Weird LED map/dome light issue

I purchased 4 LED bulbs to replace my map lights and dome light. These are Canbus, "error free" bulbs, from Amazon, Alla Lighting CANBUS Error Free 31mm (1.25") Super White High Power 3030 SMD

$11 DE3175 31mm LED Interior Dome Light Map Bulb Door Courtesy for Car 1.22" DE3021 DE3022 Festoon Bulbs White Pack of 4

DE3175 DE3021 DE3022 3175 LED Bulbs for Interior Festoon Map Dome License Plate Lights Lamp. Struggled to get the dome to work, filament bulb would work fine, but LED would not. This was the case in either "door" mode (yes, with the door open) or in "on" mode. Gave up, and moved to the map lights. Put in the LEDs, and they worked (at first). Moved back to the dome light, even testing the bulb at the battery with a jumper wire, which worked just fine. Put it back in, after verifying with the filament that I had power. Still no go, and now the map lights won't work either. At this point, for whatever reason, I turned on the ignition. Lo and behold, all of the lights now work, maps with the switches, dome with either the door or in "on" position. BUT.... If you turn off the ignition none will work. Love the additional light provided, but I certainly want the lights available without having to have ignition in "accessory" or "on" position. I want still be able to have the dome come on as soon as I unlock as I approach the vehicle. Looking for help from those more learned than I. Did I say I hate electrical issues!! Oh, it's a 2004 DC.

 

You need resistors, too much power for those leds, search around the forum some, this has come up countless times.

 

I find that confusing, since they burn fine on a jumper wire right at the battery, and will burn and work fine with the ignition on to either run or accessory positions. Just not with the ignition off.

 

Mine did the same...04 dc..I have yet to tinker but I'll get to it one day..

 

My led map lights without resistors just flicker with ignition off, unless I turn on the non led dome light, then they work just fine. I can live with that.

 

Contact csjumper on this forum for your LED needs. He's never steered me wrong.

 

^ @csjumper2003

I got 3 from him with resistors and they work great

in '01 they changed how the power is handled to the map lights for "fade out" of courtesy lights

 

Correct its all controlled by a module now. I actually opened my map light up and ran 2 resisters from the switch to ground. The lights are turned on by the switch grounding them. Cut the wire from the switch to ground. LED's are brighter and no flicker problems. On the Dome light I'm running a 33 ohm 5watt wire wound resistor on the power input. tucked above the headliner, 5watt resistor never even gets warm.

Edited

 

Thanks for the replies. Obviously, I missed already existing information. Would one of the moderators kindly remove the thread, as it contains no new information. Many thanks!!

 

Edited my post.

 

I just ordered mine from jumper......so mine is a done deal...

 

I ordered some resistors (gotta love Amazon Prime) that I am going to add to the bulbs that I already have on hand. That fix, which I found in other threads makes sense to me. I believe that the dimming feature is part of the problem. Much like the headlights, and the high beam indicator not working without some sort of resistance. For that, I just added an additional socket pigtail and put in a standard bulb.

 

Absolutely no chance that I am soldering resistors. Has anyone found a plug & play LED for 2002+ ?

I wrecked a 2000 with interior LED and it was GREAT - lots of clean light - nothing went unseen. I swapped parts into my 2002 and experienced the "weirdness."

I loved the light, but not enough to do the work...

 

Got a part #, I might need to do this for my 02 down the line.

 

Here are the resistors that I used to get my LEDs working in the dome light.

$8 uxcell 10PCS 100 Ohm 1W Resistance Fixed Metal Oxide Film Resistors Blue

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PZYO11K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I just soldered one across from one metal end of the bulb to the other. It was about a five minute job, once I found the soldering iron, then looked for the roll of solder, and searched out a bit of 1000 grit sand paper to clean the terminals. Can you tell I'm an old geezer!! Once I added the resistor, the light works perfectly. I didn't need to do this for the map lights, as the can-bus LEDs worked fine for those. I surmise that the dome light issue has something to do with the dimming feature.

 

scroll back up. post #6 & 7

 

I thought I saw LED bulbs at AutoZone "guaranteed" to work with these lighting systems. (built in resisters)

 

Guys, this resistor business makes no sense. Resistors will reduce the current and drop the voltage. Current is not your issue with LEDs, voltage is. LED's essentially have a self-regulating current at a specific voltage. Battery Voltage is 12.8 when the truck is off, 13.2+ when it is on. LEDs are highly voltage dependent because they are diodes with a forward voltage drop. If the diodes are in series (which they will be), then it is possible the ones you have that don't turn on or flicker have a combined forward DC bias of 12.8 to 13.2V.

I guarantee that "fade out" is just a capacitor discharging - causing all of your issues - which is why cutting it out of the circuit works. Did you try just jumping across those terminals instead of using resistors? If I'm correct, that will work, and you'll have full brightness, unlike with the resistors.
I'd be surprised if an 04 actually PWMd their cabin lights.

I bought my interior LEDs from superbrightleds.com. No such issues. I have a '99 though.

 

they don't work, sadly

defeats the purpose of the "courtesy" function if you bypass.

 

Just a curiosity question. Is he adding the resistors to the LED bulbs, or does he just have a source for manufactured bulbs that work in all the various situations in the '01-'04's? Had I not already had the bulbs in hand, I would have probably just ordered from him, but since I had them, I took the chance and ordered resistors to be added.

When all was said and done, my homemade addition of the one 1-watt 100-ohm resistor across the contact points of the bulb solved all of the issues for me. I do not note any decrease in the brightness of the bulb by the addition of the resistor.