Led Light Bulbs For Tail Lights

thxpro713 · 07-11-2006, 08:27 AM

I am aware the bulb number is 3157. I recently purchased clear tail lights with a black housing for my titan. After installing them I didnt like the way the red bulbs made them look so I went and got a pair of 3157 LED light bulbs which look alot better. Only problem is I cant get the brake light portion of these bulbs to light. My 3rd brake light works and the 2 led brake lights just dim when I hit the brake

. Any help will be greatly appreciated because this is driving me crazy and Im sure Ill get a ticket soon. Thanks,
Danny

Flight Test · 07-11-2006, 10:34 AM

I purchased a pair of 3157's from the site below. LED's are polarity sensitive. All I can suggest is remove both lights and start from scratch. Install one LED at a time, verifying operation before moving to the second. The LED color must match the lens color. Red lens=red LED.

http://www.ledtronics.com

pi3yeargrad · 07-11-2006, 01:23 PM

ye, make sure the polarity is right and that they are sitted properly...sometimes those LED bulbs are fatter and when putting in and removing itll bend the lil gold clips inside bend back and wont make a as good connection...check on that as well and have some spare fuses handy

thxpro713 · 07-11-2006, 02:58 PM

I got them on but they wont light with the brakes. Had to change the STOP LIGHT fuse to 15amp. But still no luck with getting them to get brighter with the brakes. That website wouldnt display the page for the AUT3157's. Interested in the 3156's too.

thxpro713 · 07-11-2006, 03:00 PM

[quote=Flight Test]I purchased a pair of 3157's from the site below. LED's are polarity sensitive. All I can suggest is remove both lights and start from scratch. Install one LED at a time, verifying operation before moving to the second. The LED color must match the lens color. Red lens=red LED.

My lens are clear. How can I check the polarity?

Flight Test · 07-12-2006, 11:11 AM

[quote=thxpro713]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flight Test

I purchased a pair of 3157's from the site below. LED's are polarity sensitive. All I can suggest is remove both lights and start from scratch. Install one LED at a time, verifying operation before moving to the second. The LED color must match the lens color. Red lens=red LED.

My lens are clear. How can I check the polarity?

If I remember correctly, the 3157's have dual contacts. A set for tailights and a second for brake lights. They won't light if reversed in the socket. Remove and turn 180 degrees and re-insert. You should not have to go with a bigger fuse. I thought brake lights have to be red.

thxpro713 · 07-14-2006, 01:20 PM

Yeah they do have to be red. The led lights up red and the housing on them is clear. I will try to reverse them and see what happens thanks for the info.

thxpro713 · 07-15-2006, 03:52 PM

Ok, I reversed them several times and got no results. The bulbs keep dimming with the brake. I tried a regular bulb and it does the same thing as the LED bulbs, just dims with the brake. What could be wrong????? I checked out all the fuses and found nothing blown. I am definatly missing something here. Any help?????? Thanks!

top20cc · 07-15-2006, 05:56 PM

I am curious. Are you sure the bulb socket you are using is not the brake but the turn signal? There are 2 sockets. Make sure you are replacing the right bulb. Simple test; hit the emergency lights. If they flash then you are replacing the wrong bulbs. Get it? Make sense?

thxpro713 · 07-16-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by top20cc

I am curious. Are you sure the bulb socket you are using is not the brake but the turn signal? There are 2 sockets. Make sure you are replacing the right bulb. Simple test; hit the emergency lights. If they flash then you are replacing the wrong bulbs. Get it? Make sense?

Yeah, Im definatly in the brake/running light socket. Ive tried like 4 different bulbs and they only light with the running lights no brightness with the brakes. The only brake light working now is the 3rd light above the bed. What could I be missing?