Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:53:06 +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: <CA+9-MNsGk04RUr1s=jYS_qaBi6acA5Rjxpx=zUcfAo2N6poARQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Actually....once you are inside Rear Taillight assembly, I think it would be easy to line reflective backspace with spray adhesive and good old Aluminum foil. Never done it myself. Add a little Carnuba wax on that foil to prevent corrosion....polish it up....I might even try this myself! Next time. But, I went the extra mile one time to spray paint satin black the heads of 4 sheetmetal screws that install this assembly....mine is an 85...and I wanted to look cool like you modern guys! I also did this on various external screw heads.....yes, I am kind of nuts. I even installed Terry K's high output bulbs selectively in rear taillight assembly; they were nice.....but they burned out quickly....so went back to factory.
On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 06:28:18 PM PST, Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org> wrote:
I've never tried to clean them... but I might dunk the lens assembly in a
bucket of warm soapy water and swish it around and then rinse it out. Come
to think of it, I should have tried that earlier today...
On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 6:20 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes Pete... thank you...
>
> Then how do you access the reflectors in order to clean them?
>
> On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 6:12 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org> wrote:
>
>> The parts that diagram references don't seem to match the diagram.
>>
>> The 251-945-112-A looks like the lens assembly... I could be wrong, but
>> I'm not sure that the colored front comes off from the black backing.
>>
>> https://carparts4sale.com/media/rh-tail-light-lamp-genuine-hella-vw-vanagon-t3-80-91-taillight-251-945-112-cp028599/
>>
>> The 251-945-258-A part looks like the bulb holder...
>>
>> https://carparts4sale.com/media/rh-tail-light-lamp-bulb-tray-holder-vw-vanagon-t3-80-91-taillight-251-945-258-cp028601/
>>
>> On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:32 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> my problem is to remove the #1 from the #2 on this diagram... uhhh...
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.vwpartsvortex.com/v-1989-volkswagen-vanagon--syncro--2-1l-h4-gas/electrical--tail-lamps
>>>
>>> On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 5:19 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Ahhh, previous owner....now that makes sense....well intentioned of
>>> > course! But lens is on the outside, the reflector and bulbs are on the
>>> > inside. Heck....I haven't disassembled mine in 3 years or more, so
>>> kind of
>>> > foggy on the details, others will chime in. If original, a
>>> no-brainer. So
>>> > there is something funny going on in your situation.
>>> >
>>> > On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 05:08:09 PM PST, Dan N <
>>> > dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Yes... the taillight assembly. There are 2 parts - the black plastic
>>> bulb
>>> > holder, the colored plastic assembly with the reflector glued to it. I
>>> > can't remove the reflector to clean or improve it. It seems to me it's
>>> > glued together either by the factory or the previous owner.
>>> >
>>> > thanks
>>> >
>>> > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 4:53 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net
>>> >
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > You mean....on the taillight assembly? These just come apart....like
>>> when
>>> > replacing bulbs. I must not be understanding the question. Helpful
>>> hint:
>>> > do a thorough job of cleaning light bulb sockets with steel wool; next,
>>> > apply a thin coating of Vaseline on both light bulb and socket, this
>>> will
>>> > prevent corrosion for years to come. Works every time.
>>> >
>>> > On Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 04:44:08 PM PST, Dan N <
>>> > dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > sooo I have a question... How do you separate the silver reflector
>>> from the
>>> > colored lens?
>>> >
>>> > thanks
>>> >
>>> > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023 at 4:26 PM Pete Sicilia <pete@coffeepot.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > Sounds like a great idea. I'll just have to clean off the krazy glue
>>> and
>>> > > duck tape first 🤣
>>> > >
>>> > > On Sat, Feb 18, 2023, 4:09 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net
>>> >
>>> > > wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > > 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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