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LEDs having issues

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9.7K views 21 replies 4 participants last post by  kajmaya  
#1 ·
Hey what's up guys I'm having a problem with my LEDs that I've installed on my 07 tundra. Well I put them in the rear first brake light bulbs then turn signals then I did the front turn signals...

Well they started hyperflashing immediately so I installed resistors in the front and rear... now my tail lights do not work!!! At all!!!

Check all the fuses under hood and under dash and the tail light fuse was blown so I changed it and they still don't work...

Are there any other fuses, or more specifically, any other relays that control my tail lights?

My trailer tail/running lights are still working so I tried to tap into that wire as a temporary fix but it started smoking slightly and smelling after just a short period if time while they were turned on while hook up to my trailer plug...

I'm confused as all hell so any help would be appreciated... thanks In advance...
 
#2 ·
Heres my thinking. While I don't have your tundra year. I'm wondering if your signals are wired in series. You added 2 resistors that are in parallel with the lights. Try removing just one of the resistors and see what happens.

You said you smelled something smoking. Was that coming from the resistor or the wire? Lastly what is the resistor value?

Good luck
 
#6 ·
It is suggested 50W 6-Ohm for each LED bulb.

They also can get really hot so mount them with a good double sided tape to the body of the truck.

I used Vled resistors.
They cost more more but they a big and dissipate heat, have an easy tap harness, and VLR High Temp mounting tape to secure them.

https://www.vleds.com/shop-products/vlr-resistors/turn-signal-resistors/vlr-6-duotap.html

Something that gets that hot is not something I would go cheap on..
 
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#5 · (Edited)
Are you sure you connected your resistors to the proper wires?
Proper installation will have no effect on other circuits IE brake or parking lights..

Image


 
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#9 ·
Yes they are definitely installed correctly. But I have two on the rear and two on the fronts also...
And a funny thing kinda happened when I was hooking up the fronts. They were still hyperflashing after I installed the last two resistors in the front. It stopped as soon as I hooked up another ground wire from directly to the battery and to the negative of the front left turn signal wire. And without it it was also flashing the opposite side kinda lightly when either side turn signal was engaged. To it almost looked like the emergency flashers were on from looking at the fro t of the vehicle. Not on the dash tho...
 
#12 ·
I think you are way over complicating this, you shouldn't be changing fuses, splitting wires or tapping anything other than adding a HIGH quality resister.

If you really want LEDs in the lights, I would strongly recommend just starting over (before you toast something that will cost you big time) and adding the VLeds resistors like @1lowlife posted.

Your electrical system isn't something you want to play with too much IMO

just my .02
 
#13 · (Edited)
^ this...
A quality bulb and a big solid properly mounted resistor is a must for LED mods.

After trying several different brands of LED bulbs, it was trial and error to find good ones.
Some on Amazon state a resistor is not needed, but those quickly burned out.
Any LEDs on Amazon that come 10 in a package didn't last 3 months.

And beware of Headlight Revolution for smaller LED bulbs, the contacts on their bulbs are so thin they break under normal driving conditions.
Sure they will replace them, but after replacing my plate bulbs and front parking light bulbs twice (each), I bought a different bulb. .

I ended up with the following in my 2014.

Interior and license plates.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017VORB7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Front parking lights.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01732ZMPK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Third brake light and rear turn signal, nice red color.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07538J2Y3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cargo light..
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7SNRLA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Front turn signal/DRL
https://www.siriusledlights.com/products/ck-series-led-exterior-light-7440-amber

Brake/rear parking light, nice red color..
https://www.siriusledlights.com/products/ck-series-led-exterior-light-3157-red

Reverse backup light..
Expensive but bright as f(k..
XP80 (510 lumens) $90
https://www.diodedynamics.com/backup-leds-for-2014-2019-toyota-tundra-pair.html
 
#14 ·
Ok... correction. they are 6 ohm resistors that I installed. I put the sylvania brand resistors in it... they cost the same as the others that you recommended also.... so there's something going on... is there a really that controls the tail lights maybe? But here's the link to the resistors that I installed.

https://www.autozone.com/electrical...trical-and-lighting/relay-and-resistors/sylvania-relay-and-resistors/771931_0_0

Anyone else with any input? anything would be greatly appreciated. Because im pretty sure as of right now I can still put my factory bulbs back in and still have this same problem with my tail lights not working at all...

Thanks for your input and I certainly agree with u about my electrical not being something I want to mess with!!!
 
#22 ·
Well there will be voltage. You can't have current without voltage. I'm sure you will read something there.
It's the ohms law thing. (E=IR).

You can measure the resistance at the radio wires (the ones going into the head unit, you'll measure across power and ground) Then measure the voltage at the wires (the ones coming from the vehicle wiring harness probably red and black wares but i'm just guessing here). Take the resistance divided by the voltage and you'll get the current.

Hope this helps

Good luck
 
#18 · (Edited)
Hey what's up guys I'm having a problem with my LEDs that I've installed on my 07 tundra. Well I put them in the rear first brake light bulbs then turn signals then I did the front turn signals...
Did you test them as you went along, or did you install them all and then test them?
Brake/parking lights should have worked fine.
Turn signals should have hyper flashed, as you stated, resistors should have stopped it.

Keep in mind I'm NOT trying to insult you asking these questions, I'm just curious to what the issue is.
I'm not understanding why your brake/parking light doesn't work, it shouldn't have anything to do with your turn signal circuit.

I'm guessing the rear your truck looks like this, red brake/parking on top, amber turn signals on bottom.

Image


Does the front turn signal have DRLS or also function as a parking light?
If your front is DRL and/or serves as parking light and turn signal, that might be the connection to the rear brake/parking bulb.
But the brake and parking lights are separate circuits, neither of them work?

Image


So you didn't install a resistor to the brake/parking light correct?
Just the amber turn signals front and rear?

What brand LEDs did you use?
Are you sure you got the right bulbs?
Again not trying to insult you, I've done it myself.

What is odd is that they worked, but hyper-flashed.
Now after the resistors, they don't work at all.

Since you found the blown fuse, try putting your OEM bulbs back in a see if everything works.
It is does, sounds like your brand of LEDs might be the problem.

ALSO, many LED bulbs are polarity specific, they only work went plugged in correctly.
My plate LEDs didn't work at first, I had to pull them out and turn them around.
But since you stated they did work at one time, that may not be the issue.
 
#19 ·
Did you test them as you went along, or did you install them all and then test them?
Brake/parking lights should have worked fine.
Turn signals should have hyper flashed, as you stated, resistors should have stopped it.

Keep in mind I'm trying to insult you asking these questions, I'm just curious to what the issue is.
I'm not understanding why your brake/parking light doesn't work, it shouldn't have anything to do with your turn signal circuit.

I'm guessing the rear your truck looks like this, red brake/parking on top, amber turn signals on bottom.

Image


Does the front turn signal have DRLS or also function as a parking light?
If your front is DRL and/or serves as parking light and turn signal, that might be the connection to the rear brake/parking bulb.
But the brake and parking lights are separate circuits, neither of them work?

Image


So you didn't install a resistor to the brake/parking light correct?
Just the amber turn signals front and rear?

What brand LEDs did you use?
Are you sure you got the right bulbs?
Again not trying to insult you, I've done it myself.

What is odd is that they worked, but hyper-flashed.
Now after the resistors, they don't work at all.

Since you found the blown fuse, try putting your OEM bulbs back in a see if everything works.
It is does, sounds like your brand of LEDs might be the problem.

ALSO, many LED bulbs are polarity specific, they only work went plugged in correctly.
My plate LEDs didn't work at first, I had to pull them out and turn them around.
But since you stated they did work at one time, that may not be the issue.
he may have torched something trying all that he tried. sounds to me like something got fried as your 100% the brake lights should have nothing to do with the turn LEDs.

I always did one at a time and tested as I went to make sure if I had an issue I knew which one, however I got good resistors and LEDs so everything was smooth.

lets hope he didnt torch part of the fuse box/system:crying:
 
#20 ·
Yes that's exactly what my truck looks like. And you are exactly right. The front drl's do also serve as the parking lights and the turn signal.... but yea I did have to pull them out and switch them around at first due to them being installed in the wrong direction. And I am positive my tail lights worked after I installed the new LEDs but I'm not for sure that they did after I installed the resistors. I guess I'm just assuming that they did...