Jeep Renegade LED Day Time Running Lights (DRL) Installation Write-Up

Discussion in 'Renegade Write-Ups' started by wayoflife, Jan 23, 2016.

  1. wayoflife

    wayoflife Administrator Staff Member

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    For those of you who've converted your Jeep Renegade halogen headlights to a set of LED bulb and are wanting to change out your sickly yellow-brown day time running lights or "DRL" to something a bit more white in color, this write-up will help you to do just that. Fortunately, changing out your factory DRL bulbs to a set of LED bulbs is not only cheap to do, it's also extremely easy to do. What you will need to know is that your factory DRL incandescent bulbs are a standard P21 which are commonly used for car tail lights/brake lights and turn signal lights and the LED equivalent will be a 1157. Also, when shopping for a set of 1157 LED bulbs, you will need to make sure that it is "CANBUS NO Error Free". Not all LED bulbs are and it is important that the ones you get are. There are a lot of different manufacturers of LED bulbs and the set I ended up buying was made by HAMIST and I found them on Amazon. Here's a shot of what they look like.

    [​IMG]

    What you will need
    • (2) 1157 White LED Bulbs - CANBUS NO Error Free
    • Phillips Screwdriver

    Instructions
    1. Park your Renegade and turn your steering wheel to the left and until it is at a full lock. Then, use a phillips screwdriver to loosen the 2 plastic screws securing the fender liner access panel in place.
    [​IMG]

    2. With the screws loosed, you should be able to simply pry off the fender liner access panel.
    [​IMG]

    3. Looking into the access port, you will see there are 2 different wires plugged into 2 different bulb sockets. The white socket on the left is for your indicator lights and the black one on the right is for your DRL. Gently pull the locking tab on the black socket plug and pull down to remove it as shown. (NOTE: I only unplugged the indicator light to help make it easier to photograph. It is not necessary to unplug it)
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    4. Firmly hold the black DRL socket and rotate it counter-clockwise until it's unlocked and then remove it from the light housing.
    [​IMG]

    5. Remove the factory P21 incandescent bulb from the DRL socket by gently pushing down on it and then rotating it.
    [​IMG]

    6. Install your new 1157 LED bulb into the DRL socket by pushing it in and rotating it until it locks in place.
    [​IMG]

    7. Carefully reinstall the black DRL socket back into the light housing and then rotate it clockwise until it locks in place.
    [​IMG]

    8. Reinstall the plug back into the DRL socket.
    [​IMG]

    9. Reinstall the fender liner access panel and then, using a phillips screwdriver, lock it in place by tightening the 2 plastic screws.
    [​IMG]

    10. Repeat steps 1-9 on the passenger side of your Renegade.

    For comparison sake, here's a shot of what the factory Renegade DRL with a standard P21 incandescent bulb looks like when on. As you can see, it's a dim yellowish brown light.
    [​IMG]

    And now, here's what a new 1157 LED bulb looks like when on. As you can see, it's a much brighter and whiter light. (NOTE: The amber color you see on the right side of the lens is the indicator light bulb. This too can be changed out to an LED if you so desire)
    [​IMG]

    With that said, what I can tell you is that I LOVE the addition of these new LED bulbs! Not only do they not look sickly anymore, they look great together with the new LED headlights I just installed. So far as I can tell, they don't look any brighter than the factory incandescent bulbs (which is a good thing as that's what I wanted), just whiter in color. I would definitely recommend doing this upgrade especially if you've upgraded your headlights to LED's.
     
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  2. AJ Romero

    AJ Romero New Member

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    Awesome/easy upgrade. Thanks Wayalife!
    Looking for as many small upgrades I can do while my Renny is still my DD.
     
  3. AJ Romero

    AJ Romero New Member

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  4. wayoflife

    wayoflife Administrator Staff Member

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  5. ndrwrs56

    ndrwrs56 Member

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    Hey Eddie, just wanted to ask if you have noticed your DRL's staying on a bit longer than they should? I was going to get the ones you used here but I can no longer find them on Amazon. That being said, I went with another pair that someone else had installed on this forum but I'm noticing that they stay on for awhile after I turn off and lock the car (longer than they should). Any idea what this could be/how I could correct it? I'm leaning towards ordering a different set but don't want to run into the same problem. Your expertise is much appreciated. Thanks!
     
  6. Jeremy

    Jeremy Member

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  7. Volleyholic

    Volleyholic Active Member

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    Nice! I've used iJDM products in the past on other vehicles with success. Definitely report back if you get them. Maybe that 15% off is still valid too
     
  8. josh wolfe

    josh wolfe Member

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  9. helldorado

    helldorado New Member

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    I just ordered those for myself and they were selling them for $2 cheaper on Amazon with free shipping. I believe it's the same seller as your link.
    http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01CH4XJGS

    They also sell a PY21W amber bulb that is advertised as CANBUS error free and doesn't require a relay preventing the fast blink / bulb out issues.
    http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00XWKBCCA

    I'll update with my results after they arrive and get them installed.
     
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  10. helldorado

    helldorado New Member

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    The DRL bulbs work great and are super bright, the PY21W bulbs don't work. They still fast blink and throw a "bulb out" code. So I've swapped back to the original, amber bulb for now. I'm going to look and see if there are any other plug-and-play CANBUS compatible options before I look to hardwire a resistor


     
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  11. Herman Frome

    Herman Frome New Member

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    Read this write up earlier after reading the LED Headlight Installation. I was bored so just ran out to the store and boom, there they are. One thing though, 3 out of the 4 screws holding the plate inside the well were stripped and not coming out. So I had to pry under the screw head with a credit card and unscrew at the same time. All in all I did everything else by feel, pics in this write up helped with that.
     

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  12. Carson

    Carson New Member

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    What store did you get these at? Also have you had any problems with them so far I have heard a lot of people say after a few weeks they stop working.
     
  13. eingefroren

    eingefroren New Member

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    Did you ever figure this out. I just installed led drl's on my renny and they stay on when the car is off for a bit. Just want to make sure I am not gonna fry my battery.
     
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