Normal Taillight Operation

[sevobuck]

I have recently put LED bulbs in my 2006 along with one resistor on each side. The problem is that with the lights in the OFF position, the passenger side bulbs light up both top and bottom but on the driver's side only the top bulb lights up when the brakes are applied. When the lights are in the ON position both top and bottom bulbs light up but only the top bulb blinks when the signal is turned on. This applies to both passenger and driver's side.



So my question is for 2006 owners:



Which bulbs are lit up when the lights are OFF and the brakes are applied and which bulb blinks when the signal is turned on?



And then with the lights in the ON position and the brakes are applied and which bulb blinks when the signal is turned on?



I'm assuming when the hazards are turned on, both top and bottom bulbs should flash??



I know this is a pretty detailed question and thanks in advance. I'm just trying to figure out if I need new tail light assemblies or what??

 

[mwilson]

I am 60 miles away from my '06 right now so don't take this as gospel...



I believe that the top bulbs are the brake lights, lower bulbs are turn signals.



Having the tail lights turned on does not affect or change that.



The hazards will only flash the lower bulbs as well.



When I get up in the morning I will double check the bulb functions and post again for you.



Mike.

 

[sevobuck]

Thanks Mike! I appreciate it.

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

I'll check for you in about ten min

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

It's bottom bulbs for brakes. Top bulbs for turns and flashers. Makes no difference whether runninglights are on or off. Hope this helps.

 

[sevobuck]

Thanks Timeless. I'm thinking I have a bad fixture.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Can you swap sides just for a test to see what happens?

 

[mwilson]

It's bottom bulbs for brakes. Top bulbs for turns and flashers. Makes no difference whether runninglights are on or off. Hope this helps.

Just staggered out and checked mine, it is the same.

Bottom for brake, top for turn signals.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Assuming that you have only changed bulbs and added a resistor to each side, right??



Everything was working fine on the regular 3157 bulbs??



If so, some LED's are polarity specific. You might try simply taking the new LED bulb out and flip it 180 degrees, then put it back in just to make that the polarity is not screwing you up.



It's worth a try, if I was there drinking beer with you we'd have it working by now... ..... or run out of beer trying.....



Mike.

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

Anytime. I'm getting ready to switch to the recon full led tails Bc mine have been shorting and blowing bulbs lately. Dielectric grease helped quite a but I had one socket that had arced so many times that it had blown a hole in the contact at the bottom of the socket, soldering this was not easy but it worked. So you might check your sockets and contacts

 

[SWithrow]

I tried the LED bulbs and they were too dim the stock bulbs were much brighter, I then purchased IPCW lights (In Pro Car Wear Taillights - L. E. D. (Platinum Black) ) and they lasted about a year, some of the LEDs stopped working, I contacted IPCW and they told me to take them to someone qualified to work on electronics. The problem is the light assymbly is sealed and they would have broken the light assymbly to get to the electronics. In 2005 I purchased ANZO lights (Anzo Tail Lights - LED (Chrome) ) and they are still working fine AND are much brighter than the bulbs and IPCW lights.

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

swithrow, i looked at the anzo led tails after you posted that link, So you're saying that you've had yours for 7 years now with no problems? if so then i think i'll go with them over the recons that are almost a hundred bucks more.

 

[SWithrow]

6 or 7 years and going strong...

 

[timelessconstructionllc]

Awesome. Thanks for the good info.

 

[sevobuck]

I tried flipping the bulbs for polarity and no dice. I also replaced both circuit boards. I think the problem is intermittent as well. I say this because I was messing around with them tonight and went back out to check them and they worked the way they were suppossed to! So, I'm running through the different operations of them and I throw the hazards on and the drivers side bottom doesnt flash but both passenger bulbs do. Then I check the signal with the brakes on and whatever side I place the signal on the opposite side top bulb goes out... . I am sooooo frustrated right now. I don't want to take it the dealer because they'll just blame it on the bulbs and resistors. Which by the way, I ungrounded and put regular bulbs in with the same result.

 

[SWithrow]

Remember the lights on the Ram PUs have to have a certain resistance on both parking and brake/signal. If your getting a bulb out then you don't have the proper resistance.
And if there isn't enough resistance I believe the computer will not allow power to that circuit. Just a thought. Maybe you should try a set of LED taillights, they are plug and play and are much brighter than LED bulbs. M2C.

 

[sevobuck]

Remember the lights on the Ram PUs have to have a certain resistance on both parking and brake/signal. If your getting a bulb out then you don't have the proper resistance.

And if there isn't enough resistance I believe the computer will not allow power to that circuit. Just a thought. Maybe you should try a set of LED taillights, they are plug and play and are much brighter than LED bulbs. M2C.

I haven't got a bulb out or MIL light yet. In starting to think its a multiFunction switch since it appears to not happen all of the time.

 

[mwilson]

I haven't got a bulb out or MIL light yet. In starting to think its a multiFunction switch since it appears to not happen all of the time.

That is what I was going to suggest next, was thinking about your issue on the way home this morning.



This link should get you started...



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ussions/216173-bad-multi-function-switch.html



Mike.

 

[sevobuck]

If it were the TIPM would it throw a code?

I noticed on mine that when I lock or unlock it, the passenger side bulbs (upper and lower) flash and on the driver's side only the upper bulb flashes... .