Added LED Lights to a 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon and Now Hitch Mount Carrier Turn Signals Do Not Work

Question:

My 1990 Vanagon exterior lights have been replaced with LED lights. I have now attached a platform to my trailer hitch. I have attached lights to the platform to allow me to not worry when driving at night with the rear lights covered by containers on my platform. My problem is the flashing turn indicators are the only lights not working properly on the platform. We tried two different converters. One powered and one unpowered with no improvement. Are the LED lights the problem, or explain what is happening. I cannot be the only person that has experienced this problem?

asked by: Everett H

Expert Reply:

If the lights are flashing rapidly (hyperflash) when you are using the turn signals then what you need to install is a couple of load resistors, # DI34ZR, one each one of the turn signal circuits. This will allow enough load on the circuit to fix a hyperflash problem. So the LED lights on the Van could be the issue and creating more load might do the trick.

Using a powered converter could have also taken care of the problem since it provides the power to the additional lights on the carrier. Since it did not, the issue could be a ground problem on the extra lights. They need to be attached to a clean and corrosion free bare metal surface. Also, since the powered converter receives the proper signal from the tail light wiring, if the LED lights are not drawing enough power that could have been what was causing the problem.

To determine if it is in fact the LED lights that are causing the issue what you can do is test it with a regular incandescent light on one side and see if the issue gets resolved on that side. If it does then using the load resistors with the LED lights will probably solve the problem. Or you could switch back to incandescent lights.

expert reply by: Michael H