LED lights causing troubles?

[Dieselnut59]

I just had a flatbed installed with LED lights on it. I have a problem with the "Lamp out" indicator staying on all the time now and the turn signal flasher flashes at twice speed. On my '98 work truck, I replaced the flasher with a simple 2-pole electronic type. Can I do the same on my '03 and will it eliminate the "lamp out" indication? If not, is there any way to disable it?

Thanks!

John

 

[Hoefler]

Do you have the 5 pole flasher on it now?? If so, you can use a test light and identify the poles and replace with 2 2 pole flashers and some pig tails.

 

[Pawpaw]

I think you're going to find that the 3rd Gens don't have flashers at all. It's controlled by the ECM and that clicking you hear is fake.



You can download a service manual with wiring diagrams from http://www.hemitruckclub.com/



Look in the blue box on the left side of the first page.



What you need are some resistors to "fake out" the lamp out function. Do a search on "+LED +resistor", without the quotes.



Bob

 

[Yo Hoot]

You need load resistors.

 

[Dieselnut59]

Thanks for the help. On my '98, it did have the 5 pole flasher. I simply replaced it with the 2-pole type and it has worked fine ever since. Someone told me the dealer can "flash" the computer to eliminate "lamp out" indication. I also have heard they can "flash" it for tire diameter/speedometer correction. I added larger tires/wheels and need to get my speedometer corrected.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I don't know about the lamp out but yes you can have the dealer change the speedo. It goes by revolutions per mile. I had it done.

 

[robertyoke]

I added a flatbed to my 04 drw. I changed all the lights to leds and had the same problem. the ecu sends current back through circuit in reverse, it's a small amount not enough to light the bulb. the led by design won't let current flow in the opposite direction, so the ecu on the truck thinks the bulb is burned out.

I added a small bulb to each turn signal circuit, brake light circuit and reverse lights circuits. the running lights are fine because of the license plate light(incandescent not led). The bulbs I used were from radio hut, they are very small and are hidden under the flat bed.

-robert

 

[JFaulkner]

load resistors are at the bottom of this page.

 

[CEpp]

u need a non-thermal flasher. its electric, will fix all your probs.

 

[Dieselnut59]

load resistors are at the bottom of this page.

THAT is a cool arse page! I will have to get some front LED's for both my flatbed (LED light equipped) trucks ('96 and '03).



In the post just above this, you mention the flasher change. I did this on my '98 work truck, but cannot find the friggin flasher in the '03!! I miss the "good ole days" when we had REGULAR flashers and could do whatever to our lights! I added LED's on my '96 and did not have to change a thing! This is CRAZY! I do not want to do the resistor thing if I don't have to. If there is a simpler way to run LED lights and still not have the "fast flash" or "lamp out" crap, I want that. If not, does the resistor take care of BOTH problems? Where the heck is the friggin flasher unit on these trucks? I wish I could get a simple one to replace the annoying clicking one anyway!

Thanks again for the help!

John

 

[YFZBOB]

THAT is a cool arse page!

No doubt. I'm burning up my Credit Card as we speak!!! Oo. Like a kid in a Candy Store!!!

 

[RDyson]

AutoZone sells LED load resistors. You need one for each bulb. (signals&brake)

They are about $12 for a pack of 2.



Randy

 

[Yo Hoot]

I've been picking my stuff up from this place. The tower led bulbs are the best





http://autolumination.com/3157_3156.htm

 

[Pawpaw]

... but cannot find the friggin flasher in the '03!!



I do not want to do the resistor thing if I don't have to. If there is a simpler way to run LED lights and still not have the "fast flash" or "lamp out" crap, I want that.

You can't find the flasher because there isn't one. Like I said earlier, the ECM does the flashing =AND= the trickle of current flow to detect lamps that are not working.



Putting a resistor in parallel with the LED lamp is the only way.



Bob

 

[Yo Hoot]

#ad

 

[CommonMan]

My lamp out indicator is always kicking in and out when I have my trailer plugged in and since I installed a new brake controller. The constant dinging is driving me crazy. I never had the problem until I installed a new brake controller, the old one caused me no problems until it went haywire and applied my trailer barkes while I was traveling in the mountains and burnt them up. Dodge has been useless because they say that it isn't acting up until I use some after market product on it. I went to Hopkins website but they don't have any forum to field questions. Any ideas????

 

[betterthanstock]

Wow! 50 watt resistors to replace a 15W bulb.



I would rather add some small repeater lights on the side of the bed, with real light bulbs, to avoid the lamp-out.

 

[tgordon]

It has been a while since I used the electrical formulas, but I belive that ohms and watts are related, like horsepower and tourque. It may consume a lot of watts but the resistance is low, throw a meter on a good incondesant and see how many ohms they will take.

 

[nickleinonen]

2 basic electrical formulas. .

P = E x I
E = I x R

P = watts
E = voltage
I = amperage
R = resistance