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LED fog lights causing Radio Frequency issues?

chriscote781

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chriscote781 Enthusiast

chriscote781

Posted
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I recently installed a set of Gennsi 5000K Leds in my foglights. Seemed like a good product, good quality, easy install, and very bright compared to stock (they claim 2200lm). Only issue is when I turn them on I instantly have tons of static on the radio, shut them back off and static is gone. I purchased some RFI chokes from radioshack and installed 3 per side, may have helped a little but the static is still unbearable so I'm sending the lights back. I've been looking through threads trying to find anywhere if anyone else is experiencing radio reception issues with aftermarket led's but can't really come up with anything? I'm looking for a tried a true brand LED for my fogs and high/low beams (Sierra SLT). Any help or advice you guys could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

chancyrudd Enthusiast

chancyrudd

Posted
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I have installed HID headlights for about 8 years now at the shop that I work for. I know for sure the ballasts that convert the 12v to 20,000 or 30,000 volts can put off frequencies that disrupt fm and am radio and also cause a.b.s. and other random sensor problems.

 

I have not had any problems that I am aware of with the l.e.d kits that we have sold for the last 6 months or so. I have installed 1st gen, 2nd Gen, and most recently we started using the vled lmz kits all of which seem to cause no issues. The l.e.d. drivers simply deliver a constant and limited amount of current to the diode so it doesn't burn up. I am not sure what would make it cause interference but I am glad you posted about it because it gives me a heads up to watch out for it if I have a customer that complains of loss fm reception.

 

I have seen stranger things. I installed a Rydeen rearview mirror once for a customer in a Toyota Tundra. It had a compass and lcd screen built in for rear view camera. Any time the mirror had power it would cause terrible interference in the mid 90 fm frequencies.

 

After much troubleshooting, various methods of shielding the din cable, and replacing with various models of Rydeen mirrors the only solution was to switch to a different manufacturer. Rydeen had never heard of this issue before so no one is exactly sure what is in their mirrors that caused the problem but it was definitely there.

 

Doesn't really help your problem but I thought I would share my experience with you and maybe recommend trying a different manufacturers kit.

chriscote781 Enthusiast

chriscote781

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Thanks for your reply. It was no doubt the led's causing the problem. I took them out and sent them back now and the problem is completely gone with the stock bulbs back in place. I also thought it was weird that I was experiencing this issue with the led's as like I said, I couldn't find anywhere any member having reported having problems like this.

morrislee Enthusiast

morrislee

Posted
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Thanks for your reply. It was no doubt the led's causing the problem. I took them out and sent them back now and the problem is completely gone with the stock bulbs back in place. I also thought it was weird that I was experiencing this issue with the led's as like I said, I couldn't find anywhere any member having reported having problems like this.

 

Maybe the grounding is causing the issue? check the pins of the new LED bulbs

ccdies Enthusiast

ccdies

Posted
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I have 5K HID head lights, and 5K LED fog lights, and I have no issues at all, just my 2 cents

Roidz Enthusiast

Roidz

Posted
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That's strange. Were the LEDs plug n play? I have 6k HID headlights and 6 k fogs and I've never noticed anything with mine. I don't listen to the radio very often (usually Bluetooth on my iPhone) but still never had an issue with mine.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6+

chriscote781 Enthusiast

chriscote781

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Yeah It was a plug and play kit and looked exactly like all the other kits I see offered out there. I checked all the connections and everything looked fine? I already sent them back for a refund so I think I'm going to try the vled lmz kit next. I already spoke with them and they said if I have any issues they have a 30 no hassle return policy.

morrislee Enthusiast

morrislee

Posted
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Yeah It was a plug and play kit and looked exactly like all the other kits I see offered out there. I checked all the connections and everything looked fine? I already sent them back for a refund so I think I'm going to try the vled lmz kit next. I already spoke with them and they said if I have any issues they have a 30 no hassle return policy.

Well, to make you more confident, LMZ has no electrical issues from me or anyone else on here so far. Only issue with them is you need to use some sealant between thread of the collar and the bulb. The adapter wire is weak and should be reinforced.

 

I havent got any issues other than water getting in the housing because of the collar would not get in the socket. I JB welded everything now, no issues since.

 

Good luck

  • 2 weeks later...
chriscote781 Enthusiast

chriscote781

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So I received my LMZ fogs the other day. I went to install them and could not get them to go in for the life of me! I even went as far as taking the o-ring off to see if it was just too tight of a tolerance with no luck, and tried lubricating the collar with silicone. Even tried installing just the adapters. But then my stock bulb pops right back in no problem and the other aftermarket led bulbs I just returned snapped in no problem. Anyone else experience this issue?

morrislee Enthusiast

morrislee

Posted
Posted

So I received my LMZ fogs the other day. I went to install them and could not get them to go in for the life of me! I even went as far as taking the o-ring off to see if it was just too tight of a tolerance with no luck, and tried lubricating the collar with silicone. Even tried installing just the adapters. But then my stock bulb pops right back in no problem and the other aftermarket led bulbs I just returned snapped in no problem. Anyone else experience this issue?

I have the same issue. If you actually measure, some of the aftermarket bulbs have a shallow slit for the o-ring. So it ends up to be thicker.

 

I fought with it so much that I end up breaking the clip on my housing, I took out the o-ring and JB welded everything except the thread. I use teflon tape in the thread for maximum waterproofing

chriscote781 Enthusiast

chriscote781

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I'm not really sure what else to try but I am gonna mess with it some more when I get home from work. Might have to take the fog light out of the truck to see whats really going on

chancyrudd Enthusiast

chancyrudd

Posted
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I drilled a large hole in the back if the cap and bought pvc pipe end caps and epoxied them to the back of the cap over the hole. Completely water tight and gave me an extra 2 inches of space inside for air flow. Tight fit when putting air box back in on passenger side so keep that in mind when cutting the cap down.

 

Stole the idea from another thread on this site. I did this on my friends 2015 all terrain. On my 14 all terrain I used hids but I like his lmzs better. Just more work to install.

chriscote781 Enthusiast

chriscote781

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So I messed around for a couple hours last night trying to get the LMZ fogs installed. Found my biggest problem to be that the heat sink at the back end of the led near the fan was actually hitting my fog light housing where the adjustment knob to aim the foglight is. I was able to trim the shoulder off of it to get the led to clear that portion, but still did not have any luck with proper fitment into the housing. With them both installed to the best of my ability all I had to do was wiggle the wires and they would work their way out of the housings. One good thing I will say though is the there was no radio frequency interference with these led's compared to the last set. At the end of the night I decided to remove them and send them back. I'm not paying $136 for a set of fog lights that won't even snap into my housing properly and will surely let condensation and water in. I will continue my search to find a good set of leds for this truck. Just wanted to let you guys know the outcome and thank you for your help.

jvanwinkle2 Enthusiast

jvanwinkle2

Posted
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I have the same issue with my fog lights. The original one that came with the kit and was prewired fit perfectly. The replacement bulb I received that had the supply like separately would not fit like the stock or first one sent. I emailed them and they said they had not heard of this issue. Maybe anyone with this issue should email them to see if this can be fixed.

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