theoutdoorsyguy
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- Joined
- Oct 23, 2025
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- Location
- Massachusetts
- Vehicle(s)
- 2025 Jeep Gladiator High Tide
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- #1
Hi, there!
New forum member. I'm somewhat active over the Wagoneer forum, but the Gladiator is my first "real" Jeep. I'm hoping someone might be able to help!
I had the halogen fender lights on my '25 Gladiator High Tide swapped for Morimoto XB LED fender lights. If the turn signal stays on for more than a few seconds (for example, ten flashes instead of three) the white LEDs of the fender lights will not turn back on until I restart the vehicle. In normal use, the white LEDs come back on after the blinker turns off. I uploaded a video that shows what I am experiencing:
At the same time I had the Morimoto fender lights installed, I also had the heated Oracle Oculus headlights and Diode Dynamics Elite Series fog lights installed. I also have Oracle Sidetrack lights, Oracle Rear Bumper LED reverse lights, and the Diode Dynamics Hitchmount LED. The Diode Dynamics Elite Series fog lights come with a backlight feature that allows you to run the units as glowing amber running lights when not turned on, but the installer wired them to work with the turn signals, so I now have the Sidetrack lights, fog lights, and fender lights all running as turn signals. Next week I go back to the installer to have them re-wire the fog lights to serve as running lights, which is what I had wanted. Do you think there is a chance this fixes the issue with the Morimoto lights, since there will be one less light being run off the turn signal? Is this a common issue with the Morimoto fender lights? It seems one fix might be to remove the ballasts and have the computer reprogramed to read the lights as LED, but the installer doesn't seem to know how to do that and I don't have a sense, either. I was hoping using the ballasts would work. Any suggestions or guidance would be very appreciated.
I prompted Gemini, and here is what it had to say:
This sounds like a common, though frustrating, issue when swapping from halogen to aftermarket LED lighting, particularly with the Body Control Module (BCM) in newer Jeep models like your 2025 Gladiator.
The problem you describe—the white DRL (Daytime Running Light) function of the fender light dropping out permanently until a vehicle power cycle—suggests that the Jeep's BCM is detecting an unexpected electrical condition after an extended turn signal use and is cutting power to that circuit as a fault safeguard.
Here are the most likely reasons and potential solutions:
1. BCM Resistance/Impedance Check
2. Voltage/Current Fluctuations
3. Thermal Overload
Recommended First Steps:
New forum member. I'm somewhat active over the Wagoneer forum, but the Gladiator is my first "real" Jeep. I'm hoping someone might be able to help!
I had the halogen fender lights on my '25 Gladiator High Tide swapped for Morimoto XB LED fender lights. If the turn signal stays on for more than a few seconds (for example, ten flashes instead of three) the white LEDs of the fender lights will not turn back on until I restart the vehicle. In normal use, the white LEDs come back on after the blinker turns off. I uploaded a video that shows what I am experiencing:
At the same time I had the Morimoto fender lights installed, I also had the heated Oracle Oculus headlights and Diode Dynamics Elite Series fog lights installed. I also have Oracle Sidetrack lights, Oracle Rear Bumper LED reverse lights, and the Diode Dynamics Hitchmount LED. The Diode Dynamics Elite Series fog lights come with a backlight feature that allows you to run the units as glowing amber running lights when not turned on, but the installer wired them to work with the turn signals, so I now have the Sidetrack lights, fog lights, and fender lights all running as turn signals. Next week I go back to the installer to have them re-wire the fog lights to serve as running lights, which is what I had wanted. Do you think there is a chance this fixes the issue with the Morimoto lights, since there will be one less light being run off the turn signal? Is this a common issue with the Morimoto fender lights? It seems one fix might be to remove the ballasts and have the computer reprogramed to read the lights as LED, but the installer doesn't seem to know how to do that and I don't have a sense, either. I was hoping using the ballasts would work. Any suggestions or guidance would be very appreciated.
I prompted Gemini, and here is what it had to say:
This sounds like a common, though frustrating, issue when swapping from halogen to aftermarket LED lighting, particularly with the Body Control Module (BCM) in newer Jeep models like your 2025 Gladiator.
The problem you describe—the white DRL (Daytime Running Light) function of the fender light dropping out permanently until a vehicle power cycle—suggests that the Jeep's BCM is detecting an unexpected electrical condition after an extended turn signal use and is cutting power to that circuit as a fault safeguard.
Here are the most likely reasons and potential solutions:
1. BCM Resistance/Impedance Check
- The Problem: Your Jeep came factory-equipped with halogen fender lights. Halogen bulbs draw a specific amount of current, which translates to a specific electrical resistance (impedance) that the BCM is programmed to expect. LED lights draw significantly less current. While Morimoto lights usually have built-in resistors to mimic the halogen load, a long duration of the turn signal blinking (and therefore constantly switching the load) might cause the BCM to eventually see an out-of-spec current draw from the DRL circuit or misinterpret the load switching. This can trigger a "fault" or "lights out" error in the BCM, causing it to shut down the DRL/parking light function until the vehicle is cycled off and on (a soft reset).
- The Solution: The most reliable fix for this is usually to reprogram the BCM to tell it that LED lights are installed.
- Tazer/JScan: Tools like the Tazer Mini or JScan (an app with an OBD-II interface) allow you to access the BCM and change the vehicle's configuration settings (known as "sales codes") from "Halogen" to "LED" for the turn signals and DRLs. This changes the BCM's expected resistance, which should eliminate the shut-down.
2. Voltage/Current Fluctuations
- The Problem: When the amber turn signal is active, the white DRL function should momentarily dim or turn off (a switchback function). The longer the turn signal is on, the more the vehicle's electrical system and the light's internal module are subjected to constant switching and load changes. If there's a minor fluctuation or drop in voltage on that circuit after extended use, the Morimoto light's internal controller might be failing to properly re-engage the DRL circuit at full brightness, or the BCM is detecting the fluctuation and cutting power.
- Check: Ensure all the light's connections are perfectly seated, clean, and tight. A loose connection could worsen the effect of voltage fluctuations.
3. Thermal Overload
- The Problem: Although less common with quality LEDs, the built-in resistor/module designed to compensate for the lower LED draw generates heat. If the turn signal is on for an extended period (like waiting at a very long light or in heavy traffic), this module might heat up excessively. As a protection mechanism, the light itself or the BCM might shut down the DRL circuit. Once it cools down and the vehicle is cycled, it resets.
- Observation: This is hard to confirm, but if the issue is more frequent in hot weather or after stop-and-go driving, it could be a factor.
Recommended First Steps:
- Check for "Lights Out" Errors: Even if the lights seem to be working sometimes, use an OBD-II reader or a tool like a Tazer/JScan to check the vehicle for any stored or active "lights out" or "turn signal circuit" fault codes. These codes will directly point to the BCM's recorded issue.
- Reprogram the BCM: The most definitive solution for LED swaps in modern Jeeps is to reprogram the BCM to the "LED" setting using a Tazer or JScan tool. Since your Gladiator is a 2025, you may need an updated tool/software version and a Security Gateway Module (SGM) bypass cable to access the BCM.
- Contact Morimoto Support: Since this is a very specific issue related to their product in your vehicle, Morimoto's customer support may have encountered this before and could offer specific troubleshooting steps or replacement instructions.
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