In recent years, car LED lights have become a popular upgrade for automotive lighting, particularly for tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights. LED lighting offers a number of benefits, including energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and brighter illumination. However, when retrofitting a vehicle with LED lights, one common issue that arises is the malfunctioning of LED tail lights, particularly when connected to a LED flasher relay. This brings us to the central question of this article: Does the LED flasher relay affect the brake LED light?

When upgrading to LED tail lights, many vehicle owners run into challenges with their LED turn signal lights and brake lights not functioning correctly. If you’ve ever found yourself facing issues such as the turn indicator on the dash not working, or noticing that brake lights and turn signals aren’t functioning properly, it could be due to how the LED flasher relay interacts with your lighting system.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore how the LED flasher relay affects the functionality of LED brake lights, why LED tail lights may not work properly, and what you can do to troubleshoot and fix common issues associated with aftermarket LED tail lights. We’ll also address other relevant questions like, Will a flasher work with LED lights?, and What happens when the flasher relay goes out? So let’s dive into the details.

The Role of the LED Flasher Relay in Car Lighting Systems

Before we address the specific question of whether the LED flasher relay affects LED brake lights, it’s important to understand how flashers work in a typical vehicle lighting system.

What is a Flasher Relay?

A flasher relay is an essential component in your car's electrical system that controls the blinking of turn signal lights and emergency flashers. It essentially allows the lights to blink by interrupting the power flow at regular intervals, creating a flashing effect. In older vehicles that used incandescent bulbs, the flasher worked by drawing power through the bulb filament, which would heat up and cause it to blink.

However, in modern cars with LED lights, the power consumption is significantly lower, and the electrical load is different, which can cause issues with traditional flashers. This is why a LED flasher relay is often required when replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.

How Does the LED Flasher Relay Affect Brake Lights?

The LED flasher relay typically affects turn signals more directly than brake lights, but it can still have an impact. The reason for this is that LED brake lights and turn signal lights often share the same power circuit, especially in configurations where a single bulb serves both functions.

In a typical scenario, the LED brake lights are powered by a constant power feed when the brakes are applied. The turn signal, on the other hand, carries intermittent power through the LED flasher relay when the turn signal is activated. When both functions are used at the same time, there may be conflicts because the relay doesn't know how to handle the simultaneous constant and intermittent power requirements.

Possible Issues Caused by the LED Flasher Relay

1. No Blinking of Turn Signals: One of the most common problems with LED turn signals and brake lights after installing an LED flasher relay is that the turn signals don’t blink at all. This can happen if the LED flasher relay is incompatible with the specific type of LED bulbs you are using, or if the relay isn’t wired correctly.

2. Brake Lights Not Working Properly: In some cases, activating the brake lights can interfere with the turn signal functionality, causing both functions to fail. This is often caused by improper wiring or an incorrect LED flasher relay configuration that doesn’t account for the specific behavior of LED brake lights and turn signals.

3. Turn Signal Indicator Issues: If your turn indicator on the dash is not working properly, it could be because the LED flasher relay is not correctly handling the electrical flow needed to activate the indicator. This can happen if the flasher is not compatible with the low power draw of LED bulbs.

Common Symptoms of LED Flasher Relay Problems

Here are some symptoms you might experience if your LED flasher relay is causing issues with LED brake lights:

• Turn signals blink too fast or not at all.

• Brake lights do not light up when the brake pedal is pressed.

• Turn signal indicator on the dashboard is not flashing or is flashing continuously.

• No response from the brake light when the brake is applied.

Will a Flasher Work with LED Lights?

Many people upgrading their vehicle lighting to LED lights often ask, Will a flasher work with LED lights? The answer is yes, but with some considerations.

Why Standard Flashers Don’t Work with LED Lights

Standard incandescent flashers are designed to work with the electrical load of incandescent bulbs, which draw more current compared to LED bulbs. When you replace your traditional bulbs with LEDs, the lower current draw can cause the flasher relay to malfunction. The LED flasher relay is specifically designed to handle the low current draw of LED lights and will provide the proper blinking behavior for your turn signals.

If you are using aftermarket LED tail lights or LED turn signal lights, installing an LED flasher relay is usually necessary to ensure the system works correctly. If you don’t install the correct flasher relay, your turn signals may blink too fast, or not blink at all, as the relay won’t detect the presence of the lower current.

Choosing the Right Flasher Relay

When selecting an LED flasher relay, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Compatibility: Ensure that the LED flasher relay you choose is compatible with your specific vehicle’s electrical system and LED lighting setup.

• Load Compatibility: Make sure the flasher relay can handle the number of LED bulbs installed in your vehicle. Some flashers are designed for a specific load and may not work correctly with a higher number of lights.

• EF33RL Flasher: One popular choice for LED flasher relays is the EF33RL flasher, which is known for its reliability and compatibility with LED turn signal lights.

Why Are My LED Tail Lights Not Working Properly?

If your LED tail lights aren’t working correctly, there could be several reasons behind it. Below are some common issues that could affect the operation of your car LED lights:

1. Incompatible Flasher Relay

As we’ve discussed, the flasher relay plays a critical role in controlling the blink rate of the turn signals. If the relay is incompatible with your LED lights, it could prevent the turn signals or brake lights from working properly.

2. Incorrect Wiring

Improper wiring can lead to malfunctioning LED tail lights. If the power wires are not connected properly, or if there’s a loose connection, the LED lights may fail to operate as intended.

3. Faulty Grounding

A common issue with LED lighting is poor grounding. Without a solid ground connection, your LED lights may flicker or fail to illuminate altogether. Always ensure that the LED tail lights are properly grounded.

4. Blown Fuse or Bad Connection

If the fuses for your LED tail lights are blown or if there’s a bad connection somewhere in the wiring, your tail lights may not work at all. Double-check all the fuses and wiring connections to ensure everything is in working order.

5. LED Bulb Failure

Although LED bulbs last longer than traditional bulbs, they can still burn out. If one of your LED bulbs is not working, check to see if it’s faulty and replace it if necessary.

Aftermarket LED Tail Lights Problems

Upgrading to aftermarket LED tail lights can provide a custom look and enhanced lighting performance. However, there are some common issues that may arise, particularly when dealing with the integration of LED turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights. Here are some common problems:

• Compatibility Issues with the vehicle’s electrical system, causing flickering or non-functioning lights.

• Load Problems, which occur when the LED bulbs draw too little current, leading to improper operation of the flasher or brake light.

• Electrical Short Circuits, which can occur if the wiring is not correctly installed or if there’s a faulty ground connection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the LED flasher relay does affect the operation of LED brake lights, particularly when they are combined with turn signals in a shared bulb configuration. If your LED tail lights or turn signals are not functioning correctly, it is important to troubleshoot the LED flasher relay, wiring, grounding, and other related components.

Whether you are upgrading your vehicle with car LED lights or replacing a faulty LED flasher relay, ensuring compatibility between your lights and relay is crucial. Understanding how LED flasher relays work and how to properly install them will help avoid common issues with aftermarket LED tail lights.

For those looking for LED lights for their cars, you can find a wide selection at car LED lights Amazon, car LED lights Walmart, or check out local car LED lights in store options for immediate availability. Always remember to check local regulations to ensure that your upgraded lighting setup is legal and safe for the road.