LED Tails Not Working Right

[Big Tap]

I'm picking up my Tahoe from paint tomorrow FINALLY. It should look pretty good, but the shop is still having issues with the LED tails not working correctly. They're going to put the stock one's back on for now, but once I get it, I'm going to tear into it and see what is going on.

The issue he said they're having is that there are no brake lights and when they do hit the brakes, the dash lights dim. When they re-install the originals, they work perfectly. I've heard some people talk about polarity issues but I'm not exactly sure what to look for if it is this type of problem. I thought there was only one way to plug them in and were somewhat idiot proof, but could there be something not wired correctly from the manufacturer that I need to look at? Anyone else have this issue?

[tast101]

If you have the LEDs like mine, this is how you have to install them:

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178


I know, my brake pedal switch was replaced by the dealer, because my brake lights wouldn't light up. Make sure you check the fuses, because if you hooked them up wrong the fuses will pop.

[Fyrcaptain]

There is a polarity issue, mine were used and only one set had labels on the wires stating to "line up with the black wire" on the stock bulb sockets.

I didn't catch this at first and I had the fast blink turn signal issue, and no running lights.
Also the truck's light sockets do not line up with the way you would think the sockets should go on the LEDs, so I had that issue plus the polarity issue.

It took a while to figure out, but once figured out they worked flawlessly.
Just remember that whatever way you hook them up on one side, you need to hook them up the same way on the oppisite side, or they won't work correctly either.

Mine actually have the resistor or whatever box on the back.

I think that is why mine were returned, the original purchaser had trouble getting them right (or they were totally fucked up and I just happened to find the right combination) and sent them back, allowing me to get a smokin deal on them off of ebay

[chistoso]

When I installed mine, the fuse would blow when the polarity was reversed. Blew 3 fuses before I figured it out. Voltage meter is your friend here..

[tast101]

So did you get the problem fixed?

[Big Tap]

Yes, got the problem fixed this weekend. Holy hell were these things wrong. The pins on the LED harness were not even close to being in the right spots for the trucks harness, causing electrical hell to break loose. I ended up taking all of the pins out of the LED harness and ohming out the stock taillight harness, then replicating it on the LED harness. Luckily the pins just popped in and out, so I didn't have to hack the harness up with splicing and what not. It was a pain, but they now work great.

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

Yes, got the problem fixed this weekend. Holy hell were these things wrong. The pins on the LED harness were not even close to being in the right spots for the trucks harness, causing electrical hell to break loose. I ended up taking all of the pins out of the LED harness and ohming out the stock taillight harness, then replicating it on the LED harness. Luckily the pins just popped in and out, so I didn't have to hack the harness up with splicing and what not. It was a pain, but they now work great.

pics lit up? just had to ask...lol.

[blueflamed03]

you'd think these places that made these would make them plug and play by now.........

[Big Tap]

Yeah, you'd think they would have done it right by now, but it was almost as if they arbitrarily put the pins in random slots in the harness. It was jacked up.

No pics of them yet. I just got it back from paint on Friday. I still need to do a few things to it, but here is a picture I got with my phone. I'll probably try to get some more as soon as I install the drop and exhaust.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z272/utmascot/TahoeNew.jpg

[blueflamed03]

is that yours??? ^^^^^

[Big Tap]

Yeah, that's mine.

[denalianyone]

very sexy Big Tap, love the color

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

looking good!

[Modded]

Nice job man, I like color alot and the hood!!!

[Big Tap]

Thanks guys. It was a long time coming, but the end result is pretty nice. Like I said, I plan on getting more pictures once I've had a chance to put everything on it.

The color is BMW Toledo Blue Metallic. It's kind of a steelish blue with a hint of purple pearl in the right light.

[blueflamed03]

dang, ok, we need a full layout and pics :D

[fierodough]

I have a small problem with mine...

No fast blink or anything during the day... But at night when all the lights turn on, I get a fast blink when signaling and braking at the same time. (pretty much at any street corner) Looks like the signal light, brake lights and marker lights are competing for the same bank of LEDS, causing a fast blink... I'm not sure if my tails have any jumpers to solve this..


here are mine:
http://i1003.photobucket.com/albums/af156/fierodough/IMG_0191.jpg

[Modded]

Not to thread whore, but do you guys know about how much does it cost to paint these SUVs?

[Big Tap]

[QUOTE=fierodough;32423]I have a small problem with mine...

No fast blink or anything during the day... But at night when all the lights turn on, I get a fast blink when signaling and braking at the same time. (pretty much at any street corner) Looks like the signal light, brake lights and marker lights are competing for the same bank of LEDS, causing a fast blink... I'm not sure if my tails have any jumpers to solve this..

The first thing you want to do is check polarity, but I think it sounds like it's right. It could be like mine where the pins for the brakes and blinkers are in the wrong locations, causing the fast blink.


As far as painting a Tahoe, if it's a normal shop, expect to pay anywhere from $4K-$6K for a paint job from start to finish for a basic paint job. There are better deals to be had if you can get someone that maybe works at a paint job to do it on the side, but sometimes those people are hard to come by.

[joes 00 Hoe]

A friend of mine has an 07 x-cab Silverado, w/ a flatbed on it, and he has some LED tail lights, and they blink fast too! He was complaining about it, and I have noticed that a lot of trucks/SUVs w/ LED tail lights, the lights tend to blink fast! ( compared to regular lights ) I know this didn't really help, just an observation I made! LOL

As far as paint....Big Tap is right on the money!

[fierodough]

I heard of this illusive digital or electronic flasher that will flash at the same rate no matter how many lights or leds you have. They come in audible and quiet (no blink sound)

Only problem is, I can't find out what model works on our trucks. I am also having a hard time finding the flasher in the Escalade! I have a fuse panel next to the driver's door. I can heer the flasher clicking and I can even feel the fuse panel ticking from the flasher but can't find the damn thing!

[tast101]

I know for the ones I got there are resistors or whatever inside that prevent this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/2364707261_96e4772b48.jpg

[fierodough]

Mine came with resistor packs as well. But it still dosent't work quite right..

Here is more infor on the digital flasher

http://grote.com/product.php?product_number=44140


Cost approx $140!! Yikes!

Anyone have any leads on some better prices?

[thejstar]

that is probably the right price, because of the towing package, we do not get a standard 5-pin flasher relay like all the cars on the road.

[fierodough]

that is probably the right price, because of the towing package, we do not get a standard 5-pin flasher relay like all the cars on the road.

$140 for a flasher that has no more then $10 in parts? I am in the wrong business! LOL!

[thejstar]

i agree, if you are electronically inclined, tear apart a stock flasher unit and figure out what it will take to convert it. i would bet you could buy a $10 electronic flasher from autozone and retrofit it into the stock unit...

[fierodough]

i agree, if you are electronically inclined, tear apart a stock flasher unit and figure out what it will take to convert it. i would bet you could buy a $10 electronic flasher from autozone and retrofit it into the stock unit...


I think you are on to something here! I will give it a shot.

[BlacknBlue03]

I have no running lights on the new led tail lights i have. I have the running lights in the front but nothing else. Does anyone know how to fix this problem it it's very frustrating. I love the way they look but i don't know if i can deal with not having running lights. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have checked all the fuses and they are fine. Is there a way the relay could be bad even though i have front running lights and dashboard light.