LED headlights flicker

[Chip616]

I installed a set of Fahren LED lamps for my 2006 Saturn Vue V6 AWD. They come with a driver device, and they fit fine and work well. But the daylight running lamps flicker, and finally won't come on at all.

https://www.amazon.ca/Fahren-9005-HB..._grid_rp_0_1_i

They continue to work just fine when I turn the headlights on with either high or low beam. It is just the daylight running position that doesn't work.

I understand that a CANbus decoder (adapter, resistor, capacitor, whatever) is needed to trick the computer in the Vue to actually run the daylight running lamps during the day.

My question is twofold:

1) Should this be needed if the bulbs already come with their own 'driver' for the lamps?

2) Will any CANbus decoder (adapter, resistor, capacitor, whatever) do the job?

Specifically, I am looking at this:

https://www.amazon.ca/AnyCar-Headlig...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Any insight will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Frank.

[fdryer]

First and foremost, search within these forums of your Vue daytime running light circuitry before assuming a canbus decoder, resistor or other mods are needed. Saturn has modified some models by switching in a current limiting resistor to lower current to both low or high beams without affecting light output with halogen lamps. Same brightness, just lower current. This is GMs idea of prolonging lamp life and works. The ceramic resistor resides behind the driver's side front wheel well, removing the splash shield reveals it mounted on a shelf. It's about the size of half a flat cigar but in white. If your DRLs were fine with the original halogen lamps then the resistor is fine. At night, the auto headlight system switches out the resistor and applies full current to both low beams.

Presuming low beams are used for DRLs, night time lighting and a resistor in working condition, the body control module is programmed to determine DRL or nighttime lighting with a photocell on top of the dash. You'll need to determine whether DRLs have both low beams wired in parallel after the resistor or in series after the resistor. This is important as series or parallel circuitry was determined for DRLs to work with halogen lamps pulling a specific current the bcm monitors for self diagnosing when a lamp burns out by flashing the DRL indicator. At night, some may or may not notice a burned out low beam. Canbus monitoring adds sophistication to DRLs as this may be affected when substituting halogens with HIDs or LEDs. Having access to service manual wiring and descriptions of your Vues lighting system can help determine if LED headlights are compatible with Vue DRL circuitry.

My '03 L300 (one example only) was adapted from low beam halogens (DRLs) to HIDs without any modifications. L300s use a resistor to drop current feeding both low beams. Fortunately for me, the low cost hid kits draw about the same current whether in DRL mode or not. What's not discussed in HID or LED conversion with DRL circuitry; starting current needed for the hid ballasts; high initial starting current then tapering to operating current. This may affect some older GM DRL circuits by flashing lights and/or DRL indicator or not working at all while manually switching on low beams allows full operating current for starting and running hid ballasts. I'm not familiar with LED aftermarket headlights and whether they have the same high starting/tapering current as HID lights.

Do you know if your LED headlights draw a higher starting current or not as this may affect how the DRL circuit interprets a fault when initial starting current exceeds programmed limits. My guess is when a fault is detected, the DRL circuit shuts down; no DRLs. Lastly, email or call the seller of the 'decoder' and if it's compatible for Vues and a money back return if it fails to work as intended.

[Chip616]

Wow! Really opened a can of worms here, didn't I? :-)

OK, I see that I have several things to do first, so I will begin working on those. The vehicle has been loaned to my daughter at the moment, so I'll have to wait till it is back before I can take it in the garage and begin sleuthing.

Thank you for the complete and detailed reply. I'll need a bit of time now to sort this out.

Frank.

[fdryer]

I had a steep learning curve when studying HIDs and led headlights. Disinformation is everywhere. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong as I converted my oem halogen low beams with DRL circuitry to HIDs. One of the main issues is determining if low beams use conventional reflectors or the smaller bullet shaped projectors HIDs are designed for. HIDs cannot work in reflector headlights because the higher light output simply scatters light everywhere as a high beam and blinds opposing traffic. Hid projectors have a metal cutoff plate across the bottom, inside; the projected light beam is reversed by the lens so the bottom portion of light is blocked, resulting in a distinctive cutoff line when shining low beam HIDs against a wall. The upper portion of this light is allowed and lights up the road. Reflectors cannot cutoff the upper beam so it appears as a high beam to blind everyone. Hid projector assemblies have a cutoff plate to use it as a low beam. Some vehicles allow this cutoff plate to move out out the way to switch from low to high beam and back, manually or electronically. My L300 has low beam projectors but GM decided to use halogen lamps in conjunction with daytime running lights. The bcm knows if a low beam lamp burns out or uses current other than designed, making it almost difficult to adopt hid lamps. This was my learning curve to understand if HIDs would work in L300s without losing DRLs.

Led conversion may or may not have similar results when using them in reflector headlight assemblies. Reflector headlights are larger diameter with lamps visible compared to smaller diameter hid projector headlights hiding their lamps deep inside assemblies.

[tcndeb]

I have those same bulbs in my 04. I just unplugged the daylight sensor on the dash and my low beams run whenever the car is running. Basically using my low beams as my daytime running lamps. No flicker and I don't have to turn my headlights on/off at he switch.