Topic Sponsor
2004 - 2008 Ford F150 General discussion on the 2004 - 2008 Ford F150 truck.

Tail lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 02:30 AM
  #1  
beetlevegas's Avatar
Thread Starter
Parts Guy
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 37
From: N Las Vegas
Default Tail lights

Looking to upgrade the tail lights on my 05. Looking at these LED smoked lights. Just looking to see any one has used these or know any real information on them. Like how well are they. I found one thread on them but it was really no info on it that helped. Just want to make sure they are not junk. Thanks.


Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 05:17 AM
  #2  
Mod (Ret.)'s Avatar
Moderator (Ret.)
Supporting Member

 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9,460
Likes: 486
From: Lake Mary Florida
Default

Ask the seller if they come with "load resisters"; needed in order for your cruise control to work.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 05:52 AM
  #3  
techrep's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 37,815
Likes: 2,714
From: Va. Beach, VA.
Default

Actually...those are good lights... I have had my set for 4 years now...no problems at all...I did swap out my reverse light bulbs for LED’s though.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 10:14 AM
  #4  
beetlevegas's Avatar
Thread Starter
Parts Guy
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 37
From: N Las Vegas
Default

Originally Posted by Bucko
Ask the seller if they come with "load resisters"; needed in order for your cruise control to work.
Why would my cruise control not work?


Originally Posted by techrep
Actually...those are good lights... I have had my set for 4 years now...no problems at all...I did swap out my reverse light bulbs for LED’s though.
I have LEDs in the reverse lights now. Was it the same bulb?

Thanks for the info guys.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 10:21 AM
  #5  
MGD's Avatar
MGD
former member
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,092
Likes: 857
Default

These are less expensive - and brighter:

http://www.vleds.com/v3-triton/bulb-.../red/v3-r.html

There is also a sale going on: http://www.vleds.com/promo

Smoked tails and decent output are a non-sequitur, IMHO.

BTW - you don't need resistors - use a Tridon EP-27 SS flasher instead.

MGD

Last edited by MGD; Apr 7, 2015 at 10:23 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 10:22 AM
  #6  
sdatrlp23's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 153
From: Texas
Default

Those VLEDs are a nice choice^^

Originally Posted by beetlevegas
Why would my cruise control not work? I have LEDs in the reverse lights now. Was it the same bulb? Thanks for the info guys.
The cruise control issue is only with the 3rd brake light. Most sellers have addressed that issue by now, but some haven't. So just keep that in mind if you end up replacing that one, too.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 11:42 AM
  #7  
Mod (Ret.)'s Avatar
Moderator (Ret.)
Supporting Member

 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9,460
Likes: 486
From: Lake Mary Florida
Default

Originally Posted by sdatrlp23
Those VLEDs are a nice choice^^



The cruise control issue is only with the 3rd brake light. Most sellers have addressed that issue by now, but some haven't. So just keep that in mind if you end up replacing that one, too.
Nope; if you add an LED bulb to the rear taillight brake/turn signals, that too will kill the cruise from working. Some of the LED taillight assemblies built early on did this as well. I had a set back in 2006 that killed my cruise.

To the question of why: the cruise circuit "ON" triggers off of the brake circuit. In early days, a switch was on the brake pedal to detect when the brakes were applied, and this would deactivate the cruise. Today, the brake light circuit is used. With a conventional bulb, the resistance is detected by this circuit (brake lightsd on/off). It expects a certain amount of resistance. With LED's, they have a low current draw/resistance, and this disables the cruise from being activated. The manufactures place load resister circuits either in an LED bulb now, or you have to solder them into the brake wiring.

Last edited by Mod (Ret.); Apr 7, 2015 at 11:52 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 11:50 AM
  #8  
sdatrlp23's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 153
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Bucko
Nope; if you add an LED bulb to the rear taillight brake/turn signals, that too will kill the cruise from working. Some of the LED taillight assemplies built early did this as well. To the question of why: the cruise circuit "ON" triggers on the brake circuit. With a conventional bulb, the current draw is seen by this circuit, and the cruise sees this as the brakes applied. It expects a certain amount of resistance. With LED's, they have a low current draw/resistance, and this disables the cruise from being activated. The manufactures place load resister circuits either in an LED bulb now, or you have to solder them into the brke wiring.
My truck must be an exception then, lol.

Almost every one of the aftermarket tail lights/brake lights/turn signals come with resistors. But a lot of the manufactures don't include any sort of resistor on the 3rd brake light, so that's typically where the problem stems from.

Good information, though.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 11:59 AM
  #9  
Mod (Ret.)'s Avatar
Moderator (Ret.)
Supporting Member

 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9,460
Likes: 486
From: Lake Mary Florida
Default

Just in case someone buys an old used set...they should be aware. The new stuff has the loads resisters built in.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2015 | 12:47 PM
  #10  
techrep's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 37,815
Likes: 2,714
From: Va. Beach, VA.
Default

Originally Posted by beetlevegas
Why would my cruise control not work?




I have LEDs in the reverse lights now. Was it the same bulb?

Thanks for the info guys.
Yes...same bulb
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:07 PM.