Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:25:54 -0800
Reply-To: Pete Sicilia <pete@COFFEEPOT.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Pete Sicilia <pete@COFFEEPOT.ORG>
Subject: Re: LED backup lights update
In-Reply-To: <1084224699.2006390.1676765348205@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
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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