How to Replace Your Car's 194 Bulbs with LED: A Simple DIY Guide

If your vehicle currently has halogen bulbs, you may find that you can save power and protect the bulb housing by installing 194 LED bulbs. LED replacement bulbs from Underground Lighting are available in a variety of colors, from bright white to warmer tones. Review your manual and make sure you know what color LED lights your vehicle requires.

What Are 194 Bulbs?

Your vehicle likely uses 194 bulbs above the license plate. These bulbs are also used as side marker lights. Your dome or interior lights may also be 194 bulbs. They might also be part of your instrument panel and even within your brake light housing.

The move toward 194 LED replacement bulbs instead of halogen bulbs offers several benefits. LED bulbs don't get as hot. A hot halogen bulb, working hard to brighten your license plate, may not survive a splash of cold storm water. Even if it does, it will pull a lot of power. LED license plate bulbs will tolerate temperature extremes and reduce power consumption.

Heat is also extremely destructive to plastic parts over time. Because parts of your vehicle light housing might be plastic, you can actually be shortening the life of trim parts and plastic bits by sticking with halogen bulbs. LED side marker lights will reduce plastic degradation.

 

Why Upgrade to LED 194 Bulbs?

Brighter and More Focused Lighting

Your ability to see and be seen is critical on the road. Reliable LED 194 bulbs brightness means that your license plate will consistently be seen. Even your interior bulb will provide more consistent light.

These brighter LED bulbs will not pull excess power; they won't generate a huge amount of heat. Protect the safety of yourself and your family with more effective LED visibility.

Energy Efficiency

Halogen lights pull a lot of power; LED bulbs pull much less. Electricity leads to heat build-up, so using energy-efficient LED bulbs can actually take pressure off both the light housing and your wiring in general. Your LED energy-saving low-power car lights can even take pressure off of your battery.

Durability and Long Lifespan

Every time you open the light housing, you run the risk of breaking a seal or even dropping a screw. The 194 LED bulb lifespan can be 25 times longer than a halogen bulb. Using durable LED bulbs can help you enjoy long-lasting car lights and fewer maintenance steps.

 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Replace Your 194 Bulbs with LED

Tools You’ll Need

To replace 194 bulbs, you'll need a clean cloth for handling the bulb. A flathead screwdriver will get you into the housing. Your DIY LED replacement may require you to get low; your tools for LED installation may include a mat or an old towel to cushion you and your new 194 LED bulbs.

Step 1: Turn Off Your Vehicle

Part of the LED bulb safety is working cool. To cool lights before replacing them, make sure to turn off the vehicle. Consider leaving the vehicle off overnight before you start replacing bulbs.

Step 2: Locate the 194 Bulbs

To locate 194 bulbs, make sure you review your manual. Your side marker light replacement may require access from the trunk. Knowing your LED bulb location will save time.

Step 3: Remove the Old Halogen Bulb

Your flathead screwdriver will get you into the bulb housing. Grasp the old 194 bulb and gently twist to remove the halogen bulb. This will open the LED bulb socket for the LED replacement.

Step 4: Insert the New 194 LED Bulb

Before you insert LED bulbs, check the LED bulb orientation; they have positive and negative terminals. Use a clean cloth to install 194 LED bulbs.

Step 5: Test the LED Bulb

Make sure you test the LED bulb before you close the housing. Simply turn the key to troubleshoot LED lights. If you check LED installation and the bulb doesn't work, remove the bulb and reverse it.

Step 6: Secure the Bulb Housing

Make sure you replace the 194 bulb cover in the order it came off. Some secure bulb housing features a gasket; others must close in just one direction. To close LED light housing and maintain watertightness, put things back together snugly.

 

Additional Tips for Replacing 194 Bulbs

Early LED bulbs were consistently cool in color. New LED technology has increased the array of LED color temperatures available. Before you choose 194 LED bulbs to install in your vehicle, make sure you confirm the color you need.

Review your vehicle manual to ensure you choose the right size and color for LED bulb compatibility. To get to the bulb and replace it, you may need to remove or open up the bulb housing. You want to be sure that you're putting in the right color bulb so you can efficiently open the housing, install the bulb, and close up the housing again in one step.

 

Benefits of DIY LED Installation

Once you have your new 194 LEDs, you can DIY an easy LED bulb replacement. Once your vehicle is parked and the lights are off, review your manual. You may also find information on removing the light housing on social media sites.

Once you can see the bulb housing, removing the halogen and replacing it with the LED bulb is quite quick and easy. This cost-effective LED upgrade shouldn't be started until your vehicle is cool to the touch. The halogen bulbs that likely came with your vehicle will be very hot for a while. Once they're cool, your DIY LED installation can begin.

 

Conclusion

Committing to an LED bulb upgrade will increase energy efficiency and give you better visibility. One of the biggest 194 LED benefits is that you get great light from a cool bulb. As many components of your vehicle are plastic, bulbs that are too hot can shorten the life of these items. Plastics and polymers can grow brittle when exposed to heat.

Replacing and upgrading your 194 bulbs to LED is a simple DIY fix. The Underground Lighting DIY LED replacement guide offers a simple step-by-step guide.

 

Ready to Upgrade Your 194 Bulbs? Shop Now at Underground Lighting!

Underground Lighting can help you find the bulbs you need in the quantities required for your vehicle. Whether you just need to buy 194 LED bulbs or need wiring kits, the experts at Underground Lighting can help you find the perfect item.

To successfully shop LED bulbs online, you'll need to enter your vehicle's:

  • Year
  • Make
  • Model

If you know the type of bulb you need to replace, you can enter that too. If you need more information on the right Underground Lighting 194 LEDs to choose from, you can contact experts through chat, email, or over the phone. You can shop now and reach out to Underground Lighting with any installation questions.