Switchback Led Problems

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Michael Moore

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All of a sudden one day my leds started flashing like police lights and I can't figure out how to stop it. They only flash when the truck is running. They work fine when the truck is off. I put my stock halogens back in and it stopped.
I can't figure out how to insert a video of the lights.
 

someotherguy

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It's a voltage issue. The switchbacks don't like getting much more than 12-13V and when your truck is running it should be producing around 14V with a healthy alternator.

I've run into the exact same problem on my '06. They work fine with the engine off; start acting up a short while after it's been running. I've purchased some cheap little voltage regulators in an attempt to do a work-around but really have not had the time to mess with it.

Richard
 

GMCTRUCKS

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I read somewhere that some person had to put a heavy duty relay on his truck for the lights not to have that hyper blinking I think it was the signal light relay I really don't remember it was a long time ago but maybe some of member might chime in that they replaced there relay as well and it took care of the problem good luck.
 

someotherguy

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A simple misunderstanding of the issue. A very common (and totally different) issue with regular LED bulb replacements is referred to as "hyperflashing" - the turn signals flash rapidly as if a bulb is burned out. This is what you read about before. Using an LED-spec'd flasher unit or in situations where you can't (flashing controlled by a computer module like in my car) a "load resistor" (typically 6 ohm / 50 watt with a big heat sink) is used to simulate the missing incandescent bulb.

OP's totally different issue is unique to some switchback LED's, which run a bright white in regular running mode but when the turn signals are used, the white portion turns off, and an amber portion blinks - emulating the DRL/signal setups on some late model cars. The aftermarket LED's designed to operate similar to this are called switchbacks. I've installed them in multiple vehicles. Some work well, some do not. They depend on sensing the voltage to determine whether or not the white portion should turn off and when it should come back on. When the voltage is out of range, they don't know what to do...and begin flashing erratically like they're trying to cause seizures.

Switchbacks operating properly in my '06 300C SRT8 for example:
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Richard
 

Michael Moore

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A simple misunderstanding of the issue. A very common (and totally different) issue with regular LED bulb replacements is referred to as "hyperflashing" - the turn signals flash rapidly as if a bulb is burned out. This is what you read about before. Using an LED-spec'd flasher unit or in situations where you can't (flashing controlled by a computer module like in my car) a "load resistor" (typically 6 ohm / 50 watt with a big heat sink) is used to simulate the missing incandescent bulb.

OP's totally different issue is unique to some switchback LED's, which run a bright white in regular running mode but when the turn signals are used, the white portion turns off, and an amber portion blinks - emulating the DRL/signal setups on some late model cars. The aftermarket LED's designed to operate similar to this are called switchbacks. I've installed them in multiple vehicles. Some work well, some do not. They depend on sensing the voltage to determine whether or not the white portion should turn off and when it should come back on. When the voltage is out of range, they don't know what to do...and begin flashing erratically like they're trying to cause seizures.

Switchbacks operating properly in my '06 300C SRT8 for example:
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">
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Richard
Thanks for the replies. I have an led flasher already. Could adding load resistors solve this? I'm really at a loss in how to fix this.
 

someotherguy

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No...please re-read my first reply.

Richard
 

Michael Moore

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No...please re-read my first reply.

Richard
Oh you were saying try some voltage regulators. I don't really mess with wiring a lot so where would I add these into at. And which ones did you get?
 

someotherguy

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As I said before, haven't had time to mess with it yet. :(

Richard
 
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