Upgrading to LED Turn Signal Lamps can offer a modern look and improved visibility for your vehicle. However, a common issue after this upgrade is hyper flashing, where the turn signals blink much faster than usual. This isn’t just annoying; it indicates that your car’s system thinks a bulb is burnt out, even when the LEDs are working. Let’s dive into why this happens and how to fix it.
The reason behind this rapid blinking lies in your car’s Body Control Module (BCM). This module monitors the functionality of your turn signal lamps by checking the electrical resistance in the circuit. Traditional incandescent bulbs have a specific resistance due to their filament. The BCM is designed to detect this resistance; if it doesn’t sense the expected level when you activate your turn signal, it assumes the bulb is out and triggers the fast blinking as a warning. This check is performed with each blink of the turn signal, but not when hazard lights or brakes are applied.
LED lamps, on the other hand, operate with significantly less power and thus have a much higher resistance than incandescent bulbs. When you switch to LEDs, the BCM detects this higher resistance and incorrectly interprets it as a bulb failure, leading to hyper flashing.
To solve this issue, you need to introduce load resistors into the circuit. A load resistor is designed to mimic the resistance of a standard incandescent bulb. By wiring a load resistor in parallel with each LED turn signal lamp, you effectively add the necessary resistance that the BCM expects to see. This tricks the system into thinking a regular bulb is in place and functioning correctly, resolving the hyper flashing problem. It’s important to note that load resistors work by converting electrical energy into heat, similar to an incandescent bulb, but without producing light.
If you’ve installed LED turn signals and load resistors but are still experiencing hyper flashing, here are a few potential culprits:
- Incorrect Resistor Resistance: The load resistor needs to have the correct resistance value to effectively mimic an incandescent bulb. For most tail light bulb applications, a 6-ohm resistor is recommended. Also ensure the wattage rating is sufficient; a 50-watt resistor is generally adequate to safely dissipate the heat generated.
- Insufficient Number of Resistors: Ensure you have installed one load resistor for each LED turn signal lamp. If your vehicle uses separate bulbs for turn signals in the tail lights, you’ll need a resistor for each of those. For example, if you have two LED turn signal bulbs in the rear, you’ll need two load resistors.
- Faulty Load Resistor: Like any electrical component, load resistors can fail. If you suspect a faulty resistor, try replacing it to see if it resolves the issue.
- Poor Connection: A loose or corroded connection in the wiring of the load resistor can prevent it from working correctly. Double-check all wiring connections to ensure they are secure and clean.
Remember that load resistors generate heat, potentially as much as a standard bulb. Therefore, it’s crucial to mount them away from any plastic components or wiring. Ideally, they should be mounted directly to a metal part of the car’s body or frame to help dissipate heat safely. Be mindful of this, especially in situations where your turn signals might be active for extended periods, such as waiting at a long traffic light.
By understanding how your car’s turn signal system works and the role of load resistors, you can effectively address hyper flashing issues after upgrading to LED turn signal lamps and ensure your vehicle’s signals function correctly and safely.
