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Cree LED lights say do not use with dust covers

No Tyme

By No Tyme
in Modifications & Accessories

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No Tyme Senior Enthusiast

No Tyme

Posted
Posted

Has anyone used these Cree LED headlight bulbs with the dustcovers on the 2014 Silverado. I just shelled out the money for 2 sets and I found another seller stating that you should not use these with the caps...

Is this for heat or maybe they won't fit??? I need to know as I may be out $200...

 

http://www.gtlightingusa.com/html/products/?products-show-165.html

 

Mike1220 Senior Enthusiast

Mike1220

Posted
Posted

Has anyone used these Cree LED headlight bulbs with the dustcovers on the 2014 Silverado. I just shelled out the money for 2 sets and I found another seller stating that you should not use these with the caps...

Is this for heat or maybe they won't fit??? I need to know as I may be out $200...

 

http://www.gtlightingusa.com/html/products/?products-show-165.html

 

The dust cover is the cap on the back of the headlight housing correct? If so then it is saying that because there is a ballast for all these high powered LEDs just like HIDs and you have to run the ballast outside of the housing and likely add a wire harness. They say don't use the dust cover because you can't without drilling a hole in it. Everyone running HIDs has just drilled a hole In the cap and used the rubber grommet to fill the hole and keep it sealed.

 

They may even be saying don't use the cover because maybe the bulb won't fit with it on. But you need that cover to keep dust and dirt out and moisture. You can drill a hole in the cap, just make sure you can seal it back up too.

No Tyme Senior Enthusiast

No Tyme

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The dust cover is the cap on the back of the headlight housing correct? If so then it is saying that because there is a ballast for all these high powered LEDs just like HIDs and you have to run the ballast outside of the housing and likely add a wire harness. They say don't use the dust cover because you can't without drilling a hole in it. Everyone running HIDs has just drilled a hole In the cap and used the rubber grommet to fill the hole and keep it sealed.

 

They may even be saying don't use the cover because maybe the bulb won't fit with it on. But you need that cover to keep dust and dirt out and moisture. You can drill a hole in the cap, just make sure you can seal it back up too.

 

I have the Silverado Halogen headlights and the power wires are already inside the housing... Only thing is an extra 6 inches or wire for the adapter from the stock power plug to the plug on the Cree LED... (also my plug for the Cree bulb is at the 12 o'clock position when mounted in the housing and the diagram shows it at 6 o'clock)

 

EDIT::: Crawled up on the fender and worked the dust cover and finally did get it on without pinching any wires...

TooTall1 Enthusiast

TooTall1

Posted
Posted

I wonder if it's due to a heat issue. The fins on the back of the bulb are a heat sink for cooling. I wonder if having the dust cover on will restrict the airflow over the heat sink and cause an over heating problem.

Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
Posted

Well, I can't imagine running with the headlight open to the environment. My headlights would fill up with dirt.

No Tyme Senior Enthusiast

No Tyme

Posted
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Well, I can't imagine running with the headlight open to the environment. My headlights would fill up with dirt.

I did get a response from the one seller that has this posted on his selling page. It did not state because of a heat issue: The reply is as follows and I quote:

Because behind the led bulb have aluminum cooling system , and need more room for that cooling system . some car can't put the seal caps back on because is not fit .

 

end quote.

 

So far I have one of the Cree LED's installed and I have accomplished the "whiter" look of the headlights. Replacing the dust cap took a couple of tries but it seems possible plus in personal communications with another owner of a 2014 that said he also was able to replace the dust caps after install.

Since it's been just a couple of days I have not seen any issues other that the "hot spot" of the bulb (as I call it) is higher than the original bulb so adjusting will most likely be necessary. My H11's will only go in one way due to the configurations of the tabs and with the first one that is installed the power wire on the LED is in the 12 o'clock position and not at the 6 o'clock as shown in the paperwork that came with the bulbs. I have NOT been able to get an answer from the seller about this issue... I am moving forward on purchasing a set for the high beams, but from a different vender due to poor communication from the seller that I purchased the H11's from.

I am not sure if the hot spot is higher due to the bulb being upside down or if it really doesn't matter how the bulb fits into the housing... Any else with these bulbs have them in upside down???

Amiodynski Enthusiast

Amiodynski

Posted
Posted

I just spoke with Jake from VLED's and he so they DO NOT recommend using LED's on our trucks with the Dust Covers. The LED's get too hot with the covers, and of course you need the covers to keep moisture out. An LED bulb with the fan needs more air to cool down the bulbs. Also, the LED driver's need 7.5 volts to operate the DRL, which is only getting 6volts. So you either have to make a wiring kit to up the voltage, or have your DRL's not function.

 

After Jake explained a few more things, I decided to cancel my H11 LED kit from them and order their HID kit. http://www.vleds.com/hid-headlights/hid-conversion-kits/h11/h11-morimoto-xb35-hid-system.html

 

With the HID relay harness, I will not have to worry about flickering lights, or my DRL's not working properly.

Mike1220 Senior Enthusiast

Mike1220

Posted
Posted

Doesn't it shorten the life of the hid bulbs by allowing the drl function to work?

Well you will be using them as the DRL so you aren't shortening the life. You are just going through the life span. But it'll still last longer than a halogen bulb.

Amiodynski Enthusiast

Amiodynski

Posted
Posted

Well you will be using them as the DRL so you aren't shortening the life. You are just going through the life span. But it'll still last longer than a halogen bulb.

 

VLED's give you a 5 year warranty, and you don't have to send back the bad part. Thought that was great customer service.

Mike1220 Senior Enthusiast

Mike1220

Posted
Posted

 

VLED's give you a 5 year warranty, and you don't have to send back the bad part. Thought that was great customer service.

That is some good customer service.

calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

Posted
Posted

Sounds reasonable. What would be nice is a relay assembly that has both the standard PWM DRL input and a high current input with dual outputs. One that directs the PWM output to the light of your choice (diode isolated of course) while allowing the headlamps to retain auto on functionality (rerouting high current DC to HID ballast in this case). I guess that if there is really no appreciable difference in bulb life it isn't really an issue...and there is a lifetime warranty after all. Guess I should pull the trigger and go HID low/high/fogs and just roll with it. With flash to pass are the HIDs fast enough?

No Tyme Senior Enthusiast

No Tyme

Posted
  • Author
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Well the 9005's came in and I got it jammed in their and broke the mounting ring... So much for brighter lights...

No more shit from China for me... back to stock bulbs.

  • 2 weeks later...
No Tyme Senior Enthusiast

No Tyme

Posted
  • Author
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Tried the Philips H11 12362XVS2 X-Treme Vision Headlight Bulbs and disappointed again... I see NO difference from stock light bulbs...

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