Hi,

I put some LED DRLs in at the weekend. They work fine and there are no bulbs warnings. However, I've noticed that the radio reception has got worse since I put them in. Is this feasible or am I imagining things?

Martin

I read in which today that led bulbs at home can interfere with digital radio, so I guess it is possible that it's happening with your car radio

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I just have the Columbus in the Superb, so just FM radio.

It seems unlikely but it's a real coincide if the two aren't linked!

Hi,

I put some LED DRLs in at the weekend. They work fine and there are no bulbs warnings. However, I've noticed that the radio reception has got worse since I put them in. Is this feasible or am I imagining things?

Martin

Is the disturbance present only when the DRL's are active or all the time? Are the LED's normal or CREE's? If the latter, very plausible that they can interfere with the reception as they usually contain active Electronics producing emissions (RF), though the chances are very slim as the emissions are negligible at best.

They don't affect the reception in decent signal areas, but when the signal is poor, the reception goes to pot when they're on.

I drive into a low signal area this morning, and the radio started to crackle like crazy. Switched the headlights on (hence turning the DRLs off) and the reception improved immediately.

They are CREE type aftermarket ones obtained from Coops last week. The annoying thing is that they work really well!

Sorry to hear this Martin - never had an issue when I had them installed, and to be fair have never heard of it before. But does sound like there is interference.

Sorry to hear this Martin - never had an issue when I had them installed, and to be fair have never heard of it before. But does sound like there is interference.

It's alright Simon, it sounds as though it's a rare and unexpected problem, but I will probably take the LEDs out again at the weekend. No fault of yours I'm sure. :-)

Well, it's proved. The interference is definitely coming from the LEDs. Well, I say interference. It somehow seems to affect the RDS changing to a better frequency. I had a good radio signal when I left work yesterday, got to a weaker area where normally the Columbus changes to another frequency to maintain reception, but it didn't. It went all crackly and I could barely hear the radio. I parked up and switched off the DRLs via maxidot and the radio was immediately crystal clear.

Is there likely to be an explanation/fix for this or will I have to remove the LEDs? (I'd rather have the tungsten DRLs than none)

Pew! Very same problem with a set of new type cree leds,http://www.ebay.ie/itm/151049610272?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

For the first time I have no canbus warning with these LED's (no resistors fitted) which is rare for a MY11.

But thought I was going mad with the FM radio. 2Skoda family your diagnoses sounds bang on. Can anyone think of a possible cure? As love the LEDS and would like to keep.

This is my second set of cree LEDS the first from alltronix, did not interfere with the radio but one failed after 8 months.

Glad I'm not the only one!

No, I've not found a cure. I keep them turned off most of the time now. I like the LED look so much I actually can't bring myself to fit the original bulbs again!

Just a thought; If you can get hold of Load Resistors, try connecting them to the Cree's and see if the noise gets cancelled out.