Tail lights

[SGilbert]

My cheap & brittle 2018 Axis tail lights leak and corrode the contacts on the incandescent bulbs!
I'm going to replace with LEDs from Amazon.
Any cautions or other mods I need to take?
https://www.amazon.com/Partsam-Rect...mzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685

 

[grnach]

I overhead a discussion about this R&R. Use a voltmeter to check the wire color codes. Something had been weird but I wasn't paying close attention.
From a long ago thread, when you remove the old unit, double check the cavity behind for water damage. He took the extra step of spraying the plywood with Flex Seal. Good luck

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

My cheap & brittle 2018 Axis tail lights leak and corrode the contacts on the incandescent bulbs!
I'm going to replace with LEDs from Amazon.
Any cautions or other mods I need to take?
https://www.amazon.com/Partsam-Rect...mzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685

I just replaced the lights on my 2018 ACE with these that look like the original lights installed on all the photos of Axis motorhome and my ACE.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JBJ5JJB?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

It was an exact replacement right down to the same screw locations. The only problem was that Thor did not leave much slack, so I ended up cutting the old lights wires close to the old light to get a little extra length.

One other thing you need to look at. You likely got water into the plywood where the back wall was recessed to fit the old lights. Make sure to seal the exposed edges with a good penetrating sealer to prevent the wood rotting. Also seal the light around the outside to keep new water from getting behind the light.

 

[The Gritz Carlton]

If GM or Ford put crap like this on the street they would be drug into a "House Oversight Committee on Ignorance".

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

If GM or Ford put crap like this on the street they would be drug into a "House Oversight Committee on Ignorance".

What Chrysler gets a free pass? :whistling:

 

[The Gritz Carlton]

They know how much Chrysler is struggling to make a decent product already.

 

[SGilbert]

I just replaced the lights on my 2018 ACE with these that look like the original lights installed on all the photos of Axis motorhome and my ACE.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JBJ5JJB?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

It was an exact replacement right down to the same screw locations. The only problem was that Thor did not leave much slack, so I ended up cutting the old lights wires close to the old light to get a little extra length.

One other thing you need to look at. You likely got water into the plywood where the back wall was recessed to fit the old lights. Make sure to seal the exposed edges with a good penetrating sealer to prevent the wood rotting. Also seal the light around the outside to keep new water from getting behind the light.

That was my 2nd choice. Same brand as my choice, so I think it'll work just fine.

Thanks all---I'll check behind the old POS ones and repair and seal the new ones. (Gorilla Clear Silicone Sealant is my 'go-to' favorite these days)

 

[ElectricZ]

I just replaced the lights on my 2018 ACE with these that look like the original lights installed on all the photos of Axis motorhome and my ACE.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JBJ5JJB?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Thanks for the link. Just had to replace a couple bulbs on my 2018 Axis for a state inspection, and found that the entire housing was falling apart. Thought I was going to have to go to Thor for replacements - these look much better. (And ya can't beat free Prime shipping!)

 

[EA37TS]

Ordered yesterday, arrived today and installed! I couldn't be happier!
Lights came fully gasketed and there was no wood rot other than a few screw holes that were bypassed and sealed. Only complication was the wire colors did not match, but not too hard to match up.

(WHY does this site turn pics? No way to edit. Not my intention!)

The site doesn’t turn anything. It’s your /systems phone’s photo metadata causing the problem. Do a minor edit of the photo, save the change the post the picture. This is especially bad with photos taken with an iPhone.

 

[SGilbert]

Ordered yesterday, arrived today and installed! I couldn't be happier!
Lights came fully gasketed and there was no wood rot other than a few screw holes that were bypassed and sealed. Only complication was the wire colors did not match, but not too hard to match up.

Thanks EA37TS

 

[PaulH]

I'd do that mod in a heartbeat as I've already had mine off, and had to fix and reseal. The trouble is, here, in Europe, your indicator lights must flash orange, red is for rear lights and stop lights only. For the stock ones we put an orange bulb in the reversing light and wire it to be used as rear indicators. 'Can't do that with the led's, sadly.

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

I'd do that mod in a heartbeat as I've already had mine off, and had to fix and reseal. The trouble is, here, in Europe, your indicator lights must flash orange, red is for rear lights and stop lights only. For the stock ones we put an orange bulb in the reversing light and wire it to be used as rear indicators. 'Can't do that with the led's, sadly.

Then perhaps you need something like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Partsam-Trip.../B0B8VQSDGH/ref=psdc_3094906011_t1_B08JBJ5JJB

I do whish the US would adopt the amber light for turn signals standard. That would make it so much easier to wire up the lights on a TOAD like a Fiat 500 if the motorhome and TOAD both had the same light system.

 

[The Gritz Carlton]

Then perhaps you need something like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Partsam-Trip.../B0B8VQSDGH/ref=psdc_3094906011_t1_B08JBJ5JJB

I do whish the US would adopt the amber light for turn signals standard. That would make it so much easier to wire up the lights on a TOAD like a Fiat 500 if the motorhome and TOAD both had the same light system.

Wouldn't requiring foreign cars imported into the US to comply with the standards of this country make more sense? Yes.

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Wouldn't requiring foreign cars imported into the US to comply with the standards of this country make more sense? Yes.

There are plenty of US cars with Amber turn signals. My 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a US made car, was one of them. Getting the Taillights wired for towing would have been much easier if the Motorhome also had Amber turn indicators. It is high time that US automakers adopted the same standard and joined the rest of the world.

 

[SGilbert]

There are plenty of US cars with Amber turn signals. My 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a US made car, was one of them. Getting the Taillights wired for towing would have been much easier if the Motorhome also had Amber turn indicators. It is high time that US automakers adopted the same standard and joined the rest of the world.

I suppose you want us to change everything to metric also?
No liter, mm, whacky wrenches & sockets, etc. for me.
I'm too old to learn new tricks! (You can make all the dog jokes you want--my feelings don't get hurt. )

 

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

I suppose you want us to change everything to metric also?
No liter, mm, whacky wrenches & sockets, etc. for me.
I'm too old to learn new tricks! (You can make all the dog jokes you want--my feelings don't get hurt. )

Sorry, we are already using whacky wrenches, sockets, etc..

Have you looked at your owner's manual lately? Measurements and capacity's are listed in both Imperial and metric. Everything on cars is already metric, on my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee, my 2020 Jeep Gladiator and my 2018 Thor ACE on a Ford F53 Chassis. The bolts usually have a metric diameter and thread pitch with the bolt head or nut sized to match both a metric or an imperial wrench size. Ever wonders why the corners on a bolt head get rounded off? The reason is because of the compromise head size is just a bit off in order to allow either a metric or imperial sized wrench to work. This is the main reason using 6point sockets is preferred because it is less likely a bolt head will get rounded.

The US military has been using the metric system since shortly after WW2. All military firearms use ammunition sized in metric measurements. If you buy an army surplus Duce & a Half you better have a metric set of wrenches to work on it.

All us speedometers have had both KPH and MPH on them since the 70's. the digital speedometer readout on the last three cars can display either MPH or KPH. The only reason Highway speed limit signs have not been changed is because our politicians think the general public is too stupid to recognize the difference between MPH and KPH.

 

[SGilbert]

You've obviously drunk the Kool-Aid. Enjoy your bliss.

 

[EA37TS]

…

The US military has been using the metric system since shortly after WW2. All military firearms use ammunition sized in metric measurements. If you buy an army surplus Duce & a Half you better have a metric set of wrenches to work on it.

…

Bull. Retired Army. In over years never used a metric wrench and never used petroleum products by the liter.

 

[PaulH]

Then perhaps you need something like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Partsam-Trip.../B0B8VQSDGH/ref=psdc_3094906011_t1_B08JBJ5JJB

I do whish the US would adopt the amber light for turn signals standard. That would make it so much easier to wire up the lights on a TOAD like a Fiat 500 if the motorhome and TOAD both had the same light system.

Wow, thanks so much for that link, my next mod when I get back from Spain. Cheers.

 

[galOnTheGo]

thanks all, SG, gnach, and dan, for the links and info. very helpful. i've had this on my to-do list for a while. there is a rusted socket and some water leak damage in my tail lights.