Vince

Today I had the Recon White Lightning tailgate light bar installed on my 2009 Screw. The technician hardwired it to the trailer connector wires.

Everything works perfectly except the brake light function. If the headlights are off and you step on the brake, the red LEDs light up brightly. If the headlights are on and you step on the brakes, the red LEDs go so dim you can't see them.

I checked the wiring myself and everything appears to be OK. I called Recon and went over the wiring connections and functions with them. I even checked voltages at the trailer plug. Everything seems to be OK.

Recon's conclusion was there was something wrong with the truck wiring.

I just wondered if anyone else had run into this.

ylf

Vince,

I got your PM about this. Unfortunately, I may not be much help for you. When I hard wired mine I did not connect the tail light wire, just the turn, brake, backup and ground because I didn't want the light bar on with the headlights, only with the brakes and turn signals. However, when I first installed it I just plugged it into my trailer plug for a few days until I hard wired it and it seemed to work correctly with the lights on it was dim red then hit the brakes and it got brighter. Actually I tested all that before I ever mounted it.

A couple questions for you: Does your 09 have a separate bulb for the turn signal or is it like the 08 and older with a two element bulb that works as brakes and turn signal?

Does putting on the turn signal with the headlights on also cause half of the light bar to go out/dim rather than brighter?

Do the white LEDs light correctly in reverse? With the headlights on?

If you have a connector in line to the bar I would suggest testing it by connecting the ground then put +12 to the tail light wire AND the two turn wires (or one at a time) and see if it works right then. If not then call Recon again and explain it doesn't work right when power is applied to the tail and brake wires directly, bypassing the truck wiring.

With all that said, it sounds like a problem with the light bar to me.

Mike

Vince

Mike, thanks for the reply. We have been so busy this weekend I haven't had time to test any further. I hope to track it all down tomorrow.

My '09 has a single brake/turnsignal/running light bulb with two filements, one for the running light and one for the turn/stop.

The B/U lights on the bar work great.

I will have to double check the turn signal operation.

Thanks again and I will let you know what happens.

Vince

Well, I solved the problem - it was a defective light bar.

I tried Mike's suggestion and it made no difference to the operation of the light bar. I called Recon and explained the problem. They wanted me to try a few things, which I did, to no avail. They finally concluded there was something wrong with the truck wiring.

I said enough was enough. It shouldn't be this difficult. I want back to the fellow that installed it and had him remove it and got a full refund. I stopped at another shop and they just happened to have an identical light bar. We plugged it in and it worked like a charm.

I installed it this morning and everything is working perfectly.

Thanks, Mike, for the trouble shooting suggestions.

ylf

Glad you got it fixed/replaced. I thought it must be the light bar, I couldn't think of any wiring error that would cause your symptom.

There has been a pretty high rate of failure reported with these but mine has been working fine for over 6 months so far.

obusnizzle

mine **** the bed at 13 months the driver side red lights on the bar are dead.

99Longhorn

i have a 99, idk if you guys can relate or help me, but i just put one on, and wired the white ground wire into the left reverse light power wire and everything works but the left reverse light

Vince

Sorry, but I can't b much help. I never could get the thing to work properly if the white B/U lights were wired in the circuit. As soon as that was disconnected, all the other functions worked properly. I finally gave up and lived with it.

I just bought a 2013 and decided to install the light bar. Everything works perfectly!!!! No idea what the difference could be. Good luck with your 2009.

Jus Cruisin

I have had the same Recon light bar on 3 trucks now. I always use the plug so I don't have to disturb the factory wiring harness. If I am towing, I just unplug it so I can use the 7pin connector (don't need it when towing anyway).

Cowboy Wayne

I just bought an APC for mine and it plugs right into the trailer 4 pin for the brakes, running, and turn signal lights but there is a spare white wire for reverse. The instructions say "connect white wire for reverse white light" and nothing further. Very informative instructions lol. Anybody know where to safely connect this white wire so my reverse will work?