Lighting questions

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Omicron

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Posts
139
Reaction score
27
Location
USA
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
Starting from the bulb list in the sticky thread here http://www.ramforum.com/f75/bulb_list_4th_gens-8964/
4th Gen LEDs
Reverse - 921
Cargo Lights/Top mount break light - 921
Map lights - 921
Dome light - 4410
License plate - 194
Tail lights / Brake lights- 3157
Front turn signal / Side marker - 3157

4th Gen HIDs
Quad lights
High beams - 9005/HB3
Low beams - H11

Dual lights
High/Low - H13/9008

Fog lights
(regardless of headlights)
H10/9145/9140
Some questions:

1) How many of these changed for the 2013/2014 models? I know for instance the fogs now use 9006 instead of 9005 bulbs. What else changed?

2) How many of these lights are on the CAN bus? If going to LEDs, do I need to get CAN-bus specific LEDs?

3) What about resistors? Do I need to install them wherever I've gone to an LED? And if this is the case, why don't they just come with resistors?

4) Besides switching a lot (or all) of my exterior non-headlight lighting to LED, I'm looking for the best upgrade for my fog and quad headlights that does not involve converting to HIDs. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
 

jsl6v8

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2013
Posts
591
Reaction score
80
Location
Virginia Beach for the moment
Ram Year
2013 Ram 1500 HFE RCSB
Engine
3.6L V6 And proud.
As for your headlights, I ended up switching mine to the projector headlights off a 13 Laramie they are a bit brighter, after that getting a brighter bulb would help. Beyond that there isn't much you can do besides go to HIDs or maybe a different projector but I don't personally understand the differences between projectors.

You don't need a resistor on all LEDs to my understanding, things like the interior maps lights, license plate lights, underhood lights you can just get an automotive equivalent led and they should be plug and play. To my knowledge the only ones you need resistors for are the ones that plug up into the CANBUS system to avoid a light out message and hyperflashing (pretty much anything inside your headlights and taillights). I've read different things on the forum as to whether the reverse lights need to be canbus or not so hopefully someone else will chime in.

As for the which bulbs have changed over the years I'm honestly not sure, best bet would be to pull one or check your owners manual, or wait about a week, I just bought a bunch of 921 and 194 LEDs to replace the interior and license plate lights on my 2013.
 
OP
OP
O

Omicron

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2014
Posts
139
Reaction score
27
Location
USA
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
As for your headlights, I ended up switching mine to the projector headlights off a 13 Laramie they are a bit brighter, after that getting a brighter bulb would help. Beyond that there isn't much you can do besides go to HIDs or maybe a different projector but I don't personally understand the differences between projectors.

You don't need a resistor on all LEDs to my understanding, things like the interior maps lights, license plate lights, underhood lights you can just get an automotive equivalent led and they should be plug and play. To my knowledge the only ones you need resistors for are the ones that plug up into the CANBUS system to avoid a light out message and hyperflashing (pretty much anything inside your headlights and taillights). I've read different things on the forum as to whether the reverse lights need to be canbus or not so hopefully someone else will chime in.

As for the which bulbs have changed over the years I'm honestly not sure, best bet would be to pull one or check your owners manual, or wait about a week, I just bought a bunch of 921 and 194 LEDs to replace the interior and license plate lights on my 2013.
Awesome, thanks for the help!
 
Back
Top