R&D -NEED HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

toddoughty · March 15, 2003

Guys,

I need your help. I ordered the R&D headlight controller( 4 headlight) and foglight controller. I have a 2003 Tahoe Z71, so it should work, it is not a HD.

The instructions are simple, and I am not stupid( maybe ), but the instructions provided does not match my layout in my Tahoe. Colors of wires, location of wires, everything seems to be different. Has anyone installed on a 03? If so did something change or am I just SOL?

toddoughty · March 15, 2003

Come on, someone please. I have a Tahoe ripped apart in the driveway. Obviously something changed in the wiring, but R&D and GM aren't on the same page yet.

lrymal · March 15, 2003

I am fairly certain that the wiring is not the same. I base that on the fact that some of the photos that users have submitted for wiring projects don't look the same, since they are using '02 and older trucks.

Personally, I used the diode method of lighting up all four lamps. Only cost a few pennies. Hopefully, this will work. I am pasting in the message that explains how to do this.

I'm doing it this way rather than the entire thread because the original poster asked how to do it for an '03, and some folks were explaining how to do it for older vehicles which might confuse the issue for folks with '03 rigs.

At least, as far as I can tell, I think I would send the RD modification back. You can drive to Radio Shack and buy a cheap diode and do this, if you know how to solder. I have run this modification for several weeks and love it.

=======

amckitt

Forum Member

Posted: Nov. 20 2002,5:17

I did some "fiddling" with this last night & figured out how to do it without spending anything. I used 2 small pieces of wire & a diode that I had at home. OK if you were doing this it may cost you a buck for the diode from Radio Shack. Here is a pic of the temporary setup I made:

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~smckitt/relays.jpg

On the fuse box cover it shows which relays are for the high & dim lights. I also discovered that the negative is what is switched, not the positive. I located which pin on the relay is the one that is switched, this happens to be pin 85 (I think) on both relays. So I simply wrapped the wire around that terminal on both of them & put the diode in the middle. The diode allows current to only go in one direction. So when the dims are on the current cannot pass to the high relay, but when the high is on the current will pass to the dim relay to energize it & turn them on also. I did this in about 10 minutes so it is not real pretty or "safe". I will find what the current is through this diode & decide what size wire & diode is needed. So now I am thinking if this can be done, then the DRLs & fogs could be done in a similar way. Hmmmm.....

Scot

toddoughty · March 15, 2003

Scott,

Thanks for the headsup. Yeah, I printed a copy of a 2000 install. The wires simply are not there in the 2003. So Either R&D will find the new wires to connect it to and I will just wait to install, or I will return them until the system works for the 2003.

Interesting workaround you have for yours. I am too scared to try it though. I would probably blow something up.

Tod

MountaineerTom · March 15, 2003

I've also heard of other '03 owners having problems getting them hooked up because the wiring has changed. Sorry.

03 HD · March 16, 2003

I'm also looking to up grade my headlights. I have also heard that the R&D won't work on the 03's. I sent an email to kenneydiesls and according to them their wiring upgrade will work.

I ask:

"I have a 2003 Chevy truck. I understand that Chevy has changed the wiring throughout the truck for the 03 model. Will the headlight booster work on my

truck?"

Repley:

Yes, but the brightener plug will need to be install like the early trucks as per the instruction pkt.

http://www.kennedydiesel.com

Hope this help.

MountaineerTom · March 16, 2003

What is a "brightener plug"? ???

cyrylyn · March 16, 2003

I bought a KC Highlights relay a while back, and never isntalled it b/c I've been scared - but the directions are footnoted: it might not work on newer vehicles that are negatively switched. From this thread, that means 03 at least.

lrymal · March 16, 2003

Folks, if y'all would do what amckitt (Scott) did a few messages back, you wouldn't even need the kits. If you want, you can even get the fog lamps to come on at the same time as the brights. That's extreme---six lights total with the high beam select.

toddoughty · March 16, 2003

I'm open for that. Which message Ly?

lrymal · March 16, 2003

I'm open for that. Which message Ly?

First reply message to to ddoughty from the top. I'll be glad to re-paste it... just seems somewhat redundant to do that. Scroll up and you'll find it.

toddoughty · March 16, 2003

Gotcha, I misunderstood. I read your post as another post altogether, not one inbedded above.

Thanks,

Tod

City_Slicker · April 8, 2003

I hate to drag up the past, but this was such a great find. Can you explain on Lamens terms exactly how you got the foglights to stay on while on brights. I am installing the R&D (this week hopefully) then I am going to want to do the foglight conversion. Did you find a way to keep the DRL's on??

LARSONEM · April 22, 2003

This is very interesting! I had previously built my own headlight controllers with a relay prior to getting my 2001 Tahoe. I opted for the R&D Quad headlight and Foglight controllers. I then installed them in my 2001 Silverado. They work very nice and are easy to install.

Now I've moved into a 2003 Silverado. I've EMailed R&D three times if they would work with no response. I know there are differences in the 2003 wiring and I found that out at the Chevy garage when I went to find out why the truck wasn't shipped with a brake jumper for the trailer brakes. You have to buy it now. And while the plug is the same, the wire positions within the plug are different. They are easy to switch, but I opted for a new one because I swiped the one out of my Tahoe to give the guy who bought my Silverado and I wanted one to put back there. Also on the 2003 you can turn on the Foglights without having the headlights on and you couldn't do that with the 2001.

Bottom line is this may explain why R&D has yet to reply to my EMail request.