Ranger & led sequential lights
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 14:31
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Member - nick boab
Hiya folks : Got a ford
ranger 2012 px tray back Ute with full canopy box & was wondering if there is a known issue with fitting LED sequential rear indictor tail light , as an extra set of tail light, wiring via trailer wiring loom . Trying to work out why the indicator light ONLY won't work correctly , brake & tail are working perfect .
Reply By: Batt's - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 16:14
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 16:14
Is the fuse ok maybe it blew.
Shouldn't be a problem it would basically change nothing just like when you hook up a box trailer.
Are the earth's ok. That’s all I can think of.
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Reply By: Member - LeighW - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 16:20
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 16:20
What are they doing?
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648071
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 20:07
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 20:07
Leigh . They only do short flash about 2 led's while the engine is not running & nothing when the engine is running.
FollowupID:
929221
Reply By: Max E - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 18:19
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 18:19
Yes there are known issues. Easiest fix is use normal lights.
Google your heading for this post you should find info.
Have a look at this video. Note I can't confirm it will work on your
ranger and that it won't cause damage. Rangers have some sensitive electronics
https://youtu.be/eic16PtXEEU?feature=shared
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 21:30
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 21:30
Thanks Max video etc , My
ranger already has a trailer loom ford adapter for LED trailer lights .
probably just shitty lights
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929223
Follow Up By: Max E - Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 06:57
Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 06:57
Your adapter will have resistors in it. The car is designed for incandescent globe's of with higher current draw than Led lights. Resistors increase the load to the original current draw.
In the video they are using capacitors. The capacitors hold the current in the circuit long enough for the sequential system to finish.
Rangers basically have computer controlled lights, not a flasher unit like older cars.
Try the lights on 12v off a battery.
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929226
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 09:59
Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 09:59
Thanks Max , I have connected the indicator straight to a12v battery & it works correctly but doesn't blink of course. I have also connected the flasher wire to the brake and tail lights and they then flash okay so it's the sequential part is the problem ?
What is puzzling me is that it still has the incandescent light current draw from the original lights still connected. So could it be that the
ranger indicator system is just not suited to the sequential mechanism of these lights . These are cheap !! not the very expensive types you see .
Appreciate your input.
Edit .. Hmm I may have misinterpreted the use/ benefit of the capacitor I.e after reading carefully what RMD said in his reply
FollowupID:
929228
Follow Up By: Max E - Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 11:54
Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 11:54
I had a 2016
Ranger.
One trailer one model Narva led, no problem.
Another trailer a different LEd light had hyperflashing, solved with 18W resistors.
Another trailer a different model narva led had hyperflash. I tried many different resistors and still no good. I had to take them off.
The Rangers are just very particular.
FollowupID:
929229
Reply By: Garry L - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 21:20
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 21:20
Nick
Not sure this may be your problem but may be of help
I have a 2012
Ranger and had minor issues with the led lights on my trailer - problem being the
Ranger has 24/7 power running through the system and led lights draw little power so the Rangers electrical system would keep the indicators on. Fitting resistors before the indicators solved the problem
Good luck with it
Cheers
Gazz
AnswerID:
648079
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 21:35
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025 at 21:35
Ford supply a resistor adapter fot this problem
mine already has one .
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929224
Follow Up By: RMD - Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 08:57
Thursday, Jun 05, 2025 at 08:57
Nick.
If the resistor is fitted correctly the indicator unit and dash tell tale should be operating normally. TO me, if the duration of the running LED DISPLAY is LONGER than the NORMAL ON time of the flasher unit, you may require a small ELECTROLYTIC capacitor which charges with each ON pulse at each input to to the LED UNIT, BUT keeps the RUNNING LEDS going AFTER the flasher unit has turned off and readying for the next power delivery. All split second stuff here though.
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