Bulb resistors

[beetlebz]

I've been toying with the idea of replacing my tail and/or brake light bulbs on my 14 silverado (as well as the rear turn signals on a prospective 13 Malibu) with led's to do double duty as warning lights. I know a simple wire-in resistor will fix the hyperblink, but will it also fix the in-dash bulb out warning? Or will I need some kind of vehicle specific resistor?

[morrislee]

The resistor acts like a halogen bulb load, so the elctronics thinks the bulb is drawing fine. That is how the resistor works! So the in dash electronics doesnt know the difference.

 

I cant recall though if you pull the LEDs out and keeping the resistors in will still retain the ability to detect the bulb is out as an LED. I think it does, but dont count on it! I might check this when my marker lights comes in.

[bdbake01]

A load is a load is a load. If u wire in the resistors permanently, then the computer will always think the bulbs are fine, even if the LED burns out.

[morrislee]

yeah, the load of the resistor alone might not be significant to act like a bulb. but with LED, it might, this is just my theory

 

I thought I did test this and it does trigger, but I cant remember for sure. Will test again when my markers are in!

[bdbake01]

Typically the resistor load is well above that of the led.

[morrislee]

NOOO!!! there goes my hope!