Exterior LEDs

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Kvou812

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Not sure this is in the right place, but I have a question about exterior LEDs. I replaced all the exterior lights on my 03' with LEDs. I also replaced the flasher with LED flasher and they all work great except I'm having a problem where if I turn on my flashers, the license plate bulbs will flash too. When I turn on a blinker, the side that is supposed to blink blinks correctly, but the opposite side will blink as well although much more dimmer. Its like the blinking signal is bleeding over into lights it shouldn't be. Anyone seen this before...knows what causes it...and what the fix is?

Thanks..
 

BakerEdition

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take a look up underneath the rear, make sure you have a good ground and make sure if it has a plug for the trailer hitch that that is wired properly...
 
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Kvou812

Kvou812

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I look underneath and everything looks ok. Its got the factory towing package with 7 & 4 pin connectors, nothing looks to have been altered. It wasn't doing this before I switched to LEDs and swapped out the flasher. I'm wondering if I have a defective flasher... when I turn the blinker off it quits flashing but clicks 3 or 4 more times before stoppping. Not sure if thats normal or not for these LED flashers...
 

sgtowing

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I am having the same problem. I have not figured out but I am leaning towards the multi function switch. I haven't done that yet because I am not sure weather I want to throw parts at it or spend the money and have my electrical guru tell me exactly what it is.
 

Thermo

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Please keep in mind that LEDs are current devices, not voltage devices. It takes a slightly different mind set when thinking of LEDs. Sure, thinking about them using voltage is possible, but it can also lead to problems like you are experiencing and being able to explain why something is happening.

In short, what you are seeing is as the LEDs blink on one side, it is loading the system down more, causing a slight voltage drop in the wiring associated with the other side (since they use a common supply). This causes the LEDs to have a different current flowing through them (the intensity of an LED is related to the current supplied to it, which also affects the voltage drop across the LED). So, as the voltage drops, the LED pulls less current, therefore you have a slight change in the intensity of the lighting. Most of this voltage drop is more than likely coming from your flasher module. I would try a different brand and see if that helps any. It should. Otherwise, you are looking at having to upgrade to a larger gauge wire to solve this issue. Once you get beyond the flasher, then you do not have to worry about this.

Please keep in mind that if your tail lights are going to a common ground point, that can also be a source of your problem due to the voltage across the LEDs would be a function of the supply voltage (current) minus the drop across the high resistance connection. As you turn on more LEDs (with the flasher), you have more current flowing through the ground wiring, leading to more losses.

I am trying to keep this simple, but it takes a certain amount of electronic understanding to really explain this.
 

WHOISMOOTOO

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i just led'd the mirrors and license plates, there are blubs that have the resistors built in for a little more $.

Kvou812- I'm thinking its your multi function switch
heres some literature I borrowed from our brothers at the "buck fiddy" site

the multifunction switch is the switch that has your wipers/turn signal lever on it. it is mounted inside the column under those shrouds on the column. Try tilting your steering wheen while doing it to see if it changes, or hold the signal lever halfway between to see if it flashes at a normal rate. if any of those affect it i would be tearing into that column searching for broken wires and burnt connectors on the back of the multifunction switch.

dude was having the same issue and it turned out to be a loose wire under the column. also check for corroded/broken wires
 

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