Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2023 18:12:08 -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: <CAFdLW6=ou2Zvwgey=htx9S4x3+PFM6A9gKNWjZCY0d9VvKD_Lw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
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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