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So let me see if I understand this correctly. You would need to do a light tap of the brakes, release, and then another light tap of the brakes, all within what, 1-2 sec., for this to occur? If this is the case, it seems to me that this is not a normal emergency braking maneuver that you all seem to now be leery of with these tail lights. In most (all?) emergency braking situations I've ever required, it was a HARD on the brakes situation.
The only time I see the need for a tap-off-tap of the brakes is in a brake check scenario, and you shouldn't be doing that anyway.
Also, does this affect the third brake light as well, or does this light up normally?
To get the lights to attempt to go into turn signal mode, you would need to tap the brakes for around 0.7 seconds (turn signal pulse duration). At which point, the parking light brightness will turn off for about 0.7 seconds then when they realize that the turn signal pattern is not repeating, they will turn the parking light back on. This does not have any impact on the "Brake" light function or on the third brake light but rather the parking light intensity.
So let me see if I understand this correctly. You would need to do a light tap of the brakes, release, and then another light tap of the brakes, all within what, 1-2 sec., for this to occur? If this is the case, it seems to me that this is not a normal emergency braking maneuver that you all seem to now be leery of with these tail lights. In most (all?) emergency braking situations I've ever required, it was a HARD on the brakes situation.
The only time I see the need for a tap-off-tap of the brakes is in a brake check scenario, and you shouldn't be doing that anyway.
Also, does this affect the third brake light as well, or does this light up normally?
No, you duplicate this by pressing the brake pedal (with your headlights on so the tails are on the dim feature) and then releasing within 0.7 seconds, or whatever the time is. The lights then turn off completely, then turn back on. I will have to disagree with Cole here on this one and say that this is a safety concern since the lights turn completely off. On a darker color car at night, this could be very dangerous.
All you do is brake, and let off within 1 second and they'll shut off for a split second. If you brake and hold for longer than 1 second, they'll work as intended. Watch the 3rd brake light to get an understanding how long I am holding the pedal down.
I know plenty of times driving at night where you just tap the brakes and let off that fast, it doesn't feel abnormal recreating this at all.
All you do is brake, and let off within 1 second and they'll shut off for a split second. If you brake and hold for longer than 1 second, they'll work as intended. Watch the 3rd brake light to get an understanding how long I am holding the pedal down.
I know plenty of times driving at night where you just tap the brakes and let off that fast, it doesn't feel abnormal recreating this at all.
Ok, while I understand and agree that this should be fixed, I gotta go with Cole on this one as I still don't think it's as much of an issue as you are leading us to believe. If you are in a situation where it is THAT critical that your brake lights remain on, I find it hard to believe that you would only be tapping the brake for a split second.
Another question for Cole: Does this only happen on the gen 2 version of the tail lights, where the sequence option was reinstated or can this be duplicated on all generations of the tails?
Ok, while I understand and agree that this should be fixed, I gotta go with Cole on this one as I still don't think it's as much of an issue as you are leading us to believe. If you are in a situation where it is THAT critical that your brake lights remain on, I find it hard to believe that you would only be tapping the brake for a split second.
Another question for Cole: Does this only happen on the gen 2 version of the tail lights, where the sequence option was reinstated or can this be duplicated on all generations of the tails?
I have no problem proposing a revision to Morimoto - I think that it will result in the turn signal cycling bright/dim/bright/dim which is not my personal taste, but I have no problem re-bringing the thought to their attention.
Side note - the brake lights will remain on as long as the brake pedal is depressed, this would only flash off the parking light mode after a split-second on/off tap (identically to a turn signal cycle).
We don't have any first gen tails sitting here to test with on my car but I am almost certain that this is a second-gen thing as that is when the turn signal cycle changed.
Last edited by VetteLights; Jun 21, 2022 at 09:58 PM.
Ok, while I understand and agree that this should be fixed, I gotta go with Cole on this one as I still don't think it's as much of an issue as you are leading us to believe. If you are in a situation where it is THAT critical that your brake lights remain on, I find it hard to believe that you would only be tapping the brake for a split second.
Another question for Cole: Does this only happen on the gen 2 version of the tail lights, where the sequence option was reinstated or can this be duplicated on all generations of the tails?
Regardless, brake lights should not be shutting completely off on any car, period. If you do not fully agree with that then that's your opinion I suppose. Does not matter if it's only for a split second, the fact of the matter is, the lights turn 100% off, when the lights are on, which means you are likely driving at night, which is not safe.
I think they're an amazing product just this seems to be an oversight is all. I tested with the turn signals too and yeah they turn off completely between flashes when dimmed. I was under the impression they went dim bright dim bright like normal lights. I'm bummed because I like them so much. Was hoping it was fixable with a harness or something initially
Yeah, brake lights not working is just a minor oversight. This "far exceeds the quality" of what, exactly? I've had 5 different sets of after market tail lights as well as the stockers and NONE of them pulled this sh*t.
Yeah, brake lights not working is just a minor oversight. This "far exceeds the quality" of what, exactly? I've had 5 different sets of after market tail lights as well as the stockers and NONE of them pulled this sh*t.
What's a proper solution? Lot of people are out of return window now anyway. I highly doubt the manufacturer is going to make changes over a few complaints tbh.
I did more tests today. I pressed the brake pedal quickly when I was moving forward, and I pressed the brake pedal quickly when I was reversing. If you look at the video, there are also abnormal symptoms that cause animation effects when reversing.
Can you see this as normal? Animated effect occurs and the symptoms of lights being turned off. These two seem abnormal to be considered normal.
It can't be helped because the programming is like that, but it's a little disappointing. It's very rare to press the brake pedal many times fast, so it's hard for the car behind to see this.
I did more tests today. I pressed the brake pedal quickly when I was moving forward, and I pressed the brake pedal quickly when I was reversing. If you look at the video, there are also abnormal symptoms that cause animation effects when reversing.
Can you see this as normal? Animated effect occurs and the symptoms of lights being turned off. These two seem abnormal to be considered normal.
It can't be helped because the programming is like that, but it's a little disappointing. It's very rare to press the brake pedal many times fast, so it's hard for the car behind to see this.
I have no problem proposing a revision to Morimoto - I think that it will result in the turn signal cycling bright/dim/bright/dim which is not my personal taste, but I have no problem re-bringing the thought to their attention.
Side note - the brake lights will remain on as long as the brake pedal is depressed, this would only flash off the parking light mode after a split-second on/off tap (identically to a turn signal cycle).
We don't have any first gen tails sitting here to test with on my car but I am almost certain that this is a second-gen thing as that is when the turn signal cycle changed.
I'll try to check this on my first gen lights and report back.
In the mean time, could this be fixed with another optional wiring harness plug. Leave connected for bright-dim-bright-dim or disconnect for bright-off-bright-off, so that individuals could chose which they prefer? I mean, if it's just a programming thing, it shouldn't be that difficult tow program in another connector to select which option is used. This would, of course, only work for the NEXT gen of lights if they do it. I don't see how this could be retrofit to the older lights, much like how the gen 1 lights do not get the sequential mode.
I'll try to check this on my first gen lights and report back.
In the mean time, could this be fixed with another optional wiring harness plug. Leave connected for bright-dim-bright-dim or disconnect for bright-off-bright-off, so that individuals could chose which they prefer? I mean, if it's just a programming thing, it shouldn't be that difficult tow program in another connector to select which option is used. This would, of course, only work for the NEXT gen of lights if they do it. I don't see how this could be retrofit to the older lights, much like how the gen 1 lights do not get the sequential mode.
I reached out to Morimoto and also spoke to Cole by phone earlier. Morimoto confirmed this is how they are supposed to work. Don’t expect a revision. Sequential would have to be removed. It has to do with bright-off vs bright-dim. To keep sequential it would have to be changed to a different animation which would then be a safety hazard, as the lights would light up much slower.
I reached out to Morimoto and also spoke to Cole by phone earlier. Morimoto confirmed this is how they are supposed to work. Don’t expect a revision. Sequential would have to be removed.
I'm actually not a fan of the sequential mode of the tails anyway, so I wouldn't matter to me. But this answer leads to another question, does this only happen if you have sequential mode enabled on a gen 2 light?
I'm actually not a fan of the sequential mode of the tails anyway, so I wouldn't matter to me. But this answer leads to another question, does this only happen if you have sequential mode enabled on a gen 2 light?
It doesn’t matter. I have sequential disabled and it still happens.
I reached out to Morimoto and also spoke to Cole by phone earlier. Morimoto confirmed this is how they are supposed to work. Don’t expect a revision. Sequential would have to be removed. It has to do with bright-off vs bright-dim. To keep sequential it would have to be changed to a different animation which would then be a safety hazard, as the lights would light up much slower.
The irony is, it's already a safety hazard that your rear end has the capability go to pitch black on command...at night...
The irony is, it's already a safety hazard that your rear end has the capability go to pitch black on command...at night...
Although I agree that this IS a safety issue, I don't agree that it's as bad as you make it sound. You are making it out that on command, you can make your tail lights go off for an indeterminate length of time. They are off for UNDER 1 second.
I have stated earlier in this thread that if you are in a situation where a light tap of the brakes is required (the tap that would initiate this effect), you are NOT likely in the safety critical situation where the lights being off for under a second would make a serious difference. The only scenario that does not fit my previous statement that I can think of is if you are in a brake check type of scenario where YOU are DIRECTLY causing the safety issue.
Your reasoning is exactly why a toaster has to have a warning label saying do not use while in a bathtub full of water or don't stick a utensil inside while plugged in.