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Replacement 2015 Headlight Bulbs

20K views 31 replies 8 participants last post by  Banan_75  
#1 ·
Looking for some suggestions on replacing my stock 9012 halogen headlight bulbs in my 2015. One headlight bulb died and I want to explore all my options before install new basic halogens. Converting to LED bulbs is not off the table.
 
#8 · (Edited)
@Ridewitme
Do you have still no problems without dust cups?
I got my Vleds Micro Extreme today and tried to put the dust caps back in. F ** k fumbling. One LED lamp goes out again and again. Probably because of overheating. I have reinstalled my old halogen lamps. I hope the one LED lamp is not defective. I also noticed that these LED lamps are quite loud. Tomorrow I will continue to try to install the LED bulbs. But then without dust caps.
Maybe I should think about an alternative dust cap.
 
#9 ·
Did you drill through the dust caps ? Thats how I got mine through. A pain either way.
 
#11 ·
Not yet. But that's a good idea.
But instead of drilling, I should make a small cut in the rubber. Because of the adapter size?
That sounds like a good idea. I have no issues without dust caps, but my Durango only has 6,337 miles on it as of today (but it is 2 years old). I live in the desert tho, if that makes more of a case for it. They are a little loud but you only hear them before/after you get in the car when it’s off.
 
#12 ·
I think it's better without dust caps. For air circulation alone. The bulbs will be pretty hot and need to be chilled well. I also try first without dust caps. I don't think moisture can get in there. The fog bulbs also have no dust protection.
 
#17 ·
I agree and had those thoughts in the back of my mind as well. Just earlier today I went to see if I saved the dust caps (to possibly make cutouts in them) and when I grabbed them I thought to myself this might not even be beneficial. I think the LEDs really need the ventilation. We had a big monsoon storm here last year and there was a road that was totally flooded with water. I got carried away and was sending huge splashes and waves from the wheel wells. It was kinda stupid in retrospect but my LEDs have been fine.
 
#13 ·
I had tried something similar on my '14 Grand Cherokee (very similar underhood to Durango) and left off the Dust Caps initially. I did start to get moisture in there in the morning, and it looks like you can get other debris into the lens area also. Most of the HID and LED kits I have seen come with a grommet installed on the wire to the bulb so that you drill the appropriate hole through the dust cap so the ballast can be outside of the assembly in the engine bay. See the picture below, far right side is the grommet that is supposed to go through the dust cap so everything fits.
109664
 
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#14 ·
Thanks for your experiences. Maybe I should just make the caps small cut for wiring.The led bulbs are unfortunately not allowed in Germany and Europe. It may be that if the police stop me then I have to use the OEM bulbs again.
 
#15 ·
When I put the holes in and did the changes, I ended up putting the Halogens back in before I traded it in. I left the grommets in place and cut the wires on both sides. That leaves you with the factory connector inside the headlight assembly to go to the stock halogens. If needed, you can also buy replacement dust caps.

Interesting that they would stop you on either LED or HID inside a projector assembly. To almost everyone it would look the same as factory HID with a sharp cutoff. Although I am not as familiar with 2015's did they have a non-projector housing? If so then it would be much more apparent that it was only made for Halogen.
 
#16 ·
It's non-hid oem housing for 9012 hir2 Halogen bulbs.
Somehow my Durango doesn't like the Vleds micro evolution extreme bulbs. They just turn off after 5-10 sec. They are not broken. Something makes her out. Either canbus or a relay. After a while they turn on again for 5-10 sec. and again turn off. It has nothing to do with the dust caps. They weren't on it.
 
#18 · (Edited)
@Ridewitme
do you use Error Cancellers or Load Resistor Kit with your LED Bulbs? Is your Bulb Check System on or off? I get 2 errors B162A and B162E and the LED Bulbs just turn off. My Bulb Check System is on. This suggests me Vled support. I don't want to spend any more money on it now. I thought these LED bulbs would be plug & play. I will have to send them back.
The same issue thread:
 
#19 · (Edited)
I had no issues, warnings or anything upon switching them out. No kits or harnesses, just the bulbs. I don’t know what the bulb check system is (or if it’s on or off) I’ve never seen anything in reference to that.

I did notice however that your 2015 Durango uses the 9012 HIR2 bulb. However, my 2018 Durango SXT has the 9005 HB3, which is what I installed. Maybe the difference in bulb type has something to do with it?
 
#22 ·
You might be able to modify it to make it fit. I know that the 9012 bulb is the correct bulb type for ‘14-15 Durango. Not sure why the change. You should try contacting vleds and see what they say about your issue. I’m sorry they haven’t worked out.

And yes, that is another difference I do have the Micro Evolution.
 
#25 · (Edited)
That's a good question. At the moment I have lost the desire to continue experimenting with Led bulbs.

Enclosed the Vleds support:


,,Hi,

We have not yet had a 2015 Dodge Durango in our R&D shop as of yet.

There are three different possible solutions:

1: Simple Plugin Error Cancellers can be found here:

Please note that we do not know 100% for sure that the error cancellers will solve the issue on the Dodge Durango

2: Plug and Play Load Resistor Kit, these can be found here:
(Be sure to select the VLR_6 and the 9000 Sealed Splitters)

Please note that we do not know 100% for sure that the load resistors will solve the issue on the Dodge Durango

A customer with a Dodge Durango called in a couple months ago and said he used a program to turn the Bulb Check System Off on the headlights of his Dodge. He said this totally took care of the bulb out warning system on the headlights.

The company who makes this program is called: Appcar. They can be found here:

I hope this information helps and, please do not hesitate to ask if you have any other questions!,,
 
#26 ·
That's a good question. At the moment I have lost the desire to continue experimenting with Led bulbs.

Enclosed the Vleds support:


,,Hi,

We have not yet had a 2015 Dodge Durango in our R&D shop as of yet.

There are three different possible solutions:

1: Simple Plugin Error Cancellers can be found here:

Please note that we do not know 100% for sure that the error cancellers will solve the issue on the Dodge Durango

2: Plug and Play Load Resistor Kit, these can be found here:
(Be sure to select the VLR_6 and the 9000 Sealed Splitters)

Please note that we do not know 100% for sure that the load resistors will solve the issue on the Dodge Durango

A customer with a Dodge Durango called in a couple months ago and said he used a program to turn the Bulb Check System Off on the headlights of his Dodge. He said this totally took care of the bulb out warning system on the headlights.

The company who makes this program is called: Appcar. They can be found here:

I hope this information helps and, please do not hesitate to ask if you have any other questions!,,
That’s too bad, I don’t know what changed for there to be a difference between your model year and mine. And I’m sure it’s expensive to ship to Germany just for trial and error.
 
#30 · (Edited)
I still found a solution for my LED issue.

From my 2015 there's a possibility to configure / specify with AlfaOBD LED bulbs in the system.
Body Computer > Car configuration change >

CBC Features:

LED Reverse Lamps Present: Yes
LED Stop Lamps Present: Yes
LED Rear Turn Lamps Present: Yes
LED Tail Lamps Present: Yes
LED Rear Fog Lamps Present: Yes
LED License Lamps Present: Yes
LED Front Turn Lamps Present: Yes
LED Front Fog Lamps Present: Yes
LED Dedicated DRL Present: Yes
LED Low Beam Lamps Present: Yes
LED High Beam Lamps Present: Yes
LED Front Park/Marker Lamps Present: Yes



 
#31 ·
I still found a solution for my LED issue.

From my 2015 there's a possibility to configure / specify with AlfaOBD LED bulbs in the system.
Body Computer > Car configuration change >

CBC Features:

LED Reverse Lamps Present: Yes
LED Stop Lamps Present: Yes
LED Rear Turn Lamps Present: Yes
LED Tail Lamps Present: Yes
LED Rear Fog Lamps Present: Yes
LED License Lamps Present: Yes
LED Front Turn Lamps Present: Yes
LED Front Fog Lamps Present: Yes
LED Dedicated DRL Present: Yes
LED Low Beam Lamps Present: Yes
LED High Beam Lamps Present: Yes
LED Front Park/Marker Lamps Present: Yes



With this parameter change did you still need can cancellers or does it make the LEDs plug and play? And what OBD2 connector did you use? I have been fighting with the headlight on my wife's 2015 limited AWD for over a year, I have 2 cancellers hooked together on both sides, it worked for a while but they are turning off sometimes now. The factory halogen headlight bulbs are the worst I have ever seen. I was about to switch to silverstar ultras and then mount an led light bar, but if this works it would be amazing. I literally asked this question to a dodge dealership and they had no idea what I was talking about. Could this program also be able to make it where the fog lights stay on when the high beams are turned on? I know it's illegal, but I live out a way and need all the light I can get to avoid deer and other critters.