Problems with LED fog lights

[adlambert11]

I have a 2021 Gladiator sport s. I bought a take off steel bumper. I put the LED fog lights in today and they don’t work. Everything I read leads me to believe that upgrading to LED fog lights is just plug and play. Is this not true? What else could be the issue? Thanks

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[Gvsukids]

I have a 2021 Gladiator sport s. I bought a take off steel bumper. I put the LED fog lights in today and they don’t work. Everything I read leads me to believe that upgrading to LED fog lights is just plug and play. Is this not true? What else could be the issue? Thanks

Need to change the computer setting for fog lights from halogen to LED. A dealer can do that or a Tazer can. Tazer is the better option.

 

[mike921921]

Or Jscan, probably the cheapest option ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Need to change the computer setting for fog lights from halogen to LED. A dealer can do that or a Tazer can. Tazer is the better option.

Can't Jscan also do this sort of thing?
Tazer is more expensive and means you need to unmarry and remove before certain dealer work is done. Jscan makes the changes, no traces left, nothing to cause issues with BCM and PCM flashes and so on.

 

[Gvsukids]

Can't Jscan also do this sort of thing?
Tazer is more expensive and means you need to unmarry and remove before certain dealer work is done. Jscan makes the changes, no traces left, nothing to cause issues with BCM and PCM flashes and so on.

Don't know about jscan, but you can also remove the Tazer without having to unmarry. Dealers don't airways use the OBD2 port.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Don't know about jscan, but you can also remove the Tazer without having to unmarry. Dealers don't airways use the OBD2 port.

True that - but if they flash or update certain things, there have been issues.

Seems there are multiple ways to set the lights - some are more useful for certain things than others.
I've no need for tazer, likely never will - but have used jscan and AlfaOBD for many things because it's also a diagnostic tool. So I'll never own a tazer.
So a person needs to decide what money they want to spend, the functionality they may want in the future, and if it's worth needing to remove and unmarry a product for certain types of dealer visits.
Here, dealers always use the ODB port - the first thing they do is connect up and run diagnostics and the info is put right into their system. So you can't leave anything in place in that port.
They don't look at VIN, miles on the odometer, etc because their reader does all that and inserts it into their system.

 

[Beemer533]

I swapped out all my front bulbs for led and I didn't have to change any settings. Granted I changed bulbs and not the entire housings, but not sure why it would matter.

Once I swapped the rear bulbs to led, that's when I got the warnings about lights being out (but only warnings for the rear). Either way, the led work fine, even with the warnings.


I already had AlphaOBD from when I had my previous Ram, so I don't think I'd bother spending the money on a tazer either. I will say some of the live functions are useful, like turning off the license plate lights when you go into reverse, but there are other ways to solve that problem..

At some point point I'll get in with AlphaOBD and get rid of the warnings.

 

[BAT]

Don't know about jscan, but you can also remove the Tazer without having to unmarry. Dealers don't airways use the OBD2 port.

Yep when I know mine is going to the shop for something I ask them do you plan to use the port or update anything if so tell me now so I can remove the Tazer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Granted I changed bulbs and not the entire housings, but not sure why it would matter.

It matters.
LED bulbs in halogen or other reflectors - not wise, sometimes not smart, and it's a half-XXX solution. You didn't get the best you could have.

Once I swapped the rear bulbs to led, that's when I got the warnings about lights being out (but only warnings for the rear). Either way, the led work fine, even with the warnings.

Too few know how these systems work. Yes, the bulbs "may work" but you have just negated it's ability to sense and report or respond to troubles. Are your brake lights and turn signals TRULY always working fine when you are driving?
These are systems, all things work together and the CANBus is designed to be able to monitor the conditions of all exterior safety equipment/lights. It can't do that now.

By taking the cheap easy way out on headlights you may be pissing off other drivers........ I can't believe vendors sell those "solutions" but they don't care at all - make the money.

 

[Beemer533]

It matters.
LED bulbs in halogen or other reflectors - not wise, sometimes not smart, and it's a half-XXX solution. You didn't get the best you could have.

Yeah I get that regarding the headlights, but for the rest they are certainly fine. Right now it was a compromise between spending another $700 or being able to actually see at night. At some point sooner rather than later I'll probably get some heated LED assemblies.

Either way, my response was talking about whether or not it mattered as far as the LED setting in the car, not the perceived quality of the light, which the the LED setting has no bearing on, IMO.

Too few know how these systems work. Yes, the bulbs "may work" but you have just negated it's ability to sense and report or respond to troubles. Are your brake lights and turn signals TRULY always working fine when you are driving?
These are systems, all things work together and the CANBus is designed to be able to monitor the conditions of all exterior safety equipment/lights. It can't do that now.

By taking the cheap easy way out on headlights you may be pissing off other drivers........ I can't believe vendors sell those "solutions" but they don't care at all - make the money.

I'm not disagreeing that the setting needs to be updated and I have been double checking the functions as I certainly don't like having that warning, but I have not had any issues so far. Again, my response was only to inform the OP that I had no warnings at all when I just swapped the front LED.

I agree the best way to go is to swap out the whole headlight for an actual LED version. For the DRL, fogs, etc I'm sure there would be a difference with LED housings, but just swapping the bulbs they work better than the halogens, so that for now is good enough for me.

And I will say that I had my wife drive her car approaching me to check the alignment and glare of the Gladiator on a dark road and, while bright, they certainly aren't blinding according to her.

Once I'm done emptying my wallet on all the other stuff I "need" for the trail I'll probably get around to swapping everything out....

 

[BAT]

Yeah I get that regarding the headlights, but for the rest they are certainly fine. Right now it was a compromise between spending another $700 or being able to actually see at night. At some point sooner rather than later I'll probably get some heated LED assemblies.

Either way, my response was talking about whether or not it mattered as far as the LED setting in the car, not the perceived quality of the light, which the the LED setting has no bearing on, IMO.



I'm not disagreeing that the setting needs to be updated and I have been double checking the functions as I certainly don't like having that warning, but I have not had any issues so far. Again, my response was only to inform the OP that I had no warnings at all when I just swapped the front LED.

I agree the best way to go is to swap out the whole headlight for an actual LED version. For the DRL, fogs, etc I'm sure there would be a difference with LED housings, but just swapping the bulbs they work better than the halogens, so that for now is good enough for me.

And I will say that I had my wife drive her car approaching me to check the alignment and glare of the Gladiator on a dark road and, while bright, they certainly aren't blinding according to her.

Once I'm done emptying my wallet on all the other stuff I "need" for the trail I'll probably get around to swapping everything out....

I did the same thing. Went with replacement bulbs for about a year till I could get the new Oculus Lights. Frankly I think the dang truck should have come with all LED Lights for the price but it is what it is. Same as you did what I could to be able to see cause driving with the Halogens couldn't see much of anything at night. When the wife is complaining that its scary to drive the thing with the halogens you know its bad.

 

[Beemer533]

I did the same thing. Went with replacement bulbs for about a year till I could get the new Oculus Lights. Frankly I think the dang truck should have come with all LED Lights for the price but it is what it is. Same as you did what I could to be able to see cause driving with the Halogens couldn't see much of anything at night. When the wife is complaining that its scary to drive the thing with the halogens you know its bad.

Yeah, completely agree. It really kills me that for $50k plus, at least in the higher trims, LED isn't standard. I guess FCA is just continuing the tradition; my 2014 Ram 2500 I traded in for the JT also had the crappiest halogen headlights...

 

[BAT]

Yeah, completely agree. It really kills me that for $50k plus, at least in the higher trims, LED isn't standard. I guess FCA is just continuing the tradition; my 2014 Ram 2500 I traded in for the JT also had the crappiest halogen headlights...

My Ram 1500 had them as well but at least those put out some kind of decent light vs the JT Halogen's I had. The Bi-Oculus lights I have now put out a ton of light.

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