Changing the Courtesy Lights

[Wordman]

Hey Rich- Perfect man! AND... wouldn't you know it, last evening I got my nimble 19yr old to get under there and pry out the holders the exact same way and I learned the exact same thing! Excellent job.

We did go ahead and pry off the foot well covers (while I had him in the garage) and learned that the same bulbs are used there. The only difference was that Hyundai has a light blue cover over the bulb to tint it and to darken it. Too dark for my taste.

I have ordered about 3 variations of HID LED bulbs with the proper fittings for those sockets. Why the variations? As you can see from Rich's pictures, there's not a whole lot of extra room there. Same for the foot wells (but it is a little more room). I've looked at the measurements on all of the bulbs that are coming and they appear that they will fit. As Rich says, the bulbs that are stock are commly called 168 or 194 or 158 incandescent wedge bulbs. It's a very common automotive bulb that used on lots of license plates (but not the Genesis). You can see some of the many variants here---
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_?url=search-alias=automotive&field-keywords=v-led+168 When buying, remember that there are 4 door lights (one on each of the 4 doors).

BTW- I DID put the lighted skuff plates on last night. 5min. job and they look GREAT!

Thanks again Rich!!

Phil

I assume you put the illuminated skuff plates on a V6? Can you give more details? Maybe a new thread? I'd like to do this at some point to my V6 Tech.

Dick

 

[BaywayRic]

BTW- I DID put the lighted skuff plates on last night. 5min. job and they look GREAT!

Can we assume the wiring and a plug connector are already buried in the sill, and it is only a matter of popping off the current one and "plugging in" and re-installing the new one?

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

I've started a new thread with a description and pics.

 

[GS300rich]

Got the 6 LED light that I ordered from superbrightleds.com. I only ordered 1 for now because I wanted to check out the output. Overall the output looks better than the orange OEM, but it is a little too blue to match the rest of the interior lights. The other thing that I dont like is the fact that the LEDs give off a spotlight effect, only lighting up an area slightly bigger than the OEM lights, but it is quite a bit brighter than the OEM. I ordered some Polarg M4 bulbs for my Lexus license plate lights, and this is the same type wedge bulb so I am going to stick one of them in the rear passenger door and take some pics and see which one you guys think is better.

 

[GS300rich]

Oh here is the 6 LED that I ordered from superbrightleds.com. It is the WLED_x6LED, it is $2.79 + .95 extra for the cool white.

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

As promised- I've posted a DIY on one way to change the Glove Box light, and even the Foot Well lights. I also added a VERY simple DIY for non-smokers.

Check out the Albums section--

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/all_albums.php

I didn't make specific comment in the Albums section, but the Glove Box mod applied 100% to the Foot Well lights, except that the Foot Well lights are wedge type. I used the same Pilot Universal LED kit with the 'wedge adapter', and it fit like a glove. And it's NOT too bright at all. Just very plesantly glowing. The attached is a lousy pic of my foot, but it gets the idea across. I may use the same kit on the 4 doors to flood light the ground very evenly.

Hope it helps!!

 

[odyguy]

That modification looks fantastic. I wonder if you could figure out a way to get the "mood lighting" Hyundai offers on the Middle East version of the Genesis. Take a look at the picture from their website. This looks just like the ambient lighting that Mercedes offers in their E-Class. I always thought the clear ring around the ceiling console should serve some purpose. Apperently it does on Genesis vehicles in the Middle East.

 

[BigElm]

I wouldn't be surprised if the wiring and housing is there.. just need to hook it up or put a bulb. I don't have my Genesis yet so I can't test it but I'm sure someone here can.

 

[jonah]

Got the 6 LED light that I ordered from superbrightleds.com. I only ordered 1 for now because I wanted to check out the output. Overall the output looks better than the orange OEM, but it is a little too blue to match the rest of the interior lights. The other thing that I dont like is the fact that the LEDs give off a spotlight effect, only lighting up an area slightly bigger than the OEM lights, but it is quite a bit brighter than the OEM. I ordered some Polarg M4 bulbs for my Lexus license plate lights, and this is the same type wedge bulb so I am going to stick one of them in the rear passenger door and take some pics and see which one you guys think is better.

i got the same ones in today. i like them but i think they take away from the interior lights some b/c they are so blue. i'm thinking about trying the amber ones...

the effect from the rear at night is awesome, though. with the license plate lights and all four doors open, wow!

 

[GS300rich]

i got the same ones in today. i like them but i think they take away from the interior lights some b/c they are so blue. i'm thinking about trying the amber ones...

the effect from the rear at night is awesome, though. with the license plate lights and all four doors open, wow!

I just ordered the 12 LED one from there to replace the 6 LED, mainly because the beam pattern is 75 degrees, whereas the 6 LED is on 30 degrees. I am also going to order them in warm white to see if the color will match a little better.

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[thomaspf]

Its great following htis discussion but I am bit hesitant to join the experiments. Once you have figured out a bulb that is bright matches color and fits into the housing could you please just post a link where to buy it.

Any 168 wedge bulb is a not a lot to go on...

I am particularly interested in lighting up the foot area and the housing is very tight. If any of you find a good match for that please post it as well.

Cheers

Thomas

 

[jonah]

if you want to light up the foot area, i have to recommend the WLED-WHP9 LEDs from superbrightleds.com http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR (just scroll down)

i didn't put the translucent cover back over the light after i installed it. the color matches well and it is much brighter. i also saw that the floor lights come on when you put the car in park, even before you open the doors. i never noticed before b/c the stock bulbs are so dim.

good luck!

 

[jonah]

I just ordered the 12 LED one from there to replace the 6 LED, mainly because the beam pattern is 75 degrees, whereas the 6 LED is on 30 degrees. I am also going to order them in warm white to see if the color will match a little better.

awesome, i thought about those too. the only reason i didn't get them is b/c i was afraid they would be too wide to fit in the socket or too long and hit the clear plastic. let me know how you like them!

 

[GS300rich]

awesome, i thought about those too. the only reason i didn't get them is b/c i was afraid they would be too wide to fit in the socket or too long and hit the clear plastic. let me know how you like them!

I did some measuring from the schematics on superbrightleds and they should fit. They are only about 7 mm longer than the 6 led and the width shouldnt be a problem.

 

[GS300rich]

i didn't put the translucent cover back over the light after i installed it. the color matches well and it is much brighter. i also saw that the floor lights come on when you put the car in park, even before you open the doors. i never noticed before b/c the stock bulbs are so dim.

good luck!

Great idea. I imagine that any bulb you put in there will be significantly dimmer with the cover over it and I also suspect that the cover will affect the color output. Did you just pull the bulb out of the socket? I was fidgeting with that light last night a bit and it wouldnt budge

 

[jonah]

Did you just pull the bulb out of the socket? I was fidgeting with that light last night a bit and it wouldnt budge

They are hard to get out! I thought I was going to have to get a rubber band or something to drape over the bulb to get a grip. I don't know if that would have worked or not; I ended up using a pair of pliers VERY carefully. I bet if you try again you'll be able to get it out. They are snug but a little back and forth wiggling might help too.

No I really want a light source for the ambient "mood lighting" thing OdyGuy mentioned!

The covers do change the color and intensity of the light and you can't tell they're gone since it's way back up in the foot well.

 

[thomaspf]

if you want to light up the foot area, i have to recommend the WLED-WHP9 LEDs from superbrightleds.com http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR (just scroll down)

i didn't put the translucent cover back over the light after i installed it. the color matches well and it is much brighter. i also saw that the floor lights come on when you put the car in park, even before you open the doors. i never noticed before b/c the stock bulbs are so dim.


good luck!

Thanks a lot this is helpful.

I removed all that assembly on the weekend and was wondering whether this bulb would actually fit in there. There also was no reflective surface in the housing so I wonder whether this 360 degree bulb is a good choice.
How hot does it get?


Cheers

Thomas

 

[jonah]

I wondered about the 360 lighting too. As you pointed out, the lack of a reflector means some of the light is lost up inside the dash. I don't think it's too big of a problem though, as the light is very bright (don't really think you'd want more light than this, you're just lighting up your dirty floor mats ). I've been very happy with mine.

They don't get hot at all.

Good luck!

 

[Wordman]

As promised- I've posted a DIY on one way to change the Glove Box light... Check out the Albums section - http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/all_albums.php

Phil

Thanks very much for the pictures! I just got one of these Pilot units from Pep Boys this afternoon and changed my glove box light - love the result! I would have done the footwells and under-door units but I got the last item in stock, so now I have to trawl the other SoCal Pep Boys to find some more...

It's a shame that Pilot had to include the battery pack and push button in the packaging for the "Try Me" feature - I'm sure omitting that would have knocked a few bucks off the price. But still not bad value for just under $20.

Thanks again!

 

[genesis@genesisworld.com]

Phil

Thanks very much for the pictures! I just got one of these Pilot units from Pep Boys this afternoon and changed my glove box light - love the result! I would have done the footwells and under-door units but I got the last item in stock, so now I have to trawl the other SoCal Pep Boys to find some more...
Thanks again!

Glad it worked for you Wordman! I too have bought out the PepBoys stock 2 times!! I'm done now though. All under door, foot well and glove box lights are replaced with the Pilot LED module. On the back doors, I used 360 bulbs.

My next project is to find some creative way to wire in a spot light that mounts on the center console lid that comes on and illuminates the contents of the 'well'. I've added a Walmart small plastic box to give the deep well a 2 layer thing. Likely work on the lighting during Christmas Holiday .