Has anyone seen these LED tailights in person? 1970 Challenger

[ChallengerHK]

I don't think that's a doohickey. It looks more like a framizam to me.

[Jamiez]

That would be a diode   You can probably get the numbers off the lights from the other side.  Assuming it's the only thing that got burnt, you should be able to remove it and replace it with a good one and be fine.  Be careful to connect it the same way...diodes are directional (the band should match the line printed on the board)

[brads70]

That would be a diode   You can probably get the numbers off the lights from the other side.  Assuming it's the only thing that got burnt, you should be able to remove it and replace it with a good one and be fine.  Be careful to connect it the same way...diodes are directional (the band should match the line printed on the board)

Hummm I'll look into it. Would radio shack stock this type of thing? What causes them to get burnt up? Like I know electricity but....?

[ShelbyDogg]

I think I found the issue maybe?   Looks like a burnt out electronic "doo-hickey" ? Maybe if I can find out what it is and a spec I can remove this one and solder another in? Anyone into electronics?

Looks like a common diode. Radio Shack has them 1N4001 comes to mind, but I could be wrong. Most small diodes are the same anyway limiting the flow to one direction. You have to measure the circuit with a cheap meter set to continuity and look for a short. It looks like an easy fix.

[brads70]

Looks like a common diode. Radio Shack has them 1N4001 comes to mind, but I could be wrong. Most small diodes are the same anyway limiting the flow to one direction. You have to measure the circuit with a cheap meter set to continuity and look for a short. It looks like an easy fix.

Ya I did measure it ( the burnt one) for continuity....no dice!

[ShelbyDogg]

Ya I did measure it ( the burnt one) for continuity....no dice!

Something blew it like a fuse. You might have shorted the board to ground somewhere or something touched two traces together. Does anything light up or is the whole section dead?

[Jamiez]

I know with my LED tail lights, one of the problems was the exposed connectors on the edge would sometimes make contact with the  tail light bucket.  This would cause them to ground out.  I ended up using two layers of double sided tape to prevent them from making contact.  Maybe the same thing happened to yours?

If Radio Shack is still open, that's the type of thing they used to carry, same with amateur radio supply stores.  Ideally you want one with the same ratings.  They should be cheap so you might want to buy a couple just in case you burn a few up during trouble shooting

[brads70]

Something blew it like a fuse. You might have shorted the board to ground somewhere or something touched two traces together. Does anything light up or is the whole section dead?

The board has 2 circuits I think, one for running lights and one for brake lights. The brake lights still work.

[ShelbyDogg]

The board has 2 circuits I think, one for running lights and one for brake lights. The brake lights still work.

Hook it up to a 12 v source then touch a good diode's legs across the burnt out one and see if the LEDs light up. The old one probably popped like a fuse.  Hook it up with the stripe on the same side.

[brads70]

Hook it up to a 12 v source then touch a good diode's legs across the burnt out one and see if the LEDs light up. The old one probably popped like a fuse.  Hook it up with the stripe on the same side.

Thanks I'll try that.  Are diodes pretty standard? I ask as I can't read what was on it?

[Jamiez]

Can you read any of the diodes on that board or the board for the other side?  Odds are they just use the same diode in all locations to keep costs down.
Diodes are sort of like electric check valves, but they often only let voltage through if it reaches a certain level

[brads70]

Ok I cut one end off and pried it up and managed to read this on it....
IN4001.... I think the last digit is a "1" it's pretty burnt?
F AK 42... the "f" was in a funny font? if that means anything?
Does this make any scence to any of you electronic types?

[Jamiez]

IN4001 is a pretty common diode.  Should be cheap too.  Not sure what the other numbers are..probably some manufacturer date code/batch number information.

[brads70]

IN4001 is a pretty common diode.  Should be cheap too.  Not sure what the other numbers are..probably some manufacturer date code/batch number information.

Ya I googled it and ended up on e-bay , sure are cheap! I'm wondering is there a heavy duty version or an upgrade I can substitute so I don't have this issue again?

[Jamiez]

I most likely cooked because it got too much voltage/current.  You could put one in that takes more of that but...that's kinda like fixing a 20A fuse that keeps popping by putting in a 30A fuse.  It might stop that from frying but something else (wiring, led, resistor, etc) down the road is going to get more than it expected and probably end up cooking instead.