Im having an issue with my side marker lights, the picture that shows both lights clearly lit up is when my parking lights are off and when the turn indicator is being used, and both light up bright as expected, however when I turn on the parking light/headlights for driving at night, the front marker stays lit bright while the side marker goes dim, I was wondering if that is normal and if not how do i fix it, I have led bulbs in all the marker lights as well as in the rear tail lights( with the correct led relay), i have tried placing all the original halogen bulbs into all the lights but did the same results. Any ideas?
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Nakielski
Side marker lights having issues
Im having an issue with my side marker lights, the picture that shows both lights clearly lit up is when my parking lights are off and when the turn indicator is being used, and both light up bright as expected, however when I turn on the parking light/headlights for driving at night, the front marker stays lit bright while the side marker goes dim, I was wondering if that is normal and if not how do i fix it, I have led bulbs in all the marker lights as well as in the rear tail lights( with the correct led relay), i have tried placing all the original halogen bulbs into all the lights but did the same results. Any ideas?
![4418091]( "4418091")
![4418092]( "4418092")
LED's will simply not work in side marker lights without modification. If you will note, there are only two wires going to the side marker lights while there are three going to the front marker (parking) lights. The missing third wire is the ground wire. Two decades ago it became popular to use a "floating ground" on side marker lights on a lot of vehicles. BTW the JK markers are just that, they don't also act as flashers with the turn signals).
When the parking lights are off, the side markers (with incandescent bulbs) will flash in sequence with the turn signals. That is when the front turn signal is lit, the side marker light is lit. When the front turn signal is off, the side marker is off. With the parking lights on, the side markers (again with incandescent bulbs) will flash opposite of the front turn signals. That is when the front flasher (not parking light) is on, the side marker is off, and when the front flasher is off, the side marker is on.
This is because there are two +12v wires to the marker and the fact than an incandescent bulb will pass current in either direction. When the parking lights of off the +12v for the flasher goes in on the flasher +12v wire and goes out the parking light +12v wire to ground. When the parking lights are on, the +12v for the parking light goes in on the parking +12v wire and out the +12v to find a ground. However, when the parking lights are on and the flasher is also on, the side marker goes out. This is because when you have +12v on both wires, they cancel and no current flows. Thus, the side marker alternates with the front flashers.
However, an LED (Light Emitting DIode) being a diode can only pass current in one direction. Thus when you have an LED bulb in the side marker you will have either a flasher (when the parking lights are off) or a side marker (when the flashers are off) depending on which way the bulb has been installed. To fix that you have to insert f full wave bridge rectifier in the circuit before the side marker lights. The easiest fix is to remove the LEDs from the side marker lights and go back to the incandescent bulbs.
When the parking lights are off, the side markers (with incandescent bulbs) will flash in sequence with the turn signals. That is when the front turn signal is lit, the side marker light is lit. When the front turn signal is off, the side marker is off. With the parking lights on, the side markers (again with incandescent bulbs) will flash opposite of the front turn signals. That is when the front flasher (not parking light) is on, the side marker is off, and when the front flasher is off, the side marker is on.
This is because there are two +12v wires to the marker and the fact than an incandescent bulb will pass current in either direction. When the parking lights of off the +12v for the flasher goes in on the flasher +12v wire and goes out the parking light +12v wire to ground. When the parking lights are on, the +12v for the parking light goes in on the parking +12v wire and out the +12v to find a ground. However, when the parking lights are on and the flasher is also on, the side marker goes out. This is because when you have +12v on both wires, they cancel and no current flows. Thus, the side marker alternates with the front flashers.
However, an LED (Light Emitting DIode) being a diode can only pass current in one direction. Thus when you have an LED bulb in the side marker you will have either a flasher (when the parking lights are off) or a side marker (when the flashers are off) depending on which way the bulb has been installed. To fix that you have to insert f full wave bridge rectifier in the circuit before the side marker lights. The easiest fix is to remove the LEDs from the side marker lights and go back to the incandescent bulbs.
Yes. I initially thought that if I put back all the halogen bulbs back in all the lights it would fix the problem, yet it persists so it does it with led and without led bulbs
I would put the incandescent bulbs back in all the housings and see if they perform normally. Remember that with the turn signals off and the parking lights on you should see the side markers on solid. Then with the parking lights on, turn on the right turn signal and stand in the spot where you can see both lights (same position as the photos you posted). You should see the right side marker light alternate with the right front turn signal. (That is when the front light is bright, the side marker light is off, then when the front light is dim the side marker light is on). Then when you turn the parking lights off, the right front marker and right turn signals should both flash together.
The side marker bulb (#168) only has one element where as the front parking/turn signal bulb (#3157) has two (as does the rear tail/stop bulb). With only one element, the side marker bulb cannot do the bright/dim sequence like the front/rear lights.
The side marker bulb (#168) only has one element where as the front parking/turn signal bulb (#3157) has two (as does the rear tail/stop bulb). With only one element, the side marker bulb cannot do the bright/dim sequence like the front/rear lights.
LED bulbs in those locations cause problems when turning the headlights on. That's because doing so switches the current direction through the bulbs but LED bulbs block current flow in the opposite direction.
I went with LED in the headlights (Quadratec GenII) but still have the traditional incandescent bulbs in all other locations (working to change over the fogs though). I have the clear housings in the side marker and front parking housings so I have to get amber bulbs, which I discovered are not that common any more. Amazon only shows one choice for the #168A, but I have to buy 10 of them (good news is the package of 10 is only $11).
Review this thread. The Whole Story About Installing LEDs as Side Marker Lights
The base OP is no longer with us, I did just do this mod to my TJ and was going to post a pic and follow up to that thread later today.
The base OP is no longer with us, I did just do this mod to my TJ and was going to post a pic and follow up to that thread later today.
i was able to throw all the incandescent back in and it fixed the issue, however i hate how dim the front and side markers are, any ideas as to how i can make the LED bulbs work just like normal, or an upgraded bulb that is brighter?
I was looking at that thread and i was considering it but just evaluating my options
I was looking at that thread and i was considering it but just evaluating my options
The problem is if you do find and toss in a bigger beefy incandescent (say halogen if you can find them) you could end up melting your marker housings and put a strain on the already problematic multifunction switch. If you make the pigtails as I put in that other thread, no more problems, nice bright LED's. and reversible. Remember the brighter the incandescent the more heat usually.
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