Hybrid - Added Extra Grille Lighting, Now Lights Shut Off Immediately

[nherweck89]

Quick bit of background...I use my Maverick hybrid for both gig-work as well as my own business. The Maverick makes frequent stops and spends entirely too much time going 5mph (and slower) on busy roads, so I have some extra amber lights to help bring attention and not get hit while stopped. I've got a lightbar powered by the 12v socket in the back seat and routed through the sliding rear window, but I've been trying to add some small grille lights that can be turned on when needed. I tapped into the side marker lights as I've seen tons of times on here for additional lighting. But, when I power on the grille lights (LED), the grille lights flicker on for about half a second before shutting off and taking the side marker lights with them. What can I do to fix that? What should I be sourcing for power on the grille lights?

Here are some extra details I just thought of:

2022 Hybrid
Lasfit bulbs for entire truck

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[GPSMan]

You've got a short somewhere.

 

[Azmkat]

The dealer disconnected my grill lights when it was in for recall because the tech said it was too much for the circuit. I made sure ALL the lighting was switched to LED and reconnected them and everything seems fine now. Tech said the error only shows on their test equipment. Apparently the system is quite picky when it comes to any overload.

 

[writemccaffrey]

The dealer disconnected my grill lights when it was in for recall because the tech said it was too much for the circuit. I made sure ALL the lighting was switched to LED and reconnected them and everything seems fine now. Tech said the error only shows on their test equipment. Apparently the system is quite picky when it comes to any overload.

I have same issue, but with a lightbar. I tapped into turn signal "always on" blue wire (driver side) and same thing - light bar cuts off instantly once powered on. Seems like truck computer recognizes too much power draw and says "nope." You ever learn anything more about this?

 

[nherweck89]

I have same issue, but with a lightbar. I tapped into turn signal "always on" blue wire (driver side) and same thing - light bar cuts off instantly once powered on. Seems like truck computer recognizes too much power draw and says "nope." You ever learn anything more about this?

Nope, I ended up connecting to the jumper connections and have constant power. While I now have visible wires running, I at least have functioning lights in my grille.

 

[writemccaffrey]

Got it. I had that working as well but the parasitic draw aspect killing my remote start is something I want to avoid. A luxury, to be sure, but one I appreciate when weather is super hot or cold. Want to tap somewhere that turns on/off with the truck, but hybrid engine bay not too friendly for adding accessories from what I’ve seen.

 

[Azmkat]

I have same issue, but with a lightbar. I tapped into turn signal "always on" blue wire (driver side) and same thing - light bar cuts off instantly once powered on. Seems like truck computer recognizes too much power draw and says "nope." You ever learn anything more about this?

Are you using LEDs for your parking lights, turn signals, brake lights, etc?

 

[writemccaffrey]

Are you using LEDs for your parking lights, turn signals, brake lights, etc?

No. Only switched over the bed lights to LED. From what I've seen, it might work if I switch my turn signals to LED, but still want a better option that doesn't mean me spending more on the LED upgrades. And even with those, I don't get a clear sense the same set-up would work. Open to other ideas - thanks for responding.

 

[GPSMan]

These amber LED are tapped directly to the side marker lights. No problems, ever. Been in service 1 year now.

 

[Azmkat]

No. Only switched over the bed lights to LED. From what I've seen, it might work if I switch my turn signals to LED, but still want a better option that doesn't mean me spending more on the LED upgrades. And even with those, I don't get a clear sense the same set-up would work. Open to other ideas - thanks for responding.

That is most likely the cause. The old lights are taking more amperage to run, therefore making the controller think the circuit is overloaded.

 

[BLachance75]

No. Only switched over the bed lights to LED. From what I've seen, it might work if I switch my turn signals to LED, but still want a better option that doesn't mean me spending more on the LED upgrades. And even with those, I don't get a clear sense the same set-up would work. Open to other ideas - thanks for responding.

I switched my bulbs over to LED and it still wasn’t enough to not have a Putco virtual blade stop working after a second.

At some point I need to pull off the fuse panel cover in the cab and see how hard it would be to jump off an empty fuse and run it to the engine bay. I read that there’s a few unused fuses that are only powered when the truck is running, #3 and #12 if I remember correctly.

 

[writemccaffrey]

I switched my bulbs over to LED and it still wasn’t enough to not have a Putco virtual blade stop working after a second.

At some point I need to pull off the fuse panel cover in the cab and see how hard it would be to jump off an empty fuse and run it to the engine bay. I read that there’s a few unused fuses that are only powered when the truck is running, #3 and #12 if I remember correctly.

Yeah I ended up tapping into Fuse 6 to solve my problem. Now it works as I wanted from Day 1. Thx.

 

[BLachance75]

Yeah I ended up tapping into Fuse 6 to solve my problem. Now it works as I wanted from Day 1. Thx.

Could you possibly share a picture of how you passed the wires through the firewall and where you connected the ground to.

 

[writemccaffrey]

Could you possibly share a picture of how you passed the wires through the firewall and where you connected the ground to.

Pictures below all basically the same. Maybe one has better lighting. Basically followed the bright orange Maverick wire shield for hybrid battery. The black wire zip tied to the Maverick orange sheathing is from the 22” Lasfit light bar harness to the switch in the cab and the red wire is for power and runs into cab, under dash (trim is easy to remove), and to fuse box under passenger feet. I tapped into the #6 fuse and it works great. Light bar switch gets power only when truck is in ACC or on position. Let me know if that’s not clear or doesn’t make sense. Hard to see from pics where firewall grommet is, but if you look under steering wheel (start at floor mat front and go up) it’s pretty clear where to come into/out of the truck.

 

[Darnon]

FWIW there's a similar passthrough grommet on the passenger side as well closer to the BCM.

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