LED Interior Light Kit Install (2013 Pilot) Lots of Pix

[Armystrong]

Originally Posted by OldMDXer

Most of my bulb info came from other Piloteers. Yes, your $35 bulb kit has all 5 star ratings but coming from only 8 reviewers does not instill confidence (especially when the first reviewer says you need to unscrew and remove the two overhead light assemblies to change the bulbs ). I also thought another Piloteer mentioned that the wedge bulbs in your photo, with the double stack of LED's, were too tall to fit in the housings properly, but I guess they've worked for your car.

I wasn't looking to save money, but $35 for the "kit" seemed excessive to me. Many other Piloteers have made the change to LED's and posted their bulb info - the total cost for my 12 LED replacement bulbs from Amazon and ebay was $22.26.

$17 for the wedge bulbs, came from Amazon and were $4.25 for two with free Prime shipping - total for the 8 wedge bulbs = $17. They were very well made, fit well and don't work loose, all worked, and provide great lighting -
194 168 T10 Wedege SMD High Power LED HYPER WHITE BULBS Dome Lights 12V (1 pair) : Amazon.com : Automotive

$ 5.26 for four Festoons - came from an ebay seller with 98.8% positive feedback. Yes, they took a couple weeks to receive and were shipped from Hong Kong, but were well packed, new, and all worked wonderfully (another Piloteer posted the info and bought these bulbs too) -
2X16SMD 31mm 3021 3022 White LED Festoon Interior Dome Light Lamp Bulb 4102 | eBay

Happy shopping!

Definitely worth purchasing the bulbs you provided in the links. The money you save could buy a couple more in case any do go bad. As both of us have mentioned this is a wonderful upgrade to the interior lights.

Thank You OldMDXer for providing valuable and cost saving links. If I had to do it again...as frugal as I am I probably would have chosen the links and bulbs you purchased from. I like US sellers because they are quick with shipping and on this upgrade once I read about it I wanted it that day since I was waiting for other accessories to arrive. For two weeks now I have been itching to do something to the Pilot.

Tonight I also finished installing a sub and amp without taking out the OEM HU (head unit). Sounds pretty damn good. I will do a write up on that when I have more time.

[OldMDXer]

One note on the Festoon bulbs, the 16 LED ones from ebay have a warmer white color and not the blueish white of the wedge ones I used.

I had purchased these Festoons from Amazon -

Oracle Lighting 31MM6LSMDW Cool White 31mm 6 LED SMD Festoon Bulb - Pair : Amazon.com : Automotive

Oracle Lighting 31MM6LSMDW Cool White 31mm 6 LED SMD Festoon Bulb - Pair : Amazon.com : Automotive

which were very well made and do have a matching blueish white light, but I wanted more light output for the cargo lamp and I really didn't like the stark bluish light in the map lights (could hardly see the garage door button) so I used the 16 LED ones and am keeping these as spares.

(I'll edit my last post to clarify this because I know many of you want all the bulbs to match.)

[Armystrong]

Originally Posted by mdlinkous

I would be curious to know about the resolution of the backp camera?

I haven't driven the Pilot since the install but my wife and I were both at the gym ( I drove the Accord and she drove the Pilot). When we got home at 7pm I asked her about backing up and she said the it's is bright offering more definition. The Pilot is her daily driver.

[mdlinkous]

Got mine installed this evening... Only 1 problem I encountered. When I went to install one of the door courtesy/step lights, the socket pushed thru and I had to use a small pair of hemostats to pull he socket back into place. Took a bit of patience, but I got it without having to remove the whole panel from the door to get to the socket.

[Armystrong]

I can see that happening if you apply to much force. This is not to say you did because I have no idea how the bulb socket is mounted to the door panel.

Good piece of advice, like mdlinkous implies ensure the bulb is inserted into the bulb housing then push it in. Hopefully what happened to him doesn't happen to anyone else.

[AlphaOne]

I gave you stars.

This will be my next project.

[surfsup]

Installed my Classy Auto LEDs last night... I agree with the others, this is a very VERY nice and inexpensive upgrade. However, I am embarrassed to say that I didn't even know I had a cargo light until I was trying to figure out where that 3rd festoon was supposed to go. Evidently we've been using the twin cargo area dome lights only. Lol'd at myself !?!?

A big thanks to 1stTimerHonda (friend and fellow forum member) for getting us this kit for Christmas... hope you find your Pilot in 2013 brother and Semper Fi!

[BigWhite]

[QUOTE=Armystrong;411662]I ordered an LED Interior Light Kit plus license plate from Amazon for $35.26...free shippingQUOTE]

I ordered a set off of ebay from Cinci, OH that included the license plate 13 pcs for $35 they worked great, no effect on the back up camera.

Here's the link : http://www.ebay.com/itm/120911660250

[Armystrong]

[quote=BigWhite;412588]

Originally Posted by Armystrong

I ordered an LED Interior Light Kit plus license plate from Amazon for $35.26...free shippingQUOTE]

I ordered a set off of ebay from Cinci, OH that included the license plate 13 pcs for $35 they worked great, no effect on the back up camera.

Here's the link : Xenon White Honda Pilot Interior LED Package Deal 2009 2011 13 Pieces 66 | eBay

Interesting....nice link but after looking at the item description they do not include Visor LEDs. The description says 11 bulbs included in the kit but the title of the auction says 13 pieces. When you add up all the lights in the desciption it equals 13. BUT.....they list 4 door lights. If you look at our Pilot (At least 2013 EX 4wd) the front passenger doors have 1 light each but the rear passengers do not have lights....they are red reflectors. So those 2 extra bulbs ment for the doors are not the type that go into the Visors. I wonder what they are used for?

[Laker]

The eBay narrative does NOT indicate that these will work with 2012 or 2013 models.

This part is compatible with 3 vehicle(s).
Notes Year Make Model Trim Engine
2011 Honda Pilot All All
2010 Honda Pilot All All
2009 Honda Pilot All All

[BigWhite]

[quote=Armystrong;412594]

Originally Posted by BigWhite

Interesting....nice link but after looking at the item description they do not include Visor LEDs. The description says 11 bulbs included in the kit but the title of the auction says 13 pieces. When you add up all the lights in the desciption it equals 13. BUT.....they list 4 door lights. If you look at our Pilot (At least 2013 EX 4wd) the front passenger doors have 1 light each but the rear passengers do not have lights....they are red reflectors. So those 2 extra bulbs ment for the doors are not the type that go into the Visors. I wonder what they are used for?

The 2011 has lights on all four doors.


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[mdlinkous]

Originally Posted by Armystrong

I can see that happening if you apply to much force. This is not to say you did because I have no idea how the bulb socket is mounted to the door panel.

Good piece of advice, like mdlinkous implies ensure the bulb is inserted into the bulb housing then push it in. Hopefully what happened to him doesn't happen to anyone else.

I dont think my socket was properly installed... it pushed thru way to easy. The white plastic socket looks like it pulled thru to the housing and twisted into place.

I was about ready to post on here about someone looking up in the service manual to see if they could tell me how to remove the piece.... with patience and persistence, I finally got it.

The pictures were very VALUABLE to this thread... it made popping the lens off much faster and assured me I was popping them off at the right points...

[AlphaOne]

Got mine installed.
A little gingerly at the start though. I guess I started with the wrong lights (front map lights). I have to go back and review this thread before proceeding. LOL.
And once I changed the first one, the rests are so easy.

Thanks again for the pics.

[1YESfan]

This looks like something I should do as well but I don't get wanting to illuminate the plate even more for a couple of reasons. Record-keeping/ big brother/easier tickets and out of state tags have the possibility of attracting unwanted attention.

Also, if I'm parked in a dark isolated, unfamiliar place, I don't want to have a spotlight on myself for any extended period of time with bright interior lights, which also keeps you from seeing your surroundings. Lock the doors and cut the lights as soon as possible for safety reasons.

[jcampbell474]

Originally Posted by OldMDXer

$17 for the wedge bulbs, came from Amazon and were $4.25 for two with free Prime shipping - total for the 8 wedge bulbs = $17. They were very well made, fit well and don't work loose, all worked, and provide great lighting -
194 168 T10 Wedege SMD High Power LED HYPER WHITE BULBS Dome Lights 12V (1 pair) : Amazon.com : Automotive

I want to replace just the front map lights, 2nd, and 3rd row dome lights. Will the Amazon ones you linked to work?