How to Fix a Hyperflashing LED Turn Signal

When installing LED turn signal bulbs in a vehicle that was originally equipped with traditional incandescent lighting, a load resistor or load equalizer helps to ensure the new LED bulbs function as they should. Upgrading your vehicle’s lighting to LEDs requires a load equalizer, which prevents rapid flashing of turn signals or dashboard warning lights that say “Lamp Out”. Due to LED bulbs requiring such little power, your vehicle’s electrical system may mistakenly determine that the bulb is burnt out, which can prevent the bulbs from operating or cause other issues. Without a load equalizer installed, you may experience a warning light or hyperflashing of your turn signals or hazard lights. Load equalizers come in a variety of wattages, so it is important to know what the power demands are of the bulbs you will be replacing before beginning the installation. Installing a load equalizer is fairly straightforward, but if you don’t feel comfortable performing this repair, our trusted Parts Professionals would be happy to recommend a qualified repair shop near you. Our detailed step-by-step instructions will help you perform a load resistor installation to keep your vehicle’s new LEDs working as they should.


Tools & Materials List
Step by Step Instructions
Install the Load Equalizer on Your Vehicle
Install the Load Equalizer with a Single Connector
Additional Resources

What Is An LED Load Equalizer?

A load equalizer uses electrical resistance to simulate the power requirements of traditional incandescent bulbs. This is required for LED lighting because the original bulbs likely required more energy to work properly, and the low energy draw of an LED bulb may signal to the system that the bulb has burned out.While you may not need a load equalizer for all LED lights, load equalizers installed in the turn signal circuit can help keep your new LED turn signals and other lighting components working as they should.

Performing a load equalizer installation is a simple modification that offers a cost-effective solution to upgrading your car to LED bulbs. Learn more about this job with our helpful, detailed instructions and video.


Tools & Materials

Safety Eye Glasses Safety Glasses 

Protective Gloves Nitrile Gloves 

Load Equalizer Load Equalizer

power torque pliers Pliers

power torque drill Drill

Self-Tapping Screws Self-Tapping Screws

flathead screwdriver Screwdriver

Step-by-Step Instructions to Install LED Load Equalizers

Our detailed video and step-by-step instructions show how to install a Sylvania load equalizer on a 2008 Ford Escape, which is already equipped with traditional brake light, tail light, and turn signal bulbs. This process will be similar for most vehicles, but be sure to know the specifics for your vehicle before getting started. If you’re not completely comfortable doing this yourself, we’d be happy to recommend a professional technician in your area.


How to Install an LED Load Equalizer on a Tail Light Assembly with Individual Socket Connectors

Mechanic using a screwdriver to remove the tail light assembly from the Ford Escape

Step 1: Remove the Tail Light Assembly

Start by removing the tail light assembly where you’ll be working. In our case, we’ll raise the hatch and remove the two screws securing the assembly.
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Mechanic holding a Ford Escape tail light assembly

Step 2: Pull Assembly Away from Vehicle

Once removed, pull straight back to disengage it from the vehicle.
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Mechanic pointing at the exposed wires of a Ford Escape tail light

Step 3: Locate the Wiring for Your Turn Signal

In some cases, the wiring to each bulb socket will be very apparent, as it is on the Escape.

Do It Right: Others may have a plug and connector that contains all of the wiring for every bulb in the tail light assembly. More on what to do in each of these circumstances later.

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Mechanic holding the load equalizer to the body of the car to ensure it can reach the wiring

Step 4: Ensure the Load Equalizer Wires can Reach

Once you’ve found your turn signal bulb wires, make sure your load equalizer can reach an internal metal surface of your vehicle and that the wiring can reach the turn signal wires. If not, the load equalizer wires can be extended to reach from the mounting location to the turn signal wiring.
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wiring

If the turn signal lamp is a double filament, or three-wire socket, you’ll need to determine which socket wire color to use. Look at the wire colors on each turn signal socket. The common wire is usually the same on both sides of the vehicle, as well as the position light wire color. But the turn signal circuit wire color is typically different on the left than it is on the right. Those are the wires that you’ll attach one side of the load equalizer to. The other side of each load equalizer is attached to the common wire.

Do It Right: The color of your wires may vary. To help identify the proper wires, watch this section of our How-to video.

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Mechanic wearing gloves clipping trailer splices over the wiring

Step 5: Clip the Trailer Splices Over the Wires

Clip the trailer splices over the ends of one of the turn signal wires and the load resistor wire. It doesn’t matter which one as both wires will be used and the load resistor doesn’t specify a current flow direction.
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Mechanic using pliers to secure the trailer clips on the load resistor wiring

Step 6: Secure the Clips with Pliers

Once clipped, use pliers to ensure the clips are closed completely.
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Load resistor installed on the body of a Ford Escape

Step 7: Install the Load Resistor

Now you need to install the load resistor to a flat metal surface on your car’s body to dissipate the heat. Your equalizer is supplied with a large heat sink to prevent it from overheating. Use your drill and self-tapping screws to install the resistor on metal where the screws won’t be visible. Once that’s done, test your turn signal or other LED lights to make sure they’re working as they should. Then you can move to the other side of the vehicle.

Do It Right: Make sure the heat sink won’t be touching the tail light assembly once it’s reinstalled, or the plastic could melt.

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How to Install a Load Equalizer on a Tail Light Assembly with a Single Connector

Mechanic using a multimeter to find the correct wires on a tail light assembly

Step 8: Use a Multimeter to Find the Correct Wires

If you’re needing to find the correct wires for your load equalizer installation on a tail light assembly with a single connector, use a multimeter set to continuity to find the correct wires.
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multimeters, the continuity setting

Step 9: Figure Out the Continuity for Your Replacement Bulb Socket

On most multimeters, the continuity setting will look like a speaker and it will emit a tone if continuity is present. Figure out which bulb you are replacing and remove the bulb socket. Then, touch one lead on the multimeter to one of the contacts on the body of the tail light assembly, and use the other to touch the connector on the assembly until you find continuity.

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Single connector front with open sockets and then an image of the wires connected to the back

Step 10: Identify the Wires on the Single Connector

Once you find continuity to both points on the assembly socket opening, look at the wiring and connector on the vehicle and trace the contacts back to the wire that connected them. Follow the previous instructions to install the load equalizer on these two wires.
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Additional Resources

HID vs LED

Are LED or HID Bulbs Better?
Tail light bulb installation

How to Install a Tail Light Bulb
Headlight Bulb Installation

How to Install Headlight Bulbs

These step-by-step instructions detail how to install a Sylvania LED load equalizer or load resistor on most vehicles. O’Reilly Auto Parts carries load equalizers, LED bulbs, and more for your car, truck, or SUV to help keep you safe and on the road.

The automotive repair work depicted in this series is performed under the direction of the manufacturer of the product featured. Prior to undertaking any of the demonstrated repairs on your vehicle, we suggest you consult with a certified mechanic or another professional who can adequately advise you of the proper repair or remedy required. O’Reilly Automotive Stores, Inc. and its affiliates (“O’Reilly”) disclaims any responsibility for injury or damage resulting from a viewer’s attempt to recreate the repairs shown in this series.