Elp_jc
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey guys, sorry for the bother, but need your help with a reverse LED bulb issue I had. And you'll also learn something I'm sure you didn't know in the process. I posted this here because I suspect only cars with the new digital dash might have my issue.
So here it goes. But first, something you should know already: When R is selected, power to the rear-view mirror is cut out completely, so the mirror gets clear (it's in the manual). Now, this is my issue, which took me a while to figure out, so happy to help other owners: Our reverse bulb is monitored, meaning if it burns out, there's no power to the rear-view mirror until replaced. I initially thought it was a glitch in Ford's programming, since this probably rarely happens, but maybe it's the intended way to signal us that it's burned (similar to the turn-signals hyper-flashing), since there's no dash warning. Therefore, when you install a non-CANbus LED bulb, like I inadvertently did, 2 things happen. First, it's like if we had a burned out bulb. And second, the damn thing is lit all the time, although at a reduced intensity. After I found that out, that's when I suspected why my V1 wasn't working anymore (it's connected to the mirror, via a MirrorTap cable). I was about to order a new $40 cable, when I discovered the 'issue'.
So yes, after removing the lit LED (tranny in N), the stock one didn't light up anymore. But after selecting R, it did. And so did my V1, so all was back to normal.
Finally, James from Diode Dynamics couldn't tell me if his bulbs had resistors (CANbus compatible), so I'm not going to order them blindly, and throw away even more money. What I want is that another Bullitt owner who installed an LED reverse bulb to check that it's not lit in N, AND that the rear-view mirror is working (only way to tell is if it gets dark. Or measure voltage with a multi-meter at the leftmost 2 leads after removing the plug). And then, post which LED bulb you have, so we can buy it knowing it'd work. If you don't have a radar connected to the mirror, and never see the reverse light, you might not even be aware of that issue, but still have it, like I did
. Thank you gang. Otherwise, I'd probably order this pair I found on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-White...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649), but they're probably Chinese crap, due to spelling errors, made in China, and are quite cheap). But nothing else that I want, since they'd look really bad from behind when off, which would be most of the time. But hope somebody can vouch for one of the DD ones, since I already have their excellent rear LED reflectors. Thanks gang.
JC
So here it goes. But first, something you should know already: When R is selected, power to the rear-view mirror is cut out completely, so the mirror gets clear (it's in the manual). Now, this is my issue, which took me a while to figure out, so happy to help other owners: Our reverse bulb is monitored, meaning if it burns out, there's no power to the rear-view mirror until replaced. I initially thought it was a glitch in Ford's programming, since this probably rarely happens, but maybe it's the intended way to signal us that it's burned (similar to the turn-signals hyper-flashing), since there's no dash warning. Therefore, when you install a non-CANbus LED bulb, like I inadvertently did, 2 things happen. First, it's like if we had a burned out bulb. And second, the damn thing is lit all the time, although at a reduced intensity. After I found that out, that's when I suspected why my V1 wasn't working anymore (it's connected to the mirror, via a MirrorTap cable). I was about to order a new $40 cable, when I discovered the 'issue'.
So yes, after removing the lit LED (tranny in N), the stock one didn't light up anymore. But after selecting R, it did. And so did my V1, so all was back to normal.
Finally, James from Diode Dynamics couldn't tell me if his bulbs had resistors (CANbus compatible), so I'm not going to order them blindly, and throw away even more money. What I want is that another Bullitt owner who installed an LED reverse bulb to check that it's not lit in N, AND that the rear-view mirror is working (only way to tell is if it gets dark. Or measure voltage with a multi-meter at the leftmost 2 leads after removing the plug). And then, post which LED bulb you have, so we can buy it knowing it'd work. If you don't have a radar connected to the mirror, and never see the reverse light, you might not even be aware of that issue, but still have it, like I did
. Thank you gang. Otherwise, I'd probably order this pair I found on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-White...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649), but they're probably Chinese crap, due to spelling errors, made in China, and are quite cheap). But nothing else that I want, since they'd look really bad from behind when off, which would be most of the time. But hope somebody can vouch for one of the DD ones, since I already have their excellent rear LED reflectors. Thanks gang.JC
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