LED Lights connected to upfitter switches causing truck not to start??? Really!

[Kirby Caldwell]

We install LED Lights on customers trucks and now have 5 2014 Super Duties with lights on upfitter switches working just fine.
OK, we installed on a customers 2014 F350 a 20" Rigid led light bar connected to upfitter #1 using supplied relay from rigid and triggering relay with upfitter. Two rigid spots on upfitter #2 (5amps) and interior bed leds (low amps) on upfitter #3. Truck died (ing. kill) on highway while towing 44' trailer and would not restart. Towed to dealer and they could not find anything. Then the truck would occasionally and inconveniently not start. This went on for weeks and customer not happy with ford plus they could not find anything wrong because no codes were showing up. Ford engineer comes in an points his little young inexperienced fingers at the led lights on the upfitter switches. Dealer disconnected upfitter wires and then Mr. Murphy's Law shows up, truck starts every time. Service manager is on my side saying no way this is problem. Engineer is saying they have seen something similar on tow trucks and ambulances but offered no solution or suggestions. In this day and age we will not touch a factory wiring harness to connect anything. Ford was nice enough to offer the upfitter package but to cause the truck not to start?????
Anyone else seen this.

 

[DaveBen]

We have had some inquiries about no starts and LEDs in recent times. We have not reached any conclusions as to why the truck would not start. There is something going on in the wiring, from the factory, that is causing this no-start. If you find it, please post your solution.

Dave

 

[Dogman]

I have a feeling there problem is with the computer on the truck and the amount of amps or voltage needed to keep the truck running. The problem is the upfitter switch's are still pulling power from the main power line the computer is on and my be pulling amps or voltage pass the safety point of the computer and is kicking it off. So the fix maybe run a new main power from the batt it self to power the LED and use the upfitter with relays like you did to turn them on and off.

One other way is a third batt. just for lighting. You can wire it to charge up when the truck is running. But it only powers the lights.

 

[Kirby Caldwell]

The odd thing to me is the lights have never been on when this problem has occurred. I checked with a few of my other customers and no one else has had an issue.

 

[DaveBen]

Dave

 

[BIG JOE]

FWIW ?

I've LED'd all of the running lights (+) on my 012, and my 5r. Also added 6 side step Led's, and changed out the 3 light DRW bar on the tail.. to 5 LED's (spaced like the Cab lights). I'm also powering up the 80 watt (7.5 amp), 30" LED light bar from Aux #3.. with no relay. And.. LED DRL's & Halo's on the front.. and 4 red's on the back of the 5r.. switched from Aux # 1.

All With No Issues at All. Everything works as advertized... Day/Night, Trans in D, Tow Haul and Manual

Joe

I'm with Dogman.. It's something with the ECM/PCM programming.. or Bad batteries ??

 

[02Oilburner]

FWIW ?

I've LED'd all of the running lights (+) on my 012, and my 5r. Also added 6 side step Led's, and changed out the 3 light DRW bar on the tail.. to 5 LED's (spaced like the Cab lights). I'm also powering up the 80 watt (7.5 amp), 30" LED light bar from Aux #3.. with no relay. And.. LED DRL's & Halo's on the front.. and 4 red's on the back of the 5r.. switched from Aux # 1.

All With No Issues at All. Everything works as advertized... Day/Night, Trans in D, Tow Haul and Manual

Joe

I'm with Dogman.. It's something with the ECM/PCM programming.. or Bad batteries ??

Hey Big Joe I know this was from a while back but how did you wire you 30 inch bar? I have a rigid 20 inch that I want to hook up to the upfitter switches. The wiring harness from rigid has a relay and then 3 wires that used to go to a switch in the old truck. Would you just cut it and use the red hot to the upftter and the black to battery ground or how would you do it? Thanks Jeff

 

[BIG JOE]

Hey Big Joe I know this was from a while back but how did you wire you 30 inch bar? I have a rigid 20 inch that I want to hook up to the upfitter switches. The wiring harness from rigid has a relay and then 3 wires that used to go to a switch in the old truck. Would you just cut it and use the red hot to the upftter and the black to battery ground or how would you do it? Thanks Jeff

I just hard wired the light bar (and L&R ditch lights) directly from the Aux 3 switch. Grounded them (and some other add-ons), using a multi ground block terminal installed near the P side, front bumper area, body sheet metal. That way, I don't have a buncha ground wires.... running all over the place... and Snarled up around the battery area ?

As I posted earlier... I've done a Bunch of other add-on LED/12v stuff.. with 0 problems.

Joe

If anyone wants to do anything like this... I'll help ya if I can.

 

[Dogman]

I wired up my lights with the upfitter switches with a relay under the hood and power straight from the battery.

 

[02Oilburner]

Thanks guys I just cut all the extra wires off and used the red and black. red to the #1 aux and black to the battery. Thanks!