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Had anybody changed out the rear Tail light to led on a 81?
The left side is plug and play, the middle left side I had to buy a new socket to match the one next to it so both leds Tail lights blink and brake at the same time. The leds has the two prong plug on all four so the middle leds would not work with the original socket. So I bought a new socket for the middle ones and just spliced into the other one by it and just matched the color wires. I also bought a led blinker. Everything was working fine until I realized with the head lights on the blinkers start to blinking slower and slower until it’s just stops blinking. Turn the lights off and they start blinking fine. Both sides do this. Again with the headlights off everything work great. Has anyone experienced this? Picture is attached for the ones I purchased. They are nice lit up and want to figure it out. Thanks for any input!!
No, I've never experienced this. With headlights on and engine running your alternator should keep voltage up so this slow down of the signals just shouldn't happen.
At the end of the day, these cars were not designed for LED'S. full stop. They are not wired that way.
Yes, some people jump through hoops to make them work. But why? LED'S go bad as well. They do NOT last forever and they cost HEAPS more. Not much of an upgrade.
Check your grounds, and don't trust old sockets. I found a detached ground inside one of the sockets. And did you replace the flasher units under the dash with 3-wire LED capable units, and properly ground the third wire?
I've replaced EVERY bulb in my 80 with LEDs, including paired taillights and relocated back-up lights. It can be done. My solutions are documented in this thread, including the flashers that I know work, and the hoops you need to jump through if you also replace the front side marker bulbs:
Thanks for the reply’s. I did replace the flasher with the correct LED one. Bought one with the ground and it did not flash them at all. Bought a different LED flasher without the ground and it flashed them with no problem just like with original bulbs. I’ll diffidently look at your thread with all the info! I’m thinking of running a new ground off the plug in the back so I know it will be ground correctly. I’ll post my findings. Thanks again for the help and reply’s!
Thanks for the reply’s. I did replace the flasher with the correct LED one. Bought one with the ground and it did not flash them at all. Bought a different LED flasher without the ground and it flashed them with no problem just like with original bulbs. I’ll diffidently look at your thread with all the info! I’m thinking of running a new ground off the plug in the back so I know it will be ground correctly. I’ll post my findings. Thanks again for the help and reply’s!
It is possible that both flashers worked correctly, but one just needed the base flipped around. The flasher I used (in my thread) comes with a base to reverse the orientation.
Here's a bonus photo of one of the sockets that used to be in my 80. It had failed internally, intermittently. Fun to diagnose.
All good with new led Tail lights. After putting everything back together I ran a new ground wire by the rear tail lights. Also found my battery terminals a little corroded. Don’t know if it was the better ground or the cleaner battery terminals but working great now! Now onto to led headlights, I’ll see how fun that is. Thanks for everyone’s help!
LED Tail Lights
