Just curious - I got behind a TL last night - it had its lights on. The driver side tailight was much dimmer than the passenger side. How is this possible? Usually in old cars it meant you had one of the bulbs out - but we have the LED's - are they one unit or are there separate sections to them back there - that you could have one go out and cause the dim light effect?

Thanks -

 

Ding... I do feel the same way every time I stay behind some of 04TLs... (I forgot which side is brighter, but I do feel one side is dimmer than the other) I'm sure mine is like this... early build?

 

not my TL
i haven't seen that problem.

 

Doesn't this happen when the fogs are on?

 

I know some MB has one tail light brighter than the other. I always thought it was the rear fog lights.
I never seen one tail light being brighter than the other on a 04TL before. But most of the TL I see don't have their fog lights on.

 

[QUOTE=6mtV6]I know some MB has one tail light brighter than the other. I always thought it was the rear fog lights.

It IS the rear fog light; many euro cars feature this, however what you are seeing is one of the brake lights on all the time. I know Volvo and Saab use this, BMW does not.

 

I wonder if what some ppl are seeing on the TL is the rear fog light also. I guess I'll check my TL later tonight.

 

6mtV6, we don't have rear fog light as those euro cars... there is no switch inside the car, either...

 

If it were the rear fog lights like the euro cars would they not come on when you turn on your fog light switch?

 

One of a few problems can cause this:

1. Poor ground connection on the dim light, causing it to add resistance and dim the light.
2. LED's are very angular in thier light distrubution, so if you are not on axis with both lights at one the same time, one can look dimmer, but it is not.
3. The LED tail light brightness in the TL is determined by in line resistors (the running lights have a higher resistor in series, and when the brake lights are in, a lower resistance reisistor is in series with it, making them brighter). Based on this, if the tolernaces are not right for the left and right side (ie, if the right one is on the high side of tolerance, and left side is on the low side) they will not look equally as bright.
4. LED's themselves have differnt brightnesses when made, and are sorted at the LED factory, again, it could be tolernaces, (ie, if the right one is on the high side of tolerance, and left side is on the low side) they will not look equally as bright as in number 3. They could even have a bad batch of LED tail lights, defects do happen.
5. There are a variaty of other issues that could happen including the connector contacts or crimps.

LED tail lights are new to Honda/Acura USA, so give them some time, eventually they may add this to thier inspection process on the line so left and right tail lights are matched prior to being installed in the car.

In short, if you have this, an do not like it bring it to the dealer and they will replace. I believe there was anouther thread on this where they were not equal and the dealer swapped them out.

Enjoy life!

 

could it be that you were looking at one side of the LED's directly and offset from the other side?

Or it could be a mis-alignment of the lights or mirrors (if used) in the taillight assembly.

Based on Sunnyside Acura's images (http://www.acuraparts247.com/sunnysi...ll&vinsrch=yes) there's no separate mirror so it could just be a bad assembly...

 

Lindros, actually there is a reflector, number 4/11 for L/R, that is where the LED's are.

If the LED's are the ones I have seen at lighting shows for automotive use (they look like them, they have their own reflectors built in.

Maybe we are over analizing this.

 

This is good one... very good one. The textbook I found isn't talking as clear as yours.