LED Maps, Domes, Vanity & License Plate

[EHadesh]

Installed these LEDs and to be honest, not that impressed. May go back to stock lamps. Cheapies off e-bay. Just a little over $20 for the set, tried to get domestic shipped so I didn't have to wait weeks. Thought they'd be brighter. They do have a 'whiter light', but seem dim in reality, although pics may appear they are brighter to some. The maps and domes glow a little bit when they should be fully off. Only way to make them go full off is to turn switch off. All were based on the 5050 LEDs. Vanity has 2 diodes, Maps & domes have 6 and the rear dome has a 9. License plate was a 5 diode 360° 5050 based as well.

[Big Kahuna]

I installed the same LED in mine too. I thought the same but I think I will leave them. I gives off a richer look for lighting that is all.

[ncbeast]

They look really nice in the pics....

[wtnlvr]

Very nice. I had the beige leather in my 2008 santa fe and loved the look. Had to go with the black this time as I got the mineral grey.

[pare_john]

Never understood the appeal of LED interior lighting.


Sent from my iPhone using Autoguide.com App

[someguy]

Originally Posted by pare_john

Never understood the appeal of LED interior lighting.


Sent from my iPhone using Autoguide.com App

Same here but it seems to be a popular mod. The pictures above look nice but I think it might be too bright at night. The last thing I want at night are bright led in my face when I get in or out of the car.

[lovemysantafe]

I'm with the last two posters. I find LEDs on the inside to be cold, harsh and uninviting. I installed them in my license plate lights because it looks cool and in the trunk because, well the Elantra's stock light sucks something fierce.

To each their own, though.

[pare_john]

I definitively see an advantage for exterior lighting.

[speedo]

I buy a kit of those LED bulb but how did you remove the plastic cover to put the light on.

[EHadesh]

If you check the owners manual, it will show you the places to insert a small standard blade screwdriver to wedge the lenses out. When it came to the map lights, I took out the entire enclosure. Open the glasses compartment and look up, you'll see two screws. Remove those, then with a plastic trim removal tool, pry the more square end (the one towards the windshield) down to release the side spring clips. When you have it at about a 40° angle downwards, pull it towards the windshield, there are two tabs in the front part. Unplug the electrical connector. Then there are two more screws holding the black housing to the lamp housing, remove them. Then there are four tabs holding the black housing to the lamp housing, carefully pry those out while pulling up slightly on the black housing to wedge them free. Don't force anything. Take your time. When the tabs are free of the black housing, pull it up and there's another small connector, press on the tab to release it. Turn the black housing upside down to get to the bulbs. For my LEDs I had to remove the reflector cups.

If you replace them with LEDs, before you put everything back together, be sure to plug the black housing back onto the main wire and see if they work. You may have to fiddle with the center switch in combination maybe with the switches for the individual side lamps. If they don't work, flip them 180° and check again. After checking the bulbs, unplug the main connector, and this is kind of important, make sure the 3 way center switch is centered before re-assembling. Plug the little connector back in, double check the 3 way switch then gently press the black housing back on. Make sure all 4 tabs engage. Check the 3 way switch operation (just to ensure it moves to all 3 positions) before putting the screws back in. Plug the assembly back into the main power harness.

Insert the front two tabs up into the cavity first, then gently press back in while checking the perimeter to ensure the housing is outside of the headliner material. Press in to make sure the spring clips engage, check everything is flush and then re-insert the retaining screws and tighten down.

I know this is probably the long way around, but to be honest, I couldn't see on the lenses where the tabs were (according to the illustration in the manual). All the other lamp housings (except for the vanity lights) you can adequately discern where the tabs are to insert an appropriate pry tool. For the vanity lights, the entire housing is pried out (tab to press against to release is on the side where the switch is). Once released, unplug it to remove the bulb and insert the replacement. There is very little, if any slack in the wires to pull them to a comfortable position away from the headliner to comfortably get to the bulbs.

I hope this helps. I knew I should have taken more pics of the actual procedure but hopefully my long winded explanation will suffice. The important thing is to take your time, don't force anything and just look at the parts. You'll find the tabs and how they work. My explanation is what I have in my 2.0T. The other configurations may be different.