Strange issue!

[Hilbilly Jack]

OK, here is a weird one - every once in a while the driver's side headlight comes on by itself when all systems are off. Pulled the headlight (Recon) and found some corrosion in the connector so cleaned it good with contact cleaner and blew it out with air. Problem solved (I thought) Last night it came back again so since it was late I just pulled the negative cable and let it sit until this AM. Reconnected cable to begin troubleshooting and no light! Searches said potentially bad BCM which would really be a pain to change and yes, there have been wiring changes for new audio, switching to Recon heads and tails along with other LED's. Previous owner opened the Recon catalog and ordered everything for a Gen 1!
Anyone have any insight on this one?
Thanks!!!

 

[mprice1234]

From what I have read and seen on this forum RECON is cheap junk with people having a lot of issues with them! To bad you don't have the old headlight to switch back to for trouble shooting. Very weird that only one headlamp turns on by its self after sitting. there has to be a short some where in the lamp body or wiring to it.

 

[B E N]

Do those use an external driver to power/switch the lights? If so I would be looking at that driver.

 

[pat247]

On the gen 1 some LED's are ok and some cause problems for the BCM. Cargo lamps for example, when changed to LED bulbs can effect the BCM in a negative way yet interior LED's have no effect. So it's a slow process of elimination until you find the culprit. Good luck I like your new truck just need to find the gremlins and turn the show truck to a functioning DD.

 

[Hilbilly Jack]

You are so right!! This truck spent most of it's life in the owner's shop / garage! I do have everything stock that was removed so I pulled out the OEM headlights and it appears that the OEM projectors were removed and used in the Recon housings! I'm suspicious of the actual connector because of the corrosion and the fact that it is impossible to plug it in all the way even with non-conductive grease! But that doesn't explain pulling the negative lead and resetting it. Searching I, also saw it on trucks with factory lighting as well!!

 

[FordTechOne]

On trucks originally equipped with HIDs, there are 2 power feeds to each headlamp. One is hot at all times from the Battery Junction Box (BJB) to power the ballast, and the other is switched by the BCM to turn the ballast on or off. If the connector, internal headlamp wiring, or ballast are shorted, power from the hot at all times feed can keep the switched circuit hot, causing the lamp to stay on. Since you found corrosion in the connector, that may be causing your issue by allowing voltage to short from one pin to another.

 

[smurfslayer]

If the connector, internal headlamp wiring, or ballast are shorted, power from the hot at all times feed can keep the switched circuit hot, causing the lamp to stay on. Since you found corrosion in the connector, that may be causing your issue by allowing voltage to short from one pin to another.

+1

I created a similar problem by wiring in some rear facing lights, using a relay to power either by up fitter or reverse trigger. It worked great for a few months and then they started coming on for what I thought was no reason at all. It turns out the relay had taken on water and despite the weather proof or ‘resistant’ connectors, I pulled the relay and found it drenched, and corroded. Replaced the relay, moved it, sealed it and moved on.

I’m with FTO on this one.

 

[Hilbilly Jack]

On trucks originally equipped with HIDs, there are 2 power feeds to each headlamp. One is hot at all times from the Battery Junction Box (BJB) to power the ballast, and the other is switched by the BCM to turn the ballast on or off. If the connector, internal headlamp wiring, or ballast are shorted, power from the hot at all times feed can keep the switched circuit hot, causing the lamp to stay on. Since you found corrosion in the connector, that may be causing your issue by allowing voltage to short from one pin to another.

Im thinking the same thing. Going to look at the connector again and if i can see more corrosion i will just splice in a new connector.

 

[Hilbilly Jack]

It was WATER in the connector! Shorted the hot lead over to the headlight. Cleaned it, fastened it and use a zip tie to hold it tight and then taped the $hit out of it. If it does it again I'll get another one and splice it in.

 

[zaiiake]

I had this exact issue with the recon headlights a week ago, it was from condensation build up within the connectors shorting it out which would turn the headlights on. I had to de-pin both recon and factory wiring sides(which were both completely wet), clean and remove the rust/corrosion buildup then put the car wiring connector back together and reseal the recon headlight side. It fixed the issue, the recon headlights seal job is hot garbage.