LED W5W capsules staying lit after switch off

[Welly]

Bought a couple of new W5W (501) capsule bulbs for the sidelights of the Citroen but they were staying lit (dimly) after switching off. Any idea why? like there's some current still flowing.

Tried the on the Volvo and they switched off properly so the Citroen went back to normal bulbs for now.

[Doggy]

Either the lights will be switched by semiconductor devices in the more modern Cistern, (as opposed to hairy-arsed relays in a 406), or the bulb failure detection circuitry supplies a tiny amount of power when the lights are off resulting in the dim glow you're seeing.

You can 'fix' it by connecting a resistor across one of the lamp holders, something like 1500 ohms / 0.25W should suffice.

FWIW I was sick of changing W5W lamps in my old Xsara's sidelights, so promptly fitted LED equivalents to the side & number plate lights on the original dogmobile. None of them lasted 6 months, a couple of them decided to randomly flash on & off and the filament lamps I replaced them with in 2009 were still going strong when I sold it in 2012.

[Welly]

Cheers for the info, I did wonder about the bulb failure shiz, the Volvo doesn't monitor the front side lights so they work fine on that.

I say work fine, in my haste at Hellfords I picked up a "Bargain" pair of W5W LED's for the BARGAIN price YES BARGAIN and BE QUICK of £4.99 only to get the little shits home and find a very small 'for off road use only' line on them they are uni-directional LED's so a bit like mini torches I've ordered some 360 degree ones this morning at a fraction of the cost from that Amazon.

[steve_earwig]

Bought a couple of new W5W (501) capsule bulbs for the sidelights of the Citroen but they were staying lit (dimly) after switching off.

Switching what off, the lights or the engine? If they're dimly glowing with the lights off pfft, but if they're dimply glowing while the car's parked up then there's obviously a problem.

[Welly]

I mean with the lights switched off at the switch but the car still kinda active (why don't these moderns just turn OFF properly). I've read a few things about moderns dribbling just enough current to start up an LED which otherwise wouldn't make it through a filament bulb. I've sacked them off now anyway, just like my Volvo LED number plate lights which although were the right (white) colour were a PITA and it actually looks better now with the golden glow of old school filaments.

[Doggy]

I agree the originals look better.
Some of the more recent aftermarket LED number plate lights are far too bright.
(Probably to compensate for the owner).

[Welly]

Indeed, I started to notice an increase in super-bright number plate lighting solutions by the local Ne'er-do-well's so binned mine (endorsed by the Volvo Forum) for some lovely originals, much better.

[steve_earwig]

Which reminds me, the yoyo has no numberplate lights at all. Before Darko had the bumper off I noticed one was out and I meant to sort it out while it was in bits but forgot and now they're both out so I'm wondering if he forgot to reconnect something.

Perhaps I should have a look at it but:

1 - I'm a lazy bastard
2 - I'll have to take the stupid numberplate carrier off because it's in the way of getting the lights out, it will probably break because they're rubbish.
10 - It's -5 outside, the freezing rain has stopped and now it's just snowing.

Sorry, as you were.