Some consider the standard lights on a Jeep JK to be rather dim. Instead of changing the lenses, you can upgrade the bulb as a whole. LED bulbs offer a brighter alternative to stock incandescent lights. Not only are they brighter, but they also last a lot longer. Installing them is a fairly straightforward process, with the exception of wiring in new resistors. So anyone with an hour and basic set of tools can complete the installation. Use these following instructions to do just that.
Materials Needed
As with any installation, the more space you have to work in, the easier a task is. The standard parking light housings are mounted to the inside of the front grille, which is held in place by several clips. Use a flat head screwdriver to gently push up and remove each clip. Then grab the grille and pull it outwards, but do not pull it completely off because the parking light will still be connected (refer to Figure 1).
Figure 1. Remove the grille cover.
Step 2 – Remove the old bulb and housing
With the grille cover off, you'll be able to see the locking tabs that hold the parking light housing in place.
Figure 2. Housing tabs.
Figure 3. Disconnect the stock bulbs.
Step 3 – Mount the new LED housing
Simply take the new housing and push it into the grille cover. They will snap right in place.
Figure 4. Push the LED housing into place.
Step 4 – Wire in the LED bulbs
Here is where many people make mistakes and end up having bulbs that intermediately turn on and off. Incandescent bulbs do not need electricity to flow in a certain direction, while LEDs do. LEDs requires reverse polarity, which means you will need to install them backwards (the white wire connects to the black, and the black to the white). Also, since the LED bulbs use less power, you will need to connect a load resistor to each bulb harness. To connect the load resistor, locate the positive as well as negative wires on the bulb and slice it in place.
Figure 5. A common sized load resistor.
Figure 6. Splice the load resistor in place.
Step 5 – Install the grille
Test the lights and once everything is working, mount the grille assembly back on.
Figure 7. Finished LED lights.
Materials Needed
- Flat head screwdriver
- Load resistors
- Wire splice clip
As with any installation, the more space you have to work in, the easier a task is. The standard parking light housings are mounted to the inside of the front grille, which is held in place by several clips. Use a flat head screwdriver to gently push up and remove each clip. Then grab the grille and pull it outwards, but do not pull it completely off because the parking light will still be connected (refer to Figure 1).
Figure 1. Remove the grille cover.
Step 2 – Remove the old bulb and housing
With the grille cover off, you'll be able to see the locking tabs that hold the parking light housing in place.
- Push each tab in, and release the tabs.
- Locate the red clip, push it up and release the stock light bulbs.
- Then push the parking light assembly out.
Figure 2. Housing tabs.
Figure 3. Disconnect the stock bulbs.
Step 3 – Mount the new LED housing
Simply take the new housing and push it into the grille cover. They will snap right in place.
Figure 4. Push the LED housing into place.
Step 4 – Wire in the LED bulbs
Here is where many people make mistakes and end up having bulbs that intermediately turn on and off. Incandescent bulbs do not need electricity to flow in a certain direction, while LEDs do. LEDs requires reverse polarity, which means you will need to install them backwards (the white wire connects to the black, and the black to the white). Also, since the LED bulbs use less power, you will need to connect a load resistor to each bulb harness. To connect the load resistor, locate the positive as well as negative wires on the bulb and slice it in place.
Figure 5. A common sized load resistor.
Figure 6. Splice the load resistor in place.
Step 5 – Install the grille
Test the lights and once everything is working, mount the grille assembly back on.
Figure 7. Finished LED lights.