Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:02:06 -0600
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: LED backup lights update
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk075KMxQmnvN=XaQz_A739grmvoMbt9bLHboMYBfzeJyg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
For me, it was easy to relay a backup light switch below the dash that
toggles between my fog Cibié lights in front and the bright LED backup
light under the left rear bumper since I was doing the fronts anyway. I
made a handy diagram of the westy with a switch in the middle: switch
toward front, fog lights on. Switch toward rear of diagram, backup light
on. Switch in the middle, lights out.
Jim
On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:59 PM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't remember where, I guess busdepot.com, but I bought brand new
> replacement lenses a few years back for a reasonable price. If you are
> trying to replace the molded plastic tray with bulb holders, that might be
> more difficult.
>
> Jim
>
> On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:42 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org> wrote:
>
>> Well I finally finished the aluminum tape around my led backup bulbs. I
>> had
>> done one side a few weeks ago and did the other side today.
>>
>> Everything was easy until the very end today. As it turns out, my fears
>> about cracking old plastic were well founded.
>>
>> I meticulously cleaned and taped all around the lens housing and behind
>> the
>> bulb and as I was giving the entire housing one last cleaning with simple
>> green, the whole thing slipped/shot out of my hands and cracked on the
>> pavement... snapping off the retaining tabs.
>>
>> I got down on my hands and knees and fished the housing and the broken
>> parts out from under my wife's Touareg, cleaned them again and applied
>> first krazy glue, then some strategic strips of duck tape for
>> reinforcement. I waited a few mins, then carefully clipped the light
>> assembly into the housing and reinstalled everything.
>>
>> Everything is working for now... but man I sure have a way of snatching
>> defeat from the jaws of victory sometimes
>>
>> In related news, does anyone have an extra right tail light lens assembly
>> that they'd be willing to part with?
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 30, 2023, 8:48 AM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org> wrote:
>>
>> > Do you have any particular brand of tape you recommend? Or is Amazon
>> > cheapo sufficient?
>> >
>> > 1PCS Premium Silver Aluminum Tapes (3.9Mils), 2'*65 Feet Foil Tape,
>> Metal
>> > Insulation Tape, Heavy Duty Duct Tape with Adhesive Backing for Hot Cold
>> > Air HVAC Ductwork, Dryer Vent, Heat Resistant, Repair
>> > https://a.co/d/hILxB3m
>> >
>> > I've never opened up the light casing. Are there any things to look out
>> > for? I'm a little leery of cracking old plastic.
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> > Pete
>> >
>> > On Thu, Jan 26, 2023, 12:19 PM Jim Arnott <jrasite@eoni.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Someone asked for pictures so I opened up a tail light. Delete the pop
>> >> bottle. Line the backup light window with alunim air conditioning tape.
>> >> Install big, bright LED. Put it back together. Might take you an hour
>> >> including the time in the hardware store buying the tape.
>> >>
>> >> Ranks right up there with changing the engine to an I4 as far as
>> >> improvements go. BIG improvement.
>> >>
>> >> Jim
>> >>
>> >> > Years ago, I bought a couple 6 LED external light to use as backup
>> >> lights. Then I read a post about fixing the existing lights. It was
>> fairly
>> >> simple. I used the below mentioned LEDs and then created a reflector
>> using
>> >> a 16 oz plastic soda bottle lined with aluminum air conditioning tape
>> and
>> >> fit it into the stock tail light assy. NOW I can see backing up. Took
>> about
>> >> an hour and worth every second of time invested.
>> >> >
>> >> > Jim
>> >> >
>> >> >> On Jan 21, 2023, at 9:18 AM, Pete Sicilia <pete@COFFEEPOT.ORG>
>> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> In related news, I just upgraded my back up lights (1156) to
>> these...
>> >> >> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H54SP6O
>> >> >>
>> >> >> So far so good... although I'm always on the lookout for brighter
>> >> options.
>> >>
>> >
>>
>
| 
