News: LED lighting for Ford Ranger & Mazda BT-50

Before you try LED headlights in your Ford Ranger or Mazda BT-50…

Sorry to say but your vehicle does not like them. There is a solution though!

Your vehicle is fitted with a Body Control Module or BCM which is an electronic control unit that monitors and controls a variety of vehicle systems, including the headlights. This BCM is connected to the rest of the vehicle by a CANbus system, a complex network of circuits that all lead back to the dash and on-board computer system.

Unfortunately, the BCM in the Ford Ranger and BT-50 is very sensitive. When you change your headlight bulbs from standard halogen to LED, the BCM will sense that something is incorrect or malfunctioning, shutting down power to the headlight circuit as a safety measure. This can be incredibly frustrating because you know that there’s nothing wrong. You’re simply trying to install better bulbs, but the BCM doesn’t know that.

This is where CANbus modules come into play for these vehicles. These devices connect between the LED bulbs and your vehicle’s wiring, acting as a buffer and letting the BCM know everything is OK. It is very important to install a CANbus product regardless of the LED bulb range you have chosen for these vehicles. While the Direct Fit range does have some CANbus technology built into the bulb, it is not enough to keep this BCM happy.

Below is a list of known bulb and CANbus configurations for these vehicles: