

With the bulb type in mind, it’s time to purchase the right conversion kit. HIDs are usually 30-50% cheaper when compared to LEDs. They start at about $40 and go all the way to $200. You can get a durable and powerful kit at around $100. 

Those that cost below $50 are usually of lower quality and do not last longer than a few months. They can also cause damage to your vehicle’s power supply or wiring. On the other hand, LEDs typically start at $60 and go all the way to $300. 

You can get a durable and reliable kit for about $120. Avoid cheaper kits that cost less than $100. They consume more power and tend to have low-quality light. In addition, the light produced does not reach very far. 

Like low-quality HID headlight conversion kits, they also burn out sooner and can cause damage to your vehicle’s power supply and wiring. The best options consume as much power as your halogen bulbs and produce enough light for night driving. 

Once you’ve bought the correct kit, confirm that it has all the components. Some LED bulbs also include ballasts to regulate the current flowing to the bulb. 

Step 3: Replace your halogen bulbs with LED bulbs

Ensure your car is in Park and that the parking brake is on. Switch the engine off and remove the key from the ignition. Pop the hood of your car and check if you can remove the old bulbs from the back of the headlight assembly. 

For most vehicles, all you need to do is turn the bulb counter-clockwise to remove it. Other vehicles may need you to remove a plastic cap and any retaining clips to release the bulb. More complicated setups may not provide access to the headlight assembly from under the hood. 

You may have to remove the fender well or other ancillary components. All in all, the goal here is to remove your halogen bulbs and replace them with your new HID or LED bulbs. Install the bulbs without touching the plastic or glass lens with bare fingers. 

The oils from your hands can cause the bulb to deteriorate faster than expected. Finish by connecting the ballast wiring to the factory wiring harness. This ensures your bulb is connected to the power source. 

Step 4: Test your headlights

Switch on your headlights and test to see if the new bulbs are working. If they aren’t, confirm that the connection is right. Check to see if any of the wires are damaged. If your headlights are working, it’s important to confirm their orientation. 

Park the car in front of a wall or in front of your garage door. Turn on your lights and confirm that they are not illuminating too far up or too far down. The last thing you want is to blind oncoming traffic or struggle to see the road at night. 

If your headlights are not oriented correctly, you’ll need to adjust them. Most assemblies have alignment screws that allow you to turn the headlights left or right and up or down. Consult your user manual if you need to adjust your headlights. 

Conclusion

Replacing your halogen headlight bulbs with LED bulbs allows you to benefit from better visibility at night. The other alternative would be to retrofit your headlight assemblies. This involves completely replacing the entire headlight unit.

The cost is usually higher and ranges between $400 and $2,000 excluding labor. This depends on the type of headlight you need, the quality, and other key factors. It’s also a job that requires a skilled mechanic. A headlight conversion kit makes the work easier as you only need to change the bulb. It’s good to note that most LED and HID kits are designed to work with halogen headlight assemblies.