Anyone installed a set of relays for their headlights and used the stock wiring to trigger the relays? Did the TIPM/Canbus system require anything on the trigger side of the relay to keep everything happy?

I switched to LED Bi-Xenons before last winter and I liked them but even with the resistors, the TIPM didn't think much of them.

My solution ( I think) is to build a relay harness for the headlights and use the stock wiring to control it. My only question is will the lack of a bulb (or load on the circuit) confuse the TIPM and shut the whole thing down?

 

I'm thinking that if I use the TIPM stabilizing resistors on the control side of the relay, they should provide enough load to keep the system happy then run the load side of the relay off the battery.

Anyone want to point out a flaw in my thought process?

 

Now that it's dark out, I guess it's time to get started on this project so I have a full set of headlights for the winter. I ordered up some wire, a few pigtails, relays and split loom and will be starting on this soon.

Anyone have some last thoughts/concerns/warnings they want to share?

 

Well, I did it. After a week of use, it is working like a charm. From here on out, I shouldn't have any issues with the TIPM shutting down the headlight. That's a good this as we head in to winter and 18 hours/day of darkness.

 

Just noticed this thread now. Years ago when I converted my truck to HIDS to keep the system happy and 'balanced,' I used the fog lights to 'balance' the load. They come on whenever the HIDS come on. Tried a resister in the circuit, but it generated a lot of heat that I did not like.

 

Interesting Stan. I see how that could accomplish what I was going for but I think the '03 and the '07 are different TIPMs though.

I'm about to put some relays on the foglight circuit as well as they've shut down on me before as well. As for the heat, That was a concern for me as well but with this install, I bolted the resistors/heatsinks straight to the core support so they should dissipate the heat pretty well. add to that the fact that when/if I need headlights, its more than likely late fall/winter and ambient temps are also in my favor for heat dissipation.

I appreciate the response and thoughts though. I was just throwing this up for discussion for someone else when they get in the same boat I was in.