Let me try to give it a whirl for you. This at least is how mine work. (Supposedly the latest and greatest)

During the day, headlights off, they run amber. Directionals are amber.

When you turn the lights on, they run white. Directionals are amber.

 

Excellent. Are you using the device from Radio Flyer? Are you using LEDs in the front signal housing?

 

Yes and yes.

 

The stock bulb has two filaments inside a single amber glass bulb. One filament for driving one for flashing.

The switchback has white for driving and separate amber for flashing in the same "bulb".

The result is what mrmagloo said above.

 

Just a Little Info:::

Normal DRL/Turn Signal Operation:::

DRLs ONLY burn when Park/Headlight are OFF.
Some C5s have the Ambient Light Sensor that turn off the DRLs at low light, but since it is getting dark, you would normally
turn on your Park/Headlights, anyway. Also, not all C5s have the sensor. My 2004 Z06 does not have it. The DRLs
will burn anytime the Park/Headlights are OFF, day or night.
DRLs and Turn Signals are on the SAME filament, so without any other added controls or harness, they will burn the
same filament and the same color. Parking Lights use the other filament, exclusively.

There are ONLY four options that can take place:

1. DRLs On
2. DRLs On, Turn Signal On
3. Parks On
4. Parks On, Turn Signal On


There are two styles of Switchback LED Bulbs:

1. AO = Amber - Off (Amber Only) Has a relay and a timer function so the Amber will only burn and keeps the White
Off until a short time after the Amber goes Off. Amber Turn Signal with White Parks On, will be
Amber-Off-Amber-Off....White Park. AO is preferred for normal C5 operation.

2. AW = Amber - White (Amber together with White) Just like a standard filament bulb. Amber Turn Signal with White Parks On, will be
Amber-White-Amber-White. Most Switchback LEDs, the White overpowers the Amber so you will see a BRIGHT White
and a DIM Amber flash. It will look as if only the White is flashing.




With Switchback LEDs you have two options:

1. White for DRL/Turn and Amber for Parks
2. Amber for DRL/Turn and White for Parks
That is it, without some other added harness or control

If you use a LED in place of any Turn Signal flashing bulb filament, you will need a resistor paralleled across that filament (usually a 6 ohm 50 watt), or
you will have hyperflash. Adding a Hyper Flash Flasher Harness will stop hyperflash without ANY resistors anywhere in the circuits. You will
still have hyperflash with the Emergency Warning Flasher, unless you have resistor across the Turn Signal bulbs.
CAUTION::: Resistors get HOT!! Mount them away from any other wiring, plastic, etc..

Any bulbs longer than about 2.5 inches WILL NOT fit in the front corner housing. Also, many LEDs have some of the LEDs on top of the bulbs. These will
be push up close to the top of the housing, and not produce ANY light.

You can splice in a normal LED flasher in place of the Hyper Flash Harness. Search site for the info.
I used this one so I can adjust the flash rate. Works Great:



Larry

 

^Excellent write-up

 

I believe I finally understand. 90s technology is not really compatible with LED technology, requiting the need to install hyperflash harnesses and still not eliminating hyperflashing with, as you pointed out emergency flasher would not be immune to hyperflashing.

I've already installed the hyperflashing harness. I am disappointed that I have not solved the issue. I am not inclined to splice wires in order to tackle the emergency flashing issue. I will have to live with a partial solution. Or, bother to add resisters to the turn signal LEDs which defeats the purpose of installing the hyperflash relay.

Your comment about Switchback LEDs. You described two options (below):

1. White for DRL/Turn and Amber for Parks
2. Amber for DRL/Turn and White for Parks

These the depend on polarity?

A third option could be to add a NA (Non Amber) LED. Use a white LED and have white light for DRL/Turn and Parks. Right?

 

They all have the sensor. You can disable it from being used on the US cars via the DIC.




I've never seen switchback LEDs that worked the #1 way for sale. Got a link?

 

Yes, they are polarized and yes to the clear (Non Amber) bulb operation.

 

I bought a few el cheapos from ebay/amazon that were wired that way. Probably wired backwards.

 

Interesting. Wonder why GM started making the sensor an option after 6.5 years of production? Also wonder why the late manuals don't list the twilight sentinel is an option?

Colors not listed on the cheap ones? I've only seen the white running, yellow turn when listed but there are a few cheap ones where it doesn't specify. It's not a polarity thing though because putting them in backwards won't reverse their operation.

 

You can turn it off with the dash controls.

 

You are correct. You can not just splice in a flasher for the hazards or install a harness to replace the hazard flasher.

In normal use, the hazard switch is only used for the flasher and that is why the hyperflash harness can completely bypasses the hazard switch for the normal signals. The output of the flasher in the hazard switch goes to the multi-function switch which directs the power to the correct lights.

But, when using the hazard function the output of the flasher remains internal and goes to 4 contacts that are switched on to connect the corner lights.

You would have to remove the flasher circuit inside the hazard switch. Then a modified hyperflash harness could backfeed the flasher power into the hazard switch for use with the hazards. BUT, you'd have to have to key on for the hazards to work or have it wired so the signals always worked key on or not.

I tried putting a new flasher in parallel with the stock one but the stock one over rode the new one and still caused hyperflash. You could try it, it might work for you. Even then, you'd have to have the key on for the parallel flasher to force the slower flashing.

 

How often do you really use hazards, Unless there is an emergency. In that case is hyper-flashing a real concern? Just curious.

 

I can't recall ever having my hazards on for an emergency, so I don't really care if they hyperflash. But, knowing every part of their Corvette doesn't work 100% can drive some people nuts.

 

No, the hazard flasher is not that important. The only thing I really trying to do is install LEDs at all four corners of the car and prevent hyperflashing the turn signals. I installed the Flasher harness for this purpose. The non-flashing LEDs are installed. When the signal LEDs arrive, I will know if the harness is doing its job.

 

As you stated, some don't specify the color operation and with
the chinese junk, today, you don't always get what is listed.
I have removed the bases and reversed the amber and white positive leads. That will reverse the operation.
Also, some listings don't say whether the bulbs are wired Standard or CK pin-out.

 

Working toward all bulbs on the C5 to be LEDs I started by swapping the internal bulbs. Next I installed the Flasher harness. Then I swapped the corner markets with 194 LEDs, Today I swapped the stock signal bulbs with 3057 LEDs.

The 3057s are the first flashing bulbs I've swapped out since installing the flasher harness. The rear signal LEDs are working perfectly in all modes. If the emergency flashers are going while the left or right signal is engaged, there is a odd blip in the flashing, but that is it. Better yet, there are no resisters installed anywhere. Even the emergency flashers work without hyperflashing. I was not prepared for that, I expected the emergency flashers to go hyper.

Once the next set of LEDs to arrive I will tackle the bigger project of determining which LEDs perform best for the DRL/signals. Stay tuned.

 

The Quest continues to be just a little different then the other people.

 

Glad you updated.

When the turn signal is on is there any issue with the white light over-powering the amber as mentioned in one of the above post.

I have all the parts but don't have my car together yet.