Fixed: Quad LED Headlights Failed

[Porpoise Hork]

Went to take my daughter to school this morning and noticed that things just didn't look quite right. In the reflection of the truck in front of me I noticed that it appears that the passenger side headlight was completely out. High beams also not working on that side but the foglight, cornering light and turn signal still work. Rotating the headlight switch to different modes causes the headlight to flicker on but that's it. I checked the two 15A fuses for the headlights and swapped them but still nothing.

Grabbed Forscan and checked for codes and here's the list.
BCM,

B1533, Headlamp Switch Logic Fault
B124A, Right Daytime Running Light Circuit Fault
B14E7, Right Front Enhanced Exterior Lighting System Fault
B1D01. Right Low Beam Circuit Short to Ground

I reset the BCM module and still the same, passenger side still out. I do have a new headlight switch coming today because last week the truck started randomly turning on the headlights when parked. I'll replace the switch later today and report back but wanted to see if anyone else has had similar issues and if so if the headlight needed to be replaced.

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[My 2ND Ford]

Went to take my daughter to school this morning and noticed that things just didn't look quite right. In the reflection of the truck in front of me I noticed that it appears that the passenger side headlight was completely out. High beams also not working on that side but the foglight, cornering light and turn signal still work. Rotating the headlight switch to different modes causes the headlight to flicker on but that's it. I checked the two 15A fuses for the headlights and swapped them but still nothing.

Grabbed Forscan and checked for codes and here's the list.
BCM,

B1533, Headlamp Switch Logic Fault
B124A, Right Daytime Running Light Circuit Fault
B14E7, Right Front Enhanced Exterior Lighting System Fault
B1D01. Right Low Beam Circuit Short to Ground

I reset the BCM module and still the same, passenger side still out. I do have a new headlight switch coming today because last week the truck started randomly turning on the headlights when parked. I'll replace the switch later today and report back but wanted to see if anyone else has had similar issues and if so if the headlight needed to be replaced.

I would be concerned with the short to ground message. Possibly a pinched wire or a rub thru in a harness, although a short would produce a blown fuse. Did you have the right side headlight assy out for any reason? I would grab a wiring diagram and start tracing wires.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

No blown fuse and the headlights have never been removed. I crawled up under it and pulled the fender liner out and no sign of issues with the harness going to it.

Doing some digging and good chance the failure is with the LED balast module that's bolted to the bottom of the headlight assembly. Or possibly the control module ML34-13C148-AE.

Research shows the control module ML34-13C148-AE and is the prime suspect, and both it and the balast JX7B-13B626-BH are available on Ebay for around $60 shipped. The ballast new is now available from Ford but runs $350. I may go ahead and buy the used ballast and try swapping it out. If that doesn't fix it then I guess I get to test out my Ford Premium Care ESP with LED coverage.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

No blown fuse and the headlights have never been removed. I crawled up under it and pulled the fender liner out and no sign of issues with the harness going to it.

Doing some digging and good chance the failure is with the LED balast module that's bolted to the bottom of the headlight assembly.

Research shows the part is JX7B-13B626-BH but Ford doesn't sell it separately, but is available on Ebay for around $60 shipped. I may go ahead and buy one and try swapping it out. If that doesn't fix it then I guess I get to test out my Ford Premium Care ESP with LED coverage.

Just like a manufacturer to list a part #, but not offer it for sale, only as an assembly. Yes, that could be it, shorted internally. Is it hard to swap the ballast unit and see if the failure move to the opposite side? Might be worth a try before spending $60.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

You have to pull the headlight out to access the ballast. The ballast is bolted directly to the bottom of the quad LED headlight. The control module ( ML34-13C148-AE ) looks to be mounted up in the dash under the stering column.

 

[antho]

No blown fuse and the headlights have never been removed. I crawled up under it and pulled the fender liner out and no sign of issues with the harness going to it.

Doing some digging and good chance the failure is with the LED balast module that's bolted to the bottom of the headlight assembly. Or possibly the control module ML34-13C148-AE.

Research shows the control module ML34-13C148-AE and is the prime suspect and the part is listed as but Ford doesn't sell it separately, but both it and the balast JX7B-13B626-BH are available on Ebay for around $60 shipped. I may go ahead and buy the balast and try swapping it out. If that doesn't fix it then I guess I get to test out my Ford Premium Care ESP with LED coverage.

Might be worth swapping the ballast from one light to the other and see if the problem follows the ballast. Assuming they are the same.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I'll replace the headlight switch today when it arrives. I may swap the ballasts out after work today or Saturday when I have a full day's light to mess with it. I bought a control module ML34-13C148-AE since the seller has hassle free returns listed and install it when it arrives if the switch or ballast swap doesn't resolve it. If all this fails then off to the dealer it goes.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Whelp... Off to the dealer it goes...

Pulled everything apart and when I pulled the LED ballast out of the passenger side could smell the telltale fragrance of burned electronics. Just to make sure I swapped the driver's side ballast in and everything lit up. For about as long as it took to walk around to the front of the truck to verify it and the DRL's flashed and all but the low beam went dark. I immediately turned it off and pulled the ballast back out and it also now smelled burnt. So something in the passenger lamp shorted out causing it to fry the ballasts.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Update: Disagnostics complete and they determined that both headlights failed due to internal shorts. The recommended solution is to replace both headlights. Total cost for the repair is $4800. Ford ESP did request photos of all diagnostic steps performed but is covering it 100% with a $100 deductible including $60 a day rental. It should be completed by Wed 10/29.

Anyone on the fence with getting Ford PremiumCare ESP with LED coverage... DO IT. This one repair is almost 3 times the cost of the warranty plan.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Just picked the truck up and verything is working perfectly!

They ended up replacing both headlight assemblies, LED drivers, headlight fuses, and headlight switch. They also realigned the headlights, fog lights, and 360 cams.

Total repair $5600 with just $100 out of pocket expense with Ford Premium ESP care covering the rest. Also Ford apparently has a 2 year warranty on the headlight assemblies so they are covered under that now as well.

The determination was an internal short to the passenger side LED array took out the LED driver, which then back-fed into the headlight switch. This same short then took out the other LED driver when it was swapped in for testing resulting in the driver's side lamp failure.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Just picked the truck up and verything is working perfectly!

They ended up replacing both headlight assemblies, LED drivers, headlight fuses, and headlight switch. They also realigned the headlights, fog lights, and 360 cams.

Total repair $5600 with just $100 out of pocket expense with Ford Premium ESP care covering the rest. Also Ford apparently has a 2 year warranty on the headlight assemblies so they are covered under that now as well.

The determination was an internal short to the passenger side LED array took out the LED driver, which then back-fed into the headlight switch. This same short then took out the other LED driver when it was swapped in for testing resulting in the driver's side lamp failure.

Gotta love that Premium ESP. I never buy an extended warranty , but I did this time. The same one that you have.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

First thing I did was look at the cost to replace them out of pocket. About had a damned heart attack when I saw the price. Then was okay maybe used? Still 3-400 with burnt out parking light arrays.

Nope...

OK Let's see just how good this 1600 warranty is.

It's dammed good. lol

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