Paul350Z

iTrader: (1)

I've replaced the festoon lights in the overhead with six LED festoon bulbs and have had the second one fail in a month. I just swapped them out two months ago. It appears that the combination of the Southern California heat and a black car is causing the LED's to over heat and die. It often reaches 140 degrees or hotter inside the car on a normally sunny day.

When they fail the LED's start flickering at a rapid pace flashing on and off. The car looks like a 1980's disco

Bummer.

KenWH

iTrader: (1)

Hmmm...is overheating a known problem with led's? You'd think cars with led taillights like caddy's, g-35's etc. would have a problem also. Just think how hot they get if you park them where the tails are getting direct sun on a hot sunny summer afternoon.

You sure it's not an overload(power) problem frying them? Maybe wire a resistor inline with them to drop the voltage some. Could also be quality problems using low quality(low power) led's.

Good luck.

Paul350Z

iTrader: (1)

I thought quality problems but autolumination says I'm the only one having problems. My Honda has a set of 4 LED festoons (the Z's hand me down) and it sits outside all day long and hasn't had the same problem but they use different LEDs.

Bummed.

ares

iTrader: (2)

heh since Ive purchased the "bad" bulbs from a unnamed but major LED website. I can say you are not alone; as there were quite a selection of bad bulbs to purchase.

bottom line? they are made like crap. cold solder joints everywhere. and the LEDs are often over driven to give them some extra umph.