Fitted Autobeam footwell lights to my 2020 ST line X edition fiesta. 

 

So, now in my 2020 fiesta with both lights installed I cannot get the lights to stay on unless I unplug 1 of them. If they're both plugged in the lights will cut off immediately along with the lights in the cupholders in the centre console. Unplug the driver side light and restart the car: the passenger side aftermarket light comes on and so does the OEM lights in the cupholders. 

 

Any ideas? When it went to the garage they said it appears as “headlight switch backlight error code” wasn’t a Ford garage. 
 

TIA

I wonder if they’re pulling too much power. 

Sounds like too much load on the circuit confusing the CANBUS.

Well upon reading description before buying them they said low power consumption? Because my thought was drawing to much power…is there a way around this? Or anyone recommend fittings what won’t cause this confusing? 

You need to power them via a relay. Or disconnect the cup holder lights which will bring the current draw just under the threshold.

On 11/16/2023 at 9:59 PM, unofix said:

You need to power them via a relay. Or disconnect the cup holder lights which will bring the current draw just under the threshold.

Thank you for your reply and sorry it’s taken so long to reply busy at work. So attached it is 2 photos, one being for 12 SMD footwell lights (which actually work in the car engine on and off) and one photo being for the 48 SMD lights (which only worked untill I turned the engine on then killed drink cup ambients and footwells). But looking at these pictures they are exactly the same in regards of both low power consumption and 12v? Yet 12s work 48s don’t. Only mentioning this as I’m confused 🤣 

4 minutes ago, Papa717 said:

Yet 12s work 48s don’t. Only mentioning this as I’m confused

I assume that you are meaning that one set consists of 12 LED's and the other has 48 LED's. Both are rated for use on 12Volt.

I can't see any mention of what the actual current draw is, other that a very pointless statement of 'low power consumption' What I can say is regardless, the set with 48 LED's will take 4 times more current than the set with only 12.

7 minutes ago, unofix said:

I assume that you are meaning that one set consists of 12 LED's and the other has 48 LED's. Both are rated for use on 12Volt.

I can't see any mention of what the actual current draw is, other that a very pointless statement of 'low power consumption' What I can say is regardless, the set with 48 LED's will take 4 times more current than the set with only 12.

Yes LED/SMD, yes both rated for 12volt use

no i couldn’t so I’ll have to test to see what 12 draw, Not really fused now to be fair. Yes low power consumption is a pointless statement. Was just confused as 48s worked fine till I turned the engine on was all. Thank you though for your help 

There’s a couple of genuine Ford ones on eBay.. 😉

13 minutes ago, Papa717 said:

Was just confused as 48s worked fine till I turned the engine on was all.

This is just an example using simple numbers just to show the change in current.

If we assume that with the engine off the battery voltage is 12.5 and that the resistance of a set of lights is 60 Ohms then the current drawn would be 12.5 / 60 = 208mA

Now with the engine running the car voltage is 14.5 and the resistance of the lights is still 60 Ohms then the current drawn would be 14.5 / 60 = 241mA

The same lights draw more current when the supply voltage is higher. In the example above they take an extra 33mA

The problem you are having is that the larger set of lights is drawing just that little bit to much current and it is causing the Body Control Module to shut down that circuit.

40 minutes ago, Smartd00d said:

There’s a couple of genuine Ford ones on eBay.. 😉

I tried looking? 🤣 need to go specsavers clearly lol 

22 minutes ago, unofix said:

This is just an example using simple numbers just to show the change in current.

If we assume that with the engine off the battery voltage is 12.5 and that the resistance of a set of lights is 60 Ohms then the current drawn would be 12.5 / 60 = 208mA

Now with the engine running the car voltage is 14.5 and the resistance of the lights is still 60 Ohms then the current drawn would be 14.5 / 60 = 241mA

The same lights draw more current when the supply voltage is higher. In the example above they take an extra 33mA

The problem you are having is that the larger set of lights is drawing just that little bit to much current and it is causing the Body Control Module to shut down that circuit.

That makes so much sense, with those numbers I understand now even as an example. Never my strong point but every day is a school day. Thank you mate.

 

But what you also say makes sense BCM for the lights in particular shuts down. I’ll settle for that i have now. Thank you again for your help mate

1 hour ago, Papa717 said:

I tried looking? 🤣 need to go specsavers clearly lol 

Item 196087034497

6 minutes ago, Smartd00d said:

Item 196087034497

These...

I never thought footwell lights could be so interesting 🤓

10 minutes ago, RayC333 said:

I never thought footwell lights could be so interesting 🤓

I don't believe they are LOL My own are simple LEDs installed where none existed before, and even I find them boring, but they do add much needed light!...

11 hours ago, Smartd00d said:

Item 196087034497

Thanks mate

11 hours ago, StephenFord said:

These...

Thanks bud 

10 hours ago, RayC333 said:

I never thought footwell lights could be so interesting 🤓

Neither did I 🤣 

48 SMD sounds very bright for a footwell to me?!  I always found the wee 8 SMD ones more than sufficient for the fiesta footwell personally (though mine were blue then red to match the colours of the cars themselves).  Each to their own though - hope you get sorted.

Talking of interior lights, my MK3 Focus boot light is blue and not very bright.

Is that standard or has a previous owner changed it? 

My grandkids aren't impressed at all by the blue, they just want the boot brighter so they see what treats I have to offer 😀

5 minutes ago, RayC333 said:

Talking of interior lights, my MK3 Focus boot light is blue and not very bright.

Is that standard or has a previous owner changed it? 

My grandkids aren't impressed at all by the blue, they just want the boot brighter so they see what treats I have to offer 😀

It was a long time ago, but when we had a Mk 3 I don't recall any of the lights being blue!!  Someone probably changed it out for an LED - from memory the original light wasn't very bright, but as I say it was a long time ago. 

1 hour ago, tarbyonline said:

from memory the original light wasn't very bright

That would be a very dim memory 🤣