Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:09:08 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: LED backup lights update
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk075KMxQmnvN=XaQz_A739grmvoMbt9bLHboMYBfzeJyg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
For repair, you can go a long way with 2 part Epoxy Putty. Slice off a hunk, knead it, apply it, form it. All surfaces super clean with Rubbing Alcohol before you attempt of course, but you will be surprised by your cleverness and workmanship. This stuff has abundant uses around Vanagon. Especially old brittle plastic parts.
On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 03:59:16 PM PST, 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.
> >>
> >
>
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