14 Diode Taillights Flashing Oddly

Updated 01/13/2026 | Published 09/02/2024

Question:

I installed a set of Optronics LED taillights a few years ago, all good. This year, I’ve had some funky behavior from them. Here’s a matrix describing what occurs: Each fixture has 14 LED’s: two in the center and twelve surrounding those two excluding the license plate illumination. With running lights on, all 14 LEDs illuminate on both left and right. good, expected. With running lights on AND flashers on: Left fixture: center two illuminate bright and flash and the surrounding 12 go off Right fixture: 12 illuminate bright and flash and center two go off. With running lights off AND flashers on: Left fixture two center LEDs illuminate bright flash, surrounding 12 off Right fixture: Center two LEDs off surrounding 12 illuminate bright flash. Essentially, the flashing LED arrangement on the Left is opposite of that on the Right. This seems very strange. Any thoughts on what is going on?

asked by: Steve R

Expert Reply:

Hi Steve,

Strange is a very good word for it; that's a completely bizarre scenario I've never heard of happening. The only thing I can think of is a bad ground that is causing some sort of power fluctuation within the light, hence the issue with them being fine with just the running lights on, but flashers make them act up. So I'd really make sure the ground is good, and also the wires leading to them aren't damaged somehow, which can also cause funky voltage issues.

expert reply by: Kyle S

Jesse M.

1/12/2026

Hey Steve, did checking the ground or wiring clear up the odd flashing pattern on your Optronics LED taillights? Your update could make it easier for others who run into the same kind of issue.