Digi-Tail problems

[No Moolah]

I purchased a pair of Digi-Tail lights for a 1st Gen F-body with the electronic flasher and i'm having 2 problems.

1. I have no hazard funtion at all.
2. When I use the right turn signal with the brakes on, all the lights go out except for the right turn signal.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[backtobasics]

I am sure someone has a concrete answer, but to my understanding, a relay is required when using the LED in taillight applications. I am not sure what the reasoning is, but all LED lights I have come across, have required a stand alone relay.

[MuscleRodz]

Check and make sure your wiring is properly grounded. If you have turn signals, you should have hazards. Where did you tie the orange power wire into?

Mike

[No Moolah]

I have a coupe so the orange connection is at the overhead light junction by the left rear wheel well. I have the grounds all tied together and bolted down behind and below the trunk lock. I will go back and redo the ground connections as two per instead of all twisted together as one.
Thanks for the responses

Bill

[MuscleRodz]

When you redo your grounds, scrape the metal bare underneath the terminal to ensure full contact. Paint can act as an insulator.

Mike

[No Moolah]

Here's a follow up for anyone who might be searching for the similar problem. After redoing all my connections the problem still persisted. I put the standard flasher back in the I got the hazard flashers working along with all other functionality but still had the issue with the brake lights not working when making a right turn. By chance while I was testing I put about a pound of pressure on the turn signal and felt it drop into a grove and low and behold the brakes came on while making the right turn. So the issue is in the column and I assume that the hazard problem may also be associated with the switch as well. I've never messed around inside the column and hear that it can be a nightmare so if anyone has any pointers they are greatly appreciated.

Bill

[70bird]

Yeah, T/signal switch replacement sucks. If you don't have a steering wheel puller, now is the time to add one to your box. (in-expensive)

The tough part will be feeding the switch wiring through the slot in the column with the connector plug still attached. Very little room to get it through. If you have trouble, you can remove each individual wire from the plastic plug (make sure you note the positions for re-assembly) and tape them together to feed it down the column.
Might take a couple of hours, but you should be able to do it at home.

Good luck!

[fastercar68]

Yep, years ago I was chasing tail light/turn signal bulb problems. People would always say, "you got a bulb out on the left side." I knew that the bulbs were fine.

One day when I was in a shop for something else, they tried to point that I had a bulb out. I said it's more than just that. They started running thru the usual tests and when the left would go out on brakes+left turn, the guy starts wrestling with the turn signal lever. Turns out that was the problem.

Since then of course, the tail lights are back to their old tricks of not always burning when they should, falling out of the housing, etc.

After I finish my taxes, I'm going to order the digi tails setup and hopefully be done with that nonsense.

[70 Chevelle]

Just a tip. When your changing your turn signal switch disconnect the connector at the bottom of your colum then go to the top and cut the actual switch off the harness and use one of the old wires from the old harness to pull the new harness through. Seperate one of the wires that are molded together on the old harness strip it back and slide it through one of the empty holes on the new harness connector then with one hand lightly pull on the old harness at the bottom of the colum and with the other push the new harness through the top. Hope this helps. If it snags on something, which they usually do use a long welding rod and a flashlight to guide it through the snag.

[No Moolah]

Thanks 70bird and 70 Chevelle for the tips. Since my ing. switch is in the dash I don't have to contend with that at least. I'm not looking foward to this at all, but hey a good challenge never hurts. I think I may have invented some new curse words while I was troubleshooting this issue. I'm just glad I found the problem and it has a solution. By the way Fastercar68, everyone that has seen these lights in person wants a pair.