[BlueCat49]

Everyone talks about them, but nobody ever ANSWERS the following questions:

1. Does a 2012 Honda Pilot have a turn signal relay that can be replaced to correct for LED bulbs?

I am specifically looking for an answer regarding the REAR turn signals since I have only replaced those at this point in time and they are hyper flashing (fast flashing, etc.).

2. If yes, where EXACTLY is the “relay”?

Are these not questions with definitive answers?

I have already replaced the bulbs and they are hyper flashing. (Please let me know if there is a different term I should use.) I really don't want to use resistors.

There are many threads here that have answers in them saying to replace the "relay" (usually "flasher relay") but none of them actually tell you EXACTLY WHERE that relay is.

I have reviewed the fuse box diagrams for all FOUR fuse boxes in my 2012 Pilot, talked with a Honda repair specialist, and several other people, and most are barely literate on the topic of "updating" to LEDs beyond "use a resistor" or "LED are trouble".

I'm really hoping someone here has definitive answers to those two simple questions.

NO - is an acceptable answer to question #1.

"And, replace the front bulbs as well." would be useful if I need to do that as part of the correction.

Thank y'all in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[Lifestar53]

Everyone talks about them, but nobody ever ANSWERS the following questions:

1. Does a 2012 Honda Pilot have a turn signal relay that can be replaced to correct for LED bulbs?

I am specifically looking for an answer regarding the REAR turn signals since I have only replaced those at this point in time and they are hyper flashing (fast flashing, etc.).

2. If yes, where EXACTLY is the “relay”?

Are these not questions with definitive answers?

I have already replaced the bulbs and they are hyper flashing. (Please let me know if there is a different term I should use.) I really don't want to use resistors.

There are many threads here that have answers in them saying to replace the "relay" (usually "flasher relay") but none of them actually tell you EXACTLY WHERE that relay is.

I have reviewed the fuse box diagrams for all FOUR fuse boxes in my 2012 Pilot, talked with a Honda repair specialist, and several other people, and most are barely literate on the topic of "updating" to LEDs beyond "use a resistor" or "LED are trouble".

I'm really hoping someone here has definitive answers to those two simple questions.

NO - is an acceptable answer to question #1.

"And, replace the front bulbs as well." would be useful if I need to do that as part of the correction.

Thank y'all in advance for any help you can provide.

There is no relay, you would either need resistors or a VLEDs or equivalent turn signal plug and play kit. My 2013 pilot has CK sockets for front as well as rear turn signals and tail brake lights, so keep that in mind as well. LED bulbs in a CK socket will blow the fuse unless the led is polarity adjusting. Google CK sockets to learn the difference.

Sent from my SM-N976U using Tapatalk

 

[BlueCat49]

Thank you for your quick reply. That was as fast as I get at Tom's Hardware for my computer questions.

I did go to the VLEDs website, but the search returned either Amber or Red for the rear turn signal bulb. The one on my 2012 is white.

Standard vs CK sockets CK Socket

I'll have try and figure out what type my 2012 has, but I'm pretty sure it has standard ones and I am hesitant to remove the assembly again to look. OK, I'm researching as I go and I have to TEST, not just look. And a quick search doesn't help. The fuse hasn't blown yet. Does that mean I have "standard" sockets or was just lucky and put the LEDs in the "right" way? Or are the Yorkim bulbs "polarity adjusting".

Now to figure out which type of "resistor" to purchase. Any suggestions?

One person said "aluminum not ceramic". The Yorkim bulbs have bundles with resistors, but they come with a "may get hot" warning.

I'll keep researching the VLEDs website for a solution.

Again, thank you for the prompt reply.

 

[BlueCat49]

Came across the Lasfit website which lists only this socket, Honda Pilot 2010-2013 Front Turn Signal Light, as being CK. Is it OK to "assume" that the REAR sockets are "standard"?

This is a good spot to relate my theory that in Hell, there is a special place for automotive engineers where they will be condemned to repairing what they designed for all eternity.

 

[BlueCat49]

A more general question about automotive LEDs.
I have only purchased them through Amazon and found the bulbs to be reasonably priced there. They were under $5 ea. for the bulbs I purchased to replace all 8 of my rear bulbs and I actually have some leftover. The headlight bulbs were less than $35 for the pair.
VLEDs are $30 per bulb for just the 7443s. Can they really be that much better?
If you have purchased them, what can you tell us about the brand?

And I just spotted this little tidbit: Get the Hyperflash Fix (sold separately)
$30 and I still have to buy something else? More research. (Sorry, I'm just posting my stream of thought so that if someone else finds this thread it might save them some research time.)

 

[Daltongang]

You get what you pay for. Cheap Chinese led bulbs are just that, cheap bulbs. They tend to fail often, check the reviews, and of course you need to have resistors with the turn signal bulbs. VLED bulbs have the resisters built in. Thus the expense of the bulb. Your getting what you need, not just a cheap bulb. The only decent LED turn signal bulbs IMO are the Lasfit bulbs. This fits your vehicle. 7443 7444 CANBUS Error Free LED Turn Signal Light Anti Hyper Flash | Amber Yellow

As for the headlight bulbs, you can expect to have people flash you if you put in LED bulbs. LED headlight are not just about the bulb but about the projector housing that the bulb is in. On another forum a poster showed before and after photos of his upgrade. A few days later he was back wondering why people were flashing him, as the lights were aimed correctly. It was pointed out the reason was in the original photos he posted. In the LED photo the tops os the trees along the side of the road were lit up. LED bulbs in regular fixtures just scatter a brighter light into the eyes of oncoming traffic.

 

[bradster]

I don't understand the benefits in replacing standard spec bulbs with a potentially unreliable LED. Why replace reliable safety equipment with devices that may be unreliable?

 

[Daltongang]

If you buy good bulbs instead of buying cheap amazon Chinese bulbs there can be several advantages. I replaced my backup bulbs with Sylvania Zevo bulbs. $24 for the set, but I live on a cul-de-sac and now when I back out of the garage they bitterly light up the cul-de-sac. These were literally 30 second a bulb change.

For turn signals, again if you buy good bulbs they can be brighter making them easier to notice as well as never having to replace these bulbs again. On my 2020 Passport and probably the new Pilots you have to take half of the wheel well liner off or loose to get to the front bulbs and on the rear you have to remove the whole light housing to get to the rears. Good bulbs will run you about #50 a pair for bulbs with built in resistors. The resistors are needed to stop hyper flashing.

As for headlight, the only LED headlights that i personally like are the factory projection lights. LED bulbs in standard headlight fixtures spread the light all over, and being extra bright it can often irritate other drivers. LED fixtures are expensive to replace to get a proper projector LED headlight so people go with the cheap bulb not thinking about the other drivers on the road.

 

[Jack Vogt]

A more general question about automotive LEDs.
I have only purchased them through Amazon and found the bulbs to be reasonably priced there. They were under $5 ea. for the bulbs I purchased to replace all 8 of my rear bulbs and I actually have some leftover. The headlight bulbs were less than $35 for the pair.
VLEDs are $30 per bulb for just the 7443s. Can they really be that much better?
If you have purchased them, what can you tell us about the brand?

And I just spotted this little tidbit: Get the Hyperflash Fix (sold separately)
$30 and I still have to buy something else? More research. (Sorry, I'm just posting my stream of thought so that if someone else finds this thread it might save them some research time.)

I replaced all my interior bulbs, as well as license plate and side turn signal bulbs with LED lights purchased on Amazon.

I was lead to believe that hyper flash was not an issue with Honda due to how they do their electrical system (don't quote me on this).

I have had no issues and it's been about a month. I cannot justify spending $30/bulb. I was considering LED headlights but I can't figure out if it'll improve anything so instead I'm going to replace the headlight assemblies in the near future.

 

[Daltongang]

I replaced all my interior bulbs, as well as license plate and side turn signal bulbs with LED lights purchased on Amazon.

I was lead to believe that hyper flash was not an issue with Honda due to how they do their electrical system (don't quote me on this).

I have had no issues and it's been about a month. I cannot justify spending $30/bulb. I was considering LED headlights but I can't figure out if it'll improve anything so instead I'm going to replace the headlight assemblies in the near future.

Was this for the 08 or the 13?

 

[BlueCat49]

I don't understand the benefits in replacing standard spec bulbs with a potentially unreliable LED. Why replace reliable safety equipment with devices that may be unreliable?

LED are generally MUCH brighter than stock bulbs. After I've edited the photos I took, I'll post a couple of examples.

 

[Jack Vogt]

Was this for the 08 or the 13?

2008. I should have clarified that. Things may/probably have changed.

 

[BlueCat49]

I replaced all my interior bulbs, as well as license plate and side turn signal bulbs with LED lights purchased on Amazon.

I was lead to believe that hyper flash was not an issue with Honda due to how they do their electrical system (don't quote me on this).

I have had no issues and it's been about a month. I cannot justify spending $30/bulb. I was considering LED headlights but I can't figure out if it'll improve anything so instead I'm going to replace the headlight assemblies in the near future.

Hmm. I wondering if the "hyper flash" is because I've only replaced the rear bulbs.

Also, I found a post that for the 2008 there is a relay that you can replace. The 2013 might be "programmed" differently than the 2012 since they may have started transitioning to LEDs on some models.

Or you may have gotten a brand of LEDs that has something built-in to counter the hyper flash. Or, it may matter which "direction" the bulbs are put in. All sorts of questions and no definitive answers.

A confusing topic.

 

[Daltongang]

They have. You wouldn't get the same thing on the 13. I know, I had a 13 Pilot Touring.

 

[BlueCat49]

2008. I should have clarified that. Things may/probably have changed.

Hmm. Based on what I've seen, you should have needed to replace the "relay" on the 2008. Maybe someone else replaced it? Did you buy it new?

 

[Daltongang]

Hmm. I wondering if the "hyper flash" is because I've only replaced the rear bulbs.

Also, I found a post that for the 2008 there is a relay that you can replace. The 2013 might be "programmed" differently than the 2012 since they may have started transitioning to LEDs on some models.

Or you may have gotten a brand of LEDs that has something built-in to counter the hyper flash. Or, it may matter which "direction" the bulbs are put in. All sorts of questions and no definitive answers.

A confusing topic.

No, hyper flashing is because the vehicle is detecting insufficient voltage going to the bulb indiction that it is not working. Hyper flashing has been around for years, long before LEDs to let you know you have a turn signal bulb that is burnt out. That's why you have to have resisters so the computer is tricked into thinking the bulb is working.

 

[Daltongang]

Hmm. Based on what I've seen, you should have needed to replace the "relay" on the 2008. Maybe someone else replaced it? Did you buy it new?

Not necessarily, the ECU wasn't part of the turn signal function in the 1st gens thus the flasher relay they had in them. The ECU is the relay in newer vehicles.

 

[Jack Vogt]

Hmm. Based on what I've seen, you should have needed to replace the "relay" on the 2008. Maybe someone else replaced it? Did you buy it new?

The bulbs I replaced were original to the car and were not LED. I saw a document somewhere that said 2008 Pilots did not need any modification to support LED lights. Either way I did nothing but remove the old bulbs and replace them. Everything works great with no issues at all.

 

[Daltongang]

The bulbs I replaced were original to the car and were not LED. I saw a document somewhere that said 2008 Pilots did not need any modification to support LED lights. Either way I did nothing but remove the old bulbs and replace them. Everything works great with no issues at all.

The one thing you do want to watch for is the sockets getting ruined from heat. A friend of mine, a GMC guy, put in LED bulbs, the cheap Chinese ones from Amazon, and had a socked melt from heat a few months later. LED's do get hot, just not at the LED's them selves. Luckily he was able to get a new socket with wiring instead of having to change out the harness. He pulled the cheap bulbs, bought the Sylvania LEDs and has had no problems since then.

 

[BlueCat49]

If you buy good bulbs instead of buying cheap amazon Chinese bulbs there can be several advantages. I replaced my backup bulbs with Sylvania Zevo bulbs. $24 for the set, but I live on a cul-de-sac and now when I back out of the garage they bitterly light up the cul-de-sac. These were literally 30 second a bulb change.

For turn signals, again if you buy good bulbs they can be brighter making them easier to notice as well as never having to replace these bulbs again. On my 2020 Passport and probably the new Pilots you have to take half of the wheel well liner off or loose to get to the front bulbs and on the rear you have to remove the whole light housing to get to the rears. Good bulbs will run you about #50 a pair for bulbs with built in resistors. The resistors are needed to stop hyper flashing.

As for headlight, the only LED headlights that i personally like are the factory projection lights. LED bulbs in standard headlight fixtures spread the light all over, and being extra bright it can often irritate other drivers. LED fixtures are expensive to replace to get a proper projector LED headlight so people go with the cheap bulb not thinking about the other drivers on the road.

Thank you for posting. I'm going to point out that you have a 2020 Honda Passport listed as your vehicle, so (no offense) nothing you said here really addresses the issue with a 2012 Pilot.
1. To replace the REAR bulbs on the 2012, you have to CAREFULLY remove the rear light fixture. And I mean CAREFULLY. One side didn't take long but the other one needed several minutes of finessing. The actual bulb replacements were quick. But putting the fixture back on needed to be done CAREFULLY again.
2. I'm betting the packaging on the "Sylvania Zevo" bulbs says "Made in China" or someplace other than America. Note too, that many "brand names" are simply purchased by some company and no longer have ANY guarantee of their past quality. Westinghouse was bought by someone I know and put on computer monitors. Have nothing to do with the original Westinghouse company.
3. Both my headlights and backup bulbs are much brighter than stock bulbs. Haven't done anything to "test" them other than use my eyeballs. I'm happy with the amount of additional brightness on my "Cheap Amazon Chinese" bulbs.
4. Can you recommend where to buy bulbs with "built-in resistors"? The VLEDs' site seemed to imply that you still might need a separate resistor with their $30 bulb which did NOT come in "white" which is what the 2012 needs despite their "bulb finder" only offering red and amber.