HOW TO AVOID AND FIX DECODING PROBLEMS?

[AUXITO Jackson]

Aftermarket LED bulbs have become increasingly popular among car owners due to their energy efficiency and long-lasting nature.

However, the installation of these bulbs can sometimes trigger error codes on a vehicle's dashboard. This happens because the car's Controller Area Network (CANbus) system is designed to measure the resistance of traditional filament bulbs, which is different from that of LED bulbs.

This article will explore how to avoid and resolve common decoding problems that arise when replacing halogen bulbs with LED bulbs.

WHY THERE WILL BE DECODING PROBLEMS WHEN REPLACING HALOGEN BULBS WITH LED BULBS?
Halogen bulbs and LED bulbs have different power consumption levels, and LED bulbs require less power, causing decoding problems in some cars. The higher resistance of LED bulbs compared to traditional filament bulbs can trigger the vehicle's CANbus system to detect an issue, leading to an error code being displayed on the dashboard.

A decoding problem occurs when the car's computer system fails to recognize the new LED bulb, causing flickering lights, error messages, and complete failure of the lighting system.

POSSIBLE DECODING PHENOMENA

• Flickering:LED bulbs may flicker due to the car's computer system not recognizing the new bulbs. This can happen because the LED bulb draws less power than the halogen bulb, causing the computer system to think the bulb is faulty.
• Error messages: The car's computer system may display an error message on the dashboard, indicating that there is a problem with the lighting system.
• Complete failure: In some cases, the car's computer system may not recognize the LED bulb at all, causing the entire lighting system to fail.

SOLUTIONS FOR DECODING PROBLEMS
Fortunately, there are two main solutions to this problem.

• The first and most straightforward solution is to replace the traditional filament bulb with a CANbus-compatible LED bulb. These bulbs come with additional resistors built into them that help to adjust their characteristics, bringing them closer to the parameters that the CANbus system is looking for. In most cases, this solution is enough to overcome the issue.

• However, in some instances, even CANbus-compatible LED bulbs may not work. Resistor kits come in handy in such situations. These kits allow the user to add resistance to the circuit without affecting the bulb. The resistor kits can be easily installed by splicing one leg of the resistor to one bulb holder wire and the other leg to the other wire, thereby adjusting the resistance to the correct amount.

It is important to note that some vehicles may require a combination of both solutions to overcome the issue. It is also recommended to use high-quality LED bulbs and resistor kits from reputable manufacturers to ensure optimal performance and avoid potential safety issues.

CONCLUSION
While LED bulbs offer numerous benefits, they can sometimes trigger error codes on a vehicle's dashboard. By using CANbus-compatible LED bulbs or resistor kits, car owners can overcome this issue and enjoy the benefits of LED bulbs without any complications.

It is important to purchase LED bulbs and resistor kits from reputable manufacturers to ensure quality and safety. Cheaper, lower quality products may not perform as expected and could potentially cause safety hazards.

Remember, by using a decoder or resistors, or by using CANBUS LED bulbs, you can avoid these problems and enjoy the many benefits of LED lighting.

We hope this article has been helpful to you. Happy driving!

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[AUXITO Jackson]

What problems did you meet when you performed the bulb upgrade?