License plate bulb replacement?

[generic808]

Does anyone know how to get to the license plate bulbs? Looking from under the housing, it seems like it has to be removed from the inside of the trunk. That means removing the liner and whatever else lies between me and the bulbs. Is there an easier way or do I have to do all that to get to the bulbs? I just replaced my dingy yellowish door lights with bright white LEDs and it looks great, so now I want to replace everything.

[SHIFT_COUPE]

You do need to move the liner to get to where the lights are but you don't need to remove the whole thing.

At the top of the lining when you open your trunk you'll see two black bump stops for when you shut the trunk; remove those by popping them off. There should also be a one or two other clips on both sides, pop those off with a flat head screw driver.

You should now be able to fold down the the top half of the liner. You can reach inside and turn the bulb harness that holds it into the license plate light.

Thats it really Good luck.

[generic808]

Thanks for the reply! I just changed my door W5W door bulbs with 158 LED's last week and they look great! Do you know if the 158's will fit in the license plate housing?

[ChiLLaXtodaMaX]

158, 194, same thing. They are all of the same size.

Generic808, did you notice that the lights for the door coverings were in different directions? On the driver's side, the bulb faces the front of the car while the passenger side faces the rear. At least this was how my car was...just trying to figure out if it's the same or I've got a problem.

[generic808]

Mine was facing opposite directions too, so no need to worry.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Im looking to change the dome lights, the door panel lights, and the license bulbs to LED lights...

They are all the same size? How many do i need total?Thanks

[generic808]

They all use basically the same bulb (158, 168, 194, etc). You'll need 4 for the interior, 2 for the doors, 1 for the trunk, and 2 for the license plate for a total of... NINE.

[LongBeachCoupe]

How many LEDs are supposed to be on the wedge, or will fit rather.. heres single... http://cgi.ebay.com/10pcs-Brig...wItemor theres lots bigger..http://cgi.ebay.com/5-LED-Blue...wItem

[SHIFT_CR]

Would yall recommend single LED or multi LED on a bulb? is the single LED bright enough?

[generic808]

Yes, the single LED is way more than enough since there are two. I think if you went with a 3, 5, or 9 LED, it would be too bright. The single white LED actually is brighter than the Lexus license plate bulbs.

[notaverage]

As Eric mentioned above, that single LED lights are more than sufficient, I was looking for advice pertaining to that.

I am a total noob at this, and I want to change my lights, specifically the side door lights, the map lights, glove box, dome light, trunk lights, and license plate lights.

I understand that the dome light is not 194, but all others are. I have been looking at 194 white colored LED lights on ebay, and there are SO MANY CHOICES!

Too many sellers, and too many different products. Does anyone want to go out on a limb, and recommend a seller/LED model for me?? Hopefully a listing selling 10 pieces for the 194 lights, so I can replace them all.

[generic808]

This is who I ordered from: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...wItem

Very good price and the shipping was really fast.

[notaverage]

What do you think of the inverted cone types?

[seekinsp]

I understand that the dome light is not 194, but all others are.

Do you know what bulb type would fit the dome light? So that would be 9 bulbs total 'including' dome light?

Cheers!

[SHIFT_CR]

This is who I ordered from: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...wItem

Very good price and the shipping was really fast.

did you use those for the interior of the car too? i bought some off ebay and place them in the map lighting and it didnt look so good because it only lighted up a circle instead of the whole map lens.

[notaverage]

What do you think of these? (inverted cone)

http://cgi.ebay.com/10X-194-LE...wItem

[prlwhitecoupe]

http://www.superbrightleds.com

[generic808]

did you use those for the interior of the car too? i bought some off ebay and place them in the map lighting and it didnt look so good because it only lighted up a circle instead of the whole map lens.

I used them for the plate and step lights. Didn't do the dome/maps because I like the stock light color instead of the LED white. It just seems easier on the eyes when lighting up the interior. But that's just me.

[notaverage]

So does any one have any opinion on the inverted cone design versus the regular bulb design? Supposedly the inverted cone gives a wider viewing angle, but less intensity...

[generic808]

Sorry, no experience with them. Why would you want a wider angle for you license plate? The regular LED's are fine. Or are they going to be used for the interior?

[notaverage]

Well, I am planning on changing all the bulbs (interior and license plate), so I just wanted to know if people knew what kind of difference it would make to get an inverted cone one, as opposed to the regular one...

Someone mentioned that when they changed their map lights to LEDs, the LEDs only lit up into a circle, and didn't work in the way that the map lights are intended. I'm wondering if this will be the case for all the lights?

[generic808]

Your dome/map lights will look odd with the regular LED's. I tried that and yes, the do just light up in a direct circle about 3/4" wide. I guess the inverted bulb would look a little better, but by how much? The plate, steps and trunk light are all ok using the regular LED's.

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Inverted LED bulbs in either the map or courtesy lights wont light up properly. The side of the bulb is putting out the light in both these instances. The inverted bulb is meant to be pointed downward for best light.

Long story short. Use regulars like Eric mentioned

[notaverage]

Thanks for the advice! I'll go buy my bulbs now