LED Headache!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 794
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
LED Headache!!
I just installed new LED bulbs in my tail lights.Park lights work fine but when the brakes are applied,I have lights everywhere!My HVAC,radio,door switches,instrument cluster and who knows what else also lights up.Swapped them back to incadescent bulbs and everything is normal.Tried searching until my eyes crossed without much success.Anyone else ever have this issue?If so,what was the solution,just install regular bulbs??
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Sounds like your using incompatible LED bulbs. Did you purchase from a forum vendor, contact them to verify you have the correct LEDs.
Post the information on the LED tail lamp bulbs your trying to install.
Post the information on the LED tail lamp bulbs your trying to install.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,763
Likes: 3,281
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I just installed new LED bulbs in my tail lights.Park lights work fine but when the brakes are applied,I have lights everywhere!My HVAC,radio,door switches,instrument cluster and who knows what else also lights up.Swapped them back to incadescent bulbs and everything is normal.Tried searching until my eyes crossed without much success.Anyone else ever have this issue?If so,what was the solution,just install regular bulbs??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 794
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
I have switchback LEDs in the running lights and installed standard 3157 LEDs in the tail lights.Going to play with them some more this afternoon to see if I can figure something out.
Last edited by jamieo; Jul 3, 2014 at 11:32 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: West Monroe LA
Hope this helps
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 412
From: Horseshoe Bend ID
Sorry to say, I had all kind of lighting/electrical weirdness when I tried LED tail lights. The DIC would dim/bright when brakes applied and other gremlins. Ended up going back to conventional bulbs. Have LED switchbacks for the DRLs and they work great.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
I hear this happening time and time again. What burns me is vendors that remain vague in their advertising regarding this issue. The ads always say "may require" additional hyperflash harness or resistors. Or the car may "hyperflash" when installing LED's.
The truth is that most, if not all cars will, exhibit some weirdness when installing LEDs. If it's not hyperflashing turn signals, it will be weird behaviour from interior or dash lights. Members usually work it all out on their own using various resistors and hyperflash harness. Sometimes, nothing can be done due to the type of LEDs used.
I came close to upgrading my lighting but once I started reading what can happen, I decided against it. I also found that I was not getting much help from various vendors I had contacted with questions. Again, they would come back with vague responses.
The truth is that most, if not all cars will, exhibit some weirdness when installing LEDs. If it's not hyperflashing turn signals, it will be weird behaviour from interior or dash lights. Members usually work it all out on their own using various resistors and hyperflash harness. Sometimes, nothing can be done due to the type of LEDs used.
I came close to upgrading my lighting but once I started reading what can happen, I decided against it. I also found that I was not getting much help from various vendors I had contacted with questions. Again, they would come back with vague responses.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,008
Likes: 49
From: Hoover, AL NCM Life Member #2438
Check your polarity when you install these. If one or more don't light up, chances are they are installed backwards, remove the light turn it 180 and re install. I had that issue when I installed mine, outside tail lights were installed 180 out of polarity and it did all kinds of strange light blinking when I tried to put on the turn signals. A good way to test is by using the key fob to lock, if any of the lights don't come on, you need to try it the other way.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
seen this before too..... check the polarity and make sure the bulbs are seated ALL the way in the socket 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !