So you want to do LED signal lights but don’t want to mess with hard wiring resistors into the wiring of each bulb? This might work for more cars, but if you have one of these, I have a sweet fix that involves modding the flasher module:
Monte Carlo/Impala – 2000-2005
Grand Am – 1999-2005

Despite different part numbers, the guts to the flasher for these cars are the same! I confirmed I can plug a Monte flasher into my Grand Am, all works. The only difference is the head of the flasher to hold the different types of buttons. That being said, I suspect this will work for other cars like the Malibu and Alero.

Some people have talked about a “blue” flasher module from Tridon/Novita that will supposedly do this. I have read mixed results on this and therefore with the help of my father, opted to go a different direction (modding a factory flasher).

Once you can open the unit up, there is a black IC. You will need to disconnect pin 7 of this IC. This disengages the method that detects if you have a burned out bulb. Doing this stops the hyper flash, but the flash rate is still faster than normal. Per the data sheet for the IC, the flash rate is controlled by the size of a resistor and a capacitor (the capacitor is on the other side that I did not take pictures of). Due to space limitations, it was easier to adjust the resistor.

We found replacing the circled resistor with a 51k, 1/8th watt resistor seems to do the trick (if I recall, the original resistor was a 39k).
This has now been tested and confirmed with my 2004 Grand Am. Come Spring/Summer, I will repeat this with my 2004 Monte Carlo. Knowing the guts of the flashers are the same, I completely expect this to work without issue.

Here are some videos related to this project:
LED vs Incandescent - Factory Flasher

Factory Flasher - Pin 7 Mod

Factory Flasher - Pin7 and Resistor Mod - 51k 1/8th watt resistor

 

Small update - I now sell modded flashers for the 00-05 Monte Carlo. PM me if you are interested or email the.maniac404@gmail.com.

 

Just installed LED turn signals on my Monte..! How do I take apart the flasher module itself to get access to pin 7?

 

Keep in mind, disconnecting pin7 is only half the mod. You will end with a flasher rate that is slower than hyper flash but faster than normal flash (you need to swap a resistor inside as the second part of the mod). There is only one tab holding the green casing on the unit and it is a bear to work with. I use a TINY flat head screw driver (so tiny it might be considered a jeweler's screw driver) and slide it in from the front (so it is right over top the IC chip until it hits that tab. That *should* raise the plastic of the green housing. If it does not slide free, I can use a regular sized screw driver to pop it from the connector (while the tiny screw driver is in place). You want to be careful not to scrape that IC.

If you prefer, I sell salvage flashers that I bench test before, during and after the modding process. Here is the link about them:
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/pr...signals-62250/

 

(I apologize for the poor lighting) but the resistors came in and now I just need to take this thing apart. If it’s not a hassle, could you take a picture of the screwdriver you use next to the flasher? The smallest one I have is in a screwdriver set but doesn’t have enough leverage to get down to the tab it seems. Might just end up having to buy one from you!

 

I just went through the process. And I was wrong, not the tiniest flat head I had (but pretty close). It was the biggest flat head in this pack of 5. In the last pic, I am using a screw driver in the back (between the two rows of pins) and if all is right a quick smack and the unit pops open and the flat head that was wedged in usually pops out. And there you have it. I hope this helps.

 

Just had time to pull this thing apart and post. I grabbed an extra module from an ‘01 Grand Am and taking it apart, it looks like mine is different from yours? It doesn’t have any resistors at all on it and I was wondering what do I have to apart from pin 7 to put the resistor on? Thank you for all the help thus far!

 

What you have is the same. I have opened a lot of these up over the past couple years doing mods. GM used two types of resistors over the years (and did not matter what car the unit was for). They used "surface mount" and "through hole". In my original post, I had a unit with "through hole" (but they mounted it like a surface). The unit you are holding is "surface mount". I believe most of the ones I have worked with are surface mount. You will see three black resistors all with a number value on them, these match to the resistors shown in my original pic. You have to remove the one behind the IC that has "393" written on it. I have not tried to mount "through hole" resistors to these, I have used surface mount (but you can do it, GM did it). You can also see in the pic of my modded unit, I used a surface mount resistor with the value "513" on it.

And the disconnect pin 7, having something like a straight pin from a sewing kit helps.

I hope this gets you moving forward.

 

Disconnected pin 7 and as for the resistor, I was able to trim the wires of it and lay it flat on the module to then solder it. I was worried there would be clearance issues with the green housing as the resistor sat a bit above the flat red part, but I snapped it back into place and it fit! I connected the module to the car and now I have normal flashing turn signals. Thank you for all of your help, maniac!! It is much appreciated. I’ll be posting some pictures of the monte soon

 

Awesome! Glad it worked out