Why won't my LEDs work?
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 282
Likes: 2
Why won't my LEDs work?
Replaced all the dash lights in my 77 w/ LEDs. A lot of the old ones were burnt out and I knew the LEDs would last longer and be brighter.
When I put it back together -- they don't work!
The only one that works is for the left turn signal (weird, right? The right turn signal doesn't work!)
I fiddled with the switch and it dims up and down just fine if I put traditional bulbs back in. What the heck is going on??
When I put it back together -- they don't work!
The only one that works is for the left turn signal (weird, right? The right turn signal doesn't work!)
I fiddled with the switch and it dims up and down just fine if I put traditional bulbs back in. What the heck is going on??
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 282
Likes: 2
I did. I was only fiddling with the right turn signal but the odds that I put in the other 6 all backwards seems pretty remote, doesn't it?
The right turn signal did show it was getting power via my multimeter.... I cleaned the contacts and switched the bulb with the left (which was working just fine.)
Also, flipped the left turn signal LED bulb and it worked both ways.
The right turn signal did show it was getting power via my multimeter.... I cleaned the contacts and switched the bulb with the left (which was working just fine.)
Also, flipped the left turn signal LED bulb and it worked both ways.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 5
From: MA
I know when I did mine, I had trouble with the LED seating properly in the little 194 plastic base. The little metal leads wouldn't sit properly, so there was no contact. Try looking closely at the metal leads at the LED base.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Montgomery, IL
are you using dielectric grease on all of the contacts? this will sometimes help when you may have a little 'looseness' in a contact.
I use dielectric on every electric connection on my truck (fuses, lights, everything) as well as all of the light bulbs in my house. Ever try to unscrew a light bulb from a lamp and it is in there tight and the bulb snaps off? ****, right. Not if you put come dielectric grease in there!
I use dielectric on every electric connection on my truck (fuses, lights, everything) as well as all of the light bulbs in my house. Ever try to unscrew a light bulb from a lamp and it is in there tight and the bulb snaps off? ****, right. Not if you put come dielectric grease in there!
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
It has to be a seating issue. If the original bulbs work, then that proves out the dash light fuse (which was going to be my first suggestion).
If you have a bench-top power supply, you might try making sure the bulbs are even good in the first place. If your multimeter has a diode checker, give that a try.
If you have a bench-top power supply, you might try making sure the bulbs are even good in the first place. If your multimeter has a diode checker, give that a try.
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MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Again, this is only true of the turn signals. The dash illumination has nothing to do with this issue.
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