03 tahoe LED dome light

[RobertWYoung]

What kind of LEDs are causing the problem?

Didn't chauncey say his LEDs do not have this issue?

I'm going to make an educated (I am an electronics engineer) guess and say his have a load resistor and the ones causing the issue do not.

Sorry I didn't get the current readings with standard bulbs yet I will try to get to that tonight.

 

[BillBlatt18]

sounds good to me except i spent $100 on these...

---------- Post added at 04:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:29 PM ----------

o and btw, i found a visor mod that does work w/LEDs...

 

[Rivieraracing]

sounds good to me except i spent $100 on these...

---------- Post added at 04:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:29 PM ----------

o and btw, i found a visor mod that does work w/LEDs...

Perfect vanity mirror mod!!

 

[BillBlatt18]

to let the passengers know whats up

 

[chauncey0337]

What kind of LEDs are causing the problem?

Didn't chauncey say his LEDs do not have this issue?

I'm going to make an educated (I am an electronics engineer) guess and say his have a load resistor and the ones causing the issue do not.

Sorry I didn't get the current readings with standard bulbs yet I will try to get to that tonight.

I don't have this issue because I have a 2000. As far as I know, 2000-2002 don't have this problem.

The relay mod works, but not perfectly. If you want, you can try bringing(just loosely ran, don't have to hide it yet until we can confirm this works) a constant 12v line up to the domes and connect it to the same spot where they are getting power now. But before you connect it, add a diode with the line facing the power source(away from the switch) and add a diode to the original power source too. I'm guessing they only ran one power line up to the domes from the factory.
This is just theory right now, so, wait for Chris to chime in so he can give his input and approval. I don't want to be responsible for screwing up your truck.

Will someone try this?

Has anyone measured the voltage yet when the lights are dim? I am suspecting its to do with the BCM. I know on a lot of GM vehicles, the BCM will "go to sleep" until it senses a door open or an electrical load. I wonder if that's the case here. If so, the BEST solution would be to simply reworked the 12v lead on each light to a constant fused 12v source.

See, even Scotty agrees!

 

[ScottyBoy]

Yup, my 01 has no problems either. Everybody having trouble is a 03+, which a COMPLETELY redesigned electrical system . Almost everything is databus controlled starting in 2003.

 

[NJTaho]

sounds good to me except i spent $100 on these...

---------- Post added at 04:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:29 PM ----------

o and btw, i found a visor mod that does work w/LEDs...

Oh man thats awesome!! where did you get that?????? I want one for my Tahoe!!!

 

[BillBlatt18]

hahaha, on ebay. They have tahoe ones too. here you go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Do-Not-F-K-...ultDomain_0&hash=item43ab8e357c#ht_500wt_1054

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[RobertWYoung]

Ok didn't realize you had a different truck.

I got 0.31A on the front, off the door and the button. 0.75A on the dome in the 2nd row and 0.77A on the map lights in the 2nd row.

 

[Tahoewhat]

If i can find a volt meter, i will try to get you guys voltage readings on my 05 tahoe w/ the led dim problem. (for the new folks i see in this thread now. the more the better)

 

[JochenWoern]

If i can find a volt meter, i will try to get you guys voltage readings on my 05 tahoe w/ the led dim problem. (for the new folks i see in this thread now. the more the better)

You are DA' MAN Mike!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tahoewhat]

Well its a BIG maybe at the present time. Family emergencies, (hospital)

 

[chauncey0337]

 

[JochenWoern]

Well its a BIG maybe at the present time. Family emergencies, (hospital)

OOOPPPPPSSSSS, sorry to hear that Mike. Hope all is well!

 

[Tahoewhat]

OOOPPPPPSSSSS, sorry to hear that Mike. Hope all is well!

Thanks Jochen. I Hope it is as well.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Well, got my lot of LED's for my interior today and guess what fellas............my truck has the dimming problem as well!! Only put one bulb in because I have family over but went back out and it was dim until I turned on another light with a regular bulb in, then it was bright as all else!! Hoping in the next day or 2 I can test out our theory of a fix (extra power wire), stay tuned for results!!

 

[chauncey0337]

What! This isn't supposed to happen on trucks 2000-2002!

 

[Rivieraracing]

It did what was mentioned in my truck today, exactly what has been mentioned!! I'm excited, gonna finally test out our wiring theory here in the next few days and see if it works!! Might even buy a few resistors and try those as well!! Wish me luck!!

 

[chauncey0337]

It did what was mentioned in my truck today, exactly what has been mentioned!! I'm excited, gonna finally test out our wiring theory here in the next few days and see if it works!! Might even buy a few resistors and try those as well!! Wish me luck!!

May the force be with you my friend. Hopefully this problem doesn't...

 

[Rivieraracing]

Well, I got it figured out today....... at least a fix for the manually dim LED's!! Looks like the voltage is indeed on the low end whenever the LED's are used when manually turning on the overhead lights!! When dim, I was getting 8.5v at the lights but whenever I used the vanity light trick or if I triggered all the lights by opening a door and having them all come on, I would get 12.2v at the same light!
So......... I ran a separate wire to each light that had that problem from a dependable 12v all the time source with a diode at each light connection and problem solved!! No loud relay to listen to or to wake up, just constant power to the switch where as before it wasn't!! Doesn't make sense why the lights have the problem that they have, but this indeed does solve at least my dimming problem!!
I posted up a couple videos that will hopefully explain what all I did to make this work!!

This is a video comparison between the LED and regular bulbs, and to also show the dimming problem:
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This video shows how I wired it all up:
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This video shows how it all works when done:
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