4G TL (2009-2014)
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DashLynx

Lighting Mod Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-15-2009, 07:30 PM
  #1  
Advanced
Thread Starter
 
4GTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Lighting Mod Question

Hey everyone, I was trying to replace the door courtesy lights with some LEDs and when I installed them, the passenger side is really bright as expected but the driver side is really dim. And when I put back in original incandescent bulbs, the driver side is completely out while the passenger side is fine. Anyone know what may be going on - a blown fuse or anything else? My next option is going to the dealership and have it checked out in the morning.

I replaced the license plate, trunk, and vanity bulbs and they are all great with LEDs.

Thanks so much!!!
Old 12-15-2009, 09:13 PM
  #2  
Racer
 
Stash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if it was a fuse, other things would be out. There isn't a fuse for every single light. Are you sure you got the bulbs reseated in real good?
Old 12-15-2009, 09:28 PM
  #3  
Advanced
Thread Starter
 
4GTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Yeah the bulbs are back in there pretty tightly. I hope it's not some sort of electrical problem...just read on the forum that another TL owner had to have a junction box (whatever that is) replaced because the driver side courtesy light was out...yikes...
Old 12-16-2009, 02:33 AM
  #4  
Burning Brakes
 
djtanveer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: San Jose,CA
Age: 33
Posts: 793
Received 98 Likes on 90 Posts
wow....a similar thing happened to me in my accord....i would say its most likely your junction box thats shorted,or maybe just the bulbs.....but good news is that you might be able to BS your way to get a new one by warranty....good luck
Old 12-16-2009, 06:31 PM
  #5  
Intermediate
 
big1128z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The courtesy light is a 3.4W light. System power is 12V that equates to 283 mA of current draw stock. If your aftermarket LED's pulled more than that amount of current then there is a good possibility that you fried the drivers side MICU. The passenger side MICU is not connected to as many components so it is different and could be more robust to overcurrent. Have fun changing it. MSRP is $194 from the dealer.
Old 12-17-2009, 06:39 AM
  #6  
Racer
 
Ac Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ocala, FL
Age: 48
Posts: 305
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by 4GTL
Hey everyone, I was trying to replace the door courtesy lights with some LEDs and when I installed them, the passenger side is really bright as expected but the driver side is really dim. And when I put back in original incandescent bulbs, the driver side is completely out while the passenger side is fine. Anyone know what may be going on - a blown fuse or anything else? My next option is going to the dealership and have it checked out in the morning.

I replaced the license plate, trunk, and vanity bulbs and they are all great with LEDs.

Thanks so much!!!
Man, the same damn thing happened to me! I know it's not the bulbs because I switched the passenger side bulb that was bright, with the driver's side bulb and it was dim too. Being that my TL is being kept in storage while I am away, I can't check it out to see what's wrong, but I know it's not the fuse, because all my lights had went out and I took it to the dealer and they fixed everything except the courtesy light. The fuse was blown, which caused all my other lights to go out. I hope it's not too expensive to fix this junction box thing!
Old 12-17-2009, 05:58 PM
  #7  
Cruisin'
 
skipdeez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Emerald City
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was thinking of changing out the license plate bulbs to a more white light, any suggestions on the type of LED I should use? Installation advice? Caveats?
Old 12-18-2009, 07:33 AM
  #8  
Advanced
Thread Starter
 
4GTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
These are the ones I used...although after my little fiasco (1st post in the thread) I am not sure if I want to put them back in //

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...-p4481133.html
Old 12-18-2009, 08:10 AM
  #9  
My beer fridge is in
 
venom550pm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Newmarket, NH
Age: 44
Posts: 626
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
if you put in a bulb and it touches the housing the same time as the power is on, you can short out the multiplex. This is what i did, the dealer had my car for 3 days to get the part in and fix it.
Old 12-18-2009, 09:00 AM
  #10  
Advanced
Thread Starter
 
4GTL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Ac Man
Man, the same damn thing happened to me! I know it's not the bulbs because I switched the passenger side bulb that was bright, with the driver's side bulb and it was dim too. Being that my TL is being kept in storage while I am away, I can't check it out to see what's wrong, but I know it's not the fuse, because all my lights had went out and I took it to the dealer and they fixed everything except the courtesy light. The fuse was blown, which caused all my other lights to go out. I hope it's not too expensive to fix this junction box thing!
Yeah if you can, have it checked out soon. Sounds like the MICU/fuse box...Good luck!
Old 02-27-2011, 07:36 PM
  #11  
Intermediate
 
ghanner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 30
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by big1128z
The courtesy light is a 3.4W light. System power is 12V that equates to 283 mA of current draw stock. If your aftermarket LED's pulled more than that amount of current then there is a good possibility that you fried the drivers side MICU.
Big1128z...when you say 3.4w is that the total draw between BOTH sides (L/R) courtesy bulbs? I lost my Passenger side power feed....everything else is fine. Bulbs I was using was 2 watts each so x2 = 4 watts total draw. Since I lost the passenger side only, any idea what it might be? Couldn't find any fuse issues so is the passenger door courtesy run to the passenger side Multiplex (fuse box)?
Old 02-27-2011, 07:42 PM
  #12  
Intermediate
 
ghanner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 30
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by big1128z
The courtesy light is a 3.4W light. System power is 12V that equates to 283 mA of current draw stock. If your aftermarket LED's pulled more than that amount of current then there is a good possibility that you fried the drivers side MICU.
Big1128z...when you say 3.4w is that the total draw between BOTH sides (L/R) courtesy bulbs? I lost my Passenger side power feed....everything else is fine. Bulbs I was using was 2 watts each so x2 = 4 watts total draw. Since I lost the passenger side only, any idea what it might be? Couldn't find any fuse issues so is the passenger door courtesy run to the passenger side Multiplex (fuse box)?
Old 02-27-2011, 11:22 PM
  #13  
lji
Pro
 
lji's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 560
Received 51 Likes on 43 Posts
Pic of installed license plate bulbs:

http://images2.powerreviews.com/medi...44057_full.jpg

Here's the link to the bulbs:

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...viewsTabAnchor
Old 02-28-2011, 01:05 AM
  #14  
Moderator
 
potmilkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Cali 626 area
Age: 36
Posts: 7,101
Received 1,020 Likes on 792 Posts
it happened on my 2010.. its a blown junction box... put back your original bulb back in and bring your car into acura to tell them to fix it.


next time you install it, disconnect the battery first!
Old 02-28-2011, 06:38 AM
  #15  
Intermediate
 
ghanner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 30
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
I'll bring it in to Acura this week. Since it's the passenger courtesy light is it the passenger side fuse box? Seems crazy that the fuse box would get damaged instead of a fuse tripping.

After it's fixed, couldn't I simply pull the connector off the fixture housing then do the swap and then plug the housing back in or is disconnecting the battery a must? I assume radio settings and others get wiped out with battery disconnect?
Old 02-28-2011, 08:20 PM
  #16  
Racer
 
Smoothie97's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I installed license plate bulbs, front door bulbs, vanity mirrors, and trunk led without disconnecting the battery. I had no issues. All bulbs were bought from v-leds.com.
Old 03-01-2011, 11:22 AM
  #17  
Moderator
 
potmilkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Cali 626 area
Age: 36
Posts: 7,101
Received 1,020 Likes on 792 Posts
Originally Posted by Smoothie97
I installed license plate bulbs, front door bulbs, vanity mirrors, and trunk led without disconnecting the battery. I had no issues. All bulbs were bought from v-leds.com.
the reason why i say you should disconnect the battery is because 4g is a very complex car. if you put led bulbs that drain less power than OEM bulbs, this will cause the car to trip out. so with disconnecting the battery, it will force the car to re-read the power that is going out to everything on the car. this will stabilize the entire car to do so. this is what i was told from acura technician. and on the side note.. its always best to disconnect the battery anyways. no harm in doing that.
Old 03-01-2011, 11:41 AM
  #18  
WDP 4G
iTrader: (8)
 
eazy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,211
Received 75 Likes on 67 Posts
I'm thinking about changing my interior lights to red. Anyone know how many bulbs/what kind of bulb types i need?
Old 03-01-2011, 12:50 PM
  #19  
Moderator
 
potmilkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern Cali 626 area
Age: 36
Posts: 7,101
Received 1,020 Likes on 792 Posts
Originally Posted by eazy
I'm thinking about changing my interior lights to red. Anyone know how many bulbs/what kind of bulb types i need?
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...highlight=bulb
Old 01-27-2017, 12:34 PM
  #20  
Instructor
 
omgitsspooky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Age: 40
Posts: 222
Received 23 Likes on 18 Posts
Originally Posted by venom550pm
if you put in a bulb and it touches the housing the same time as the power is on, you can short out the multiplex. This is what i did, the dealer had my car for 3 days to get the part in and fix it.
Hey venom550pm, I did this exact thing and had to replace the MICU. Now I want to disconnect the light fixture then put the LED bulb in and plug the whole thing back but I'm scared it might short the MICU again. I'm thinking of just leaving it stock lol What did you do?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
oo7spy
2G RL (2005-2012)
18
06-19-2023 12:48 AM
sockr1
Car Parts for Sale
22
10-01-2015 01:31 AM
wusty23jd
3G TL Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
4
09-24-2015 11:41 AM
JnC
Car Parts for Sale
3
09-11-2015 06:06 AM



Quick Reply: Lighting Mod Question



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:09 PM.