Bad combination of flushmount / tail integration

GravelHatesMe · 06-19-2008, 05:59 PM

Several months ago I did the turn signal integration into the stock rear light and last night I installed some LED flushmounts for the front signals. However, now my taillight signal only flashes visibly when the brake is applied. If you get close you can see that it is flashing, but unless the brake is applied it's not as bright as it was before the LEDs. I understood that it would flash faster, but I didn't expect the new twist.

Will replacing the stock flasher module under the passenger seat with an electronic one correct this or is something else going on?

unforgiven · 06-19-2008, 09:54 PM

I don't have an answer for you but you have me thinking now. We installed greg's flushmounts up front first before I did the Clear alternatives tail light. I noticed when I follow behind my wife, the turn signals are not that bright alone but very bright when the brake light is lit. I thought it was the design. So you are saying when you had the regular lights up front, the turn signals in the tail were really bright then?

I'm anxious to see if this can be fixed!

jdazzr · 06-20-2008, 12:40 AM

ive read about this before. starts on post #12.
integrated lights

unforgiven · 06-20-2008, 12:58 AM

Damn. Read it wrong. I missed he used the integrator with a stock tail light. I guess mine does work that way by design.

GravelHatesMe · 06-20-2008, 02:33 AM

Is there anyone who has done LEDs on front signals and the integrator (using stock rear light) on the rear signals?

jdazzr, thanks for the link, but that only refers to the hazard lights. I had that issue prior to doing the LEDs on the front. I also noticed a couple funny things now that I have driven it at night. Holding the break causes the arrows on the instrument panel to light up slightly, whether or not the turn signal is on. If the turn signals are on, applying the brake causes the opposite signal on the front to blink faintly as well. I don't know what I could have done wrong, because the signals came with the kawi wiring connector and everything. I didn't cut or splice anything. It's like the integrator doesn't play well with my LED turn signals.

GravelHatesMe · 06-20-2008, 11:39 PM

Okay, problem fixed! The issue is with not running all of the tail wires through the integration kit. I followed the how-to that disregards the grounding / tail light leads on the integration kit, but this creates a circuit between the tail light and the turn signals. With the stock front signals, the feedback isn't enough to overcome the resistance of the incandescant bulbs and produces no noticable effect. However, switching to LEDs reduced that resistance and the feedback went through the entire turn signal system. The integration kit has diodes inside that prevent this feedback.

WAD · 06-21-2008, 10:51 AM

So how did you manage to fix it then? Because I plan on doing just what you did

Thanks

GravelHatesMe · 06-21-2008, 03:14 PM

You have to be sure to run ALL rear light wires through the tail light integration kit. Most of the guides tell you to leave the constant hot and the ground going straight from the body harness to the tail light, but you can't do that if replacing the front signals with LEDs. I didn't think to take any pictures, but if you get into it and have questions, feel free to PM.