LED Issues
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
LED Issues
I am switching most exterior lighting to LEDs (not headlights or fog lights . . yet) and am trying to solve a problem. When I did the front turn signals/DRLs, I put in the Envy Hyperflash Harness and everything worked fine.
A few weeks later I am doing the rear tail lights/turn signals and have encountered a problem. With all four tail lights changed to LEDs (Sylvania Zevo 3057s) I had two problems:
1. When locking the car via the fob, the panic alarm would go off. I found a couple of posts about switching to LEDs in the rear causing this to happen when there was a bad LED so I did trial and error and found one LED that when it was removed and replaced with one of the old incandescents, the panic alarm problem was resolved. I am still going back and forth with Sylvania about replacing this LED under warranty. They think I should put in load resistors. I think that it is a bad LED, but I also wonder whether load resistors will be necessary to solve problem #2 so I may end up doing it anyway.
2. With headlights on (via Twilight Sentinel or manually) everything seemed fine. When the headlights go off or I turn them off, the dash and HVAC lights flash intermittently. Pulled all the LEDs out this morning and reinstalled the old incandescent bulbs and the problem is resolved.
I do have load resistors that I can wire in to the rear tail lights but I would prefer not to have to do this - that is why I went with the hyperflash harness.
Why am I getting the flashing dash/HVAC lights despite having the hyperflash harness?
Would load resistors solve the problem? I would really rather not complicate things with another workaround, especially when I already have a hyperflash harness. But I can do it if absolutely necessary.
Maybe it is the Sylvania LEDs and I should try another brand? Or maybe just give up on LEDs in the tail lights? The main reason for switching to LEDs was that the fronts were such a pain to replace I wanted something that would not need regular replacement. The rears are much easier and quicker to replace so LEDs in the rear are for looks only, and I do prefer the look of the LEDs in the rear.
I await the wisdom of the forum . . . . Meanwhile, the oil in my wife's Venza needs replacing.
K9Leader
Red cars are faster.
A few weeks later I am doing the rear tail lights/turn signals and have encountered a problem. With all four tail lights changed to LEDs (Sylvania Zevo 3057s) I had two problems:
1. When locking the car via the fob, the panic alarm would go off. I found a couple of posts about switching to LEDs in the rear causing this to happen when there was a bad LED so I did trial and error and found one LED that when it was removed and replaced with one of the old incandescents, the panic alarm problem was resolved. I am still going back and forth with Sylvania about replacing this LED under warranty. They think I should put in load resistors. I think that it is a bad LED, but I also wonder whether load resistors will be necessary to solve problem #2 so I may end up doing it anyway.
2. With headlights on (via Twilight Sentinel or manually) everything seemed fine. When the headlights go off or I turn them off, the dash and HVAC lights flash intermittently. Pulled all the LEDs out this morning and reinstalled the old incandescent bulbs and the problem is resolved.
I do have load resistors that I can wire in to the rear tail lights but I would prefer not to have to do this - that is why I went with the hyperflash harness.
Why am I getting the flashing dash/HVAC lights despite having the hyperflash harness?
Would load resistors solve the problem? I would really rather not complicate things with another workaround, especially when I already have a hyperflash harness. But I can do it if absolutely necessary.
Maybe it is the Sylvania LEDs and I should try another brand? Or maybe just give up on LEDs in the tail lights? The main reason for switching to LEDs was that the fronts were such a pain to replace I wanted something that would not need regular replacement. The rears are much easier and quicker to replace so LEDs in the rear are for looks only, and I do prefer the look of the LEDs in the rear.
I await the wisdom of the forum . . . . Meanwhile, the oil in my wife's Venza needs replacing.
K9Leader
Red cars are faster.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
Just a FYI,
I had a similar problem with my 03. After I bought my 03 I swapped out all the LEDs and HIDs that I had previously installed in my 99 over to the 03. This included removing the Hyper-Flash harness from my 99 and installing it in the 03. The last parts swapped were the tail light LEDs from the 99 to the 03.........that is when I started to have weird issues similar to yours. I removed one of the 4 rear LEDs at a time to try to nail down the cause also rechecked the polarity on each rear LED and their sockets. No luck...but when the 4 rear LEDs were removed and stock bulbs installed the odd issues ceased. Many CF members suggested adding resistors to the rear LEDs but I resisted ;^) as I never used resistors on the 99 and had no issues. But I finally bought 4 inline resistors and mounted them on the inner rear bumper bar so they would have a good heatsink. Bingo, the odd issues went away and did not return ;^). Later as a test, I disconnected the resistors on the two inboard lights and still no odd issues. So I left the two resistors on the two outboard lights and everything still worked as expected.
Recently I installed four new taillights that are built with multiple LEDS not a single socketed bulb. Still no odd issues but I still have the two resistors on the two inboard lights. Soon I plan to try disconnecting those two inline resistors to see what happens
I had a similar problem with my 03. After I bought my 03 I swapped out all the LEDs and HIDs that I had previously installed in my 99 over to the 03. This included removing the Hyper-Flash harness from my 99 and installing it in the 03. The last parts swapped were the tail light LEDs from the 99 to the 03.........that is when I started to have weird issues similar to yours. I removed one of the 4 rear LEDs at a time to try to nail down the cause also rechecked the polarity on each rear LED and their sockets. No luck...but when the 4 rear LEDs were removed and stock bulbs installed the odd issues ceased. Many CF members suggested adding resistors to the rear LEDs but I resisted ;^) as I never used resistors on the 99 and had no issues. But I finally bought 4 inline resistors and mounted them on the inner rear bumper bar so they would have a good heatsink. Bingo, the odd issues went away and did not return ;^). Later as a test, I disconnected the resistors on the two inboard lights and still no odd issues. So I left the two resistors on the two outboard lights and everything still worked as expected.
Recently I installed four new taillights that are built with multiple LEDS not a single socketed bulb. Still no odd issues but I still have the two resistors on the two inboard lights. Soon I plan to try disconnecting those two inline resistors to see what happens
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
So today I installed the load resistors and the flashing dash and HVAC lights problem seems to be resolved. Pouring rain so I did not take it out for a drive to see for sure.
The panic alarm problem, though, is still there if I insert all four LED bulbs but not when I have three LEDs in and one incandescent. I thought that it was one specific LED that was causing the problem but as long as it is just three LEDs (even the "bad" one) and one incandescent it works fine. Maybe its the brand (Sylvania Zevo) and I should try something different - perhaps the ones sold by Radioflyer but they are really pricey for an experiment.
Ah, well, I will get back on it tomorrow. Now it's Dodgers-Astros time.
K9Leader
The panic alarm problem, though, is still there if I insert all four LED bulbs but not when I have three LEDs in and one incandescent. I thought that it was one specific LED that was causing the problem but as long as it is just three LEDs (even the "bad" one) and one incandescent it works fine. Maybe its the brand (Sylvania Zevo) and I should try something different - perhaps the ones sold by Radioflyer but they are really pricey for an experiment.
Ah, well, I will get back on it tomorrow. Now it's Dodgers-Astros time.
K9Leader
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
Yes. They are marked on the + side and will light one way but not the other (so, pretty easy to test).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
Still flummoxed by this. I installed load resistors on all four but that does not appear to have made any difference - I still get these two issues:
1. When all four LEDs are installed, the panic alarm goes off whenever the key fob lock button is pressed. With three (or fewer) LEDs installed along with old incandescents making up the difference, the issue goes away. Thought it might be a problem with the Sylvania Zevo bulbs, so I tried a different brand and same exact results.
2. When 3 or 4 LEDs are installed, the dash and HVAC lights will flash intermittently and randomly when headlights are off and will flash when brake lights are on (brake pedal depressed). If I use only two LEDs (along with two incandescents) the problem is resolved.
For now, I will just go with LEDs in the two outer tail lights and incandescents in the two inner tail lights. I do like the much brighter look of the LEDs and hope to be able to resolve this sometime in the future.
K9Leader
1. When all four LEDs are installed, the panic alarm goes off whenever the key fob lock button is pressed. With three (or fewer) LEDs installed along with old incandescents making up the difference, the issue goes away. Thought it might be a problem with the Sylvania Zevo bulbs, so I tried a different brand and same exact results.
2. When 3 or 4 LEDs are installed, the dash and HVAC lights will flash intermittently and randomly when headlights are off and will flash when brake lights are on (brake pedal depressed). If I use only two LEDs (along with two incandescents) the problem is resolved.
For now, I will just go with LEDs in the two outer tail lights and incandescents in the two inner tail lights. I do like the much brighter look of the LEDs and hope to be able to resolve this sometime in the future.
K9Leader
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 181
Likes: 32
From: Houston Texas
Still flummoxed by this. I installed load resistors on all four but that does not appear to have made any difference - I still get these two issues:
1. When all four LEDs are installed, the panic alarm goes off whenever the key fob lock button is pressed. With three (or fewer) LEDs installed along with old incandescents making up the difference, the issue goes away. Thought it might be a problem with the Sylvania Zevo bulbs, so I tried a different brand and same exact results.
2. When 3 or 4 LEDs are installed, the dash and HVAC lights will flash intermittently and randomly when headlights are off and will flash when brake lights are on (brake pedal depressed). If I use only two LEDs (along with two incandescents) the problem is resolved.
For now, I will just go with LEDs in the two outer tail lights and incandescents in the two inner tail lights. I do like the much brighter look of the LEDs and hope to be able to resolve this sometime in the future.
K9Leader
1. When all four LEDs are installed, the panic alarm goes off whenever the key fob lock button is pressed. With three (or fewer) LEDs installed along with old incandescents making up the difference, the issue goes away. Thought it might be a problem with the Sylvania Zevo bulbs, so I tried a different brand and same exact results.
2. When 3 or 4 LEDs are installed, the dash and HVAC lights will flash intermittently and randomly when headlights are off and will flash when brake lights are on (brake pedal depressed). If I use only two LEDs (along with two incandescents) the problem is resolved.
For now, I will just go with LEDs in the two outer tail lights and incandescents in the two inner tail lights. I do like the much brighter look of the LEDs and hope to be able to resolve this sometime in the future.
K9Leader
I did have the same issue as you when I have replaced all the OEM bulbs with LED's inside and outside. My horn will go crazy and dash light flash like crazy. I replace the hyper flash harness the problem is now fix.
The problem was the Hyper flash harness, so now I have LED every where no more problem.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
Update:
The hyperflash harness maker sent me a new flasher unit and I swapped that one in. Makes no difference - flashing dash/HVAC lights and panic alarm goes off with fob lock button.
Thinking maybe the front DRL/turn signal bulbs might be the problem, I pulled those but still have the same problem - of the six turn signal bulbs (two amber in front and four red in rear) I can only have four of them LEDs and the other two must be incandescents. So, since this project started because I wanted LEDs in the front so I wouldn't have to change them as often (difficulty of doing so) and so that the plastic housings would not get burned, I will go with LEDs in the front and in the rear (much easier to change and don't burn the plastic housings since they are not on as much) will be two LEDs and two incandescents. I will, however, get different amber LEDs for the front as the ones I have are a couple of years old (ordered with new plastic housings the last time I replaced an incandescent with the intention of wiring in the new housings and installing the LEDs the next time an incandescent burned out) and so are older technology and not nearly as bright as what is available today.
Admitting (temporary) defeat - will probably try again when I'm off next summer.
K9Leader@gmail.com
The hyperflash harness maker sent me a new flasher unit and I swapped that one in. Makes no difference - flashing dash/HVAC lights and panic alarm goes off with fob lock button.
Thinking maybe the front DRL/turn signal bulbs might be the problem, I pulled those but still have the same problem - of the six turn signal bulbs (two amber in front and four red in rear) I can only have four of them LEDs and the other two must be incandescents. So, since this project started because I wanted LEDs in the front so I wouldn't have to change them as often (difficulty of doing so) and so that the plastic housings would not get burned, I will go with LEDs in the front and in the rear (much easier to change and don't burn the plastic housings since they are not on as much) will be two LEDs and two incandescents. I will, however, get different amber LEDs for the front as the ones I have are a couple of years old (ordered with new plastic housings the last time I replaced an incandescent with the intention of wiring in the new housings and installing the LEDs the next time an incandescent burned out) and so are older technology and not nearly as bright as what is available today.
Admitting (temporary) defeat - will probably try again when I'm off next summer.
K9Leader@gmail.com
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,706
Likes: 4,549
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
^^ again, just buy halos and trash the stock housings and the LED bulbs you have now.
Tons brighter, better looking and hundreds of positive reviews that are decades old on this forum.
I was one of the first ones to get them back in the day and they're still as flawless and beautiful as in 2005.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ck-it-out.html
Tons brighter, better looking and hundreds of positive reviews that are decades old on this forum.
I was one of the first ones to get them back in the day and they're still as flawless and beautiful as in 2005.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ck-it-out.html
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 472
From: Newark Delaware
Update:
A Hail Mary as time ran out. I changed out the front DRL/turn signals with newer, brighter LEDs. Putting everything back together and decided to just try one more time with all four LEDs in the tail. And, miracle of miracles! Everything works.
The front LEDs were the problem. I had ordered them over three years ago and just finally installed them a few weeks ago.
K9Leader
A Hail Mary as time ran out. I changed out the front DRL/turn signals with newer, brighter LEDs. Putting everything back together and decided to just try one more time with all four LEDs in the tail. And, miracle of miracles! Everything works.
The front LEDs were the problem. I had ordered them over three years ago and just finally installed them a few weeks ago.
K9Leader
Good for you. Glad the problem is fixed.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 471
From: S.E. Pennsylvania
Update:
A Hail Mary as time ran out. I changed out the front DRL/turn signals with newer, brighter LEDs. Putting everything back together and decided to just try one more time with all four LEDs in the tail. And, miracle of miracles! Everything works.
The front LEDs were the problem. I had ordered them over three years ago and just finally installed them a few weeks ago.
K9Leader
A Hail Mary as time ran out. I changed out the front DRL/turn signals with newer, brighter LEDs. Putting everything back together and decided to just try one more time with all four LEDs in the tail. And, miracle of miracles! Everything works.
The front LEDs were the problem. I had ordered them over three years ago and just finally installed them a few weeks ago.
K9Leader
Great determination and resolve. Goodonya!