OEM LED Tail Lights: Side Lights Not Working

[McGyver]

I picked up a pair of OEM LED Tail Lights for my 2019 JL and tried the install today. All went great...but neither of the side lights are working. If it was just one, I would figure it was a bad light....but its both. Otherwise, the lights work perfectly.

I have a Taser and set the Tails to LED....and Rebooted.

Ideas?

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[McGyver]

I did the install of the LED lights....then ran the Taser....then started up the jeep tested the lights. NEW INFO: I put my old Halogens back in....ran the Taser to set back....and started the jeep once more....side lights still not working on either side.

 

[GATORB8]

I haven't had factory tails in a long time, but are you sure they are lights and not reflectors?

 

[McGyver]

On both the halogens and the leds....there are wires that plug into the side lights area. So, they are lights. You have to have rear side lights also.

 

[GATORB8]

On both the halogens and the leds....there are wires that plug into the side lights area. So, they are lights. You have to have rear side lights also.

Yup, confirmed, lol.

What color are the wires? Let me check the diagrams.

 

[GATORB8]

Yup, confirmed, lol.

What color are the wires? Let me check the diagrams.

OK, I think I have it figured.

Are your front DRLs still halogen? The lead to the side markers is spliced between front and rear. If you have halogens, you may have enough voltage drop to not fire the rear LED.

 

[McGyver]

I figured it out....sort of....and rather stupid on my part. Those side lights are running lights and need to be turned on....they won't light up just with brakes and/or signals. So, I turned them on with my halogens and they BOTH worked. So, I tried the LEDs again....one works perfectly.....the other does not work.....the side light and outer ring fail to light up even though the signal works. So....it looks like I have a bad LED light. The halogens are back!!! At least I am getting good at taking these in and out.....and connecting and disconnecting those connectors!!!

 

[GATORB8]

I figured it out....sort of....and rather stupid on my part. Those side lights are running lights and need to be turned on....they won't light up just with brakes and/or signals. So, I turned them on with my halogens and they BOTH worked. So, I tried the LEDs again....one works perfectly.....the other does not work.....the side light and outer ring fail to light up even though the signal works. So....it looks like I have a bad LED light. The halogens are back!!! At least I am getting good at taking these in and out.....and connecting and disconnecting those connectors!!!

You might want to prove out the light. I'm not positive the factory tails aren't too voltage sensitive, but you may be able to bench test with a 9V battery.

 

[McGyver]

I am not incredibly electrical.....how would I prove out this tail light?

 

[GATORB8]

I am not incredibly electrical.....how would I prove out this tail light?

I’m not by my computer anymore so I can’t pull the pinning. But you can take a 9V battery and a couple scrap pieces of wire. + to + and - to the ground and it will light up if it’s working. Think of it like a way to check a light bulb.

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