9003 LED Bulbs

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When it comes to factory lighting upgrades, many car owners prefer upgrading to LEDs. And there are many good reasons to go this way, especially if a car owner wants to remain within reasonable budget and get a product that is not only bright, but lasting.

Here are some other reasons, why people select LEDs:

  • LEDs last 6 times longer, than regular incandescent bulbs;
  • LED bulbs are resistant to vibration, moisture, humidity, etc.;
  • LEDs are way brighter, than regular stock bulbs;
  • Installation of LED bulbs does not require major mods to the headlight assembly or wiring;
  • Such bulbs feature plug-and-play installation.

9003 LED Bulb: Specs of the Bulb Size

In general, 9003 is one of the dual-beam bulb sizes that many vehicles come equipped with. If your vehicle features 9003 bulbs from the factory, there are certain things you should know.

  1. 9003 is dual beam bulb; it means that one bulbs works both for high and low beam;
  2. Bulbs marked as 9003 are almost identical to the ones, marked as H4 or HB2;
  3. 9003, H4 and HB2 bulbs are completely interchangeable (from the technical point of view);
  4. If you are about to upgrade your 9003 headlight bulbs to LEDs, 9003, H4 and HB2 bulbs will fit into the housing right;
  5. Bulb size (9003, H4 and HB2) does not matter if you are looking for the brightest or the most powerful LED for your car, truck or SUV.

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Are 9003 bulbs identical to H4 and/or HB2?

Technically, these 3 bulb sizes are the same, and can be installed into the same headlight assembly without extra modifications. Technically, these bulbs are identical, though there are certain legal differences in terms of using these bulbs.

  1. 9003, H4 and HB2 bulbs may be used both in the US and Canada and can be installed into the headlight assemblies that are marked as “DOT HB2”.
  2. Car makers install only 9003 or HB2 bulbs into the headlights marked as “DOT HB2”. So if you are about to replace the light bulb and you live in the state where state inspection checks DOT markings, make sure to install 9003 bulbs, not H4.
  3. H4 bulbs can be used on cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles both in and outside the U.S., where vehicles are not required to have DOT markings on the headlights and bulbs.

9003 vs H4: Historical Aspect

  1. 1971 – H4 bulbs were introduced in Europe and became the first bulbs, that work both for high and low beam (later on, such bulbs were referred to as ‘dual beam’). At that time, cars, trucks and SUVs in the US came equipped with sealed beams, that did not allow replacing just the bulb, so H4 bulbs became popular everywhere except of the America. However, motorcycles in the States did not have sealed headlights, so some models quickly adopted H4 bulbs.
  2. 1983 – DOT allowed using non-sealed headlights. However usage of the bulbs that feature altered focus when replaced was still illegal, so dual-beam bulbs were still not permitted for usage in America.
  3. 1991 – DOT restrictions applied to the bulbs were changed, so it became technically possible to use H4 bulbs. But at that time US standards used 4-digit codes to denote bulb sizes, so the H4 bulb sizes were marked as 9003 for the U.S. market.
  4. 1992 – The first vehicles that were equipped with 9003 headlights from the factory appeared that year.

Hikari 9003 LED Bulbs

Hikari offers LED replacement bulbs in this bulb size in the following series:

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Check rating, price & availability of these bulbs

LED Headlight Bulbs: Questions & Answers

Normally, headlights use a Phillips screwdriver pattern. So, to adjust headlights, pop the hood, locate the opening at the backside of the headlight assemblies. Next. use a screwdriver, put it in the hole to engage with the teeth of the gear. Push down to get the lights lined up. Going one way is vertical up alignment, and going the other way is vertical down alignment.
There are many quality LED bulb brands. But here are the ones many reputable car magazines and body shops really consider the best: OPT7, Hikari, Akarui, Philips, Osram (Sylvania), AUXbeam, Cougar, BeamTech, SeaLight. Note, that there are many other brands that offer quality LED bulbs. You may conduct your own research to get a better understanding of the best LED headlight bulbs on the market.
There are many factors, that prove, that LED headlight bulbs are better than the traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs consume less power and are brighter than regular bulbs. Besides, LEDs last way longer since they do not contain any fragile glass elements and tungsten. Plus, LED headlight bulbs are resistant to vibration, temperature changes, and humidity, so they last longer.
If you pick the right bulb size of the LEDs, the installation is just plug-and-play. You just remove the duct cover, uninstall the OE bulb, install the LED bulb and make sure it fits along with the cooling unit. Next, you need to install the duct cover and have your new LED bulbs properly aligned.

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LEDs by Bulb Size

Hikari offers LED conversion kits and interior bulbs in the bulb sizes that will fit the majority of US cars, trucks and SUVs. If you know the bulb size you need, you will easily find your perfect LED upgrade. Just check out our online catalog to see details and technical characteristics of Hikari LED bulbs!

Featured Cars, Trucks & SUVs

Hikari LED bulbs are available for the majority of cars, trucks and SUVs that are popular in the U.S. These bulbs are significantly brighter, than the regular halogen or incandescent bulbs, they last longer and due to their construction easily withstand vibration, moisture, dust and temperature changes. The cooling units and the shape of the bulbs are slin enough to fit the majority of the factory duct covers. You can check the LED bulbs for your vehicle to determine the bulb size and part numbers quickly.

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