As far as my coding I followed pretty much what jimmy did. So I guess you could call it a modified American coding. The only error I get is DRLs out when I first crank up the car but then it goes away. As for cornering lights I disabled those. But if you mean the side marker lights I have wired up some dummy lights to them. The car is SEL with the J519 module according the VCDS. For the tail lights I made mine own harness using spade connectors but have 3 of the 4 required plugs with out pins and connector to make a legit harness. I'll run a scan and post that if you would like. When I get home I look at what the part#'s for those plugs are and post them.What coding did you use for the BCM - the Chinese coding? If so, do you get lamp out errors for the cornering lights?
Is your car an SE or an SEL? How did you hook up the brake lights? Details, please!
Chinese Passat LED tail light retrofit
- Thread starter compu_85
- Start date
VeeDubTDI
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It would be helpful to get a scan. I've been going through my head on how to make a bastardized American (or other) coding that will work, but the ONLY coding that makes the US headlights function correctly is the US NMS coding. All other coding breaks the parking lights (only the side markers function on the front in all other codings).
So we've been resigned to either using non-US coding that breaks the front parking lights OR buying an entire Chinese light kit (headlights and fog lights). The Chinese fog lights have separate cornering lights, whereas the US lights use the fog lights as cornering lights. I suppose we could deactivate the cornering lights and install US fog lights, but may as well get the Chinese lights if we're going to install fog lights.
So we've been resigned to either using non-US coding that breaks the front parking lights OR buying an entire Chinese light kit (headlights and fog lights). The Chinese fog lights have separate cornering lights, whereas the US lights use the fog lights as cornering lights. I suppose we could deactivate the cornering lights and install US fog lights, but may as well get the Chinese lights if we're going to install fog lights.
codes
hey heres my codes, sorry it took so long i'm a slacker.
Address 09:5K0 937 087 Q recoded (Long Coding) from 6F200E3F982B08D408880201360001C80071008645A005F064806000BC70 to 6F200E3FF82B08D408880201360001C80071008645A005F064806000BC70
this was the last one in my debug file.
hey heres my codes, sorry it took so long i'm a slacker.
Address 09:5K0 937 087 Q recoded (Long Coding) from 6F200E3F982B08D408880201360001C80071008645A005F064806000BC70 to 6F200E3FF82B08D408880201360001C80071008645A005F064806000BC70
this was the last one in my debug file.
compu_85
Gadget Guy
Remember off hand what the text on the check boxes was? Perhaps I'm off but it doesn't look like you changed the master light coding (byte 18).
-J
-J
VeeDubTDI
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As may of you know, our ongoing big project that Jason has been working on lately is getting the Chinese market LED tail lights functioning the way we want.
Jason is adding constant power to the trunk (yellow wire in pics below) for the new PWM control module that will control the LED tail lights (Curt Model 56201 PWM tailer light wiring converter). They will now function like the Chinese Passat except the turn signals will be the main LEDs instead of amber bulbs. The amber bulbs will be repurposed as a second set of reverse lights (4 reverse lights total).
The decision to go with the red LEDs for turn signals was for safety and visibility - this also mimics the new A6 and A7 Audis. The bullet lights (center element of the LED arrays) will only come on with the brakes and turn signals, adding to the contrast between parking lights and stop/turn. We will also have a convenient trailer wiring connection if/when we decide to install a trailer hitch.
Another wire is being added to for the rear fog light (red wire in pictures below). This goes from the headlight switch to the left tail light in the trunk lid.
Once the tail lights are done, a 30A switched power circuit will be added under the passenger's seat for some radio equipment.
Inside the dash, fuse block undergoing surgery. Jason purchased factory repair wires (at great expense) to do all of the wiring the right way. No vampire taps here!
This is the emission controls wiring bundle.
Factory repair wires.
Aluminum look dash panels are made in USA!
Lots of little clips holding it on.
Wiring in progress.
All opened up.
Oh yeah - also included in this will be red LED footwell lights and the Kchorro trunk light mod.
Jason is adding constant power to the trunk (yellow wire in pics below) for the new PWM control module that will control the LED tail lights (Curt Model 56201 PWM tailer light wiring converter). They will now function like the Chinese Passat except the turn signals will be the main LEDs instead of amber bulbs. The amber bulbs will be repurposed as a second set of reverse lights (4 reverse lights total).
The decision to go with the red LEDs for turn signals was for safety and visibility - this also mimics the new A6 and A7 Audis. The bullet lights (center element of the LED arrays) will only come on with the brakes and turn signals, adding to the contrast between parking lights and stop/turn. We will also have a convenient trailer wiring connection if/when we decide to install a trailer hitch.
Another wire is being added to for the rear fog light (red wire in pictures below). This goes from the headlight switch to the left tail light in the trunk lid.
Once the tail lights are done, a 30A switched power circuit will be added under the passenger's seat for some radio equipment.
Inside the dash, fuse block undergoing surgery. Jason purchased factory repair wires (at great expense) to do all of the wiring the right way. No vampire taps here!
This is the emission controls wiring bundle.
Factory repair wires.
Aluminum look dash panels are made in USA!
Lots of little clips holding it on.
Wiring in progress.
All opened up.
Oh yeah - also included in this will be red LED footwell lights and the Kchorro trunk light mod.
Last edited:
TypeRod
Veteran Member
Thats so awesome! Can't wait to see the end results! I wish I had the know how to do these things. Good luck hope all goes well!
Fixmy59bug
Veteran Member
This could be interesting indeed.
If you are even the slightest bit OCD as I am, I don't think you will be happy with the results because it will not be symmetrical. If that doesn't bother you, carry on.
On the outer light the parking light circuit lights up the upper brow and the lower ring at reduced power with the brake circuit lighting up the upper brow, lower ring, and the middle dot at full power.
But on the inner light, the parking light circuit lights up only the upper brow at reduced power and the brake circuit lights up the Upper brow, and middle dot at full power. For some reason, on the inner light the lower ring is part of the middle dot, where as on the outer light the lower ring is a separate light.
Lemme see if I can illustrate this real quick in Paint to explain it....
If you are even the slightest bit OCD as I am, I don't think you will be happy with the results because it will not be symmetrical. If that doesn't bother you, carry on.
On the outer light the parking light circuit lights up the upper brow and the lower ring at reduced power with the brake circuit lighting up the upper brow, lower ring, and the middle dot at full power.
But on the inner light, the parking light circuit lights up only the upper brow at reduced power and the brake circuit lights up the Upper brow, and middle dot at full power. For some reason, on the inner light the lower ring is part of the middle dot, where as on the outer light the lower ring is a separate light.
Lemme see if I can illustrate this real quick in Paint to explain it....
VeeDubTDI
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Robert, the pins are as follows.
Outer pin A: BROW+RING
Outer pin B: BROW+RING+BULLET
Inner pin A: BROW+RING
Inner pin B: BULLET
Existing wire to left outer light will connect to pin A and the left light input on the Curt.
Existing wire to right outer light will connect to pin A and the right light input on the Curt.
Pin A on the outer lights will jump to pin A on the inner lights (clone function for parking lights as well as brake lights and turn signals). This is basically how your car is functioning now, except you're taking Pin B on the outer lights and connecting it to A and B on the inner lights.
Now here is where the Curt controller comes in. In order to get the bullet lights to be on ONLY when the turn signal or brake is activated, we will use the left stop/turn output and the right stop/turn output from the Curt and connect them to pin B on the outer fixtures and pin B on the inner fixtures.
The way the Curt controller works is, it outputs 12v on the parking light wire any time it sees reduced voltage on the input side (stock Passat parking lights). When the input side rises to full voltage (stock Passat brake/turn lights), the controller outputs 12v on the stop/turn wires.
The original wires to the inner fixtures will be hooked up to dummy loads to prevent lamp faults in the computer.
The only problems that we might run into are a delay within the Curt controller that makes a slight delay in the bullet light activation, or the potential for backfeeding through pin A on the outer lights and potentially setting a fault code in the computer.
Inner tail light, pin A (BROW+RING)
Inner tail light, pin B (BULLET)
Outer pin A: BROW+RING
Outer pin B: BROW+RING+BULLET
Inner pin A: BROW+RING
Inner pin B: BULLET
Existing wire to left outer light will connect to pin A and the left light input on the Curt.
Existing wire to right outer light will connect to pin A and the right light input on the Curt.
Pin A on the outer lights will jump to pin A on the inner lights (clone function for parking lights as well as brake lights and turn signals). This is basically how your car is functioning now, except you're taking Pin B on the outer lights and connecting it to A and B on the inner lights.
Now here is where the Curt controller comes in. In order to get the bullet lights to be on ONLY when the turn signal or brake is activated, we will use the left stop/turn output and the right stop/turn output from the Curt and connect them to pin B on the outer fixtures and pin B on the inner fixtures.
The way the Curt controller works is, it outputs 12v on the parking light wire any time it sees reduced voltage on the input side (stock Passat parking lights). When the input side rises to full voltage (stock Passat brake/turn lights), the controller outputs 12v on the stop/turn wires.
The original wires to the inner fixtures will be hooked up to dummy loads to prevent lamp faults in the computer.
The only problems that we might run into are a delay within the Curt controller that makes a slight delay in the bullet light activation, or the potential for backfeeding through pin A on the outer lights and potentially setting a fault code in the computer.
Inner tail light, pin A (BROW+RING)
Inner tail light, pin B (BULLET)
Last edited:
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
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Oye! One project at a time!
Dynamat is a pretty good idea though. I wouldn't be opposed to it. Fortunately the trunk carpets are fast and easy to remove so it could be done any time without much issue.
Dynamat is a pretty good idea though. I wouldn't be opposed to it. Fortunately the trunk carpets are fast and easy to remove so it could be done any time without much issue.
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FczktdkHsms
This video shows how the Curt 56201 works - perfectly, that is.
The lights on the left side are hooked up to the Curt and the lights on the right side are not. Next video will be all lights hooked up to the Curt and everything buttoned back up.
This video shows how the Curt 56201 works - perfectly, that is.
The lights on the left side are hooked up to the Curt and the lights on the right side are not. Next video will be all lights hooked up to the Curt and everything buttoned back up.
compu_85
Gadget Guy
All hooked up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su2KqrlpJ9E
I'm really pleased with how well the Curt controller works. It switches fast enough you'd never know it was there.
-J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su2KqrlpJ9E
I'm really pleased with how well the Curt controller works. It switches fast enough you'd never know it was there.
-J
compu_85
Gadget Guy
All hooked up!
I'm super pleased with how this worked out. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udul36tZdyY
-Jason
I'm super pleased with how this worked out. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udul36tZdyY
-Jason
carlrx7
Veteran Member
Yay! please sell me a plug and play harness! :wink:
phat7deuce
Member
Nicely done gentlemen...looks great...
VeeDubTDI
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Some more pics ...
Parking lights + rear fog
Brake lights + rear fog
The rear fog light is insane. Easily twice as bright as the brake lights.
Parking lights + rear fog
Brake lights + rear fog
The rear fog light is insane. Easily twice as bright as the brake lights.
Coffeemade
Veteran Member
That looks awesome! I am going to pass on anymore light modifications as I am content with my HIDs and I will just make sure to drive behind you to enjoy your lights ;-)
carlrx7
Veteran Member
I'm just gonna buy a 2015. =)
Nebelwerfer
Veteran Member
Just out of curiosity, when do the rear fogs come on? Only when you select fog lights or some other setting?
VeeDubTDI
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There is a rear fog setting on the Euro switch. The stock headlight switch is not capable of controlling a rear for light.
Nebelwerfer
Veteran Member
Gotcha. Thanks!
IRISHpride
Well-known member
what if someone would rather have amber turns vs., extra reverse light?
VeeDubTDI
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There is no way to differentiate between brake and turn on the US coding. To get amber turn signals you would have to change the BCM coding to China, Europe (?), or figure out how to do some custom programming in it.
IRISHpride
Well-known member
gotcha.. thanks
compu_85
Gadget Guy
And the problem with that is it breaks the front parking lights
Which is why we went this route to get the lights working -J
VeeDubTDI
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Indeed. I remember our adventures in BCM coding very well.And the problem with that is it breaks the front parking lights
-J
