Interior Overhead LEDs

[Alan Reagan]

My truck will be going in for the free oil change soon and I wanted to know if any of you have a problem with the overhead LED map lights flickering. I am going to have them checked but if anyone has had the problem and it has been corrected, that would help. Mine flicker worse when the truck is off and the right one will almost go completely out and then come back on.

 

[mpaulson]

Had mine replace a few weeks ago. One of them started flickering and running at half light output about 3 months after I got mine.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Thanks, mpaulson. That's kinda what mine are doing. They will flicker, then the right one goes to 1/2 or 1/4 power and then come back on. Did they just replace the LED bulbs? It's strange. It was only the right one but the left one started flickering a couple of days ago. Irritating when you are trying to look at something.

 

[mpaulson]

Of typical stupidity, the whole overhead console is one unit and gets replaced as a unit.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Dang. If that's how it is. I've spent 4 months with Customer Care (whatever that is supposed to mean). I had a whistling noise from the front at anything over 50 mph. Turns out that the hood latch was to low. I taped off the front end and figured it out on my own. This, however, I will let them take the lead on repairing. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mingoglia]

It's funny, I was just telling someone yesterday how on my 2001 Ram 3500 it's been so problem free I've never even replaced a single light bulb on it.... and now that I have a 2015 I'm reading people are replacing LEDs (which are typically considered lifetime in other applications) after as little as 3 months. LOL

 

[LHarper]

My truck will be going in for the free oil change soon and I wanted to know if any of you have a problem with the overhead LED map lights flickering. I am going to have them checked but if anyone has had the problem and it has been corrected, that would help. Mine flicker worse when the truck is off and the right one will almost go completely out and then come back on.

My driver side LED began flickering on my 2014. Mine was doing the exact same as yours. Dealer replaced overhead unit and no problem since.

 

[Badunit]

Mine too. The driver's side light on my 2014 started flickering and going half-bright soon after I got it. It would work for a while if I pulled the console, unplugged the light, and plugged it back in but it would soon go back to messing up again. Dealer replaced the overhead console.

 

[garrettg84]

It's funny, ... I'm reading people are replacing LEDs (which are typically considered lifetime in other applications) after as little as 3 months. LOL

This has to do with sourcing incredibly cheap LEDs that are often mislabeled, over-powering properly rated LEDs, or not properly getting the right specs on the LEDs to begin with. In electronics, typically you over spec by 25-50% of the rating depending on the application.

I would imagine RAM is simply buying stupidly cheap LEDs that are probably mislabeled by chinese merchants. It is common practice for them.

 

[Alan Reagan]

When mine "power down" it looks as though all the leds go out but one. After about 5 seconds they come back on and then start flickering. I'm an Electronic Engineer and have used LEDs for years and have never had a failure. Most of mine have been for aircraft and shipboard systems. Recently we have developed some for use as aircraft landing lights so they are very reliable. That is except for the ones used in my truck.

 

[Badunit]

It is more probable the controller is the problem, not the LEDs.

 

[DAN V]

I have the same problem with mine. the driver side flickers every 5 seconds or so as well. Looks like I will be calling local dealer to have replaced.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I agree that it's the controller. I talked to the parts manager at the dealership yesterday and he said they would replace the entire overhead. Apparently, there is a controller in the assembly that gets the power from the body controller. It's strange that the lights flicker, dim, come back on, go out, etc. It's as thought the voltage regulator in the controller is malfunctioning. But they don't do all of that together. One goes out, then comes back while the other is flickering. He said the replacements have been trouble free so far.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Final update: They replaced the overhead and the flickering is completely gone. Took about 30 minutes to install and the parts department had it in the morning after I had them check it. They said that the overhead replacement part costs $700. The only thing in it was the two led map lights. Everything else comes out of the old unit.

 

[Mingoglia]

Final update: They replaced the overhead and the flickering is completely gone. Took about 30 minutes to install and the parts department had it in the morning after I had them check it. They said that the overhead replacement part costs $700. The only thing in it was the two led map lights. Everything else comes out of the old unit.

Glad you got it resolved. Sucks it costs so much, though at least it was under warranty.

 

[skorski]

Had mine replaced 2014 ram no charge.