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lighting problem

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by woodiejon, Mar 29, 2012.

  1. woodiejon
    Joined: Dec 9, 2006
    Posts: 26

    woodiejon
    Member

    Hi, Can someone help me ? I have a 40 ford coupe with led tail lights. There is something making them light very dim. they work ok when you pull the switch. But when there off they glow. what do i need to look for ?
     
  2. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    Well, lights only glow when they have some current going to them. Somehow a little current is still being fed to them when the switch is off. Start with the switch, it could be still allowing a small amount of current to flow in the off position. Simply go to the switch and disconnect the tail light wire and see what that does.

    Don
     
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,928

    squirrel
    Member

    Do they glow when the car is shut off, or only when the key is on?
     
  4. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 24,888

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    what do i need to look for ?

    digital multimeter.
     
  5. 26 roadster
    Joined: Apr 21, 2008
    Posts: 2,020

    26 roadster
    Member

    brake light switch sticking? they should be hot all the time
     
  6. Mr. Sinister
    Joined: Sep 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,529

    Mr. Sinister
    Member
    from Elkton, MD

    Sounds like maybe the switch is going bad and is bleeding a little current when it's supposed to be off.

    I run LED panels in my 55 (got tired of almost getting rear ended), and sometimes they catch the light enough to fool you into thinking they're on. Are you positive they're actually lit?
     
  7. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    That is a good point. I p***ed a car in a parking lot the other day and thought his tail lights were on, but it was just the sun illuminating his led's. Have you seen this dim glow in the dark ?


    Don
     
  8. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,969

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Start with a couple of simple checks. Unhook one of the wires from the brake light switch and see if the lights go out.
    Yes: check the switch with an ohm meter to see if it is letting current flow when it is supposed to be off.
    No: go to the head light switch and unplug the tail light wire.

    Somewhere you are getting feed back or power is leaking either through the switch or through a wire connecting the tail light circuit or brake light circuit. It could as minimal as a stray strand of wire from another circuit feeding power to the tail lights when they are off.
     
  9. KoolKat-57
    Joined: Feb 22, 2010
    Posts: 3,092

    KoolKat-57
    Member
    from Dublin, OH

    Check for proper ground on tailights also.
     
  10. 40FordGuy
    Joined: Mar 24, 2008
    Posts: 2,907

    40FordGuy
    Member

    Multimeter......

    4TTRUK
     
  11. Harry o
    Joined: Jan 19, 2012
    Posts: 200

    Harry o
    Member
    from Georgia

    Iam with koolkat !!!! Make sure every thing is grounded ...
     
  12. sawzall
    Joined: Jul 15, 2002
    Posts: 4,758

    sawzall
    Member

    check the wiring at the headlight switch.. I had a similar problem where I had mis wired the headlight switch to the front parking lights.. in my situation I noticed that one terminal to the parking lights had 3v's showing on the multimeter.. wasn't enough to actually light the bulb but was enough of a drain to cause me grief..

    given that an led only takes 1.5 v to light.. its poss that this could be the issue.
     
  13. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,607

    manyolcars

    LEDs might be magic.
    After I turn off my flashlight, the LEDs will come on faintly every time I wave my hand near them. After a few minutes they wont do it
     
  14. 63bigbird
    Joined: Dec 27, 2009
    Posts: 131

    63bigbird
    Member

    Check your flasher relays.
     
  15. Rookie1
    Joined: Apr 5, 2009
    Posts: 63

    Rookie1
    Member

    It maybe the grease inside the headlight switch conducting a little voltage to the park terminal.
    I'm having the same reaction with the highbeam indicator being backfed from the headlamp highbeam filament when the highbeams are off.
    it may take a new switch or a relay.
     
  16. weandsta1d
    Joined: May 24, 2012
    Posts: 2

    weandsta1d
    Member
    from usa

    agree with you man. check it out first.


    led tubes
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2012

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