"Glowing" Trunk Light

Grindkiezer · 12-07-2012, 01:57 PM

Hello everyone, last night when I was sitting in my car after I had just parked I turned around and looked into my "Trunk" and noticed that my trunk light was glowing. It wasn't ON but just had a faint glow to it. I had this problem in my old car so I just took it out cause I wasn't sure if it was using up the battery when it's just parked there.

My Z has always read 14-15v on my guage but I was wondering if it will have an effect on the battery?
I didn't think that it would be that drastic since the car flashes the alarm light thing, but I was just wondering if there's a way to fix it or if it's not even a big deal.

This is the light that is in there and yeah...I think that's it

Thanks

fullmonty · 12-07-2012, 02:21 PM

I just read the other day here that this happens with some peoples Zs. Apparently there is just enough current going through to power the LED but not the stock bulb. As far as I know it won't drain the battery unless you leave the car sitting for a month

Baer383 · 12-07-2012, 06:53 PM

I had led's in there in my 2010 and now my 2013 and I don't have this problem.

Bandit_Kaine · 12-07-2012, 08:14 PM

This happens to me and with the dome lights also.. you might need a new car before an LED running at 1% power drains your battery..

I wouldn't worry about it.

Grindkiezer · 12-07-2012, 10:19 PM

Yeah I didn't think that the light would be too drastic since like I said the alarm light thing blinks basically all the time. But thanks for letting me know

RUFFSTUFF · 12-08-2012, 06:03 PM

I have LEDs in my Z and my F250, whenever they are running there is enough leakage current to light the bulbs dimly even when they are supposed to be off. They will also glow dimly for a time after the vehicle has been shut off but its not that long.

SouthArk370Z · 12-08-2012, 07:22 PM

I believe what you are seeing is leakage through a solid-state switch. The leakage is not enough to get/keep an incandescent bulb hot enough to glow, but can cause an LED to glow (or cause a faulty reading when using a high impedance meter).

It shouldn't be a problem for a daily driver, unless you have a lot of LEDs that are not controlled by relays. Might present a problem for a car in storage, but a trickle charger should do the trick.

12-07-2012, 01:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Grindkiezer Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 824 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 13	"Glowing" Trunk Light Hello everyone, last night when I was sitting in my car after I had just parked I turned around and looked into my "Trunk" and noticed that my trunk light was glowing. It wasn't ON but just had a faint glow to it. I had this problem in my old car so I just took it out cause I wasn't sure if it was using up the battery when it's just parked there. My Z has always read 14-15v on my guage but I was wondering if it will have an effect on the battery? I didn't think that it would be that drastic since the car flashes the alarm light thing, but I was just wondering if there's a way to fix it or if it's not even a big deal. This is the light that is in there and yeah...I think that's it Thanks __________________ Z

12-07-2012, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
fullmonty A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 7,762 Drives: 370 Touring/Sport Rep Power: 33	I just read the other day here that this happens with some peoples Zs. Apparently there is just enough current going through to power the LED but not the stock bulb. As far as I know it won't drain the battery unless you leave the car sitting for a month __________________

12-07-2012, 06:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 29	I had led's in there in my 2010 and now my 2013 and I don't have this problem. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

12-07-2012, 08:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bandit_Kaine Base Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Miami Age: 33 Posts: 224 Drives: 16-370Z Nismo-PW-MT Rep Power: 12	This happens to me and with the dome lights also.. you might need a new car before an LED running at 1% power drains your battery.. I wouldn't worry about it. __________________

12-07-2012, 10:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Grindkiezer Track Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 824 Drives: A Car Rep Power: 13	Yeah I didn't think that the light would be too drastic since like I said the alarm light thing blinks basically all the time. But thanks for letting me know __________________ Z

12-08-2012, 06:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
RUFFSTUFF Base Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: GEORGIA Posts: 233 Drives: 2012 370Z TOURING Rep Power: 13	I have LEDs in my Z and my F250, whenever they are running there is enough leakage current to light the bulbs dimly even when they are supposed to be off. They will also glow dimly for a time after the vehicle has been shut off but its not that long. __________________ 2012 370Z Touring w/ NAV, Black Powdercoat, aFe Takeda CAI, Invidia Gemini Ti-tip Catback Exhaust, DVD/NAV bypass

12-08-2012, 07:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324197	I believe what you are seeing is leakage through a solid-state switch. The leakage is not enough to get/keep an incandescent bulb hot enough to glow, but can cause an LED to glow (or cause a faulty reading when using a high impedance meter). It shouldn't be a problem for a daily driver, unless you have a lot of LEDs that are not controlled by relays. Might present a problem for a car in storage, but a trickle charger should do the trick. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

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