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Interior lights going out intermittently - advice/suggestion?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by rockjockey, Dec 29, 2016.

  1. Dec 29, 2016 at 3:58 PM
    #1
    rockjockey

    rockjockey [OP] Per ardua ad astra!

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    John
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    After my fiasco with installing LED interior lights, I'm now having a weird problem with all the interior lights going out intermittently. Everything worked fine for about 2 weeks after I installed LEDs in the one footwell light and both roof console box map lights (the rear seat dome light is still the original incandscent bulb). Now, the lights come and go at random. When they're out, they're all out. When they work, they all work.
    I'm not blowing fuses but have installed a new one just in case the one I had in there was defective. Seems to me if I had a short I'd be blowing fuses. Also seems that if I had a defective bulb it would only affect that bulb. However, this is the first time I've fooled around with LEDs so maybe there's something about them I don't understand.
    Maybe a mechanical issue with the main wire feeding all the interior lights? Along that line of thought, anyone know if the footwell light is upstream or downstream of the overhead lights?
    Now accepting all suggestions/advice/ridicule.
     
  2. Dec 29, 2016 at 4:55 PM
    #2
    FlashCulprit

    FlashCulprit ColoradoTJ's whipping boy/Gino's illegitimate son.

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    Have you swapped back to OEM bulbs all around just to test?

    Is there a trend in when it happens that you can recreate to troubleshoot with a voltmeter for potential drops?
     
  3. Dec 29, 2016 at 6:13 PM
    #3
    rockjockey

    rockjockey [OP] Per ardua ad astra!

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    Completely random so far. I haven't started troubleshooting but will do that this weekend. Just thought I'd see if anyone had a magic bullet.
     
    bsavoir likes this.
  4. Dec 29, 2016 at 10:02 PM
    #4
    bsavoir

    bsavoir New Member

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    Gibson Metal Mulisha Exhaust, Replaced bulbs w/ LED's, AFe intake, Bullydog Tuner, Aftermarket Audio system, Rhino Bed Light sports bar, Tonneau Cover, Spyder Auto Headlights and Taillights, Recon 3rd Brake Light, Kensun HID's, Fender Flares, Custom Leather Interior, Heated Seats, 5% Tint on the Rear Windows, Pod light Foglights, 31" light bar behind the grille, linex spray bedliner, linex sprayed grille, ditch lights w/ dual 3in LED pods, 60" Tailgate LED strip.
    The foot well light operate separately from the roof lights. On my '14 Tundra SR5 DC the ceiling light go out quick, but my foot well lights fade out slower than the ceiling. Good thing is led only work in one directional flow of electricity so if it were in backwards it would not work. What type of leds are you using. I could be a wiring issue as some Leds draw far less power than the filament bulbs. I would try putting back in the OEM bulbs or similar bulbs an see if it still continues
     
  5. Feb 25, 2017 at 7:52 PM
    #5
    rockjockey

    rockjockey [OP] Per ardua ad astra!

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    Finally figured it out! I was convinced the problem couldn't be the fuse since the problem was intermittent. After checking all the bulbs and continuity of all the circuits, I decided to change out the fuse just in case. Below is a pic of what I found when I pulled the fuse. It HAD blown but in such a way that the two sides of the metal strip inside the fuse were ALMOST touching. Apparently, vibration and/or temperature changes in the engine compartment were making the two sides intermittently touch, completing the circuit. Put in a new fuse and all the interior lights work perfectly. Tip for dumbasses like me - don't outsmart yourself, check the fuse first!

    IMG_0700.jpg
     

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