Troubleshooting Intermittent LED Tail Lights

Updated 05/19/2020 | Published 07/25/2019

Question:

I have a 2010 Taken a Curb 16b travel trailer. Recently the led tail lights started operating intermittently. NOT the entire light though. Each LED tail light has 3 rows of LEDs. I had a friend following me for a few hundred miles.... The problem may include... One light entirely not working when I hit the brakes....either side. A row of LEDs not working on one light when I hit the brakes. Both lights or a combination of different rows of LEDs not working when I hit the brakes. Sometimes both work perfectly fine with all LEDs lit. The blinker alone doesn't seem to do it.

asked by: Keith S

Expert Reply:

The problem you are experiencing with intermittent LED tail light functionality is very likely because you have a poor ground, which can cause all sorts of funky problems. What you should do is make absolutely sure your grounds are attached to bare metal surfaces and free of any paint, dirt or corrosion.

If you have a good ground you will want to move on to your connectors and check them for corrosion, which can be green or white in color. A build-up of corrosion can interfere with the signals getting through the connectors so if it is present you are going to need to either replace the plug or clean the corrosion.

I have added links to a pair of help articles on trailer wiring, including a troubleshooting guide which I highly recommend taking a look at.

expert reply by: Kyle S