Brake LED not working properly

[Drew]

G'day,

I replaced the 3 brake lights with LEDs, the two on the bumper work fine however the eye level one doesn't come on and only flickers for a fraction when the brake pedal is released. The incandescent bulb works fine.

I checked with the supplier and they said it was an earth issue. I checked for power/earth using a pen tester thingy and a multimeter, both show power with or without the LED inserted.

Any ideas ?

[teno45]

Able to swap them between positions? Put the light you know works in the problem position, problem light in the good position?

[Drew]

Able to swap them between positions? Put the light you know works in the problem position, problem light in the good position?

I don't know of any other spot to try it. The bulb is a different type as opposed to

The second pic is the parker/stop in the bumper, the first is the eye level stop light

[patch697]

Is it fitting in the light socket properly?

Just check the pins from the incandescent bulb against the 2 contacts on the bottom then check the LED against it just to be sure.

If nothing else it rules out that being a possible cause.

[Yendor]

What part of the socket had power, was is the centre part of the socket or the housing/body?

[Drew]

I tested the bulb (while it was in the socket) by touching the side of the bulb (-ve) (not the socket itself so that I knew that there was some contact) and the wire inside the socket (+ve) and there was power. Should I do it differently ?

I'll check the pins out Patch.

What confuses me is that it flashes when my foot comes off the brake and not on when I would've expected.

[Drew]

Ok, the distance between the base of the bulb and the bottom of the pins is close enough the be the same. I didn't have a bee around to measure that fine.

[threedogs]

I have these fitted with no issues RHS one has 120 smd LEDs

[Drew]

Yup, not much can go wrong, can't even put it in the wrong way.

I'm starting to wonder if the voltage is a little low (after all it is going up hill ) that could possibly cause it but my understanding is that it will just not be as bright.

[patch697]

I tested the bulb (while it was in the socket) by touching the side of the bulb (-ve) (not the socket itself so that I knew that there was some contact) and the wire inside the socket (+ve) and there was power. Should I do it differently ?

I'll check the pins out Patch.

What confuses me is that it flashes when my foot comes off the brake and not on when I would've expected.

That flicking your getting would tend to suggest its poled back to front as LED's will only work with a true positive to positive connection unlike incandescent globes which will work either way as long as there is power & earth.

Go back & check the light socket itself (without the globe in) as Yendor suggested & see your getting positive power at the 2xcontact points in the bottom or on the side of the socket wall.