Patrick - LED Taillight problems

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Remember I explained to you how to check the voltage drop over your trailer relay? And that it was possibly eating up way too much?

Yes, and I've already changed out the trailer relay unit once and not in a mood to do it again. The 2357 bulbs are an improvement although not as good as the LEDs.

If the voltage drop across my trailer relay is too great (?) then there is a good chance it could be too great over Large Arbor's relay also. His car is closer to yours which are older than mine - maybe there is a problem with the newer trailer relays.

Yes, the turn signal flasher and brake light element worked fine on my ERA flasher - just no tail lights.

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Yes, and I've already changed out the trailer relay unit once and not in a mood to do it again. The 2357 bulbs are an improvement although not as good as the LEDs.

Yes, the turn signal flasher and brake light element worked fine on my ERA flasher - just no tail lights.

Tail lights (parking lights, I hope) are completely separate from the brake/signal circuit, including the relay board. You must trace the red wire from the back to the connection at the driver's footbox to the fusebox, where the front and rear connections split.

[DanEC]

Bob - to recap the earlier part of the thread - my tail lights and turn signals and brake lights all work fine with standard bulbs.

Installed the LED bulbs and the turn signal lights and brake lights work but the tail lights no longer lit up when lights are turned on.

Disconnected the lead at the tail lights for the turn signal and brake light circuit and then the tail lights worked (lit up) when lights turned on. Reconnect leads at tail light bulb holder for turn signal and brake lights and tail lights went off again.

Reversed leads on tail light bulb holder and tail lights worked OK with lights on (but burning on brighter bulb filitment). Turn signals and brake lights didn't work.

But to be clear - everything works just fine with 1157 or 2357 bulbs used.

Dan

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Bob - to recap the earlier part of the thread - my tail lights and turn signals and brake lights all work fine with standard bulbs.

Installed the LED bulbs and the turn signal lights and brake lights work but the tail lights no longer lit up when lights are turned on.

Disconnected the lead at the tail lights for the turn signal and brake light circuit and then the tail lights worked (lit up) when lights turned on. Reconnect leads at tail light bulb holder for turn signal and brake lights and tail lights went off again.

Reversed leads on tail light bulb holder and tail lights worked OK with lights on (but burning on brighter bulb filitment). Turn signals and brake lights didn't work.

But to be clear - everything works just fine with 1157 or 2357 bulbs used.

Dan

If the the lights worked with standard bulbs, but not with the LEDs, the only conclusion I come up with is there is something wrong with the bulbs or their connections. Have you tried testing the bulbs when they are not in the socket?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

If the the lights worked with standard bulbs, but not with the LEDs, the only conclusion I come up with is there is something wrong with the bulbs or their connections. Have you tried testing the bulbs when they are not in the socket?

... or, he has it goofily wired in such a way that, when everything is on, current is flowing in the opposite direction for the tail lights. That would explain why it lights with incandescent bulbs, but not LEDs.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

... or, he has it goofily wired in such a way that, when everything is on, current is flowing in the opposite direction for the tail lights. That would explain why it lights with incandescent bulbs, but not LEDs.

As you know, ERA wiring harness is all pre-fab and plug & play. Mine is a pretty straightforward car without any power options (radio, MSD equip, additional lights, ect. Only changes have been adding a lead for the Holley electric choke and only harness issues during build were two leads found reversed in one plug and needing to add a resister to energize the charging circuit.

But enough of this - hope they work fine in his car. They are significantly brighter.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

If the the lights worked with standard bulbs, but not with the LEDs, the only conclusion I come up with is there is something wrong with the bulbs or their connections. Have you tried testing the bulbs when they are not in the socket?

Yes, I did extensively and both elements in both bulbs worked fine. I used a battery charger on the 2 amp setting to power them up. They are now installed in my 67 GTX and working fine.