Interior dome light LED update

[David Dillon]

I just updated all interior light bulbs to LED on my '14 SHO. The issue I ran into is that the rear map lights won't turn off when there is an LED in the dome light position (rear map lights and the dome light are all part of the same component). Removing the LED from the dome light position and leaving the LEDs in the rear map lights works fine. This seems to be a common issue as I've seen it on YouTube videos and posted in other Ford forums, but I haven't yet seen any actual "fix" for the problem. Any ideas or experiences out there?

I plan to reach out to the LED supplier (PrecisionLED) tomorrow to see what they have to say. I'm guessing they've heard of this issue with Ford dome lights. I'm hoping they have more to offer than "Don't put an LED in the dome light!" ;-)

 

[JasonoftheRugar]

Unrelated to your LED's. After I start the car and back out my driveway, I look back and the rear passenger dome light is on. Turns off by the button, but was never turned on. Just the one light , not both. Happens frequently. What turns this damn thing on?

 

[Stuemp]

You need to put the standard bulb back in the middle for the outer LEDs to work properly. Or wire in a resistor. I actually used a 194 bulb I had laying around and put it in the center position and with it not being the correct candle power for the application it does not light up BUT does help the LEDs stay on fine. Most people just leave the normal bulb 17177 in there and deal with it.

 

[Cellphone]

For the center dome light with an LED, use a 470 ohm resistor. When you install the LED bulb, you can wrap the leads of the resistor around each side of the bulb. That will take care of the map lights that stay on without the resistor. Stop by an electronics store like Fry's Electronics or Radio Shack. If those are not convenient, you can get 100 of them on Amazon for about $5 and they will be on your doorstep in a couple of days.

 

[Golfsupt]

For the center dome light with an LED, use a 470 ohm resistor. When you install the LED bulb, you can wrap the leads of the resistor around each side of the bulb. That will take care of the map lights that stay on without the resistor. Stop by an electronics store like Fry's Electronics or Radio Shack. If those are not convenient, you can get 100 of them on Amazon for about $5 and they will be on your doorstep in a couple of days.

This exactly. Might even check to see if the company you bought them from sells them. Got mine for 50 cents a piece I believe from the company that supplied my bulbs.

 

[OmaHahn]

Unrelated to your LED's. After I start the car and back out my driveway, I look back and the rear passenger dome light is on. Turns off by the button, but was never turned on. Just the one light , not both. Happens frequently. What turns this damn thing on?

NO frickin way!!!! I thought I was the only one!! My Driver's side rear Map Light is always F'n on and I NEVER touch that light! If it comes on by itself, I hit the button to turn it off, then magically again it turns on! I had the dealer look at it and guess what....nothing wrong. Well now the light burned out probably from being on all the time - don't think I'll replace it.