side marker won’t flash with turn signal

So I am trying to do a mod where the front side markers blink with the turn signals. I did the wiring just like the guide and for some reason the side markers will only blink with the turn signal if I have the running lights or headlights on. But with no lights at all on the side markers will not flash with the turn signals.
Here is what I used:
https://www.spooledup.com/content.php?goto=./sidemarkers/sidemarkers.php

My sidemarkers do what the sidemarkers do in the second video on the bottom.
But not the first.

Additional:
So one side of the car I used the scotch lock connector and butt connectors like the tutorial. But the side I am putting pictures for is my tiring the wiring together in hopes a more "direct" connection will help lol.

Forgot vehicle info:
1987 Supra NA

For some reason the running or headlights are not providing an effective ground for the side markers.


The method is where the side marker is connected between the turn signals and the headlight bulb (not HID).
Hence when off the headlight grounds the +12V flasher thru the side marker and, when on, the +12V headlight power grounds thru the side marker when the flasher if off (hence out of phase).

Oh alright, yeah the side markers will flash when I don't have the headlights on but just the "running lights". Any solution to fix the problem? Thank you though for your response, even in the forums for my car no one knew the answer :(

What do you mean "when I don't have the headlights on but just the running lights".


I doubt that running lights will be big enough (ie, low enough resistance) to ground the (flashing) side lights if that is what you mean.

The headlights are big enough to ground the sides as are the indicator lights.
IE - the resistance of the side markers is much greater than headlights or indicator lights, hence the +12V across the side markers and headlights or indicators will be dropped across the side markers, hence lighting them.

If you change those "bigger" lights to LEDs (or HIDs), then that system probably won't work....


FYI - that "out of phase" flashing occurs in vehicles with a single dash lamp to indicate flashers - ie, the dash lamp was wired between the left & right flasher-bulb +12V wires.
For hazard flashers, that single-bulb wiring did NOT light the bulb (because both sides were either +12V, else GND). So they either used diodes from each side to a grounded single bulb (in phase) or changed to the more common left & right dash "arrows" to indicate indicators (flashers) were operating (again, in phase) - the beauty being that BOTH L & R arrows flashing meant the hazards were operating.

Here is what I mean lol, I will put a picture.

The clear parts can turn on without the headlights turning on by turning my cars lights dial 2 clicks, basically it turns on the clear part *which has 194 LEDs in it* and the rear lights on so cars see me in dim condition I guess lol.
When I have it like that the side markers will blink with the turn signals.
Same with headlights.
The turn signals are the orange part and that is a bulb, not lED
So with no lights on it will not work. But the thing is with everyone else it works flawlessly lol so I am wondering what I have to change out or remove or add to fix it and make my twice markers flash with the turn signals with the lights off lol all lights. Sorry if I'm confusing lol.

So do the others have LEDs too?

The white running light has lED and the side markers are also LED, I'm guessing a new flasher?

So on the cars that work, they have exactly the same LEDs & lights?

Yeah, I showed someone who has the same setup this thread and he said it sounds like I might need a new flasher for the LEDs, he has a new one so maybe that could be it?He said he has this one:
https://autolumination.com/equalizers.htm
The green one I think on the right cuz it is "toyota". I have the stock one still.

Normal flasher cans don't work with LEDs. Some electronic flashers can be modified, though I suspect new flashers are simply pulsing relays without any current sensing (hence not letting you know that a bulb is faulty).


If you use LEDs in line with incandescents, then the LEDs will flash or turn on instead of the incas - and incandescent will not illuminate (brightly) if in series with LEDs - unless it is a big LED array (with similar or greater current to the inca bulbs).


So if you do not have the same bulbs & LED placement as the cars that work, your lighting will not work the same.

I just discovered that the other person who this mod works on has both a flasher for LED and LED turn signals as well *I have a normal bulb* I was wondering which one I should try first to see if it works....a new flasher or LED....

So I changed out my flasher, and it works! but only if I have the regular incandescants for the side markers and the turn signal. Im guessing I can't mix and match? Would LED turn signals and LED side markers work since they are same current?