My nightmare with my BRZ is over!!

[Slade]

So two weeks ago I bought this 2014 BRZ that they didn't even have for a month yet. I just took delivery yesterday, why did it take so long? Apparently they ECU fried and it took them forever to find the cause. Finally they told me Subaru sent their own personal tech from the factory and they discovered that the LED bulbs the original owner put in fried everything. I don't care too much I'm just happy to have my car. A couple questions though, does this mean I can't put LEDS in the car anymore? Also my BRZ came with red footwell lighting, is there anyway I can change that to blue? I never saw those kinds of LED bulbs before not sure what size they are. Thanks.

[Stang70Fastback]

I have had LED bulbs in the entire car, pretty much since I bought it, and my ECU has yet to be fried. Not sure how that would cause that to happen. Tons of people have LEDs in many old and new cars. I'm wondering if LEDs were the only modification to the car? If so, maybe that was the only thing they could think to blame for what could have simply been a faulty ECU?

[Tcoat]

There are several cases on here where defective or improperly installed lights have blown the BCU. There are also hundreds that have had no issues. Buy quali5y parts (cheap is cheap for a reason) and make sure they are properly installed and you should have no problems.

[WhiteFRS69]

if you want to covert some of the lights to LED's, look into @Diode Dynamics

they have quality quality bulbs!!

[kberkel]

Wow I've never heard of this before. I bought relatively cheap bulbs on amazon. No issues.

I wonder who makes the BCU

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by kberkel

Wow I've never heard of this before. I bought relatively cheap bulbs on amazon. No issues.

I wonder who makes the BCU

Not really the cheap bulbs that are the issue but the electronics that go with them. The BCU is designed and made for the stock electronics so there is always a risk when changing them to any aftermarket parts. The higher the quality though the less the risk. Usually.

[BlackJesus]

Originally Posted by Slade

So two weeks ago I bought this 2014 BRZ that they didn't even have for a month yet. I just took delivery yesterday, why did it take so long? Apparently they ECU fried and it took them forever to find the cause. Finally they told me Subaru sent their own personal tech from the factory and they discovered that the LED bulbs the original owner put in fried everything. I don't care too much I'm just happy to have my car. A couple questions though, does this mean I can't put LEDS in the car anymore? Also my BRZ came with red footwell lighting, is there anyway I can change that to blue? I never saw those kinds of LED bulbs before not sure what size they are. Thanks.

Be careful with the your LED foot-well. Make sure its installed well since improper installation is a fire hazard. I had a friend who had his mazda speed burned down due to the LED foot-well. Luckily Mazda didnt notice that their was aftermarket parts on his car and they replaced the whole car for him lol.

You can change it to blue if its a RGBY LED strip, if not then youll have to remove it and buy a new led strip. I don't recommend putting any LED strip since it can become an annoyance later down the road and the huge fire hazard.

As for LED Bulbs you can change the following:
Headlights (low + high) : D4S (only requires a pair)
Foglights : PSX24W or 5202 for hid
License plate: W5W, T10 194
Trunk light : same as license plate
Front + rear side marker lights : same as license plate
Side door lights : Same as license plate
Front + Rear turn signal : 7440, 7443, WY21W
Interior dome : 3022
Back up light: 921

Youll need atleast 10x T10 194 bulbs


DIY For footwell lighting
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74191
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27471 (door speakers)

DONT CHEAP OUT ON LEDS!!!
Buy them in packages or group which makes them a lot cheaper.


- Your friendly neighborhood Black Jesus

[Slade]

Thanks for all the replies guys. So I guess I should stay away from ebay LED's? Regarding the footwell light though it doesnt seem to be a strip. Its a very small bulb even smaller then the 194. I'm just wondering if I can swap that to blue but I don't know what size.

[gtslow]

Originally Posted by BlackJesus

Be careful with the your LED foot-well. Make sure its installed well since improper installation is a fire hazard. I had a friend who had his mazda speed burned down due to the LED foot-well. Luckily Mazda didnt notice that their was aftermarket parts on his car and they replaced the whole car for him lol.

You can change it to blue if its a RGBY LED strip, if not then youll have to remove it and buy a new led strip. I don't recommend putting any LED strip since it can become an annoyance later down the road and the huge fire hazard.


- Your friendly neighborhood Black Jesus

Wait, so your friend had led lights installed improperly by himself or someone else, the car burnt down due to this and he just let the dealer replace the car? Honest guy

[wrblion]

Originally Posted by gtslow

Wait, so your friend had led lights installed improperly by himself or someone else, the car burnt down due to this and he just let the dealer replace the car? Honest guy

What would you have done? I honestly would have done the same thing if my car burnt down. Some people blow their engines while still under warranty because of aftermarket performance mods and use the warranty to get it rebuilt.

[BRZnut]

enjoy the car the way but I am sure changing the color of the foot well LED should not be an issue. Other than that, keep it as it is and enjoy one of the best handling cars on the road (with great MPG too boot!)

[gtslow]

Originally Posted by wrblion

What would you have done? I honestly would have done the same thing if my car burnt down. Some people blow their engines while still under warranty because of aftermarket performance mods and use the warranty to get it rebuilt.

I honestly don't know as I haven't been been put in that position. I hope my scruples would hold up. My previous car had some warranty work for the head unit cutting out. I let the dealership know about the aftermarket audio components (sub and amp) installed prior to me owning the car and told them I'd understand that if these components were causing the issuing I know the warranty wouldn't be honored and I would just install an aftermarket head unit.

[BlackJesus]

Originally Posted by gtslow

Wait, so your friend had led lights installed improperly by himself or someone else, the car burnt down due to this and he just let the dealer replace the car? Honest guy

Yup, he was very LUCKY. Mazda didnt find any evidence of the LED and at that time there was a recall on most mazda due to a venting issue which causes overheating.

[BlackJesus]

Originally Posted by Slade

Thanks for all the replies guys. So I guess I should stay away from ebay LED's? Regarding the footwell light though it doesnt seem to be a strip. Its a very small bulb even smaller then the 194. I'm just wondering if I can swap that to blue but I don't know what size.

could you take a picture of the footwell? Tbh i have some ebay led installed on my car and it didnt have any issue what so ever