LED brake lights do not "get bright" when the lights are on, work fine w/ lights off (Page 1/2)
qwikgta OCT 13, 05:55 PM
So I've had LED brake lights in for about two years, have the LED 3rd brake light and all my marker lights are LED. I have the HD blinker relay and when I wired up the LED's using BTR's kit, I wired in the orange resistor to the turn signal wires as directed. The other day a friend mentioned that my brake lights don't work.

I've verified that with the light switch turned ON, power gets to the rear bulbs. No issues with the brown power wire from battery to light switch to bulbs. Tail lights work.

I've verified that when I push the brake pedal, the brakes turn ON, so power is getting from the battery, to the brake switch, to the white wire leading to the brake bulbs. Brakes work.

The issue is when the lights are ON, and I step on the brake, the brake lights don't "get brighter". Nothing happens. When I turn the lights off and step on the brake, they work fine. So why don't I have working brake light LED's anymore? Do I need new LED bulbs? Do LED bulbs work for both tail lights and brake lights at the same time?

I installed a new brake switch and that did nothing. I got a new HD Blinker relay, no help. Pulled the tails off, switched bulbs around, checked to see if they were loose, nothing was wrong.

Any ideas????

Thanks

[This message has been edited by qwikgta (edited 10-15-2022).]

qwikgta OCT 13, 06:55 PM
edit out stupid question.

[This message has been edited by qwikgta (edited 10-13-2022).]

PhatMax OCT 13, 07:10 PM
“Relay” box ?…..do you mean a resistor ? Does it have fins on it for heat sink ?
qwikgta OCT 13, 08:13 PM
yes, using the word "resistor" I was able to find some old BTR instructions, so I did wire it up correctly. Still don't know why I have no brake lights w lights on.

Thanks

[This message has been edited by qwikgta (edited 10-13-2022).]

PhatMax OCT 13, 08:54 PM
I see looking for and cleaning all the grounds you can find in your future..
A_Lonely_Potato OCT 13, 09:00 PM
The ground on the upper frame rail on the passenger side was causing me issues with brake lights. They were very dim with headlights on, turn signals also extremely dim. With only parking lights on, when i turned on my turn signal the CHMBL would flash alternate to BOTH rear signals!
theogre OCT 13, 09:30 PM
Is likely a ground problem in rear lights but LED there makes harder to find what's wrong.
See my Cave, Sneak Path

⚠️ Warning: Resistors generate Heat and must be installed right.
See my Cave, LED poisoning
Most Fiero don't need this for taillights and best to remove.

Likely front side marker don't work right...
See my Cave, LED Marker Light

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

qwikgta OCT 14, 05:59 AM
Thanks for the help. Ogre, some good threads, interesting read about "sneak path". I have noticed those type of wire diagrams in the past but your thread explains them. thanks.


Keep the ideas coming, I'm checking them off one by one.

Rob

[This message has been edited by qwikgta (edited 10-15-2022).]

steve308 OCT 14, 08:57 AM
Are your flasher units "LED" meaning with the ground wire? Don't know if that would fix it but my LED conversion did not fully function until I installed the grounded flasher.
qwikgta OCT 15, 06:00 PM

quote
Originally posted by steve308:

Are your flasher units "LED" meaning with the ground wire? Don't know if that would fix it but my LED conversion did not fully function until I installed the grounded flasher.



Steve, just ordered one off Amazon, should be here tuesday. I"ll check to see if that makes a difference. Also ordered new LED bulbs, maybe they just stopped working and new bulbs will help.

Thanks all.