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LEDs flicker and then go out!

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Old Apr 15, 2010 | 08:17 PM
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LEDs flicker and then go out!

Does anybody else have a problem with their LEDs flickering and then dying? Mine are only a few months old, maybe like six or seven months old, and first the glovebox bulb went, then another one somewhere (which I've already forgotten) then the side marker light last week and now the front headlight little extra light (whatever that's called) is flickering, which means it'll be dead in a day or two. I thought LEDs were supposed to look great AND last longer than regular bulbs?!?!? I don't know if I got bad bulbs, or my car's system is just not a friendly environment for them or I just got bad information and, actually, LEDs do NOT last longer than regular bulbs and actually need constant replacement, like twice a year! Grrrrr! Any tips??
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Old Apr 15, 2010 | 08:18 PM
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bad quality leds by chance did you get them from rotaryfx??
buy from vleds.com top of the line leds
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Old Apr 15, 2010 | 08:21 PM
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They're actually from vleds. I was wondering if he's a bad dealer, but I guess that's not the problem. When I get a chance I'm going to call him and ask to at least replace a few of the bulbs. I know he's got a rep for excellent customer service. Mostly I just want them to stop going out, though... it's a pain! And now I can't use my running lights on the way to work tomorrow because with the flickering, it looks like an eye twitch. lol
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 04:32 PM
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Been in touch with vleds.com... they are being very supportive. Looks like maybe I got older technology bulbs.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 04:45 PM
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sometimes LED's just suck, I've had led's from all sorts of vendors go out after a short period of time.

What's where the good customer support comes in handy
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 04:52 PM
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i have ijdmtoy havent had a problem in 8 months
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 05:30 PM
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ALL of my Autolumination LEDs (except the 50% that were simply DOA) died this way - flickering and then nothing.

Autolumination claims its an "over-voltage" situation, which is obviously BS if these were made for a 12v automotive application.

I'm trying 194-type replacements from Superbrightleds next.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 05:45 PM
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my mazda6 has Autolumination leds in right now they all still seem to work, had red leds and blues, maybe just lucky, they are 4or so years old now i guess. My brother now has that car. my rx8 has the white vled ones so far are all working.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 06:02 PM
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My Autolumination LEDs failed too. Same story... flickering then dead.
I run v-leds now and have much better success.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 07:17 PM
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Bill at vleds just wrote to say he's sending me new ones on Monday. The ones I have that are dying out are 10 or 11 months old. He couldn't have been better -- instant response and full replacement!
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 07:22 PM
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Good to know they are standing behind what they sold you!
As just another data point................I have V-LED's in just about every single location in the car and have had the same set in there for 5 years now. I lost one that was in the parking light and that's been it.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 07:24 PM
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I just installed my vleds for the parking lights and 1 doesn't work.. And they're out of stock. This sucks. FX is crap too.. Their license plate LED didn't work from day 1.

I need good LED's.. Ones that last more than a day!!
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Stenobeth
Bill at vleds just wrote to say he's sending me new ones on Monday. The ones I have that are dying out are 10 or 11 months old. He couldn't have been better -- instant response and full replacement!
That's awesome.

Tracy at Autolumination basically told me to go f-myself and that the LEDs they sold me "never, ever" fail (even though half of that model have shown up DOA every time I've ordered them over the last several years).
I gave them my best shot since they are local and I try to support local businesses, but I'm done with them.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 07:30 PM
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What do you need RotaryP7? Be specific!
I have several extras, in several colors.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 07:32 PM
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^ 194's?

I wanted the 6000k bright white LED's vleds had for parking lights and any bright LED for the license plate one.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 08:21 PM
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I'll look tomorrow out in the garage. I might be able to help ya out.

Think I have these out there in white:

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...81133-1-2.html

and these

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...81033-1-2.html

Just gonna depend on how many I got left. I always buy more than I need just in case!

I will wait until they have a sale on like 10 or 20 and then load up as I have three cars to outfit.

Last edited by Mazurfer; Apr 16, 2010 at 08:25 PM.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 08:45 PM
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^ And these?

http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/D...87987-1-2.html

Those are the ones I bought.. 1 LED works. So I left it on.. I don't know if the ones you have will match?
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 08:50 PM
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No, unfortunately not.
I bought so many back a few years ago and they really didn't have the SMT's at that time.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 09:00 PM
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It's an internal issue to the LED dice/andode lead, seen occasionally with imminent failure testing, ALSO due to the assembly process with SMT (surface mount) LED's.... my bet's on the later.

It's a process indicator, the pick and place machine was out of calibration upon assembly.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 09:13 PM
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Ha ha I workek in the LED business for a year making assemblies.

You wouldn't believe the bad quality that is out there.

The is a specification that the automakers came up with as they had the same problem.

Those LED's are expensive.

Cheap for us but expensive compared to the cheap 2 cent LEDs you are getting now.
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Old Apr 16, 2010 | 10:16 PM
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I just saw this thread... i have ordered multiple sets of leds (parking lights) from rotary fx, and one went out again tonight, this is the last straw and i sent them an email basically saying im sick of this and how come your product keeps doing this... i suppose we will see what kind of customer support they have.
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 08:04 PM
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I just ordered the T10 wedges from Autolumination.com.....

I had the rotaryfx ones with no problems for over a year... until a few locals jinxed me now one of them is out
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 08:16 PM
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well here was rotary fx's response to my email

Thank you for your message. We are hearing that these bulbs can sometimes burn out more quickly than our other bulbs. The life of LED bulbs varies depending upon the amount of use, conditions, etc. We have heard of others having a similar experience with bulbs purchased from other companies. Our own experience is that the same bulbs have been installed in our owner's vehicle for more than a year now without an issue. We do offer a 60 day warranty on LED bulbs that you may take advantage of by reviewing our policies. I'm sorry that we are not able to help you further.

on a scale of 1 to 10 for customer service, i'd give it about a 6.5
edit: it was roughly 40 days since i ordered the ones that are in my car now, so i should be getting a replacement, but we'll see
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 08:44 AM
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Still gonna say..............V-LED's FTW.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Mazurfer
Still gonna say..............V-LED's FTW.
+1
i've used vleds for a couple years now and have had only one issue with the v-star lights but it was when they first came out. They fixed the problem with them and I've haven't had a problem since. Good customer service and people friendly. if anyone is looking for a good led company to choose from vled's should be at the top of your list.
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