A legendary truck with dim headlights
The 2008–2024 Peterbilt Model 389 is a symbol of pride for owner-operators and custom truck enthusiasts. Its long-nose profile, distinctive headlight pods, polished air cleaners and dual exhaust stacks make it a familiar starting point for a personal build. Drivers continue to make their 389s their own with custom paint, polished metal and lighting.
For a 389 with the original factory halogen headlights, one kit covers both beams with two H11 low-beam LED bulbs and two 9005 high-beam LED bulbs. It also includes one pair of extended low-beam dust caps and the compact high-beam modules described in the installation guide. Start by checking the bulbs and housings actually installed on the truck, especially if a previous owner has changed them.
BTS has tested this kit on 2008–2024 Peterbilt 389 trucks with original factory halogen headlights using H11 low-beam and 9005 high-beam bulbs. Confirm the installed lamp equipment and rear clearance before ordering. Replacement housings and complete factory LED assemblies may use a different arrangement; the truck year alone is not a fit check.
Plan the bulb, housing and electrical upgrade together
Check the installed lamps
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Match the bulb positions: The 389 installation guide uses H11 bulbs for low beam and 9005 bulbs for high beam. Compare those markings with the lamps on the truck.
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Check the housing seals: Inspect the existing lamp and seal surfaces before installation. The included extended low-beam caps provide room for the LED cooling section when fitted to the matching housing.
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Check seating and aim: Fully lock each bulb into the correct position, then check low beam, high beam and final headlight aim after installation.
CAN‑bus errors and “LED Mode” myths
A bulb change can affect a truck’s bulb-monitoring response. Follow the kit guide: with the engine running, turn on low beam and then high beam, and allow approximately one minute for the high-beam warning check. A warning that remains or returns on each high-beam activation is the guide’s trigger for using the included modules.
Do not decide whether a module or programming is needed from an assumed model-year cutoff. Follow the guide and inspect the actual truck’s response. If warnings persist after the documented checks, contact BTS with the truck details, installed housing and symptoms rather than assuming one accessory will correct every fault.
Extended dust caps required
The H11 low-beam installation uses the supplied extended dust caps to provide clearance for the LED heat sink. Check bulb seating and cap closure on each side; do not leave the lamp open or force a cap against the cooling assembly.
Born from frustration – the BTS Lighting story
Dustin Brock, the owner of BTS Lighting, knows the 389’s headlight woes firsthand. After purchasing a 2008 Peterbilt 389, he tested dozens of LED bulb kits. Some flickered, others caused CB radio interference, and many barely illuminated the road beyond a few metres. Cheap or expensive, no solution met his expectations. This frustration led him to develop Alpha Series LED bulbs specifically engineered for the 389 platform. The result is a kit designed by a trucker for truckers—a coordinated package of bulbs, dust caps and optional-use high-beam modules for the matching 389 headlight equipment.
Introducing the Alpha Series ReadyFit LED kit
BTS Lighting’s ReadyFit package combines the current Alpha Series H11 and 9005 bulb sets with the supporting parts used in its Peterbilt 389 installation guide. Use the separate listings and instructions for other Peterbilt models rather than extending the BTS-tested 2008–2024 389 year range to a 388, 567 or 589.
What’s new in the ReadyFit design?
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Integrated bulb electronics: The H11 and 9005 bulbs use an integrated driver and cooling assembly. The included compact high-beam modules remain separate parts and are installed only when the guide’s warning check calls for them. Plan space for the actual installed configuration.
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High-beam warning check: The kit includes two compact 9005 modules. If a high-beam warning remains or returns after the initial check, follow the guide’s module-installation and retest steps. That need is based on the truck’s response, not a claimed 2008–2012 programming boundary.
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Custom extended dust caps: Low‑beam housings come with extended dust caps to accommodate the larger LED heat sink and maintain a sealed headlight.
Performance highlights
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6500K white light: Both exact bulb listings specify 11,000 lumens per set. Keep the published set unit when comparing output; the number is not a measurement of the light delivered to the road by a particular headlight housing.
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Electrical support included: The compact high-beam modules are supplied for the warning condition described in the guide. Test the installed lamps and diagnose any remaining flicker or warning before choosing further electrical changes.
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Keep the installation supported: Seat each bulb securely, route the leads without strain and close the correct dust caps. Check the nearby clearance when securing any module required by the guide.
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Test the complete installation: Check the lighting functions and any interference symptoms with the engine running. Integrated electronics do not establish a universal no-interference result for every truck and accessory combination.
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Bulb cooling: The current H11 and 9005 specifications list a copper PCB, liquid-filled thermal tubes and an internal cooling fan. Allow room for that cooling system. It is not a heated headlight lens and no lens de-icing performance is claimed.
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Lifetime warranty: The kit retains its existing lifetime warranty and applicable terms. Keep the purchase and product details for any warranty enquiry.
Check high-beam warnings using the installation guide
After fitting the bulbs, use the kit guide’s engine-running low/high-beam check. Only install the included high-beam modules if the warning condition requires them, then repeat the check. There is no model-year-only programming rule in this procedure.
What’s Included
H11 Alpha Series LED Bulbs
2 × H11 low-beam bulbs, supplied as one A1001 set. The exact bulb listing specifies 11,000 lumens per set and 6500K white light.
9005 Alpha Series LED Bulbs
2 × 9005 high-beam bulbs, supplied as one A1002 set with an integrated driver. The exact bulb listing specifies 11,000 lumens per set and 6500K white light.
Extended Low-Beam Dust Caps
2 × Sealed dust caps designed to keep dust, dirt, and moisture out of the headlight housing for long-lasting performance.
9005 Error-Cancelling Modules
2 × Plug-and-play CAN-bus decoders. These modules should only be installed if your truck displays a high-beam error or warning after installation.
Installation Guide
Use the linked step-by-step installation guide. The bundle includes one Alpha Series A4001 3g dielectric-grease tube; follow its connector-specific application instructions.
Lifetime Warranty
Every kit is backed by a Lifetime Replacement Warranty, giving you confidence and long-term peace of mind.
Technical Specifications
- Published bulb output: 11,000 lumens per H11 set and 11,000 lumens per 9005 set; not a per-bulb or road-illumination measurement
- Color Temperature: 6,500K Pure White
- Bulb identities: H11 A1001 set and 9005 A1002 set; compare the exact current component specifications
- Bulb input specification: The A1001 and A1002 bulb listings state 9–32V DC. Check the complete kit and any installed module against the actual lighting circuit; a bulb-only range does not rate every included component.
- Housing closure: Fit the correct extended low-beam caps and inspect all original seals and connections
- Cooling clearance: Allow room for the bulb cooling section and any required high-beam module
- Vehicle application: BTS-tested on 2008–2024 Peterbilt 389 trucks with original factory halogen headlights using H11 low-beam and 9005 high-beam bulbs; verify the equipment actually installed
Installation & compatibility
Installing the ReadyFit kit is straightforward:
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Remove the headlight dust cap and disconnect the factory halogen bulb.
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Insert the correct Alpha Series LED bulb into the matching low- or high-beam housing and fully lock it in place. Compare the retainer and connector if the truck has replacement lamps.
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Attach the extended dust cap to seal the low‑beam housing.
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Install and test both 9005 high beams. Follow the engine-running warning check before adding a module. If required, fit a supplied module to each high beam according to the documented connector-polarity instructions.
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Test the lights. Recheck low beam, high beam and warning behaviour with the engine running, then check final headlight aim and housing closure. Stop and troubleshoot any remaining warning, flicker or connection problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this kit fit a 2008 or 2010 Peterbilt 389?
BTS has tested this kit on all 2008–2024 Peterbilt 389 model years with original factory halogen headlights. Check that the installed lamps use the matching H11 low-beam and 9005 high-beam arrangement and have suitable rear clearance. Aftermarket replacement housings can require different bulbs or supporting parts.
Does the same year range cover a Peterbilt 388, 567 or 589?
The BTS-tested 2008–2024 range applies to this kit on Peterbilt 389 trucks with original factory halogen headlights. Use the separate kit and installation information for another model; the 389 year range should not be copied to every Peterbilt with similar-looking lamps.
When should I install the included high-beam modules?
Follow the 389 installation guide. With the engine running, switch on low beam, then high beam, and allow approximately one minute for the warning check. If the high-beam warning remains or returns each time, use the modules and repeat the documented check.
Do I choose the modules by an LED-mode model-year cutoff?
No. The guide bases that step on the actual high-beam warning after installation. It does not establish a universal year cutoff for dealer programming. Check the truck’s equipment and response before making programming or wiring changes.
Why are extended dust caps included?
The H11 low-beam installation needs room for the LED heat sink. The included extended caps replace the matching low-beam caps; check that each bulb is seated and the cap closes correctly.
What should I check if a bulb does not illuminate?
Check that the correct bulb is seated and that its connections match the supplied kit instructions. Do not force a mismatched connector. Contact BTS with the exact kit revision and truck equipment if the connection cannot be secured or the bulb still does not operate.
Are the optional 3157 signal bulbs included automatically?
No. The configured 3157 item is an optional add-on with its own quantity selection. Review that option and its package contents separately from the standard H11/9005 kit; it does not replace either headlight-bulb set.
Are these heated headlight lenses?
No. The listed fan and thermal tubes cool the LED bulbs. They do not establish lens heating or ice-melting performance.
Does the kit guarantee road approval or zero glare?
The bulb kit is not a certification of the complete headlight and installation. Match the correct housing, seat and aim the bulbs, and check applicable requirements for the intended use; a lumen rating or matching base alone does not establish approval.
