LED Switchback for the EU Mustang - Yes it's real! (and almost plug'n'play)

[Ericc B]

Eric' issue was, IIRC, that US lights draw about 3A while EU needs only 1A. I have seen a recent installation schematics for modded taillights and now it's adviced to get the main power from license plate lights, that seems not checked by the ECU

It was indeed a different problem, the taillights were not flickering but the power was cut all together after braking.

I think the thing that causes this is called the Body Control Module.

Sponsored

 

[Ace]

I'm just thinking at this: you get this strange flashing when activate turning lights, or even with them off?

It's only flickering when the turning light is on and the engine is running.
But it's also on both sides, so if I activate hazards lights with engine running both flicker, if I turn in one direction only the direction flickers.

The White parking light is working as intended, no matter if engine or other lights are on

 

[papinist]

I just asked to a friend that works in an electronic stuff company: according to him, a simple capacitor should solve the problem. Of course you need to find the right value.

I also checked the switchback specs and thye reported "Working Voltage: DC 12V/24V" so 15v should not be a problem. You only need to give some power between a pulse and the next.
I'm trying to have some value to test from him

 

[Ericc B]

Proledlights.nl doesn't have the switchbacks in stock atm. They expect a new shipment around 27 july.

 

[acull2000]

[MENTION=10422]Ace[/MENTION] - I just installed the switchback indicators too (same ebay China source as John577). My lights are fine without engine running but also flicker with enigne on. They are simply plugged directly into the standard indicator plugs on the harness. I didn't realsie it, but the signal to the orirignal indiators must also be PWM signals. I can only guess when the car is at high voltage, it uses PWM to stop too much power going to the bulbs. Kinda clever, but also annoying when you want to use LED replacements. I have the in-line resistor in place.

Nonetheless, it's a good idea for switchbacks [MENTION=12253]papinist[/MENTION], and having the whole bar glow with parking light is awesome

 

[papinist]

Thank you
But I'm not happy at all about these problems you and Ace are facing. The pwm solution that ford uses to solve this issue seems to me only a 'rush patch' and not a complete solution.
Now, Ace is going to installa led tribar with sequential turn, and he could probably use turning signal coming from driver, but you don't have sequential in tribar, so you should find a different solution..

 

[Ace]

In the german Forum somebody build a solution to smooth out the PWM Signal.

It Looks like this.

I'm not quite getting how this works, but it does. Already got somebody who will build this for me, so I can give it a try.

 

[papinist]

Great! It seems that it is not only a capacitor
I really hope this will solve this stupid issue.

 

[acull2000]

So I think I understand the way around this is the circuitry (with bi-polar transistor and MOSFET switch).

I still don't understand why it's happening. This is not related to DRLs. I think it's just to do with the indicator feed to the (chinese) indicator - but I don't understand why @Papinst or @John577 don't have the same issue, when my indicaotr setup is the same?

[ame]

 

[papinist]

I think it's because the electronics (on the car) is not so refined :\

 

[Ace]

I still don't understand why it's happening. This is not related to DRLs. I think it's just to do with the indicator feed to the (chinese) indicator - but I don't understand why @Papinst or @John577 don't have the same issue, when my indicaotr setup is the same?

It has nothing to do with the parts you have installed.

Most of the EU Mustangs tend to have a too high voltage if the engine is running, so instead of constant 12v the car produces 15v. To protect the lights from burning it uses a PWM. So the car Switches the Signal on and off very quickly to reduce the voltage to 12v.
The OEM turn signal bulb is reacting very slowly since the glim has to fade to be completely off, so you can't see the pwm. But the LEDs are reacting instantly, so you see the flicker.

The pwm produced a bug in the first Diode Dynamics tribars: The sequential turn lights only light up 2 instead 3 bars when the engine is running. That's why the new boards get a special EU Driver so the new sequential Timing won't have that issue

In the end John and Stefano are just lucky that their cars seem to produce constant 12v. No idea why so many EU Mustangs get the high voltage error. Seems to me like the electronic System in the EU was really rushed

 

[papinist]

Thanks for these info.
US Mustangs seems not to be affected by this issue since I never read about that when they replaced the turning lights with switchbacks. Why our model has this issue is really strange.. what they had to modify for Europe regarding electronic system?

 

[John577]

Thanks Ace for all the infos, indeed, seems that we are lucky guys without this problem on our cars.

Before installing the Switchbacks, I already had a pair of LED turn signal bulbs running on the car and also no issues with them. So, as Ace said, it's not the product but the car itself who makes this problem.

 

[John577]

Got my first issue with the switchbacks today... The amber color was dead and just blinked in white ... :frusty::frusty::frusty:

[ame]

Fault ?

One cable came out from the socket, so no power to the amber color ...

Temporary solution :

Plugged the power cable directly into the turn signal socket to have the Amber working, now, I need to order a brand new set ... addle: :frusty:

 

[papinist]

what the...??!!
How could the cable comes out itself, inside the bumper?
Hopefully they are very cheap.. buy two set so you are ready in case of future problems

Sponsored