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Led Taillights: One Side Bright, One Side Dim

dkpeppard

By dkpeppard
in Audio, Electronics & Software

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dkpeppard Enthusiast

dkpeppard

Posted
Posted

I just ordered these LED taillights for my 2000 GMC Sierra. They looked great, good price, and were easy to install. They came with replacement factory wiring looms that I could unplug under the bed at the factory junction and run in place of the old mounting and clip holes. They were very easy to install, but unfortunately, when I turned on my regular lights, the driver's side taillight was on bright like the brakes were on, and the passenger was on normal as you would expect the taillight to be. I turned the lights off and stepped on the brake pedal. When I stepped on the brakes, the driver's side lit up dim, like a normal taillight setting, and the passenger's side was bright, as you would expect for brakes. I even took the LED socket out and rotated the connection 180 degress, thinking it may be a polarity issue, but the problem still persisted.

 

The turn signals and backup lights are regular bulbs, not LED and they worked fine.

 

I contacted the place that sold me the lights via email, American Motor Parts, and explained the situation. They directed me to get a "professional installer" to install the lights, that I must have installed them incorrectly, and that was all the advice they provided. That infuriated me, so I called the phone number and finally got a hold of a human. I explained and they said I could buy another set of lights, then return the original ones for credit. They issued me an RMA for the original lights, excluding the $27 shipping. I also explained the rude response I received from them via email, which they apologized for and stated the lights were likely defective.

 

I received the new lights quite quickly, installed them and guess what, the same exact behavior. I called American Motor Parts back and they said they would credit me for both sets of lights, which they did. They gave no explanation as to what could be the issue.

 

What do you think the deal is? Were the lights truly defective or is it my truck? The factory taillights and brake lights function just fine. There is no obvious brightness of one light over another.

 

I see these same lights on LMC truck and at other vendors. I know LEDs are very popular, and range widely in cost. I paid ~$140 for a pair of these, but LMC sells them for closer to $300. Is it possible there are better grades of LEDs over other brands?

 

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

georgecdisc Enthusiast

georgecdisc

Posted
Posted

I know it's too late, and I am not sure what the connectors look like on the plugs for the tail lights. I would have tried to swap them (not mounting them obviously) and see if the dim one before remain dim. They could have a bunch of them that all of the driver's side is dim. If the plugs weren't the same I would have just manually run the 12V feed to the lamp.

dkpeppard Enthusiast

dkpeppard

Posted
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Posted
I know it's too late, and I am not sure what the connectors look like on the plugs for the tail lights. I would have tried to swap them (not mounting them obviously) and see if the dim one before remain dim. They could have a bunch of them that all of the driver's side is dim. If the plugs weren't the same I would have just manually run the 12V feed to the lamp.

Yeah, I could have tried that, but was already frustrated because I knew I would have to return them regardless.

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