DV8 factory LED look alike stopped working after 2.5 mos, factory halogen works, any advice?

[Joe_G]

Factory halogen Gladiator. I bought DV8 LED lights (full lights that look just like factory), worked great for 2.5 months (super bright, love them) and my right side light started going out while driving or when I unlocked the car. It will come on, then go off. High beam sometimes works, usually not when the light is out. I got a replacement from DV8 (great service) and same problem. Took out right light while it wasn't working, truck off, headlights on, zero voltage to the factory plug when the headlights are on, low or high beam. Put my factory right halogen in and it didn't work either, low beam or high, truck off. Took out the left DV8 LED to install factory halogens to take it to dealer, figuring I had a wiring problem (all looks good in connector and I tried to follow it back to the fuse block but couldn't see any problems)...left halogen works perfectly, right halogen doesn't work at all. Like a dead plug. Then I started the truck and now both halogen lights work perfectly. The right DV8 LED would not work properly, truck on or off - it was intermittent and when it didn't work, the plug is dead based on testing with a test light.

This is crazy, any ideas?

EDIT - Found the fix, and Anti-Flicker harness. Worked like a charm. I wouldn't call my problem "flickering" but the harnesses worked. Guess it tells my Jeep I have halogen bulbs - but just guessing. I do know it worked and I'm glad, the dV8 headlights are great.

https://www.extremeterrain.com/axial-jeep-gladiator-anti-flicker-harness-kit-j164372.html

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[Kevin_D]

Had you programmed the truck for halogen headlights?

Kevin

 

[Joe_G]

Had you programmed the truck for halogen headlights?

Kevin

I have not. They worked perfectly for so long, I figured that I didn't need to do that. And, seems odd that one works perfectly and one doesn't?

I'm worried about using a Tazer while this new truck is still under warranty.....

 

[Kevin_D]

LEDs are quite sensitive to voltages.
And as they age, their voltage requirements can change.
Try plugging the suspect headlight into the other side and see what happens.
I’d also recommend that you tell the JT that it has LED headlights, as that will change how the headlights work.

Kevin

 

[Joe_G]

That is one thing I didn't try, plug the right light into the left side. I can try that. I'm going to run factory halogens this week and try this weekend.

The new warranty light worked for a few days, less than a week, then worked worse than the original light. Actually saw it blinking while driving down the road. The left DV8 light has always been flawless.

The DV8 company has been great with warranty support but I don't want to keep getting new bulbs. When I first plugged in the factory right halogen it didn't work either. Low or high beam. Then, when I plugged in both factory halogens, same thing. Then, I started the truck and both factory halogens worked. That's just nuts.

 

[Joe_G]

I found the fix - an anti-flicker harness. Worked like a charm.

https://www.extremeterrain.com/axial-jeep-gladiator-anti-flicker-harness-kit-j164372.html

 

[RudeJeepin]

I found the fix - an anti-flicker harness. Worked like a charm.

https://www.extremeterrain.com/axial-jeep-gladiator-anti-flicker-harness-kit-j164372.html

Did you ever try "programming" the truck to LED headlights?
From my reading, that would probably have fixed your issue.
My guess is that those antiflicker thingys are just glorified resistors to up the amperage pull of the LED lights to trick the canbus into thinking you still have halogens.
But if they work, they work.

 

[Joe_G]

Did you ever try "programming" the truck to LED headlights?
From my reading, that would probably have fixed your issue.
My guess is that those antiflicker thingys are just glorified resistors to up the amperage pull of the LED lights to trick the canbus into thinking you still have halogens.
But if they work, they work.

Nope. I'm resisting the urge to get a Tazer...I've been tuning cars with HP Tuners for over a decade but I don't want to queer my warranty until I see how reliable my Jeep is (first Jeep). So far, so good.

And I didn't want to pay the dealer to use their programmer to change it.

I think you're exactly correct, it's a resistor in a well designed and weather secure harness. Since it works, I'm happy to pay their price for having the correct resistor and nice harness!

 

[RudeJeepin]

Nope. I'm resisting the urge to get a Tazer...I've been tuning cars with HP Tuners for over a decade but I don't want to queer my warranty until I see how reliable my Jeep is (first Jeep). So far, so good.

And I didn't want to pay the dealer to use their programmer to change it.

I think you're exactly correct, it's a resistor in a well designed and weather secure harness. Since it works, I'm happy to pay their price for having the correct resistor and nice harness!

I hear you on the warranty stuff. I have the diesel and would like to tune it, but I like the warranty also. So for now, it'll stay stock.


JScan and OBDAlfa I believe can also switch the lights to LED, I don't think that would void the warranty. But I don't know for sure, it might also depend on your dealer. I would tend to trust mine wouldn't pull any shenanigans. Small town, same family since opened, dealer that I believe I have a decent relationship with.

Not that it really matters to you, since you have it squared away.

 

[Joe_G]

I hear you on the warranty stuff. I have the diesel and would like to tune it, but I like the warranty also. So for now, it'll stay stock.


JScan and OBDAlfa I believe can also switch the lights to LED, I don't think that would void the warranty. But I don't know for sure, it might also depend on your dealer. I would tend to trust mine wouldn't pull any shenanigans. Small town, same family since opened, dealer that I believe I have a decent relationship with.

Not that it really matters to you, since you have it squared away.

I’ve considered JScan too…I love to tinker and would love to lock the rear for donuts. ?. I’ll wait a bit tho. My dealer is awesome; but never had to fight them over warranty so we don’t know!

 

[DADDI8R]

@Joe_G Any update on the antiflicker harness? I'm having the same issue, but with the left headlight. Even changed the headlight setting to LED with Tazer.

 

[Joe_G]

@Joe_G Any update on the antiflicker harness? I'm having the same issue, but with the left headlight. Even changed the headlight setting to LED with Tazer.

Happy to report they are working perfectly, have been since I installed the harness!

 

[DADDI8R]

Happy to report they are working perfectly, have been since I installed the harness!

Hopefully ET gets them back in stock soon.

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