Weird electrical issues

300CAWDDUB · 06-17-2008, 07:44 PM

Ok ill try to explain everything exactly how it happened...

I thought to myself to day that I would upgrade my reverse lights in the stock housing. So I went out and purchased a bulb that fits in the stock housing with just a slightly higher wattage and much higher light output.

The installation was quick and simple - until I went to test them... I put the bulb in the right side tail first and it worked wonderfully. Now on to the left side. Installed and when I went to test they both flickered then out completely, along with my radar detector which is tapped into the UConnect. Huh? Turned key to off and back to on, still no lights, no radar, and now the radio audio intermittently fades beeps then returns back to normal.

So i searched and finally found that I had blown a fuse under the hood. Replaced 15AMP fuse with a 20 amp and my reverse lights are on.

BUT still no radar.

Didnt notice the radio beeping anymore so I shut the key off then fully started the car and put it into reverse. Lights worked for a moment then went out - still no radar. Checked fuse under hood, all is well there.

So here is what im left with. With the stock reverse bulbs in, everything works like it should and always has. With better reverse bulbs installed, no radar and bulbs do not always work or they flicker.

Do i need some sort of load equalizer?
ANY IDEAS???

Cibalo · 06-17-2008, 08:06 PM

try bumping up the fuse 5 more amps. If that doesn't work you may need to wire in a capacitor on your reverse lights

300CAWDDUB · 06-17-2008, 08:10 PM

tried the 25amp still the same issue. The fuse no longer blows but the lights dont work properly and the radar detector is off.

Cibalo · 06-17-2008, 08:59 PM

it sounds to me like those lights are trying to pull a lot more current and this is causing your voltage to drop. Your radar detector probably has a higher minimum input voltage than the lights. You don't have a voltmeter do you? You could then measure the voltage at your lights when they are on.

try plugging in one of the new bulb on one side and one of the old ones on the other side with the 25 amp fuse and see what happens.

300CAWDDUB · 06-18-2008, 07:09 AM

The radar detector will stay on with out much power at all going to it normally. The voltage doesnt drop, it just cuts out all together but flickers on and off at the bulb ends.

Would tapping into one of the reverse bulb wires with a relay big enough to handle the new bulbs do the trick? Or would this do the opposite with a "no load" situation?

300CAWDDUB · 06-18-2008, 06:04 PM

Thanks to all who have tried to help... I simply cant figure it out so ive given up for now...
I tried the relay idea and with it the new bulbs worked wonderfully but the radar still gave me intermittent issues.