Removing Diodes From Lighting Used For Flat-Towing 2003 Acura TL

Published 08/20/2015

Question:

How do I remove the all diode block wiring altogether since I will not be towing my car? See original question below and first expert reply I purchased a used 2003 Acura TL that I did not know was towbar towed and wired with Diode Kit until I checked wiring because my left rear brake lights are not working. The high mount and right rear brake lights are working. I am able to make the left rear brake lights to work only if I run a jumper wire at the diode block itself so as to also connect the terminals of the two wires running to the rear left and rear right brake wires of my car. Is this a safe thing to do? Sounds like maybe the diode of the wiring kit on your vehicle has gone bad. You can bypass the diode to get the brake light to get it to work again, or you can replace the diode with part # RM-790 for if you ever planned to flat tow the vehicle again. If your brake lights are separate from your turn signals you could do what you described and run the brake light wire from one side of the vehicle to the other taillight, but you would also run the risk of overdrawing that circuit since it now would be powering two lights.

asked by: Bob I

Expert Reply:

In order to remove the diodes from your Acura, you can do a couple things. If you want to remove the wiring harness altogether, simply trace the wires from the connector at the front of your Acura and find each diode used for your vehicle.

The diode should be installed very near the tail lights. Use a circuit tester like part # 3808 and find the wire that shows current only when the left turn signal is used. Remove the diode and then use a connector to reattach the wires that the diode was connected to.

You can have someone press the brake pedal and find the wire that shows current only when the brakes are pressed. Remove the diode that is inline with that wire and reattach. Repeat this for both sides of the vehicle and you should then have your lights back to their original function without the diodes. You can then leave the harness that was used for flat-towing your vehicle or you could remove it after removing diodes.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L