Installing LED Headlights?? - General Modifications - The fun starts here!

I bought a set of LED bulbs off of Amazon. Bout $50-$60 for the set. How would I go about installing them on my Tonto?

*(Tonto is the name of my Ranger LOL)*

I have a 2005 Ford Ranger XLT 2.3L, 2WD, Standard Cab

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Last edited on Sun Dec 10th, 2017 11:23 am by Ranger_Danger_

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Posted: Sat Dec 9th, 2017 02:03 pm

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Can you lend a model number or basic picture of the setup? I believe every kind has a different set of install needs.

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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2017 02:13 am

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On your Tonto?

Could you tell us what bulbs and what problem you're having fitting them?

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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2017 10:00 am

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To start, just putting LED sources in your halogen reflectors isn't much of a benefit, and just serves to piss off oncoming traffic. I could direct you to the relevant facts, but nobody cares they never have.

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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2017 02:05 pm

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Not to mention that using LED and HID bulbs in a fixture designed for incandescent bulbs is illegal on all public roads in all 50 US States and the public roads in Canada. Smart people know that just because something that fits in a light socket is for sale on the internet doesn't mean it's legal on the streets (because it creates dangerous situation for everyone).

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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2017 03:08 pm

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Now now, perhaps there is some idea or she is using them off road we have no idea that's why I asked her for a number or a picture of the setup. If it is a self contained lens with the bulb it could be mounted in the housing, there is already an article somewhere on here about doing just that.

Though it is more common for people not to know or care I realize that also, probably a good idea to discover the intent first.

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Posted: Sun Dec 10th, 2017 03:12 pm

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My LED's work perfectly fine, and whilst the non focused light leakage is obviously higher than stock bulbs, i've checked and they do not blind oncoming drivers.

If they're the same bulbs i got, i know what problems RangerDanger will have.

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Posted: Tue Dec 12th, 2017 12:49 pm

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For those with the comments, LED lights are not illegal in the headlights. The LED BARS are illegal on public roads, but headlights are not. They can be considered frowned upon, but they are less-power consuming and I am hard of sight. I work late at night and brighter headlights are what I chose to go with besides new glasses. Check the reason/intent before making a comment. I asked how to put them on/in, not the laws behind them. :)

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Posted: Tue Dec 12th, 2017 03:06 pm

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Ranger_Danger_ wrote: For those with the comments, LED lights are not illegal in the headlights. The LED BARS are illegal on public roads, but headlights are not. They can be considered frowned upon, but they are less-power consuming and I am hard of sight. I work late at night and brighter headlights are what I chose to go with besides new glasses. Check the reason/intent before making a comment. I asked how to put them on/in, not the laws behind them. :)

The single biggest issue with putting a different light source into a halogen reflector and expecting good or better performance than stock is the beam. Typically with LED's 'bulbs' or plug and play HID's you get brighter light in the immediate vicinity right in front of the vehicle. So people think 'great! Its bright, itll be better!", but there is no long distance light projection. Further down the road you can actually see LESS than with stock. This can lead to 'out driving your lights' at speed. This is due to the location in the reflector where the light is generated. Manufacturers put a LOT of time and effort into getting that right, and $50 source lights won;t improve it. The ONLY way to change the light source and get an improvement is to change the entire unit. Retro fit HID projectors, install true LED projectors. There is more to be gained from a pure down the road light projection stand point by upgrading your halogen bulbs to something like SilverStar bulbs than putting off the shelf light source into the halogen reflectors.

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Posted: Tue Dec 12th, 2017 03:14 pm

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Ranger_Danger, which bulbs did you get?

I have a set in mine that work very well, but there was a question over the install as the 9007 socket is different to most, for these at least.

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Posted: Tue Dec 12th, 2017 06:38 pm

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Ranger_Danger_ wrote: For those with the comments, LED lights are not illegal in the headlights. The LED BARS are illegal on public roads, but headlights are not. They can be considered frowned upon, but they are less-power consuming and I am hard of sight. I work late at night and brighter headlights are what I chose to go with besides new glasses. Check the reason/intent before making a comment. I asked how to put them on/in, not the laws behind them. :)

You really wound benefit from a review of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and realize that there are laws pertaining to the exterior lighting that apply to all vehicles used on public roadways. It's not about frowning and pouting by a few, most laws were put in place for many good and what should be obvious reasons, in this case they are there in the interest of the public at large. Blinding everyone else on the roads with illegal-on-all-public roads in north America and thus creating an unsafe condition for decent society, as if nobody else has trouble seeing at night, wears glasses or things the glare on a rainy night doesn't suck isn't the answer; instead of disrespecting the law perhaps consider options such as, riding with a coworker, taking the bus or using Uber. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and it's unfortunate that responsible mods/admins allow the promotion of using illegal vehicle equipment and activity rather than help do the right thing. What next, threads promoting and sharing information on how to get away with stealing cars/stripping/selling pars for money online all because someone needs a little extra money and prefers working the graveyard shift?

Last edited on Tue Dec 12th, 2017 06:41 pm by CBB9M

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Posted: Tue Dec 12th, 2017 06:48 pm

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You need more periods in there for sure!
I wouldn't be too preachy on this, no one is promoting illegal activities and whether or not you agree, doesn't really matter.

You can have your say and state what you feel, but you're not helping despite your feeling on this.

Don't assume all non halogen bulbs are not street legal, or all glare\blind other road users.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 04:49 am

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^^^ Leadership and talk like this collectively helped virtually destroy FRF (and why I made sure to include one particular word in my last post).

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 05:33 am

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Well then we need another thread with actual articles and statutes upholding the laws with data pasted from credible government articles, because I really don't know and traditionally choose not to do things that are even questionable due to the fact that things like these are safer to ask permission han forgiveness. Forgiveness would be expensive.

Is there legal LED's you can put in stock lenses? I don't really know,perhaps there are designs for this perhaps the manufacturer claims this and it is not true.

Is there clear guidelines on what is and is not illegal? There certainly is, but I have not seen or researched such things since they do not apply to my particular situation (other than owning a forum where they are being discussed).

So I think it is time to do some research and post some info (in an additional thread) with legal info pertaining to common misconceptions like color of lights, brightness of lights and possibly catalytic converter/emissions/engine year swap info. Maybe some noise (loud muffler) info, lifted vehicle, wheel spacer outside of fender well, stuff like this.

I would include it in the tech articles I will assemble and put on a separate page eventually.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 06:11 am

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^^^

A link to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) is easily found and read with a quick Google search and as mentioned, for a gov't doc this one is actually pretty straightforward and easy for most people to read and understand. Furthermore, there is an absolutely excellent read on another site (another member here looks to be making reference to this one, and his comment RE "relevant facts" is spot on) and this read makes it crystal clear for those who actually want to learn and understand how the headlight setups work, and this helps connects the dots on why the mod is both illegal on public roads and a safety menace for both the driver with the mod and oncoming traffic. Probably the reason most people who are serious and care about doing the right thing, like legal vehicle mods and helping others, don't get interested in posting these links is two fold, first, people who think their light are too dim don't really want to know the cause effect of their mod nor they don't think about and care about others, only themselves and in some cases it's reinforced by their defensive, arrogance and condescending tone of communication with others. Probably one of the easiest to understand indicators of legality on this one is evidenced by the availability of any "conversion kits" by two major lighting companies, Sylvania/Osram and Philips. Just an observation.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 06:40 am

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CBB9M wrote: A link to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) is easily found and read with a quick Google search

OK, I'll do it.

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Just a a matter of information ( and I don't know whether it applies in the US, but I suspect so) in the UK ANY modification away from the manufacturer's specification can result in your vehicle insurance being invalid unless your insurance company has accepted the specific modifications in writing. So technically you could be prosecuted for driving without insurance.

Additionally, even deviating from the manufacturer's recommended tyre (tire) pressures could result in "driving an unroadworthy vehicle" which could result in invalid insurance or prosecution should you have an accident in which the tyre (tire) pressures were deemed to have been a contributory factor.

In the increasingly litigious world we live in, I would think carefully about any modification away from standard.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 12:06 pm

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Chris, i just had a conversation with my Dad about how stupid the insurance has gotten over there, including the 'if someone hits you, totally 3rd party at fault, your insurance now gets dinged indirectly because they deem you more likely to be involved in an accident'

Jamman, I agree it would be good to have a section for reference with the relevant rules/regs for people to refer to if they want.

CBB9M, You're right that blinding other drivers and not adhering to the law is wrong, no one should want to do that.
However you can't just assume that the person asking for help doesn't get that, or doesn't need help per their original asking.

I appreciate you wanting to get that info across and have it for reference here on the site, but you can only give the advice, not police it.

Ranger_Danger_ i'm fairly certain from the information you posted that you likely bought the Auxbeam bulbs, if so, let me know and i can help you with the lacking instructions part, you'll need a very small tipped screw driver.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 03:42 pm

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CBB9M wrote: ^^^

A link to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) is easily found and read with a quick Google search and as mentioned, for a gov't doc this one is actually pretty straightforward and easy for most people to read and understand. Furthermore, there is an absolutely excellent read on another site (another member here looks to be making reference to this one, and his comment RE "relevant facts" is spot on) and this read makes it crystal clear for those who actually want to learn and understand how the headlight setups work, and this helps connects the dots on why the mod is both illegal on public roads and a safety menace for both the driver with the mod and oncoming traffic. Probably the reason most people who are serious and care about doing the right thing, like legal vehicle mods and helping others, don't get interested in posting these links is two fold, first, people who think their light are too dim don't really want to know the cause effect of their mod nor they don't think about and care about others, only themselves and in some cases it's reinforced by their defensive, arrogance and condescending tone of communication with others. Probably one of the easiest to understand indicators of legality on this one is evidenced by the availability of any "conversion kits" by two major lighting companies, Sylvania/Osram and Philips. Just an observation.

Now here, I have a link of all new vehicles that have STOCK LED LIGHTS. (wow. So illegal huh?)

https://www.autobytel.com/car-buying-guides/features/10-cars-with-led-lights-that-outshine-the-competition-130697/

And to refute your comment on "just get an Uber." and "get new glasses"

I live in the middle of butt- nowhere Florida. We don't have Uber within 20 miles. I also mentioned I am receiving new glasses shortly. Takes 14-20 weeks for them to come in. Until then, I will run my LED lights on my truck as I please. I will surely let you know if a cop pulls me over for them. :)

As to my knowledge, LED lights are legal and the only real "requirement" is that they are white lights. Not colored. Since mine are white, I, and my parents and coworkers, deem them as LEGAL. Thanks for your two cents.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 04:51 pm

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Kaylee, I don't think he wasn't disputing the legality of LED headlights in general, as we all know the manufacturers are slowly moving that direction. It is the conversion process... wrong bulb type for the reflector/lens in our Rangers. To work correctly, the LED bulb must also have a correctly designed reflector and lens... designed as a single unit.

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mhoward wrote: Kaylee, I don't think he wasn't disputing the legality of LED headlights in general, as we all know the manufacturers are slowly moving that direction. It is the conversion process... wrong bulb type for the reflector/lens in our Rangers. To work correctly, the LED bulb must also have a correctly designed reflector and lens... designed as a single unit.

The lights I bought do fit and are made to fit my Ranger. I ensured fitment when purchased and was able to see that they would be fine in the housing i have. I was simply asking someone to instruct me on how to put new bulbs in old housing. Was not expecting a legal dispute with members.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 06:39 pm

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I think you missed the point of my post. Sorry.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 07:31 pm

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I see a lot of that in this thread.

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Posted: Wed Dec 13th, 2017 07:40 pm

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True dat!

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Posted: Thu Dec 14th, 2017 09:13 pm

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