CAN bus lights & LEDs Outlander and trailer harness

[plh]

So I "upgraded" my brake, tail and all turn signal bulbs to LEDs in my 2014 Outlander (a CAN bus controlled lighting system) a couple years ago. Its nice that they are super bright now. I have recently wanted to pull my newest trailer with this vehicle and for the life of me cannot get the trailer lights to work, also LEDs, but I also tried a standard set of temporary lights and they do not work either. I am pretty sure I was successful having the lights work on another old trailer I have prior to my vehicle side LED upgrade.

Anyone have any suggestions? Do I need load resistors? FWIW the vehicle side turn signals do not have the rapid flash issue sometimes associated with CAN bus LED swaps.

 

[Michael Brown]

It is probably an issue with resistance. Halogen blinkers use the specific resistance of the bulb to "time" the blinking as a circuit charges and discharges. LEDs have much lower load so they blink faster as the current flows more easily. At least this is my understanding.

So if you have the LED "hyperblink" then it may not be the correct resistance or voltage for the trailer circuit to operate.