Are resistors or special bulbs needed for marker, brake, turn signal bulbs when converting to led lights in a 09 ram?

 

Only for ones that blink.

 

Headlights and Fogs are canbus controlled as well. Need to maintain 50/55w on those circuits.

 

The canbus is only used for communications between modules, it is not used to drive the lamps. Basically, the canbus tells the TIPM to turn on whatever lamp is commanded on. The TIPM then turns on a driver circuit to provide voltage to the lamp selected.

The lamp driver is usually an OP Amp (operational amplifier) that is controlled by other circuitry. The OP Amp has an output resistance, the wiring to the lamp also has resistance as well as capacitance and the lamp itself has a "load resistance". The load resistance is basically the filament. As the filament heats up, the resistance varies. This variance is well understood by the circuit designers so the driver is designed for varying load.

The lamp driver performance is monitored and if the load is not withing the design parameters, the TIPM detects this and communicates the problem to the other modules via the canbus which in turn display the issue on the dash.

LEDs have different load characteristics than filament lamps so they need to have resistance and sometimes capacitance added to "fool" the OP Amp drivers. Sometimes the LED designers do a good job and the proper resistance and capacitance is built into the LED assembly, sometimes they do not.

Beware of cheap LED replacements, they can really screw with the drivers and sometimes even damage them.

 

I was looking at superbrightleds.com and they offer regular led lights and canbus lights. If I get the canbus lights and the truck doesn't require them will there be issues? Their website says to check the owners manual for specifics.

 

I looked at their website for my 2009 SLT CC. I didn't really see what your talking about regarding the 2 different types.

Anyhow, when someone tells you the LEDs are CANBUS, they are really saying that they put in a resistor in the LED circuit within the assy.

If they are advertising regular LED replacements, read the fine print to make sure you don't also have to buy a resistor from them.

When in doubt, get the CANBUS ones

 

If you look by application then go to any of the front or rear lights, scroll down the page you will find something like this:

3157 CAN Bus LED Bulb - Dual Function 26 SMD LED Tower - Wedge RetrofitÂ*- Amber

Â*(28)

Part Number:Â*3157-A26-CBT.

Here is a link to the page with this and the regular led bulb. Click front exterior bulbs, front side marker light, finally 3157 nak and then scroll down the page.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehi...year=2009#pane

 

Â*Front Sidemarker Light Bulb Important Notes

LED Emitting Color Should Match Lens ColorYour vehicle may require an LED compatible Flasher or Load Resistor. LED brake/tail lamps will not flash with most stock flasher units due to their extremely low current draw.Â*Try our Vehicle LED Bulb Finder to find a compatible flasher for your vehicle.



Recommended CAN Bus Replacement

Newer vehicle electrical systems may require a CAN Bus bulb for operation.Â*
Please consult your car's owner's manual

 

If you insist on putting LED lights on, then do so. This website sells generic stuff that just "fits". They are clueless if they will work on your truck, thus the disclaimers.

If you insist, buy them and install them. Then you will work your way through the steps to make them work. Order the LEDs, the resistor and the flasher at the same time and return what you don't use.

I personally would not mess with their stuff.

 

What would you recommend?