2003-Up Dodge Ram
LED Tail Light Install
A couple of things about the Third Generation Dodge trucks...
They have no physical flasher. Much of the lighting is now controlled by computer
and/or seperate circuits. When installing LED bulbs in the tails, you are contending with
electrical loads that the computer senses, to operate the in-dash "Bulb Out" warning
and the other functions. Adding a load resistor is the simplest method of "fooling" the
system into believing it is using the same current as an incandesant bulb.
A 6 ohm 50 watt resistor creates a 2 amp load..... enough to make these LED's
function properly. Don't be fooled by packages of LED wedge bulbs that say they
function the same as the factory bulbs. I have only seen that work on the small 194
size bulbs used in marker and license plate locations.
I recently began dealing with http://www.superbrightleds.com whom I found to have
a great selection, great prices and excellent service.
When I first installed the tail bulbs in my Dodge, basically nothing happened. No lights.
I flipped them in there sockets and I got some dim lighting and strange flashing.
LED's are polarity sensitive and often need to be rotated in the socket for them to
operate.
Next step... I purchased two 6 ohm x 50 watt load resistors from http://www.superbrightleds.com
They were about $5.00 each. I installed them on the turnsignal portion of the bulb,
and to the black ground wire.
WARNING
The resistors get as hot as light bulbs when in use. You cannot mount them to plastic
or painted surfaces that you do not want burned. I mounted them on a piece of
aluminum plate about .05" thick to act as a heatsink and mount.
Here is what the back of my truck looks like at night. It's all LED.
Line of Fire strip under the tailgate.... blue 194's in the license plate markers.
