led tailights wont work

I bought some led c style bar tailights the other day and there was a problem I ran into where the brakes and everything would work fine until you turn on the running light. Once the running light is on everything but the brakes would work even if you have the turn signal those same LEDs would turn on unless you're trying to use the brake light. im suspecting it is something to do with tailights wiring harness connectors being damaged or burnt. i dont think i have any blown fuses if that helps.

 

Swap in the old ones. Does the problem continue?

If not, the issue is the new headlights. Sometimes these trucks do weird stuff with LEDs installed. Especially when it's aftermarket crap from mainland China that probably had really poor QC.

 

The old bulbs work which is kinda weird because LEDs are supposed use less power to power them. I'm wondering if I should try to connect them with the wiring harness

 

You do understand some lighting circuits on cars require resistance on the circuit, correct? Not all LED are compatible with these trucks. That's one of the points covered over here. Check the lighting section.

 

I'll check it out. It has a built in resistor on it

 

If resistors are built in, I'd expect the manufacturer knew. But you really never know what you're going to get. You may've also gotten a bad set of headlights, it's not uncommon with mainland PRC products. Looks a lot like a pair I saw on scAmazon. If you put the originals back in, and if you find they work, you know 100% it's something about that fixture. I'd consider exchanging for another pair OR find a new name brand fixture. Also, I'd check the reviews, a pair someone posted on here recently that looked just like those off scAmazon had several complaints about lighting issues after install.

I don't know if you'll find many on here that have anything like those who'd be able to chime in. It's not really the style most folks here go with, but there's nothing wrong with having your own style, as long as it's safe.

 

You're right I'll check out the reviews on Amazon. I ordered through a site called protuninglab all the way in California the first ones were deemed diffective and they sent me another one and this one doesn't work either. One of the 4 prong brake light connectors on the harness has what it looks like a brown burn mark but it doesn't work on the newer harness either.

 

Yeah bro, I'd strongly consider returning. You just got two red flags back to back. Get it out of there before it burns up some of your wiring.

I appreciate the heads-up on where you got it. Is there a brand name and p/n for that housing, so we know to avoid it?

 

I ended up cutting the wiring on it trying to wire it to the harness last night but I don't think they'll take them anymore. The part number for it is
03-TR00TLEDAC-C and they are made in Taiwan











Tap to expand

 

I also bought a third brake light from them and it's a pos. Literally the lense breaks when you screw it in and water gets trapped in it.

 

Usually Taiwanese stuff is pretty solid compared to mainland products. Interesting.

It may be worth telling you, obviously you can butt-splice the old harness back temporarily so you've got working tail lights, but at least on the driver's side, that tail light harness section is really short, it tees off at a connector that's just below the tail light housing pocket. I can give pics if you need it. Swapping to a new, intact harness is a 5-minute affair. Safety lighting is one of those things where you really want to do everything humanly possible to NOT cut the harnesses, and if you cut them, you want to go the extra mile to solder, dielectric grease and heatshrink instead of jankety ghetto shit like spicing, wire-nutting, electric taping, and other similarly hackish bullshit. That's how you end up getting your ride smashed, when improper connections break free and the person behind you can't see you're stopping ...

 

Oh, and here's a pic to give you an idea of how short a run the driver's side tail light harness is, super easy to go back to original with OEM. https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-1652#post-3252666

 

Yea, I'dagone with just LED bulbs in the stock housings, unless your stock housings are completely shit now.

 

I think OP may be going for a very specific suburban streetcrawler look on his truck.

 

I’ve seen a few people on the first gen group over on Facebook have to make some modifications to make those lights work. Might be worth a look over there, if you’re hell bent on keeping those lights.

 

They are a little on the fugly side aren't they?

 

Would seem like it. It's different in person tho

 

I ordered from Amazon this time if it doesn't work that just means there is something j need to change like the harness or somthnng

 

Another thought is unlike incandescant bulbs, LED only work with correct polarity. Try reversing.

 

Would that be the case for both of the connectors? If so Imma test all combinations in case

 

I just got the ones off Amazon and this time only one came on but the brake light goes off after a minute or so. I'm wondering if I should replace my connectors and see if that works