LED tail light swap, now lights dim.

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matthewcgreer

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I have a 2022 Expedition Max XLT. Came stock with the incandescent tail light bulbs. I know there are threads on this page about non-LED to LED swaps. I did the swap. The pins seemed to line up properly and all lights work as they should. I did get the hyperflash inside the cabin as expected, so I added a resistor to the turn signals. Hyperflash fixed. Now it seems (possibly unrelated but I doubt it) that the brake lights, when pressed, will dim after about 3-4 seconds. Not the center 3rd brake light, just the lower 2. I noticed it in the rear view at first, then recorded it one night. When you hit the brake, the lights illuminate very bright. After about 3-4 seconds, they will dim. First the drivers side, then immediately the passenger side. They dim to about half the brightness of when the brake is initially depressed. When in park, the lights do not do this. Only while driving forward it seems. Anyone have any idea why this would happen?
 

LokiWolf

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The resistor needs to be removed, and either the dealer or somebody with FORSCAN needs to code them properly.
 
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matthewcgreer

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Removed the resistor. Are you saying having the codes changed via forscan will rectify the brakelight dimming issue?
 

LokiWolf

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Removed the resistor. Are you saying having the codes changed via forscan will rectify the brakelight dimming issue?
Shouldn't be getting the dimming without the resistor.

Coding will take care of the Hyperflash.
 
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pawj112

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I have a 2022 Expedition Max XLT. Came stock with the incandescent tail light bulbs. I know there are threads on this page about non-LED to LED swaps. I did the swap. The pins seemed to line up properly and all lights work as they should. I did get the hyperflash inside the cabin as expected, so I added a resistor to the turn signals. Hyperflash fixed. Now it seems (possibly unrelated but I doubt it) that the brake lights, when pressed, will dim after about 3-4 seconds. Not the center 3rd brake light, just the lower 2. I noticed it in the rear view at first, then recorded it one night. When you hit the brake, the lights illuminate very bright. After about 3-4 seconds, they will dim. First the drivers side, then immediately the passenger side. They dim to about half the brightness of when the brake is initially depressed. When in park, the lights do not do this. Only while driving forward it seems. Anyone have any idea why this would happen?

Was this resolved by removing the resistor?
 

JustMatt76

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So I'm jumping in on this as I just replaced the bulbs in my Timberline with LED's, the passenger side went out. Now I get hyperflash on both blinkers. So I need to go to the dealer to have them flash the computer to get rid of the error/program for a LED?
 

TimberExpy

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I’m interested in keeping this thread going. Mostly because I want someone to explain to me why the stock LEDs work fine on the higher trims. Yes, I know there’s a difference in load/resistance. But is it really just a matter of the higher trims being coded (FORScan) differently? This is what Loki’s comment suggests.

Wanting to swap out the ones on my Timberline as well, like JustMatt has attempted.
 

TimberExpy

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So I'm jumping in on this as I just replaced the bulbs in my Timberline with LED's, the passenger side went out. Now I get hyperflash on both blinkers. So I need to go to the dealer to have them flash the computer to get rid of the error/program for a LED?
Just curious, are you attempting to use OEM LED assemblies from Ford, or just switching out the bulbs themselves?
 

LazSlate

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Not what you want to hear but IMO its more hassle than its worth and you yourself will never ever see them while you are driving.
The PROS are it looks cool to other people the CONS is more prone to failure and getting pulled over or in some accident due to faulty light.
I would like to have LEDs if it came that way but not worth the hassle or value to add them later.
 
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