LED Tailgate Light Bar Only Works Without Taillights On

Updated 02/18/2019 | Published 02/15/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Ring Terminal - 12-10 Gauge Wire - 3/16" Ring ID

(69)

$1.48

Hex Screw - Self Drilling Unslotted Washer Head #8 x 1/2"

(33)

$2.09

Rampage SuperBrite LED Tailgate Light Bar - Stop, Tail, Turn - 4-Pole Flat - 60" Long

(70)

$91.16

Question:

I plug in a led strip light bar that i bought from the internet. Turns signals work fine except when the truck is running with the lights on the strip won’t light up and when braking only the right side works.

asked by: Diego

Expert Reply:

I am sorry to hear about the issue you are having with your light bar. The problem you described sounds like a ground issue. If you have a light bar that plugs directly into a 4-way then I would remove the ground from the 4-way and then attach it directly to a bare metal surface on the vehicle with a ring terminal part # 44-5310A and self-tapping screw part # 101131802. The majority of issues like what you described are caused by a bad ground as the circuit cannot handle the extra load when multiple signals are applied. The connection point on the 4-way may not be sufficient which is why I recommend just running a seperate ground

If you still continue to have issues after the ground wire is ran separately then there could also be an issue with the converter box (if present). If that is the case then the entire light bar would most likely need to be replaced. If that is the case then I recommend the Rampage SuperBrite LED Tailgate Light Bar part # RA960134 for replacement. The Rampage SuperBrite has stop, tail, and turn signal lights. It also has diodes to prevent power from backfeeding and it comes with a one year warranty.

expert reply by: Conner L