LED headlights alfaOBD and resistors?

Hey guys,

I thought I'd done my homework but I think I missed something. I was under the impression that downloading alfa OBD and running it to select the LED headlight option is all I had to do to resolve issues with running sylvania LED headlight bulbs on my 2015 Ram 1500 express. But, the other day the headlights randomly turned off. I don't really see the flashing and constant shutdown like before alfa OBD, but that one fluke shut down has spooked me. Do I need to install resistors too?

Thanks

I believe it depends on the bulbs. I run lasfit with no issues. Plug n play but I have a 2020 Bighorn. I didn't even have to use my Alfa.

@LASFIT can you advise?

I've installed Fahren LED bulbs in the Projector headlights in my '21 Warlock, replacing the 9005, high & low beam Halogen bulbs.

Fully plug n play, no other changes or add-ons required. And, they're remarkably brighter than the halogen bulbs.

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Thanks guys. I forgot to mention that these are Sylvanias.

greenweenie said:

Thanks guys. I forgot to mention that these are Sylvanias.

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You can search the forum and learn which bulbs work and which are problematic.
I chose the Fahren bulbs after reading numerous posts here that they were simple and effective.

Amazon.com Fahren 9005 LED


If you do the research, you will find other types of bulbs that are plug-and-play and cause no grief.
I wouldn't waste my time trying to adapt any problematic type of bulb, just get what works and save the grief.

Last night I ordered a set of Auxito 2024 upgraded 9005s 15000 lumen bulbs from amazon.ca but can't find this bulb on amazon.com. The LED bulbs I have installed are very bright but I drive mostly on rural highways and would like more distance on the high beams.



The Fahren I have installed in the high beams are 10K lumen, the Auxito are 15K lumen or 50% more output. Hopefully, that translates into subjectively brighter headlights.

If you decide to buy new LED bulbs, beware! They don't all fit with the back covers in place. Many manufacturers make several different-sized bulbs and only the smallest profile might fit in the housings with the back cover installed.

Also, do your own research because the amazon fitment guide is completely out to lunch.

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greenweenie said:

I was under the impression that downloading alfa OBD and running it to select the Sylvania LED headlight option is all I had to do to resolve issues with running LED headlight bulbs on my 2015 Ram 1500 express. But, the other day the headlights randomly turned off.

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The '15 model year seems to be more particular about the lighting than other years. Also people have also reported things will work fine with some LEDs then days, months, years down the road start having issues.

Thanks guys. I haven't driven much at night, the headlights are still dropping out occasionally and there is a subtle flicker. I'm bummed because I was sure the alfaOBD fix was all I needed to do. I'm pretty sure my headlights are H11, I think the fogs are 9006.

Are the fogs subject to OBD issues too?

Is this the correct one? Amazon

greenweenie said:

Are the fogs subject to OBD issues too?

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Yes

greenweenie said:

I'm bummed because I was sure the alfaOBD fix was all I needed to do. I'm pretty sure my headlights are H11, I think the fogs are 9006.

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Did you change the headlight type to High Intensity Discharge?
That's correct on the sizes for the Quads, the High beams are 9005, the Lows are H11
Putting LED bulbs in the fog housings turn them into driving lights that scatter light everywhere, makes them useless in fog and snow. Consider going with a set of DiodeDynamics SS3 SAE Pro level Fogs, I've drove through both super dense fog and near white out conditions with them, work great.

greenweenie said:

Is this the correct one? Amazon

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I bought the previous version of this set last year, they were not the correct bulbs for my truck but mine is a '21 with 4x 9005s. This older model is no longer available, just for a reference point.

One drawing that Fahren didn't keep is the dimensional reference, too bad, that seems like a very important drawing to maintain.

This is similar to the drawing they used to have on last year's version of H11/9005;



I would say that clearance between the heatsink and the back cover of the light housing is minimal for the high beam on my truck. I wouldn't want it any smaller because it will impede airflow through the heatsink.

Fahren is pretty responsive if you send them a request or ask for confirmation that the latest H11/9005 set is the same as the above drawing. China is EST +13 hours so, next day response time.

Then again, maybe, @crash68 has used this specific version successfully with the 2015 projector housing.

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crash68 said:

Putting LED bulbs in the fog housings turn them into driving lights that scatter light everywhere, makes them useless in fog and snow. Consider going with a set of DiodeDynamics SS3 SAE Pro level Fogs, I've drove through both super dense fog and near white out conditions with them, work great.

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I find my fog lights are wrongly named fog lights and agree, that they are useless in fog and worse than using the low beams.

My '21 came with LED 'Driving lights' that Ram decided to call fog lights.

They're fantastic for lighting up both sides of the road, ditches and beyond. Living in a rural area, I find them invaluable and could easily drive at night with my Fahren LED low beams and driving lights. It's very easy to drive at 60mph while wearing yellow-lensed driving glasses or faster without.

Unfortunately, we get lots of seriously thick fog, I would like to add a set of fog lamps like the DiodeDynamics linked above.

All that to say, if your fog lights have the same stupidly low cutoff that mine have, no bulb replacement can fix that.

I've tried to use them in fog several times but because the cutoff is so low, you can't drive more than 10 or 15mph without over-driving your lights. And mine are bright white, worse than using high beams in fog.

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RamDiver said:

Then again, maybe, @crash68 has used this specific version successfully with the 2015 projector housing.

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that would be a no bueno, not running the factory projectors. Only run LEDs in my high beams, in Alpharex dual projector headlights.

As was mentioned before, enable high intensity discharge headlamps. That will disable the pwm function that is being used and should stop the flicker and ultimately the lamps from shutting down.

hunterdan said:

As was mentioned before, enable high intensity discharge headlamps. That will disable the pwm function that is being used and should stop the flicker and ultimately the lamps from shutting down.

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2015 would be the problem. What hunterdan recommends is the fix. Change to 'present' and you're golden. Shouldn't have to use the resistors either.

crash said:

2015 would be the problem. What hunterdan recommends is the fix. Change to 'present' and you're golden. Shouldn't have to use the resistors either.

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Have you already played this game and speak from experience?

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I have a 2015 sport and had issues until I found the correct alfa settings. Here is the post I made about it with the settings I used. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2015-ram-sport-led-and-alfa-settings.205781/
Also, I did not use resistors.

I just tried installing some auxito led blinking brake lights. They did not work in synch and sometimes they didn't work at all so I put the stock ones back.

I tried reversing them , etc. No joy!

kdoublep said:

I just tried installing some auxito led blinking brake lights. They did not work in synch and sometimes they didn't work at all so I put the stock ones back.

I tried reversing them , etc. No joy!

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Fwiw, strobing brakes are generally illegal I believe anyway unless on an emergency vehicle

Not sure which headlights I have, but it's a single bulb for the high and low beams. I'm going to try the HID settings today and report back. Thanks everyone!

Can confirm - turning on the HID light option fixed the issue as far as I can tell. If it creeps back up I'll update this thread.

Thanks!

Guys, one last thing - can you help me identify which reverse bulbs I have? I want to get these swapped out to a brighter LED. The numbers on the bulb don’t match anything I can find.