Dim tail lights

[Cat futrell]

Hi all,

Finally got all of the paperwork completed. Happy to find out that our camper lived here in Florida before he moved to Georgia where we found him. His old title is on file here and we will be able to title him in our name as opposed to to just a registration (which is acceptable for a camper of his age).

Taking "Ozzy" to the "trailer man" next week to make sure he's safe.

Today, getting our hitch in place and light connection secured... happy to say that all of the rear lights work. tail lights, blinkers, brake lights, but... they are very dim. A previous owner added other ugly lights to the back but they aren't working. Will get under the bed Saturday to see what is up there. Anyway, my question involves the original lights. They are so cool looking. Will I have to change the entire inside of the tail light or am I missing something that is more simple? Thanks for your input.

Cathy

[Ron in BC]

Cathy,

A lot of the time it can be something as simple as corrosion and poor contact. I doubt that you will need to replace the original lights. Sometimes a little work with some sandpaper or a small wire brush can clean up the corrosion and make them work good as new.

I'd be suspect of the PO's added lights. Specifically, I'd be most suspect of the junction between the original wires and the wires that were added for the newer lights.

Ron

[mary and bob]

Those outer lights I assume are the originals. From the picture they look like a plain old flush mount light, available from Grote and other companies. Grote has them in stainless steel housing. You can get a bulb socket brush to clean out the bulb sockets, they look like a plumbers brush for cleaning copper pipe fittings before soldering except they also have bristles on the end to clean the contacts too. You should be able to get one at an auto parts store. Some tail lights use a rubber insert for the bulb contacts rather than a spring, and the rubber can compress causing a poor connection to the bulb. Be sure all connections are good and that there is a good ground connection, a bad ground can be the source of a lot of problems. Also check to see that the bulbs haven't started to blacken their glass.
Bob

[cpaharley2008]

when working on this, make sure your lights are not on.......

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

From the picture they look like a plain old flush mount light, available from Grote and other companies. Grote has them in stainless steel housing.

If that is the case there may be a direct LED replacement.

[Cat futrell]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

If that is the case there may be a direct LED replacement.

Roy, when you say LED replacement do you mean bulb or housing? I do lots of stuff but electrical has never been my thing so I remain quite ignorant on the subject. "but not for long"

Cathy

[Cat futrell]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

when working on this, make sure your lights are not on.......

I'll try to remember that.

thanks

[Cat futrell]

thanks all for the great info.

Cathy

[nlife]

It looks as though the PO took the light housing out and reversed them. The French style lights appear to be inside out if you will.

I had a dim light on one side too. It went away as soon as I replaced them with LED lights from princess auto. Really simple to do. Really! There are lots of people here that have done it.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Cat futrell

Roy, when you say LED replacement do you mean bulb or housing?

Both I guess, if the old style is still available chances are a new LED version that is a direct replacement. Those typically do not have the bulb socket but have LED's instead of a bulb.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by nlife

It looks as though the PO took the light housing out and reversed them. The French style lights appear to be inside out if you will.

I intially thought that too, but the curves would be wrong. If you look at pictures from that era of Love Bug you will see a number of others have "outies". Just like belly buttons.

Might make it just enough difference in the molds not to have to pay for the boler royalties or whatever.

[Deb & Chuck]

I have LED 7" Tail lights for sale at $25.99 each on my website.
Chuck

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Deb & Chuck

I have LED 7" Tail lights for sale at $25.99 each on my website.
Chuck

Yeah, but they don't come close to matching those on the Love Bug. See the picture in the first post.

[nlife]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

I intially thought that too, but the curves would be wrong. If you look at pictures from that era of Love Bug you will see a number of others have "outies". Just like belly buttons.

Might make it just enough difference in the molds not to have to pay for the boler royalties or whatever.

Yea I was thinking that the molding on the flange might be different. It's interesting. I've never seen one like that.

I went with the 7 inch LEDs too. Nice and bright.