PHILIPS H7 CANbus Adapters for LED Headlights and Fog Lights Instructions
- June 13, 2024
- Philips
Table of Contents
PHILIPS H7 CANbus Adapters for LED Headlights and Fog Lights
Product Information: Automotive Lighting CANbus Adapters
The Automotive Lighting CANbus Adapters by Philips provide a simple and easy-
to-install solution for common LED bulb issues. These adapters are designed to
prevent false bulb failure warnings and address flashing or flickering of LED
headlights and fog lights in vehicles.
LED upgrade headlights and fog lights offer several advantages, including
ruggedness, longer lifespan, and brilliant illumination. However, in some
vehicles, they may trigger false bulb failure warnings due to the lower
wattage and power draw of LED bulbs. This occurs when the vehicle’s computer
network (CANbus) system detects a low electrical resistance from the LED bulbs
during its verification process.
Additionally, some auto manufacturers use pulse width modulation (PWM) to
control the voltage to a bulb, improving bulb life. While these voltage pulses
are not noticeable with halogen bulbs, they can cause LED bulbs to flash or
flicker due to the quick on-off switching of the LEDs.
The Philips LED CANbus Adapters help overcome these issues by providing the
correct resistor value expected by the vehicle’s computer system and
preventing flashing or flickering of LED lights.
Product Usage Instructions
To avoid false bulb failure warnings and flashing/flickering issues with LED headlights and fog lights, follow these usage instructions
- Identify if your vehicle experiences false bulb failure warnings or flashing/flickering issues after installing LED bulbs.
- If false bulb failure warnings are present, locate the affected light(s) and remove the LED bulbs.
- Reinstall the conventional bulbs in place of the LED bulbs and check if the false warnings clear. This step confirms that the issue is caused by the LED bulbs.
- For false bulb failure warnings, install the Philips LED CANbus Adapter in the circuit. This adapter provides the resistor value expected by the vehicle’s computer system, resolving the false warning issue.
- For flashing or flickering LED lights, install the Philips CANbus Adapter in the circuit. This adapter prevents the quick on-off switching of the LEDs caused by pulse width modulation, ensuring stable and continuous illumination.
- Installation of the Philips CANbus Adapters is quick and straightforward, taking only minutes to complete.
By following these instructions and using the Philips LED CANbus Adapters, you can enjoy the benefits of LED upgrade headlights and fog lights without encountering false warnings or flashing/flickering issues in your vehicle.
CANbus adapters for LED Headlights and Fog Lights
The simple, easy-to-install solution for common LED bulb issues. LED upgrade
headlights and fog lights are great. They’re rugged, they last far longer than
conventional bulbs, and they offer brilliant illumination. But in some
vehicles, they can also trigger a false bulb failure warning.
Avoid false bulb failure warnings by installing the Philips LED CANbus
Adapter.
- Some cars use the vehicle’s computer network (CANbus) system to verify the functioning of the vehicle’s lights. Because LED bulbs have a lower wattage and draw much less power than conventional bulbs, when the system runs a check, the electrical resistance of an LED may be too low to be detected. This creates a false warning that one of the lights has failed. Philips LED CANbus Adapters help prevent false bulb failure warnings. Installation of the adapters takes just minutes.
- In addition, a lot of auto manufacturers use PWM (or pulse width modulation) to precisely control the voltage to a bulb. One of the benefits of doing this is to improve bulb life.
- These quick, voltage pulses (PWM) do not give a bulb filament time to cool down and dim, so for halogen bulbs the pulses are not noticeable. However, with an LED bulb, these pulses are enough to turn the LEDs off and on very quickly, which results in a flashing of the light.
- The CANbus adapter we have for fog lights eliminates any issues introduced when installing an LED in place of a halogen bulb. Installation of the adapters takes just minutes.
Philips CANbus Adapter Frequently Asked Questions
- After installation of LEDs, my car does not start or runs/performs poorly. What should I do?
- After installation of LED bulbs, some cars may go into ‘limp home’ mode. The car’s computer is looking for the resistor value of an incandescent bulb, but the LED has a different resistor value. This difference in resistor values can cause a false message that the car has a problem. Thankfully, this happens rarely, and the issue can be easily resolved.
- First, verify that the ‘limp home’ mode is being caused by the LEDs by reinstalling the conventional bulbs. If the ‘limp home’ mode clears, it was most likely caused by the LED bulbs. This means that you’ll want to install
a Philips LED CANbus Adapter to provide the resistor value that the vehicle’s computer expects to see
After installation of the LED my bulbs flash or flicker, as if my light is
defective. What should I do?
LED bulbs can appear to flash because a lot of auto manufacturers use PWM
(or pulse width modulation) to precisely control the voltage to a bulb to
improve bulb life. These quick, voltage pulses (PWM) do not give a bulb
filament time to cool down and dim, so for halogen bulbs the pulses are not
noticeable. However, with an LED bulb, these pulses are enough to turn the
LEDs off and on very quickly, which results in a flashing of the light.
If your LED lights flash or flicker after installation, you’ll want to install
a Philips CANbus Adapter. Installing the adapter in the circuit prevents this
problem, and installation takes only minutes.
My dashboard displays a ‘bulb out’ message even though all lights are
working. What should I do?
Some CANbus systems see the low power consumption from LEDs as a sign of a
burned-out bulb. This causes a false warning on the dashboard. If your car has
a dashboard error message after installing an LED light, you’ll want to
install a Philips LED CANbus Adapter.
Philips LED Headlight and Fog Light CANbus Adapters are available in
| Part No. | Fits | Application |
|---|---|---|
| CANbus H7 | H7 | Headlight (H7), Fog Light (H7) |
| CANbus H8 H11 H16 | H8, H11, H16 | Headlight (H11), Fog Lights (H8, H11, H16) |
| CANbus HB3 HB4 | 9005, 9006, 9012 | Headlights (9005, 9006, 9012), Fog Light |
(9006)
CANbus H4| 9003| Headlight only (9003)
CANbus 9004| 9004| Headlight only (9004)
CANbus 9007| 9007| Headlight only (9007)
CANbus 9008| 9008| Headlight only (9008)
CANbus 9145| 9145| Fog Light only (9145)
Note: in rare cases, vehicles may not adapt to a CANbus Adapter.
Lumileds
- 34119 W. Twelve Mile Road, Suite 102
- Farmington Hills, MI 48331
- Phone: 800-257-6054
- www.philips.com/automotive
- CANbus.4-23
For more information, please contact your Lumileds
sales account manager or customer service at
- 866-254-6989 | philipsautoorders@lumileds.com
- 2023 © Lumileds Holding B.V. All rights reserved.
- The Philips trademark and the Philips shield emblem are registered trademarks of Koninklijke Philips N.V.