Greetings, I have a 2019 Kia sportage base model. I changed the regular headlight bulbs for led lights and the left led keeps getting damaged and the computer rejects them after a while. I have changed it twice and tried different LED bulbs ( autoxito and another brand). Any suggestions ?Thank you!
That's a very common issue with modern vehicles when you try to install aftermarket LED bulbs. It sounds like you're running into a classic case of electrical incompatibility between the LED bulbs and your car's computer.
Your car's computer, or the Body Control Module, is programmed to monitor the current draw of the factory halogen bulbs. Since LED bulbs use a lot less power, the computer sees the lower current and thinks the bulb is burned out. The computer then either sends an error message to the dash or, in some cases, cuts the power to the bulb to "protect" the circuit. This is likely why the bulbs keep getting damaged and the computer is rejecting them.
The simplest solution to this problem is to install a
CAN bus resistor kit or
LED decoder. These are small electrical components that you install with the LED bulbs. They are designed to trick the car's computer into thinking that a regular halogen bulb is still in place. They draw a small amount of extra current, which makes the computer happy. This will prevent the computer from sending an error code and will also stop it from cutting the power to the bulb.
You should be able to find a CAN bus resistor kit that is specifically designed for a 2019 Kia Sportage. It's a very common problem, so there are a lot of products out there that are made to solve it. Another option, though it's more involved, is to use a relay harness. This would draw power directly from your battery for the headlights, bypassing the car's computer completely.
You're not the only person who has had this problem. It's a very common issue with modern cars. Once you install a CAN bus resistor kit, your problem should be solved.
