Installing your LED Tails

[tast101]

How to install your LED Tails.

We had a nice little thread on TF, and I figured I'd make a new one since the tails don't come with any instructions.

For this model, they have a clear version and a red version. Both come normal or smoked.

When you install your taillights, I would suggest numbering you light sockets and writing the corresponding # on the housing, just incase you need to install your old tail and to make things easier.

There are two metal clips that the screws catch on. These are located on your old taillights. You will pull these off, takes a little muscle and prying. But be careful, so you don’t break the plastic on your taillights.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii155/tast101/LEDtail.jpg
When you hook up the harness' you want to follow the order above.
The Running lights/Brake light will be at the top.
The Blink will be in the middle.
The reverse light will be at the bottom and you will use the bulb for this.

If your lights aren't working check your fuses under the hood. I had a problem with my brake light switch, and it needed to be replaced.

(Don't remember his name off the top of my head, but on TF.com he had a little wiring diagram to have both the blinker and brake light to work in unison like the esky lights) Hopefully he'll join up and chime in.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2364700733_34c1fe296f.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/2364707261_96e4772b48.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2423545343_b274caca8a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2424374494_6d561052e5.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2365542136_1819284b11.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2027/2507678014_656586a10e.jpg

Here's some pics of the non smoked version:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/kos_z3ro/DSCF6638.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/kos_z3ro/DSCF6575.jpg

They can be purchased on ebay:
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZ2006Q20yukonQ20ledQ20taillightsQQ_armrsZ 1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ

Found a vid:
zJ0grZP6zAg

Feel free to add on other LED brands/models and if I forgot something add it.

[SSmurdered]

im still throwing up the idea of just getting a set of led tails for my hoe which has barn doors. i have heard of peeps makin them fit and getting a certain pair that you dont need to mod to fit. anyone have led tails in there hoe/kon with barn doors RIGHT NOW. let me see some pix and how hard was it to mod if mods were needed?

[tast101]

there's one of them that fits barn yard doors. I forget which one it is but I'm not sure about these.

[Fyrcaptain]

Are yours smoked....they look a little dark but not too bad. How's the daytime brightness?

I like the pic of the stock and new tails in place, shows the difference well.

Please explain how the esky tails blink.

Thanks

[tast101]

Are yours smoked....they look a little dark but not too bad. How's the daytime brightness?

I like the pic of the stock and new tails in place, shows the difference well.

Please explain how the esky tails blink.

Thanks

My are smoked, but they are purchased like that.
These are the regular ones:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii155/tast101/tlyd-den00led-rc.jpg

These are the smoked ones:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii155/tast101/img.jpg

There's no problem seeing them, from behind they look like this.
The LED light reflects in the housing.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2424374494_6d561052e5.jpg

Notice how only the top section is lit up. With the Eskys I believe the whole light lights up and blinks (both sections), With the LEDs only the middle section will blink while the top stay on constantly.

[bwilly20]

guess i missed this thread on TF when i put mine on. it took me an hour to realize whi i couldn't get the screws to bite on the new lights. i was pissed. i created a thread on TF and everything askin for help, felt like a damn idiot.......



:emotions122:

[tast101]

guess i missed this thread on TF when i put mine on. it took me an hour to realize whi i couldn't get the screws to bite on the new lights. i was pissed. i created a thread on TF and everything askin for help, felt like a damn idiot.......



:emotions122:
Sorry I wasn't on TF as much as GMFS, if I woulda seen it I woulda help'd but yea the older thread did have those instructions.

[danimalmax]

here are the tail lights i got, i love them, but they dont seem to be on ebay anymore

http://i42.tinypic.com/wv3a77.jpg

this is the mod i added afterwards to solve the loss of cruise control. i did this because its cooler than getting an equalizer or resistor, lol :secret:

http://i43.tinypic.com/161nebk.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2zdximb.jpg

[jmildoc]

what are those?

[Grocery Getter]

here are the tail lights i got, i love them, but they dont seem to be on ebay anymore

http://i42.tinypic.com/wv3a77.jpg

this is the mod i added afterwards to solve the loss of cruise control. i did this because its cooler than getting an equalizer or resistor, lol :secret:

http://i43.tinypic.com/161nebk.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2zdximb.jpg
yeah, what the hell are those, do they stop the rapid blinker?

[danimalmax]

yeah, what the hell are those, do they stop the rapid blinker?

i didnt have the rapid blinker problem, i had loss of cruise control, it didnt work at all, so after a trip with the trailer hooked up, i saw how this could solve the problem, so i tied these into the trailer wiring that is right behind the bumper, plus u get red light that light up the ground when i turn my blinkers on or press the brakes

[Gmoney_2010]

how do you loose cruise control with leds?

[road1will]

how do you loose cruise control with leds?

Yea i dont understand why LED tail lights would cause you to lose cruise control

[bwilly20]

do tell, not saying i don't believe you danimal, but i'm interested to know what kind of short or whatever you had.

[tast101]

how do you loose cruise control with leds?

I didn't loose my cruise control with mine. Only thing that happened to me right after I installed em, my brake switch went out (near the pedal), so that caused my brake lights not to light up and my cruise control not to work. So it may be something else not just the LEDS.

[danimalmax]

its because of the leds using such low power that the car thinks its a burnt bulb, and reason tast101s were still working is because his probably has a resistor built in, mine didnt

and im not the first this has happened to, in fact if you go to autozone and look by the light bulbs, they have little resistor/equalizer packs to fix this if you have installed led bulbs in your tails, they specifically say its for rapid blinkers and cruise control problems

[bwilly20]

its because of the leds using such low power that the car thinks its a burnt bulb, and reason tast101s were still working is because his probably has a resistor built in, mine didnt

and im not the first this has happened to, in fact if you go to autozone and look by the light bulbs, they have little resistor/equalizer packs to fix this if you have installed led bulbs in your tails, they specifically say its for rapid blinkers and cruise control problems



good to know, never heard that before.

[SSmurdered]

:happy107:its because of the leds using such low power that the car thinks its a burnt bulb, and reason tast101s were still working is because his probably has a resistor built in, mine didnt

and im not the first this has happened to, in fact if you go to autozone and look by the light bulbs, they have little resistor/equalizer packs to fix this if you have installed led bulbs in your tails, they specifically say its for rapid blinkers and cruise control problems

[tast101]

its because of the leds using such low power that the car thinks its a burnt bulb, and reason tast101s were still working is because his probably has a resistor built in, mine didnt

and im not the first this has happened to, in fact if you go to autozone and look by the light bulbs, they have little resistor/equalizer packs to fix this if you have installed led bulbs in your tails, they specifically say its for rapid blinkers and cruise control problems

Nice to know, Mine are probably just like you said because there's a little box on the back side of mine.

[jmildoc]

yep that is true I dont have cruise control right now, i did install resistors on my blinkers to fix rapid blink but not the brake so my cruise doesnt work. and all i did was add LED bulbs to my tails and the front corner blinker

[danimalmax]

Nice to know, Mine are probably just like you said because there's a little box on the back side of mine.

yeah i wish mine had built in resistors, could have saved me some trouble, but i did get a cool little mod out of it

[jmildoc]

so if you are pulling a trailer then your cruise works just fine? so all i have to do is mock up a system like that that plugs into my 7 way harness?

[danimalmax]

so if you are pulling a trailer then your cruise works just fine? so all i have to do is mock up a system like that that plugs into my 7 way harness?

thats how i figured out the solution, yeah

you could do that, i just went the hidden route, splicing into the plug thing from the backside of the bumper

[Krunchy]

I didn't loose my cruise control with mine. Only thing that happened to me right after I installed em, my brake switch went out (near the pedal), so that caused my brake lights not to light up and my cruise control not to work. So it may be something else not just the LEDS.
All i lost doing mine was a boat load of fuses i put them in wrong and blew out all kinds of them

[fatnlowtahoe504]

yea when i bought mine, i did not have the loss of cruise control or anything it had a resistor built in, glad i paid a little extra for my LEDs.... http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a250/kandywhips504/rearend.jpg

---------- Post added at 01:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 AM ----------

that and ive been having my LEDs over 3yrs now and not one LED has gone out on them

[danimalmax]

my brother pointed out that my third brake light has a few leds out on it, anyone have experience with fixing that? or do i have to go and buy a whole new one?

[Yang1815]

My LED tails have resistor built in for the turn signals but not brakes. I just got some load equalizer from ebay and will install them this weekend to fix the cruise control problem.

I suspect it also interferes with my remote start in case anybody is having problem with theirs.

[heftylefty58]

Dang. I never would have guessed LED tails could cause so many different problems....

So once I upgrade my OEM tails to LED, I need to check the following:
1) fast blinkers
2) cruise control
3) remote start

Anything else?

[tast101]

I haven't had any problems like that, just my brake pedal switch went out and had to be replaced and then my rear lights started working.

[danimalmax]

remote start? i dont think that would be affected at all

[Big Tap]

im still throwing up the idea of just getting a set of led tails for my hoe which has barn doors. i have heard of peeps makin them fit and getting a certain pair that you dont need to mod to fit. anyone have led tails in there hoe/kon with barn doors RIGHT NOW. let me see some pix and how hard was it to mod if mods were needed?

No mods needed.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z272/utmascot/tahoe4.jpg

[BOSS]

my brother pointed out that my third brake light has a few leds out on it, anyone have experience with fixing that? or do i have to go and buy a whole new one?

No experience FIXING one but I'm soldering new LED bulbs together on a corner light as we speak, it can be done I guess is my point..its a pain in the ass just fyi and takes time..id just buy a new one on eslay

You'd need:
soldering gun for circuit boards (Radio Shack)
solder (Radio Shack)
heat gun (home depot has good ones)
2 large flat screwdrivers for prying apart the lense
patience....

BOSS

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

The loomed part of the harness is terminated with a plug just like the stock harness just goes under the yd to the stock plug location. I just hadn't seen LED tails with a complete wired harness yet. Sorry no pics of them lit up yet.

http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww192/oklagmcruiser2/kim6-14-09229.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww192/oklagmcruiser2/kim6-14-09230.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww192/oklagmcruiser2/kim6-14-09226.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww192/oklagmcruiser2/kim6-14-09228.jpg

[z3ro]

I've been running these tails (made by Sonar) in my truck for months now with absolutely no issues at all.

I had the fast blink problem when I put in the front LED's and the resistors didn't fix it. I cut the pin on the flasher and the lights flash slightly faster than stock but not at warp speed like before.

---------- Post added at 11:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 AM ----------

Dang. I never would have guessed LED tails could cause so many different problems....

So once I upgrade my OEM tails to LED, I need to check the following:
1) fast blinkers
2) cruise control
3) remote start

Anything else?

Depends on the light. If you get the Sonar brand lights, everything is wired for true plug and play. I was actually pleasantly surprised at how nice the lights are and that they don't leak whatsoever.

[SSmurdered]

thanks BIGTAP!

[yukonjacks]

What happened to the barn door question? Can we get back on track? I'm trying to find out if there are any barn door tails or at the very least a mod to do an install

[LordGeek]

I like the idea of having LED tails .. but what is holding me back from buying .. the fact that I have yet to find a full set that has AMBER indicators (blinkers).

I have an 02 Hoe .. and I like the amber and want to keep the amber .. so unless anyone knows of a company that has LED taillights that are white (reverse), red (brakes) and amber (indicators) .. I'll stay with what I have :(

[tast101]

I like mine being all red. Don't really care about having the amber blinker.

Which question YukonJacks, The ones with the reverse in the middle are the only drop in ones. Not too many people are down to start cutting up some tails. So the one that was posted in the other thread was the first I've seen about someone modding them to fit.

[Yuk_Nali_6.0]

I like the idea of having LED tails .. but what is holding me back from buying .. the fact that I have yet to find a full set that has AMBER indicators (blinkers).

I have an 02 Hoe .. and I like the amber and want to keep the amber .. so unless anyone knows of a company that has LED taillights that are white (reverse), red (brakes) and amber (indicators) .. I'll stay with what I have :(

Really?? I bought my LED tails so I could get rid of the amber..lol. Seriously though, I never understood amber on the rear, especially with red mirror signals.

[Modded]

I would not want Amber either, its old blinker style lol.
I do know IPCW has a model for my year with Amber turn signals....

[LordGeek]

IPCW .. who are they .. do they have a site I can check out ?

[tast101]

IPCW .. who are they .. do they have a site I can check out ?

http://www.inprocarwear.com/

http://www.inprocarwear.com/images/productimages/LEDT-313CR-trk_big.jpg

They have some LED rear vent for you NNBS guys.

[SSmurdered]

http://www.inprocarwear.com/

http://www.inprocarwear.com/images/productimages/ledt-313cr-trk_big.jpg

they have some led rear vent for you nnbs guys.

holy f@ck thats ugly!

[BlackDenali]

http://www.inprocarwear.com/

http://www.inprocarwear.com/images/productimages/LEDT-313CR-trk_big.jpg

They have some LED rear vent for you NNBS guys.

:eek:
RT should buy those to match his LED Door Handles!!!! :doublepuke:
:rice:

[Robert.K]

Has anybody installed led bulbs like you can do on the interior in there brake lights? the set i have now I love, but would love to have a led look from them.

[Tahoe03mm]

i never noticed my cruise control stop working until the other day, yet again i rarely use it.. I like to feel in control lol I did install some LED taillights though i'll have to look into installing load equalizers in-line

quick question... what am I looking for in a load resistor and where do I wire it in?

[vatahoelt]

thanks for this thread. got my new tails from Chistos and installed them this morning. Took me about 15 mins.

I did have the fast blinker on the right one, but i switched the plug and it went back to normal.

[robb.]

4 months ago i purchased a set of the SONAR LED lights.....Clear/with black housing....and tinted dark
these lights are pretty much the same as the majority of you have.
just 2 wks ago some 1 backed into my HOE at a parkinglot....and well they broke the Plastic covering....
I always wondered about the rectangular red piece on the housing....y it didnt light up.........turns out its nothing but empty space.......but yet there's enough space to maybe put in a small light..
question is....which light should be put there..and where would it be wired from?
it can be used as an extra brake light or turn signal..

[Yuk_Nali_6.0]

LOL that's called a reflector. It's not supposed to light up.

[robb.]

doesnt reflect much of anything ....especially if the lights are smoked.......so lets put it into some good use

[ayeplussjr]

These issues that people are having when installing the LED tails (brake light not working, cruise control not working, etc). Are these happening with the LED tails purchased off of ebay or are they happening with the more expensive LED tails from IPCW, Anzo or Recon as well?

[justin146]

There were some questions about LEDs with barn doors. These fit mine with a little shimming of the screws with washers because the doors rubbed a little. The only problem with them is that I lost cruise. I bought a $10 resistor kit from Autozone to fix it though.

[boardrider05150]

Hi, awesome tailights. can you tell me what brands have the built in resistors in the led tails? Thanks,

[tast101]

Hi, awesome tailights. can you tell me what brands have the built in resistors in the led tails? Thanks,

Sonar.

[BlacknBlue03]

I have an 03 tahoe and recently installed the smoked led taillights. The issue i have is my running lights don't come on but my brake and signal lights work fine. I have all the other parking lights and interior lights. I have checked all the fuses related too the parking lamps with no success. Does anyone know how to fix this. I also have an issue with the directionals flashing quickly. I know that is because the LEDs pull less voltage than the regular light but i would really like to fix that as well.

[polobuds]

i have an 03 tahoe as well and have the smoked LED Tails from X3 racing on ebay. they have the built in resistors, and i have had no problems with anything since i've installed it two months ago. With the ones I have (plug n play) you have to make sure the wires are connected properly (ie black with black). If you reverse it, you will get your turn signals flashing quickly. Just reverse them and everything should work fine

[mando2776]

How to install your LED Tails.

We had a nice little thread on TF, and I figured I'd make a new one since the tails don't come with any instructions.

For this model, they have a clear version and a red version. Both come normal or smoked.

When you install your taillights, I would suggest numbering you light sockets and writing the corresponding # on the housing, just incase you need to install your old tail and to make things easier.

There are two metal clips that the screws catch on. These are located on your old taillights. You will pull these off, takes a little muscle and prying. But be careful, so you don’t break the plastic on your taillights.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii155/tast101/LEDtail.jpg
When you hook up the harness' you want to follow the order above.
The Running lights/Brake light will be at the top.
The Blink will be in the middle.
The reverse light will be at the bottom and you will use the bulb for this.

If your lights aren't working check your fuses under the hood. I had a problem with my brake light switch, and it needed to be replaced.

(Don't remember his name off the top of my head, but on TF.com he had a little wiring diagram to have both the blinker and brake light to work in unison like the esky lights) Hopefully he'll join up and chime in.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2364700733_34c1fe296f.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/2364707261_96e4772b48.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2423545343_b274caca8a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2424374494_6d561052e5.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2365542136_1819284b11.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2027/2507678014_656586a10e.jpg

Here's some pics of the non smoked version:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/kos_z3ro/DSCF6638.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/kos_z3ro/DSCF6575.jpg

They can be purchased on ebay:
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZ2006Q20yukonQ20ledQ20taillightsQQ_armrsZ 1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ

Found a vid:
zJ0grZP6zAg

Feel free to add on other LED brands/models and if I forgot something add it.

question.....
i bought the same led tail lights u have for an 04 tahoe.
once i installed them.... my turn signals were flashing rapidly. and my parking lights werent turning on, just the brake lights... any suggestions? thanks.
btw, i didnt follow your diagram above... i actually used the urn signal on the top and brake in the middle... could this be the prob? thanks....

[bkboatnsleds]

Could be the problem - also make sure the black wires at the plugs line up. I have same ligfhts w/ no issues.

[mando2776]

thanks bkboatnsleds... problem fixed..... i did line up the blk wires...
didn't wanna blow the fuses. i did use the diagram above and connected the turn signals to the middle plug. looks great and works perfect...

[bkboatnsleds]

Don't remember his name off the top of my head, but on TF.com he had a little wiring diagram to have both the blinker and brake light to work in unison like the esky lights) Hopefully he'll join up and chime in.


Might have to fool with figuring this out.. I like that look.

[brassknucklemafia]

nice load equalizers. bet it looks cool at night too

[TailHook]

These tails are probably my favorite exterior mod on my truck...

...most replacements are so cheesy looking, like they belong on a 16 year old's ricer...these are more like OEM.

[LuSe4]

These tails are probably my favorite exterior mod on my truck...

...most replacements are so cheesy looking, like they belong on a 16 year old's ricer...these are more like OEM.

I just put them on my Tahoe tonight. They look awesome! I can not believe how much brighter than stock tails they are, and I even bought the smoked ones! I can't wait to see them in the daylight tomorrow.

[TailHook]

I just put them on my Tahoe tonight. They look awesome! I can not believe how much brighter than stock tails they are, and I even bought the smoked ones! I can't wait to see them in the daylight tomorrow.

Mine are smoked as well and they are very bright in the daytime, too...

[Tahoewhat]

Got a question for you guys w/ these led tails as in the first post from a year ago. Just noticed today that on my Drivers tail light, how the leds are 4 across and 3 down. Well on the very edge towards the drivers the 3 row going down went completly out? Not one or two, the whole row. So now looking at it from i only have 3 across and 3 down. They are only less than a year old, is this common w/ these. Kind of bothers me..

[tast101]

all of mine are still lit up without any problems.

[Tahoewhat]

tast, maybe you would know why, i went out again tonite and they were on when i unlocked it, then started to move it to driveway, go back look off. Hit the light a little and they come on, but will flicker, Does that mean they are going out? New to led, lighting so i have no idea. just thought they were suppose to last. ( i know they are cheap a/m, but)

[Rivieraracing]

LED's usually work or go out, not intermittent! I'd say it's a connection in the housing that's your problem!

[Tahoewhat]

LED's usually work or go out, not intermittent! I'd say it's a connection in the housing that's your problem!

maybe it came loose? Guess i may try to check it out this weekend. Thanks

[Dvldogyut]

Don't remember his name off the top of my head, but on TF.com he had a little wiring diagram to have both the blinker and brake light to work in unison like the esky lights) Hopefully he'll join up and chime in.


Might have to fool with figuring this out.. I like that look.

Ever figure this one out?

[AudioFile]

Don't make the mistake I did. I intstalled the same LED taillights as Tast101 (Deanti') did; looks like the same truck too. However, I didn't realize that the light positioning was different, and I blew fuses and ruined a couple of gauges in my dash AND fryed a component in my alternator. It was an expensive lesson; I was so pissed off at myself. Next time I do an elect. mod, I'll check here first.

Minus the smoke and fire, I'd do the mod all over again, I love these lights - they are very responsive and look great.

[felixgun]

These tails are probably my favorite exterior mod on my truck...

...most replacements are so cheesy looking, like they belong on a 16 year old's ricer...these are more like OEM.

Yea I wish i would've known about these when I had my nbs.... these are the sickest stock/oem looking LED tails i've ever seen for the nbs

[Venom One]

Anybody know how to make the top and middle lights light up at the same time?....as in they both light up as parking lights, both light up as brake lights, and both light up as turn signals....

[dwmmatt23]

I bought these off a member on here and put on tonight and now my cruise is out as well, guess I'll have to run by autozone and see what that resistor is all about
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb285/dwmmatt23/23532b37.jpg

[l2yan]

How to install your LED Tails.



(Don't remember his name off the top of my head, but on TF.com he had a little wiring diagram to have both the blinker and brake light to work in unison like the esky lights) Hopefully he'll join up and chime in.



Can you maybe provide the link to this? I couldn't find it and I'm trying to get both my lights to work in unison, I figured out how to get them both to be on at the same time but working in unison is a whole nother can o worms =/

[Venom One]

Can you maybe provide the link to this? I couldn't find it and I'm trying to get both my lights to work in unison

+1

[originalmazdawg]

I realize this thread is old....

I read the entire thread and am still left with the question, which LED's will work with barn doors?????