Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Electronic systems, stereo and Holden iQ, wiring, it all goes here....
Pursuit
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Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

I finally had the time to trace, document, photograph and work with WAM to install the factory Holden LED tail lights. All of the wiring is in place from the BCM, through the harness to the female connectors in the trunk. The first thing to swap is the male connector from the PPV tail light to the LED taillight.

EDIT: As someone asked, yes, you do have to swap the PPV taillights out with the factory Holden LED taillights. The lamp housings are retained with four studs that require 4 10mm nuts removed from the inside of the trunk.

Regards,

Maurice
Attachments
Frontside of LED male connector.jpg
Frontside of LED male connector.jpg (517.95 KiB) Viewed 15929 times
Frontside of PPV male connector.jpg
Frontside of PPV male connector.jpg (486.63 KiB) Viewed 15929 times
PPV left side harness connector.jpg
PPV left side harness connector.jpg (1.02 MiB) Viewed 15929 times
PPV right side harness connector.jpg
PPV right side harness connector.jpg (1.08 MiB) Viewed 15929 times
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Pursuit
Administration Staff
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Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

I removed the male connectors from both tail lights using a small bladed screw driver. I then retracted the locking tab from the back of the male connector. And then used a VERY fine pick/blade to release the individual circuit pins.
Attachments
Use small screwdriver to relaese male connector from grey taillight housing tab.jpg
Use small screwdriver to relaese male connector from grey taillight housing tab.jpg (242.87 KiB) Viewed 15928 times
Lift up locking tab.jpg
Lift up locking tab.jpg (898.99 KiB) Viewed 15928 times
Insert small pick between flat pin and plastic release tab on PPV connector.jpg
Insert small pick between flat pin and plastic release tab on PPV connector.jpg (238.77 KiB) Viewed 15928 times
Press plastic release tab down and pull wire and pin out of the back of PPV connector.jpg
Press plastic release tab down and pull wire and pin out of the back of PPV connector.jpg (245.57 KiB) Viewed 15928 times
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

As you will notice the wire for the stop light circuit is in the female harness connector, but, the circuit does not continue into the PPV tail light. The BCM uses the two turn signal circuits to turn on the brake light and individual turn signals. The BCM needs to be re-programmed to separate the multi function of the turn signal circuits. I used the PPV male connector and pinned the LED wiring to match the PPV female harness connector.
Attachments
Right side PPV harness connector with view of individual pin release tabs .jpg
Right side PPV harness connector with view of individual pin release tabs .jpg (749.69 KiB) Viewed 15927 times
LED pins out of connector.jpg
LED pins out of connector.jpg (666.8 KiB) Viewed 15927 times
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

I wired the PPV male connector with the following LED colored wires to match the PPV female connector:

The red wire is the brake/stop circuit.
The brown wire is the park light circuit
The white wire is the ground for the LED board
The green wire is the backup circuit
The blue wire is the turn signal circuit
The black wire is the incandescent ground circuit
Attachments
LED wires re-pinned in PPV male connector.jpg
LED wires re-pinned in PPV male connector.jpg (215.63 KiB) Viewed 15926 times
PPV male connector installed on  LED taillight housing.jpg
PPV male connector installed on LED taillight housing.jpg (385.48 KiB) Viewed 15926 times
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

I have tried to get a decent picture of the LED's in action, but the LED's look terrible on my camera phone. When I activate the hazard switch both the front and rear amber lights flash at a normal rate and at the same time. I will keep an eye out for any "ghosts" in the BCM.
Attachments
IMG_20160407_172813625.jpg
IMG_20160407_172813625.jpg (321.15 KiB) Viewed 15926 times
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
S13REMI
Posts: 123
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:59 am

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by S13REMI »

Curious where you sourced your set from. This is on the top of my list for visual mods. Shipping costs from Australia or the Middle East have kept me from pulling the trigger.
2012 CAPRICE 460WHP! NIGHT FURY CAM, LONG TUBES, OTR INTAKE, NEW ERA TUNE, COILOVERS, C6 Z06 WHEELS. (BIGGEST EVER ON A CAPRICE)
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Navy Lifer
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Location: Canton GA

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Navy Lifer »

1. I see a trip to Omaha in my future

2. I'll pay for the manicure.... :P
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

I have had this set on the shelf for maybe two years. It is my second set. The first set was damaged, not in transit, but intentionally shipped that way. Luckily Ebay covered the cost, but not to ship back to Australia ($85). The first set didn't match the description and/or pictures. And, they only shipped them wrapped in bubble wrap, no box. The second, low mileage set I got from a reputable wrecking/salvage yard. The most fragile part is the leading edge/point of the taillight. Always look closely as a lot of these, the housing will have that corner broke.

Regards,

Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Pursuit
Administration Staff
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:39 pm
Location: Omaha, NE area

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by Pursuit »

Bill,
Let me know on your trip. And, as you know, innovation isn't always pretty.....
But, I did wash my hands when I was done. :P


Maurice
Maurice Sheil

mhsheil@gmail.com

2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
ColoCapriceGuy
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun May 23, 2021 9:13 pm

Re: Factory Holden LED tail lights with BCM re-program

Post by ColoCapriceGuy »

These can be installed w/o the BCM programming required or any cutting to the wiring harness. You just have to want them to work like the US tail lights do.

Follow Maurice's pictures, but wire the LED tails like the American ones - Leave the far right signal cavity vacant, and plug the holden signal into the stop cavity. They will be wired exactly the same as the PPV. Then you need to wire in load resistors to the black ground, and the red signal light wire that was placed into the stop lamp cavity. Congrats, they now work exactly as the non LED ones, but you have the look and brightness of the LED ones with no programming required.
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