PaulH2

I love our new RDX but must admit I'm a little disappointed it doesn't have LED tail lights. I'm thinking of trying LED replacement bulbs as they are now reasonably inexpensive (so if it doesn't work or doesn't look good, no great loss) but noticed the owner's manual doesn't specify the bulb type, just the wattage. None of the "bulb finder" websites I've tried so far have the 2013 RDX listed, so I was wondering if anybody happens to know what the bulb types are?

Better than that, has anybody tried LED replacement bulbs themselves yet?

Paul

juice13

http://acura.bernardiparts.com/Searc...cura-rdx-parts

You can usually figure out the bulb type from the schematics. Just plug in what package you have and dig around. I found the license plate light bulbs and tail lights. Might take some googling from the STANLEY bulb part descriptions.

I've purchased a few things from Bernardi and really appreciate the online schematics.

PaulH2

Thanks for the very helpful information. Based on the schematics and part numbers, the tail light bulb types are as follows:

Large tail light (the one in the body) is a type 7440 (T20 wedge base)
Tail / brake light is a type 7443 (T20 wedge base)
Small tail light (the one in the tailgate) is a type 194 (T10 wedge base)

I'm not sure about the reversing light bulbs, the schematics aren't very helpful in that respect...

RDX FAN

I share your disappointment in no LED tails.

PaulH2

Agreed, given that pretty much literally all the competition, including "lower end" vehicles have LED lighting I can't help but feeling Acura "cheaped-out" in this respect.

I've replaced all the tail lights (including reversing lights and the interior lights in the tail gate which made a HUGE difference by the way) with LEDs and although they don't like quite as nice as a proper OEM solution might have (such as the MDX has for example) I'm happy with the result. The only complication is that, having gone with the cheap solution all around (did you know the 2013 RDX doesn't even have a tail / brake light out warning? come on Acura, even my '03 TL had that!) you will get "hyper-flash" with the turn signals if you replace those with LED bulbs and so will need to add load resistors (dead easy to do, but a bit more work that just swapping out the bulbs).

Paul

GRDX

Actually, the 2013 RDX does notify you when a signal bulb is out. It does so by speeding up the flash rate. It does so because it has a thermal load sensing flasher module and that is why they sped up when you changed to LED's. You changed the load. Since you added resistors if an LED ever does go out you will not know anyway now with the resistors so it would have been much easier to change the thermal load sensing flasher module to an electronic or LED type flasher module instead of using the resistors which defeat one of the the real benefits of using LED's which is to reduce the electrical load.

PaulH2

And if I'd been able to find any information on a suitable replacement flasher module, that's exactly what I would have done (and if I ever do, I'll remove the load resistors and replace the flasher, but I didn't find anything helpful).

With regard to bulb notification, what I said was that the 2013 RDX doesn't have any indication that the tail or brake lights are out, which is true (only for the turn signal bulbs using the rapid flash).

akiwacz997

Hey PaulHT could you post some pics or a video made with your phone so we could see how it looks like before we spend the money on it? It would be very, very helpful. Thanks

smarty666

I've replaced all the interior bulbs with white LEDs from Vleds. Overall, I'm very happy with the look. Only one left I'm having issues with is the one inside the center console armrest when you life it up to put something in it. Does anyone know what bulb this corresponds to with Vleds? I just need to get this one replaced and the interior will be complete.

ipribadi

That is totally awesome!

Sorry can't answer your question and replying with one of my own.
Care to share all the bulb types you bought? Is the light color white or cool white?
I prefer a pure white with a slight yellow tint, no bluish white stuff.
Thanks!

Patels1995

Paul I want to change my interior bulbs to led even my tail light bulbs could you give me the link to where you bought yours from and how I would go about installing them I am new

musty hustla

share the part numbers smarty!

tweak120

Bump::::

Can we get the P/N's of the LED's for the interior please @smarty666

akim804

can we get some video clips to see how this turned out? I'm a bit disappointed in the lack of LED lighting as well.

Str8KoolinTL

just take the original bulb out and it should say right on the bulb.

ipribadi

I did a few of my interior lights, not all tho.
Here's what I know:
Center dome light: 31mm bulb - replace with a festoon style LED
Front door lights: 192 bulbs - replace with a 360deg LED keep the bulb 28mm or shorter
Tail gate: 192 bulbs - replace with a flank style LED, the brighter the better, you've got room here, so long and wide bulbs work (I got one that looks like a pingpong bat)
Lic plate: 192 bulbs - replace with a flank style LED but keep it 28mm or shorter
Visor lights: regular vanity bulbs, dunno the model/type, but just search eBay for LED vanity lights and they work
The ones I got are too bright so I kinda angled them inward but need to figure out how to keep them in the right angle.
Reverse lights: 921 bulbs. Got mine from v-leds 8W 19LED. Don't go for the cree stuff, their beam is too narrow.

5K bulbs only for the lic plate and reverse. All interior bulbs with warm white LED, but I admit the warm white is too warm and doesn't match the front stock LED lights which I think are perfect color (around 3500K) keeps the wood trim looking warm but not too oldish yellow-orange.

I'd like to do all the tailights too!

AznSupastar

^ should sticky this, great info!

dc5k20z1

I bought these....Happy so far. The reverse lights are pretty damn bright. I dont know if I want to go with all LED interior. I think I just want to keep everything else stock except reverse and license plate. I might put my cargo bulbs back to stock. I also bought my 3000k HID kit for my fogs



Reverse Light Bulbs
http://retro-solutions.net/product-i...bs-pid699.html

License Plate and Cargo Bulbs
http://retro-solutions.net/product-i...bs-pid686.html

dc5k20z1

Here is a bulb guide for a 2012 RDX. Most bulbs should be the same, the 2013 RDX is not listed yet

http://www.sylvania.com/en-us/applic...s/lrgmain.aspx


http://www.sylvania.com/en-us/applic...el=1649&make=2

RDXinNETX

Thx dc5 & ipribadi for the feedback. I swapped out the map lites for blue LEDs in my Touareg & CRV as blue tends not to rob you of all your night adapted vision + it doesn't spotlight you as much when in use. I've taken out the RDX map light module but darn if I can tell what compatible LED (in blue) it takes, anyone happen to know?

RDXinNETX

Well it appears that VLEDs has an equivalent to the 2825 which is the map lite, we shall see.

thephantom

Will these fit the map lights?
Also, what is the name of the light in this diagram, #17? http://estore.honda.com/acura/parts/...n=&b=B++09&dl=

Silvermoon

I purchased the white LED license tag lights from LEXEN and they really give the rear end that premium look of other brands. I put them in the front doors as well (courtesy light). They look bright on the doors though not too bright on the rear...



I purchased their 12-SMD LED Panel Interior Lights as we'll for the tailgate also...



The 9-SMD circle LED dome light I also purchased functioned just fine, but the color looked too blue to my taste. I'm going to try and find something that better matches the stock front map lights. However, that blue cool white looks really nice everywhere else.

Silvermoon

Links to those photos....

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4lN...p=docslist_api

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4lN...p=docslist_api

sixkplus1

I think I will be following suit by ordering the Lexen bulbs for both my RDX and TSX. Looks to be a simple enough task. I'll do my best and post before and after.

d1sturb3d119

iTrader: (1)

People should be happy if they have bulbs for tail lights or turn signals honestly. The panels on the back of the TL's are freakin expensive brand new, used its risky to find them and to repair them impossible to find the LED's in the market since you have to order from the whole sale supplier. I still have a few left over which is nice but I got lucky. No point buying 1200 LED's.

thephantom

Scroll down towards the bottom of the first page: https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rdx-2013-2018-404/whos-interested-led-conversion-package-898919/

5 Acuras

iTrader: (1)

I just replaced the iJDMTOY license plate LED bulbs that lasted 2 months with Sylvania LEDs, hopefully they'll last longer.