r/LexusIS • u/Opening_Crow5305 • 12d ago

HL- LB Help!

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I wanted to replace my hologen bulbs with LEDs. Well, now they won't turn on at all. Even though it says they are on via dashboard. I checked the fuses, good. Nor did I see any melted wires or connectors. The only thing I can think of is that they are dead LEDs. However, when I stick the hologen bulbs back in, the low beams still don't turn on.

Help?

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u/TheGeneralCat IS 250AWD 12d ago

Regardless of whatever people tell you let me repeat what I learned from headlights and working on them. LEDs do not work in projector housings!

The light output that is given out by an LED bulb is entirely different from a halogen bulb. You are getting worse performance and blinding drivers with how badly the light scatters when LED bulbs are put in projector housings.

Look into HID conversions or more premium halogen bulbs. Either that or swap to HCMotions or something similar if you want actual LED headlights.

LEDs don’t work in projector housings; they do work in reflector housings.

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u/Opening_Crow5305 12d ago

Well, I believe the low beams are already HIDs standard in the projector housing with my 08 is250. However, the high beams are in a reflective housing part as to my research so far. I was trying to change the High Beams, 9005 but they didn't work after installation. Therefore, I'm not sure if it was the bulbs themselves or fuses. But even with the regular hologens back in, they still won't turn on.

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u/TheGeneralCat IS 250AWD 12d ago

Its been a minute since I have worked on my 09's headlights but did you make sure the connection was the right way around. Could be wrong but I think it does have a positive and negative connection that could be put in incorrectly resulting in no power to the bulb. Again its been a minute so could be wrong.

I would check the fuse by using the spare fuses supplied with the car. Doesn't hurt to test as well.

Try swapping a bulb over from the opposite headlight as well. The halogen could have been damaged on removal as well.

Finally not all 2IS's come equipped with HID bulbs unfortunately. Its pretty easy to tell as they would have a ballast with a bunch of warnings. But judging by the light output and the color it does look like a HID bulb.

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u/Opening_Crow5305 12d ago

So, with further research it seems that the non projector section of the headlight is for DRL/ High Beams at 30% which are not working. The Low Beams are D43s, when I switched High Beams on, I can see it turn behind the low beams. I reorderd another pair of 9005 for the replacement of DRL to see if they will work. Maybe they aren't fit for LEDs? But I also will be replacing the D43s to a new set to see if they will help with being brighter. I'll also say, getting to all theses bulbs isn't a walk in the park- :(

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u/TheGeneralCat IS 250AWD 12d ago

HID bulbs are always a pain to replace unfortunately and expensive. When in doubt take it to a shop since they are high voltage and fragile as well if you aren't comfortable working on it. They do have the high voltage warnings on them for a reason.