Look at the wiring diagrams. 12V comes from the under-hood fuse box, to the brake pedal switch, and then splits. It goes to ECM/ABS, and to the Lights. Thru the lights, illuminating them to ground, when the pedal is pressed.
When the pedal is NOT pressed, the ECM/ABS input is being pulled to ground through the resistance of the lights. The light is acting as a pulldown resistor to the ECM input.
When you replace the incandescent lamps with an LED, you've removed the current path allowing that ground to get to the ECM, and the ECM input floats (up to around 9V, enough to trigger the ECM to a logic-high state, making it think the switch is engaged, even though its not).
The fix? Install your LEDs, and on the 12V side of the LEDs, add a 1/4 watt 10k resistor to ground. This will allow the ECM to see ground, and will draw 1mA when powering the LEDs.
Hi Racer,
A big thanks for solid investigation and reporting!
I got it to work! No resistors required. It took some doing but I got it work. I took pictures, over the weekend I will make a new post with the required steps and pictures.
I got it to work! No resistors required. It took some doing but I got it work. I took pictures, over the weekend I will make a new post with the required steps and pictures.
What was th outcome?
btw, I just ordered ever LED bulb I could besides the headlights.... there HID... total LEDs for 04 Insight... 17.
Total price… 55.00, thanks ebay, and China. Gotta wait 4 weeks though.
I got it to work, but the bad news is the site rejected my attempts to post the photos, that said I did link to the picture of the bulb change that is needed if you didn't buy CK style bulbs. If you don't know if you bought CK style bulb it is easy to tell, put them in and if you pop a fuse as soon as you try to use them you got the regular bulbs and need to do the swap outline in that thread.
1. Parking Light Bulb Size: 168 (color_w__) License Plate Light Bulb Size: 168 (color_w__)Front Side Marker Light Bulb Size: 168(color__w_) 5 w 168 4. Back Up Light Bulb Size: 921(color_w__) NO MOD NEEDED
2. LED FLASHER NEEDED (no load resistors if using LED flasher) Front Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 7440(color_w_) Rear Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 7440(color_w__) 7740
3. LOAD RESITORS NEEDED Tail Light Bulb Size: 7443(color__w_) Stop Light Bulb Size: 7443(color__w_) (Brake/turn signal is one bulb/socket. It’s a CK style) must order CK LEDs to work or modify leads coming from 7443 LED.
1. Parking Light Bulb Size: 168 (color_w__) License Plate Light Bulb Size: 168 (color_w__)Front Side Marker Light Bulb Size: 168(color__w_) 5 w 168 4. Back Up Light Bulb Size: 921(color_w__) NO MOD NEEDED
2. LED FLASHER NEEDED (no load resistors if using LED flasher) Front Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 7440(color_w_) Rear Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 7440(color_w__) 7740
3. LOAD RESITORS NEEDED Tail Light Bulb Size: 7443(color__w_) Stop Light Bulb Size: 7443(color__w_) (Brake/turn signal is one bulb/socket. It’s a CK style) must order CK LEDs to work or modify leads coming from 7443 LED.
Whoops I meant "Brake/Tail lights"... I’m going to test the resistant’s of my taillight/brake light LEDs before I add the load resistor because the LEDs i bought might have enough draw. I heard 2000-2006 need the 2amp draw or the assist might not fully power up because some says the draw is needed so the computer knows for sure if the breaks are not engaged. So I’m playing it safe and ordered two cheap load resistors anyways. Hope I won’t need them... Maybe your LEDs have a draw built in? Maybe the assist problems are for the new Insights?
Whoops I meant "Brake/Tail lights"... I’m going to test the resistant’s of my taillight/brake light LEDs before I add the load resistor because the LEDs i bought might have enough draw. I heard 2000-2006 need the 2amp draw or the assist might not fully power up because some says the draw is needed so the computer knows for sure if the breaks are not engaged. So I’m playing it safe and ordered two cheap load resistors anyways. Hope I won’t need them... Maybe your LEDs have a draw built in? Maybe the assist problems are for the new Insights?
In short the bulbs I used are rated at 165 mA, so no I don't think they have built in draw. I have heard theories about that as well but I have a working car without any resistors, in the other thread I online that everything is working fine, I am a engineer and I tested it. All I would say is try it without the resistor first.
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