Aftermarket Tail Lights and LED's......

[LoJac963]

Hello Mike, my first time asking you a question!

I hope you can help as this is regarding aftermarket LED tail lights. I already had the LED front blinkers installed before all this. I decided to pair up the full LED front blinkers with LED tails. They came with a resistor box for each light but the instructions said not to install with years 05-09. I did not but the turn indicator lights on the cluster always stayed dimly lit. Installed the resistor boxes and that was resolved.

I also installed 520 lumen LED bulbs in my reverse lights and the lower bumper lights.

Here's the issue:

The other day the wife was behind my truck and told me the tail lights and rear lower bumper lights were flashing opposite of each other when I pushed the brake. Not understand what she was saying I had her push the brake and sure enough this is what they are doing:

Click the video:



Tonight I decided to put regular filament bulbs in both left and right front blinkers along with the lower rear bumper lights thinking the added resistance would resolve the issue and no luck. Even with only the LED tails and everything else regular bulbs they still blinked opposite when the brake was pressed.

I'm at a loss and have absolutely no idea why the tail light and lower bumper light would blink opposite when the signal is turned on and the brake pressed. IF the brake is not pressed they blink in unison.

Any ideas!?

BTW, sorry for the long post but I figured you're my best hope! :thumbs:

 

[RamRod]

Weird! I am not sure what would cause that!

Someone here will!

 

[LoJac963]

I actually had FYR, who've I've met see if his did the same as he has the same setup as I do. Low and behold his also alternate flash if the brake is on and the flasher turned on. I have a couple other things I'm going to try. If that doesn't do it then I have no clue and will just have to live with it. I love the tails too much to get rid of them. The idiot drivers here in AZ like to rear end people and this setup is BRIGHT! I figure if I can't fix it, its just an alternating HEY IDIOT my brake lights are on lol.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

you broke a ground or are missing a ground (maybe even two grounds). I had LED tail lights - I don't anymore for 2 reasons 1) they don't have side markers and are marginally illegal, and 2) a wire broke to the light because they didn't brace the wires in any way.... I'm guessing you have the same issue (broken wire).

 

[LoJac963]

That is a possibility, although these things are pretty stout. There are no side markers on the 2's tail lights, we have independent side markers. Still though I'll go over all the connections and sockets to make sure everything is good. Thanks.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

the way tail lights work is the power goes through the bulb to the ground. LED lights don't allow that path(ish) - I'm simplifying; so a bad ground on the circuit board will cause the power to travel to the "next best" ground; thus your other ground is fine... of course, the rub is either ground could be bad for this to happen....