Troubleshooting a Malfunctioning Light Bar
- Inspect all lightbar and Quick Connect harness connections (if applicable) for signs of corrosion, and verify that all connections are fully seated and secure. Corrosion may appear as green discoloration or a white, chalk-like buildup on the connector pins. Loose or compromised connections may prevent the lightbar from operating as intended.
- If corrosion is present, disconnect the connector and thoroughly clean the affected connections using an electrical contact cleaner and a plastic-bristle brush or small wire brush. Remove all oxidation and debris, allow the connector to dry completely, then reconnect it and retest the product to verify proper operation.
- If the corrosion cannot be removed, the connectors no longer make reliable electrical contact, or the connector pins have sustained permanent damage due to corrosion, and the product is still within the 3-year warranty period, have the customer complete the Warranty Request Form to begin the warranty replacement process.
- If no corrosion is present and all connections are properly secured, the black driver box has most likely failed.
- At this stage, it is recommended that the customer complete the warranty request form at the following link, provided the product is still within the 3-year warranty period: Warranty Request Form.
- If the product is outside of the warranty period, the recommended solution is to purchase a replacement light bar, as the black driver box is not sold separately and is not user-serviceable.
Driver-Side Taillight Not Functioning After Blade Tailgate Light Bar Installation
Verify that the Quick Connect Harness is properly installed between the vehicle harness and the taillight assembly, ensuring all connections are fully seated and secure, and that no pins are bent, damaged, or misaligned.
- If the Quick Connect Harness connection has been verified and the issue is isolated to the driver-side taillight, it is possible that the light bar is drawing more current than the vehicle’s taillight circuit is designed to accommodate. To resolve this, the light bar can be powered directly from a 12-volt power source using a relay harness. This configuration allows the light bar to receive power independently while using the vehicle’s lighting signals as triggers.
- If a relay harness is needed, please contact support@putco.com, and our team will be happy to assist with obtaining the appropriate harness for your application.
If these connections are not properly established, the vehicle’s computer may interpret the issue as an electrical fault and automatically disable the driver-side taillight as a protective measure.
My Blade Mounting Brackets Have Broken
If the mounting brackets for your Blade Tailgate Light Bar have broken and the product is still covered under its 3-year warranty, we recommend submitting a warranty request using the following form: Warranty Request Form.
If the product is outside of the 3-year warranty period, replacement mounting brackets are available for purchase. We offer a Blade™ Mounting Bracket Kit, which includes four mounting brackets and four adhesive strips for reinstallation of your Blade Tailgate Light Bar. The replacement kit can be purchased on our website here: Putco Blade™ Mounting Brackets
My Turn Signals Are Backwards
Ensure that the light bar is installed with the wiring harness exiting on the driver-side of the vehicle. If you are using a Quick Connect Harness that connects to the taillights, verify that the larger (thicker) side of the harness is connected to the driver-side taillight assembly. Improper harness orientation may result in unintended lighting behavior or signal functionality issues.
Opposite Side of the Lightbar Flashes During Turn Signal Operation
If a turn signal is activated and the opposite side of the lightbar flashes briefly, this indicates a driver box timing issue. In this situation, have the customer complete the Warranty Request Form so a replacement driver box with updated timing calibration can be shipped.