LED tail problems?

[max09163]

Hey all,

its been a while since I posted last but I'm having a major issue with the group buy led tails. Is anyone else having a whole section (two vertical rows) going out? I replaced a few leds but I think it's just the wiring. anyone experience this and how did you fix it?

secondly,
its getting really cold here - it was 28 today and as I drive the BRAKE on my dash blinks and beeps (really annoying) but I know my emergency brake isn't sticking.


Thanks!

[n7plus1]

all i have to say is why in the fuck do so many people have issues with these fucking things...id get a set if they could fucking make them properly.

[Charlescrs6]

all i have to say is why in the fuck do so many people have issues with these fucking things...id get a set if they could fucking make them properly.

Someones having a bad day...

[n7plus1]

haha, no, im having a good day actually, but i just sick of seeing these threads...it sucks. They would be so much better if the people that made them didnt fail at life.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

try flipping the LED's u replaced over, because they have to go in a certain way o else they don't light up.

[Maverick]

all i have to say is why in the fuck do so many people have issues with these fucking things...id get a set if they could fucking make them properly.

you spent the money and expect good quality, very reasonable.

but

did you get the resistor mod done to the LED tails? that will be key...

[CyberPMG]

There are threads here on how to replace the LEDs. Simple really except for the outer two columns which are soldered to circuit boards. You'll need to do some electrical work on those in order to put in new LEDs. Not difficult to do if you know how to solder. Having the resistor is essential.

[n7plus1]

you spent the money and expect good quality, very reasonable.

but

did you get the resistor mod done to the LED tails? that will be key...

i never bought any due to the horror stories i hear about them...you should not have to mod anything that is brand new to work correctly.

[Turb_Oh_A4]

Minus all his F-Bombs, i totally agree. I'd like to get some, but id rather not have to Rig some brand new part.

[max09163]

first problem I've had with these, these had the regulators and before they went out the leds would flicker, I think its just a bad connection cause 6 went out at the same time

[mxrz]

Comon knowledge, those LED tails are real pieces of shit. Not safe either. The different in brightness between brake on and off is not enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone with these got rear ended and sued for putting this shit on their car.

[Smiley]

Comon knowledge, those LED tails are real pieces of shit. Not safe either. The different in brightness between brake on and off is not enough. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone with these got rear ended and sued for putting this shit on their car.

I have those LED tails, and the difference between brake on/off is not how your describing it to be.

Brake ON is a LOT brighter than OFF. I can see peoples faces light up in my side mirror when i hit the brake, and ive NEVER had anybody rear end me, or even come close to it.

[fitch303]

Hey all,
secondly,
its getting really cold here - it was 28 today and as I drive the BRAKE on my dash blinks and beeps (really annoying) but I know my emergency brake isn't sticking.


Thanks!

Same here, my ebrake handle is disengaged but I can feel the drag big time when I let off the gas and put the clutch in. I'm thinking it's simply due to the freezing temps. Also to the guy who is shouting about the led tails I completely understand. Ive wanted the led tails for about a year now but dont want to deal with shitty quality control.

[mxrz]

I have those LED tails, and the difference between brake on/off is not how your describing it to be.

Brake ON is a LOT brighter than OFF. I can see peoples faces light up in my side mirror when i hit the brake, and ive NEVER had anybody rear end me, or even come close to it.

I've driven behind many, the off state is too bright, and the on state is only slightly brighter. The minimal difference is rendered even less distinguishable when you're behind, but in the next lane. Those are poorly designed LED tails. Mercedes spent a lot of money and R&D time to get their LED tails right, there is a reason why. LEDs require carefully designed reflectors and these ricer tails certainly do not fit in that category. Just another vanity mod that sacrifices safety and functionality...

You can email this guy: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/about/about.html and ask him about these aftermarket taillights, he'll give you all the technical detail that supports my opinion.

[monkey323i]

this is common known problem for these LED tail when you dont put "100ohm-150ohm resistors" in. They'll burn out quickly....


some DIYs on putting 100ohm-150ohm resistors:
http://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/922548.phtml

[monkey323i]

""Thanks to Nasty to suggest a 150ohm resistor. After I took some measurements I figured that 150ohm would work.

I ended up using a 100ohm/10Watt Resistor because I couldn't find a 150ohm resistor. After Installed them I left the lights on and had the car running for about 15minutes and then checked for heat. They were slightly warm to the touch but not even warm enough to melt anything. """

If you dont wanan them get burn that quick, get 150ohm.

[n7plus1]

Minus all his F-Bombs, i totally agree. I'd like to get some, but id rather not have to Rig some brand new part.

yea, sorry about that....

[max09163]

Here are some pics of the tails - i would put the stock ones in but these are blacked out and look badass :)

The left one is the problem and I just discovered one LED on the right out

[BNZ TOY]

Seems like for every 10 bought, 1 set is going to have major issues. Got mine, did the resistors, replaced a few LEDs and they are perfect now, been over a year w/out any issues.

To the OP, even though 2 rows are entirely out, still, try to replace the LEDs, I did that and it's all good now.

gl

[Charlescrs6]

Same here, my ebrake handle is disengaged but I can feel the drag big time when I let off the gas and put the clutch in. I'm thinking it's simply due to the freezing temps. Also to the guy who is shouting about the led tails I completely understand. Ive wanted the led tails for about a year now but dont want to deal with shitty quality control.

sounds like you have a bad motor or tranny mount.

[Turb_Oh_A4]

Mercedes spent a lot of money and R&D time to get their LED tails right, there is a reason why. LEDs require carefully designed reflectors and these ricer tails certainly do not fit in that category. Just another vanity mod that sacrifices safety and functionality...

Lmao, this guy is a joker. Mercedes huh? you do know that Honda and Toyota put LED tail on their cars stock right? by no means are those cars a high end European car, but do their tails work just like Mercedes? Yes sir!


Anyway, if someone out there came out with a set of tails that offered at least a year warranty on Burned LEDs i buy those puppies in a second. With a reasonable price i might add... Also, for the F-Bomb comment i was just being funny, that shit doesnt bother me one fucking bit.

[max09163]

Seems like for every 10 bought, 1 set is going to have major issues. Got mine, did the resistors, replaced a few LEDs and they are perfect now, been over a year w/out any issues.

To the OP, even though 2 rows are entirely out, still, try to replace the LEDs, I did that and it's all good now.

gl

this is my first problem with these! I bought them used off of the parts forum! I've had them for a year now

[mxrz]

Lmao, this guy is a joker. Mercedes huh? you do know that Honda and Toyota put LED tail on their cars stock right? by no means are those cars a high end European car, but do their tails work just like Mercedes? Yes sir!

What are you babbling about? You're clearly missing the entire point here, by a mile. Mercedes is just an example, among many, INCLUDING Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc... They all put a lot of R&D into their LED tails, as opposed to starting with a regular A4 tail light, taking out the shroud that holds regular bulbs, and inserting a new one that holds a bunch of straight LED strips... It's ghetto engineering, it's rice. LEDs have drastically different photometric characteristics compared to regular bulbs and require a different type of reflector and directional aiming, to compensate for their inferior light output, especially from off-angles. The idea to use LEDs was because A, they are very sharp and easily visible, and B, come on instantly. Car manufacturers are switching to LED tails because they "can" be safer, among other advantages like lower power consumption (which is totally negated when you install resistors in these cheap aftermarket knockoffs) and longer life span (ya, hard to believe, but when done right, they will last a LOT longer).

[fitch303]

sounds like you have a bad motor or tranny mount.

yeah it's def not THAT bad lol. it's warm now and the problem is gone.

[Charlescrs6]

yeah it's def not THAT bad lol. it's warm now and the problem is gone.

I tried.

[CyberPMG]

What are you babbling about? You're clearly missing the entire point here, by a mile. Mercedes is just an example, among many, INCLUDING Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc... They all put a lot of R&D into their LED tails, as opposed to starting with a regular A4 tail light, taking out the shroud that holds regular bulbs, and inserting a new one that holds a bunch of straight LED strips... It's ghetto engineering, it's rice. LEDs have drastically different photometric characteristics compared to regular bulbs and require a different type of reflector and directional aiming, to compensate for their inferior light output, especially from off-angles. The idea to use LEDs was because A, they are very sharp and easily visible, and B, come on instantly. Car manufacturers are switching to LED tails because they "can" be safer, among other advantages like lower power consumption (which is totally negated when you install resistors in these cheap aftermarket knockoffs) and longer life span (ya, hard to believe, but when done right, they will last a LOT longer).

Have you taken a close look at the LED tails? They're not simply straight LED strips. Each LED fits individually into a reflector. The inital lack of the proper resistor is a poor oversight by the manufacturer. The other issue about LEDs going out can also be attributed to having the manufacturer receive a batch of LEDs that are of poor quality.

Fortunately, this isn't rocket science. There's well documented (with photos) on how to add the resistor. Replacing the LEDs with high quality ones is as easy as changing a bulb on a Christmas tree. Once this is done, I've seen the quality issues go away.

Yes, the initial quality of the LED tails is not the best, but for minimum investment (under $20), you can fix those issues yourself and have a decent set of LED tails.

[mxrz]

Yes, I've seen them apart/broken and the assembly looks pretty shitty, the parabolic shape of the reflector is just random, probably designed for regular bulbs in the first place, and not the specific LED light source.