LED Tail Light Issue

I installed VLEDs LEDs in my 2013 CrewMax Tundra. Recently, I noticed an issue with the tail lights. Whenever the the headlights or parking lights are on, and I turn on either turn signal, the tail light goes dim/bright with the turn signal. This happens with each individual turn signal on(only on the side with the signal activated) and with the emergency flashers on.

I have chatted with VLEDs for hours on this and we cannot figure out what is going on and they say they have never seen it before. I replaced the flasher relay last week and that did not fix the issue.

The issue happens with stock bulbs installed as well as the LEDS. If i unplug the resistors, then the issue goes away with the emergency flashers activated, but then I have the hyper flash issue with the turn signals

If anyone has any issues or suggestions or has seen this before, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or ideas.

Thanks!

 

Which leds did you install for the front and rear?

 

VLEDs V3 Triton. Amber/Amber in the front, not switch back. Same in the back for tail/brake and turn signals. Resistors are hardwired into the VLEDs system. Please let me know if you need more specific information.

 

The V3 is the original system before the V6. The V6 has the resistor wired in, and the V3 had a resistor box that plugged in. I have been using their products for years, to include the V3 and V6. How long have they been installed? What bulb socket is on the front?...should be 3157CK. Yours are definitely the V3 like in the bigger photo?

 

They have been installed for 6 years. The front ones are the 3157CK(i bought the kit back in 2015). The rear are 3157. The resistors I have are different than the ones you have pictured and they plug into the rear turn signal V3 wiring.

Here are pictures of my installed resistors and the controllers I have for the back brake and turn signals.

 

Gotcha. I was thinking a failure but it does it on both sides. I don't know what they would have in common between the 2 sides. One issue that I did have was the contacts in the bulb socket rusted out on the passenger side and I lost power to that bulb. The tail light area under the bed does get alot of water splashed up there. Just to rule it out I would check all contacts in all connectors for rust or corrosion on all 4 corners of the truck.

 

Do you need a resistor for the brake light?

 

No....only lights that blink.

 

Thanks. That is what VLEDs had me start with and I didn't see any. When you say bulb socket, you are talking about the stock plug that you plug the VLED part into, correct? If it rusted it out, did you just replace that socket, if so, how hard was that to do? It seems like there could be some corrosion or rust way down in the contacts that I maybe cannot see or missed. I did fill those sockets with dielectric grease to help prevent rust. I tried to get all the grease out to see in there, but that's difficult to do. Maybe it's worth replacing them if it's not too hard/expensive.

 

Yes that is the socket that I'm referring to. They unplug from the wiring harness on the truck.....smart move on Toyotas part. They are only ~$8.00 or so.

Here is the front socket. It is #10 in the first diagram.. https://www.sparksparts.com/v-2013-toyota-tundra--base--5-7l-v8-gas/electrical--bulbs-chassis

For reference, the rear harness is replaceable as an assembly if needed. It is #8 in the 3rd diagram when you scroll down.....same link as above.

 

Thanks! I appreciate your time and that link. I already spent $100 to replace the flasher relay as VLEDs thought that might be going bad, but that didn't fix the issue. Another $70(approx) might be worth it if it fixes the issue. Looks like a pretty easy exchange, depending on where the rear harnesses plug into and how deep into the body that goes.

 

No problem at all. I think the connection is under the bed so it wouldn't be bad at all. I don't see that harness being that long looking at this pic that I found.

 

I agree. Thanks again. Enjoy your week! I'll let you know if this fixes it or if VLEDs comes up with anything else for me to try to fix it.

 

Do you have an ohm reading across your hyperflash load resistor(s)?

Also the harness connector for those harnesses is literally right below the tail-lights, about 6 inches toward center on each side. The plug itself is pinned to a metal rail with a plastic barb.

 

I do. They are 3 Ohm resistors and both measured at 3.0

Awesome, that makes it sound pretty easy to replace the sockets in the front and the rear wiring harnesses. Thanks for the info!

 

3 ohms? That sounds ridiculously low, but maybe VLEDs designed their stuff for that. Standard hyperflash resistors average about 50 ohms. Might try a set of "normal" resistors before spending another 70 on harnesses. Plus they're cheap

 

Correction, 6 to 10 ohms, my eyes can't distinguish a 0 from a O

 

I appreciate your suggestion. Those are the resistors that VLEDs sells to use with their products that are plug and play, so I used those. Not sure I want to start splicing wires into a system that is already made for a plug and play resistor.

 

Have you tried using the resistor in the rear only?

 

Seems like sockets is gonna be the way to go. Notorious problem on these 2nd gens.

 

Sockets are a possibility, but he mentioned lights returned to normal function (hazard) when he removed the resistors. Personally, I don't see having bad sockets on both sides. I'd play with the resistors first myself.

 

We are all also assuming that you've checked your battery/alternator voltages, posts aren't corroded, chassis ground is good.

 

The resistors are already only installed in the rear. One on each side, there are no resistors in the front. VLEDs said the same thing about the sockets being issues with the 2nd gens and corrosion.

 

The battery posts are good, i disconnected it when I replaced the flasher relay. Made sure they were nice and clean before i reconnected it. I have not looked at the alternator at all though, I'll take a look at it and check the volts. The ground from the battery to the truck is solid and tight. Is there a ground anywhere else is the system that I should take a look at as well?

 

Battery Voltage is 12.8. With the car running, headlights on, fan on high and high heat, the voltage reads about 13.5.

I replaced both the front sockets and both of the rear wiring harnesses. The issue is still there. If I unplug both rear LED turn signals, the issue stops. If I leave the turn signals plugged in and unplug the resistors, the issue is gone. If unplug both LED turn signals, and plug in a stock bulb, the LED tail lights still go bright and dim with the stock bulb installed.

Does anyone know of any other grounds other than the ones in the front of the truck by the battery?

I'm afraid the the next thing to do is trace the wires and see if there is an issue, but how do I do that if they are all wrapped in protective covering?

Some have suggested that maybe the wires are touching somewhere and that is causing the tail lights to go bright and dim, if that was the case, wouldn't this happen anytime the turn signal is activated? In my mind, if the wires are touching somewhere, then the power going through the turn signal wiring is getting to the tail lights, so anytime the turn signal is on, the power should be going to the tail lights, thus activating them even when the tail lights are turned off.

Please excuse my ignorance if I am way off on something, I know very little about wiring and electricity.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Attached is a short video of the issue.