Hi friends,
I have already spent hours reading posts and threads concerning led bulb conversions and the problems people have experienced. And spent alot of time screwing around trying everything to get things to work before writing...my problem is - 98 blazer, installed pilot led tail lights had typical problems as others. Did flasher modification and even bought heavy-duty flasher. Did resistors. No hyper flash but radio and dash lights dim when brake pedal is pushed now. I am beginning to think the bulbs are the problem...I read that some sockets are ck style and need specific led bulbs. I looked all over the pilot bulbs and package I bought for a ck stamp. Didn't see anything other than they are listed as can bus leds. Can anyone recommend a solution or specify just what brand of leds you're using and what, if any, mods you had too do.
Thank you.

 

Have been doing more reading on can bus leds...could be my problem with my dimming of radio and dash lights assuming my 1998 does not use that system. Have not had a chance to verify my sockets are not ck type...had to put in stock bulbs to commute.

I will say that i have also read where someone wired in diodes to eliminate back voltage. I will check my sockets before buying new led bulbs.

 

You shouldn't need diodes because LEDs are, in fact, diodes themselves. Canbus should have no affect as they are just wired with resistors in parallel to simulate an actual bulb filament. Your blazer should also not have CK type bulbs. CK bulbs just have the grounds and low/high in different spots on the plug and, as far as I know no blazers have them (maybe in different countries though.)

 

Thank you...researched before buying. Read posts from when led came out...alot of common problems. Some leds are polarity sensitive some waffle type aren't. The ones I bought are hence, 180 the plug in. And as I found out canbus are not going to burn your car down. Like you mentioned, built in resistor for canbus detection but so minimal value not getting hotter than non bus or incandescent. Everything worked perfectly after install but never hit the brake pedal...then found a post that made so much sense I am embarrassed. Gonna try the external diode and if you see me in a fire ball on the news...it didn't work

 

Um... Ok, good luck then.

 

The weather here has been impossible to work in and don't have a garage. So haven't had a chance to try it yet...but in my circumstance I don't need resistors because of the flasher relay change. And everything works great until i pressed the brake. If you install a diode on the brake light wire blocking the excess voltage backfeeding to the brake relay and electronics should solve problem in theory. Have to be honest, read alot of posts from people that put a chrome tip on their exhaust and think they have a race car...and this guy I got diode info from seems legit. I will keep things posted when I try it. But for now with these storms the blazer is on evacuation mode if needed...looks like hell in a basket for the next several days. Hope everyone else is safe.

 

Ok, that makes sense. I actually made a custom led tail light array for my motorcycle that incorporates 4 diodes so the brake light works the whole light, but the turn signals work on each individual side without back feed to the other side and brake. If you get out of the rain and floods and have any issues you just can't figure out, let me know and I'll try to help as much as I can.

Here's a vid of it. Camera sucks, but there you go.
http://vid1114.photobucket.com/album...psc4b375d8.mp4

 

This guy knows his stuff.. I know some things and some stuff, but not as much as him.


How is that PWM treatin ya btw.
I had 4 LED's go out on the drivers side tail light in the jimmy, not sure why, guessing just a bad diode. I was able to find the same lot number for the LED's I used for the tails to replace them, have not found time to pull the tail light out and replace them though

finding that time where I have 10+ hours to pull it, open it and solder in some new LED's and wait for the sealer to set up is difficult.

 

Thanks everyone. I may have a chance to try it today. But kinda feeling like I should forget about the blazer and build an ark...
Oh and the video was good. Seen alot of you posts across the board. I love this site. Read so many other people's posts and you tube videos which helped me choose my exhaust and other modifications. Just something about blazers, mine is a 98 fully loaded. I'm second owner. Total cream puff. Still under 100k. And once I bought it I started noticing how many blazers, bravadas etc are on the road. Rust free.
Well, I drive alot for work...debaffled throttle plate, opened up my air box, dynomax exhaust and quality ignition and I kid you not, gained 5-8mph depending on speed. Have 4:10 axle. And alot more zip. Took slack out of accelerator cable...it's like a new car. That's all stuff I learned from here and I thank everyone!!!

 

5-8mpg sorry