Thread: replacing 194 bulbs with LED bulbs

The 2008 GP manual says 194 bulbs are used for the rear License plate light and the front side markers. I also discovered the gear shift display uses a 194 (had to replace it) and I've heard that the dashboard may use 194 also. Are there any other spots where 194 is used?

My side markers had been burned out before I got the car. I finally put in new ones, standard bulbs and they are hardly noticeable. Would putting in the high-power LEDS make a difference? Just wondering.

Originally Posted by abc

The 2008 GP manual says 194 bulbs are used for the rear License plate light and the front side markers. I also discovered the gear shift display uses a 194 (had to replace it) and I've heard that the dashboard may use 194 also. Are there any other spots where 194 is used?

My side markers had been burned out before I got the car. I finally put in new ones, standard bulbs and they are hardly noticeable. Would putting in the high-power LEDS make a difference? Just wondering.

The dome lamps over the rear doors and the map lights are 194 bulbs. The bulb for the trunk is a 921 type bulb. I think the bulbs for the cluster are hardwired but can be replaced with LEDs if you want to do some soldering.

I can't remember whether the front side markers flash with the turn signals or not. If they do, then LEDs there will make the flasher faster and may pop up a bulb out warning. They're not the same resistance as the incandescent bulbs you're replacing.

My experience with LED interior lights is that they don't dim quite as low and the "theater dimming" is a bit less than satisfactory.

A 194 bulb fit fine in my trunk on my 05, try throwing a normal 194 in there as a test.

The front sidemarkers don't flash, I have 194 LED's in there with clear corners and they look great. I may try to wire up a switchback that flashes in there soon to match the front switchback turn signals. The front turn signals are the only ones that need resistors as far aa I know, a 6-ohm resister inseries with each bulb.

I've notice the same with interior dimming^ I believe a capacitor and possibly a resistor in line could combat that. They're just so sensitive to voltage fluctuations, the stock dimming circuit just isn't "fine tuned" enough to dim them cleanly.

As for other interior lights, they wouldn't be worth it to do as then the dimming will act erratic if they aren't already LED's of some sort. The only place I'd think of switching for LED's is possibly the climate control cluster since they burn out much too often.

Thanks for the responses. Standard white bulbs are working okay in the side markers. I can't figure out why they even sell those bulbs painted blue or red. They are so dim that they are pretty useless. Rear seat lights for mood is the only reason I can think of for wanting those.