2018 SS Tail lights drawing power

steve620 · 03-06-2019, 11:12 AM

I have a 2018 SS2 that I just installed Helix Sequential tail lights, the problem is that my battery keeps going dead and the dealer is saying it's the after market lights that are doing this. I only drive this car on weekends so it just sits for about 4 days.Dealer is telling me there is a 0.16ma draw. is there anything that can be done to stop this.

KirkH · 03-06-2019, 11:42 AM

I believe most aftermarket LED lights require an inline resistor. Go look at the instructions for LED reverse light harness install.

Sev · 03-06-2019, 02:41 PM

For the 2018's and up, the sequential lights require a separate harness.

steve620 · 03-06-2019, 05:48 PM

There is already is a Harness installed that came with it that is hooked up to one side so the lights will work, would I need one for the other side also?

RenegadeXR · 03-07-2019, 12:41 PM

Over what period of time does the battery drain? If it's weeks and not days, the solution might be to hook the car up to a battery tender which trickle-charges the battery to keep it at a healthy level. Sometimes this is the ultimate solution when you've made electronic mods to your car but don't feel like driving yourself nuts to fix the source of a small current leak.

mhauser2 · 03-07-2019, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve620

I have a 2018 SS2 that I just installed Helix Sequential tail lights, the problem is that my battery keeps going dead and the dealer is saying it's the after market lights that are doing this. I only drive this car on weekends so it just sits for about 4 days.Dealer is telling me there is a 0.16ma draw. is there anything that can be done to stop this.

.16ma seems really low still. Seems most vehicles draw around .7-.8ma now a days.

aland12345 · 03-22-2019, 01:20 PM

Since installing Helix tail lights. If car sets for more than 4 days battery is flat. Replaced original battery 4 weeks ago, Been slow to crank a couple times. Car sat since last Saturday would not start this AM battery completely dead. This is a 2016 Camaro 1LT. Has the load resistors for the rapid flash. Is there another harness/adapter? Thanks

TonyNo · 03-22-2019, 01:43 PM

This should have been addressed by GM, but there are several threads about the car dying over just a few days of sitting (mine does it). I spoke with Quality at a past Camarofest (maybe 2 years ago) and they said they were aware of it, but had no real leads at that time.

This could be your issue.

avalonandl · 03-24-2019, 09:09 AM

This is not a GM problem. The Aftermarket parts are causing this, go back to stock....

Scottyz · 03-24-2019, 09:20 AM

Can’t you just buy replacement LED bulbs for these cars?
I did that with my 2007 Escalade for the reverse lights. They work great.

Gunkk · 03-24-2019, 09:22 AM

There is an always-energized 12v wire in the stock harness. If the aftermarket part circuitry is poor design or low quality (and most are) then it will drain the battery.

red_johnny · 06-10-2019, 01:27 PM

Mine (2016) is doing this as well. Car sat for about 10 days and had to jump it this morning. To everyone talking about other issues, YES the HELIX aftermarket sequential replacements are the issue. I got that. What I want is a fix. How do we stop the draw? These are not replacement bulbs as some on here seem to think but rather a complete replacement for the tail light assembly, kind of like the GM dark tails except not a factory part (see picture below left vs right). For now my fix is the trickle charger. That will keep the battery topped off for the long haul. My car will be sitting for the next 9 months but will get periodically started. I didn't want to start a new thread since this one seemed fairly recent.

red_johnny · 06-11-2019, 01:32 PM

Still have not heard back from wild hammer, any one here have ideas? I would rather find a fix before I leave it parked for awhile.

red_johnny · 06-12-2019, 09:33 PM

There is a fix and its in the mail. A harness is enroute which is supposed to fix this problem. Only plugs to one side or the other but I have to say thanks to Wild Hammer for taking care of this so quickly!

03-06-2019, 11:12 AM	#1
steve620 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS2 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 4	2018 SS Tail lights drawing power I have a 2018 SS2 that I just installed Helix Sequential tail lights, the problem is that my battery keeps going dead and the dealer is saying it's the after market lights that are doing this. I only drive this car on weekends so it just sits for about 4 days.Dealer is telling me there is a 0.16ma draw. is there anything that can be done to stop this.

03-06-2019, 02:41 PM	#3
Sev Drives: 2016 2SS / 2004 Tacoma Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Meadow Vista, CA Posts: 795	For the 2018's and up, the sequential lights require a separate harness. __________________ 2SS, Manual, Blue Velvet Metallic, Medium Ash Grey, Black Wheels, MRC, NPP, Black Bowties, Black GM Tail Lights, Oracle LED side markers. "I'm going to drink you pretty, beautiful toad"

03-07-2019, 12:41 PM	#5
RenegadeXR Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,849	Over what period of time does the battery drain? If it's weeks and not days, the solution might be to hook the car up to a battery tender which trickle-charges the battery to keep it at a healthy level. Sometimes this is the ultimate solution when you've made electronic mods to your car but don't feel like driving yourself nuts to fix the source of a small current leak. __________________ Disclaimer: Unless specific sources are cited, all of the above is my subjective opinion. No warranties, expressed or implied, are granted. This is a car forum, after all.

03-22-2019, 01:20 PM	#7
aland12345 Drives: 2016 Bright Yellow Camaro vert Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 67 View My Garage	Same issue here Since installing Helix tail lights. If car sets for more than 4 days battery is flat. Replaced original battery 4 weeks ago, Been slow to crank a couple times. Car sat since last Saturday would not start this AM battery completely dead. This is a 2016 Camaro 1LT. Has the load resistors for the rapid flash. Is there another harness/adapter? Thanks

03-22-2019, 01:43 PM	#8
TonyNo Drives: 2016 2SS, SW Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 1,079	This should have been addressed by GM, but there are several threads about the car dying over just a few days of sitting (mine does it). I spoke with Quality at a past Camarofest (maybe 2 years ago) and they said they were aware of it, but had no real leads at that time. This could be your issue. __________________

03-06-2019, 05:48 PM	#4
steve620 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS2 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 4	There is already is a Harness installed that came with it that is hooked up to one side so the lights will work, would I need one for the other side also?

03-24-2019, 09:09 AM	#9
avalonandl Drives: 2019 ZL-1 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Troy, MI & Naples, FL Posts: 2,019	This is not a GM problem. The Aftermarket parts are causing this, go back to stock.... __________________ 2019 ZL-1 Acquired 4/23/21 at 6300 miles. Riverside Blue, A10, PDR. Traded in 2017 2SS with 6M and 32k miles. Continental Extreme Contact Sports. Now has 10,000 miles... 2012 Yukon XL Denali w/ 6.2 AWD

03-24-2019, 09:20 AM	#10
Scottyz 2019 ZL1 1LE MY GOON Drives: 1980 Z28 Big Red. Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Stoney Creek Posts: 2,061	Can’t you just buy replacement LED bulbs for these cars? I did that with my 2007 Escalade for the reverse lights. They work great.

03-24-2019, 09:22 AM	#11
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,985 View My Garage	There is an always-energized 12v wire in the stock harness. If the aftermarket part circuitry is poor design or low quality (and most are) then it will drain the battery.

06-10-2019, 01:27 PM	#12
red_johnny Drives: 2016 Gray 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hermitage, PA Posts: 753 View My Garage	Mine (2016) is doing this as well. Car sat for about 10 days and had to jump it this morning. To everyone talking about other issues, YES the HELIX aftermarket sequential replacements are the issue. I got that. What I want is a fix. How do we stop the draw? These are not replacement bulbs as some on here seem to think but rather a complete replacement for the tail light assembly, kind of like the GM dark tails except not a factory part (see picture below left vs right). For now my fix is the trickle charger. That will keep the battery topped off for the long haul. My car will be sitting for the next 9 months but will get periodically started. I didn't want to start a new thread since this one seemed fairly recent. Attached Images Last edited by red_johnny; 06-10-2019 at 02:47 PM. Reason: Updated year of car

06-11-2019, 01:32 PM	#13
red_johnny Drives: 2016 Gray 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hermitage, PA Posts: 753 View My Garage	Still have not heard back from wild hammer, any one here have ideas? I would rather find a fix before I leave it parked for awhile.

06-12-2019, 09:33 PM	#14
red_johnny Drives: 2016 Gray 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hermitage, PA Posts: 753 View My Garage	There is a fix and its in the mail. A harness is enroute which is supposed to fix this problem. Only plugs to one side or the other but I have to say thanks to Wild Hammer for taking care of this so quickly!

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