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Has Anybody Try To Install Rugged Ridge L.e.d Tail Light Kit

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Speedybon, Aug 27, 2021.

  1. Aug 27, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

    Arroyo Grande...
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    So I needed new rear tail lights so I purchase Rugged Ridge 12403.84 Tail Light Kit. So wire properly and the turn signal indicator does not flash but the lights do. I put a 50 watt/6.0 ohm resistor and still not flashing indicator. I am calling the manufacture tomorrow. I left the standard bulbs upfront. Has Anybody else have this problem.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2021
  2. Aug 27, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Burned bulb in the indicator would be my guess.
     
  3. Aug 27, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I suggest you run a LED-compatible flasher and no resistor. The original mechanical flasher needs load current to cycle, and the LED bulb does not provide it. You sure that's 50 watts and 6 0hms? That's a hefty resistor. Anyway, you understand it should be in parallel with the bulb? Put it in series and the current is reduced, the opposite of what you want.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2021
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  4. Aug 27, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Also make sure you have the polarity of your LEDs right. Wire them backwards and they won't light.
     
  5. Aug 27, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    I read this as the OP's tail lights are flashing ok, probably because the front incandescents are proving a load or maybe he has an electronic flasher already. I believe it's the indicator lamp on his turn signal lever that's not working.
     
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  6. Aug 27, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    X 2!
     
  7. Aug 27, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    No current through the indicator bulb? How is the indicator wired with the brake/turn filaments?
     
  8. Aug 27, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

    Arroyo Grande...
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    You are right they do flash but the light in the turn signal switch is not working I should have made it more clear in my post. I ordered a three-prong adjustable flasher last night so we will see how that goes. I going to call their tech line. These L.E.D are nice. A lot of people probably wonder why I don't go with stock bulbs, I guess it's the challenge.
     
  9. Aug 27, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    I don't think it's an issue with the flasher unit as your lights are actually flashing. Check the indicator bulb.
     
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  10. Aug 27, 2021
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Did the light in the switch flash before you changed the tail lights?
     
  11. Aug 27, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

    Arroyo Grande...
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    I think you are right. I have a flasher coming if that does not work they will go back along with the flasher. And I will put in the incandescent bulbs. Thank Goodness for Amazon Prime.
    I did put it in Parallel I thought that would be plenty of resistance. I call their text line. They are useless.
     
  12. Aug 27, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

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    Yes, I going to wire in one side with the old lights and see what happens. Thanks, everybody for the assistance, I must be crazy but its a challenge
     
  13. Aug 27, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Mmm ... if the indicator bulb is in parallel with the turn signals, you have made the turn signals a very low resistance path to ground. The LEDs have a fixed barrier potential, so that voltage depends on how many of them they strung in series to make the bulb replacement. The resistor in parallel makes an alternate path to ground at low resistance. Possible the combination of the resistor and the diodes won't be enough voltage to light the indicator.

    I would jumper the relay, turn the turn signal on (should stay on steady), and measure the voltage across the resistor. I'd also run all LEDs or all incandescent. Turn signal circuits are goofy enough already, and mixing them plus some shoo-fly resistor may give surprising results.
     
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  14. Aug 27, 2021
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    [​IMG]

    from what you've told us I can only conclude that-

    There is nothing wrong with the flasher unit, replacing it will not fix the problem

    There is nothing wrong with the tail lights, returning them will not fix the problem

    The most likely issue is that the indicator bulb has burned out- replacing it will most likely fix your problem.

    Not sure where you're going with the resister- this will in no way , wherever & however it's likely to be placed, affect the indicator light any differently than the front/back turn signal lights.
     
  15. Aug 27, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

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    So I pulled the flasher and get hot not opening and closing I think I took it out my flasher after 50+ years. I installed the old-style bulbs and the flasher is still heated up and still inoperative. I didn't know you can change the bulb in the turn signal switch I can test it with my power-probe following the circuit. I have been working late model for years dealing with a lot more complicated circuits. It is just nice having your inputs. It's fun working on such simple and easy-to-get-to-components. The turn signal bulb in the switch was alright black wire coming out the three-prong flasher I did put an L.E.D in that one too.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2021
  16. Aug 27, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

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    That's a very good idea I will do that, good job thanks smart on your part why did not think of that.
     
  17. Aug 28, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

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    I think I cooked my flasher how a three-prong works in an Old jeep
    The Flasher has failed. The way it's wired works like this. White is the tail, front lights /pink is Ignition/ and the third black is the power to the flasher bulb. I used my Power probe, and the light in the indicator was good. Of course, I had to install a Led in there. The flasher must be the concern because it gets very hot. I am going to remove the resistors and run with Just the L.E.D.s. Maybe that 50-year-old flasher could not take the year 2021. I order two different styles of three-prong flashers, one with a ground wire. The other has a just knob for
     
  18. Aug 28, 2021
    Speedybon

    Speedybon Speedybon & Daisy

    Arroyo Grande...
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    So here is the data on L.E.D conversion First of all there is not enough resistance with LEDs it loads with all lights front and rear and indicator in load to the flasher. 1/2 amp 500 milliamps total with all three lights. When standard bulbs it is around 4 amps. So there is no way these will work without a different LED flasher and maybe load resistors that draw about 2 amps and get hot. A turn signal flasher needs a load to heat the Bi-strip inside to open and close. Rugged Ridge 12403.84 Tail Light set should inform you about the fast flash concern. I did install the LEDs' front bulbs and the turn signal bulb in the lever also. So the whole jeep is Leds even the dash and Autometer gauges. So in closing, I hope the flasher that's adjustable or the one for LEDs will work. Or put the stock bulbs back in. And go down in defeat.
     
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