Author Topic: '98 EV tail lights (Read 4673 times)

jetmechmarty · « **on:** March 06, 2016, 06:57:45 PM »

I have this light assembly on my '98 EV. I have bent the contact tabs to tighten them against the lamps a couple of times. They don't stay that way long. I need a permanent fix. I prefer to repair/modify the existing light assembly. I've read here that this has been done. I prefer not to experiment. What is the socket that fits?

Thanks

pehayes · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2016, 07:16:13 PM »

My websites are temporarily down. I have done perhaps 40 sets of these. I bore out the reflectors and glue in replacement sockets. Not like the sockets you show. I'm away today. I could send photos of the work later from home. Give me your e-address in a p-m. I do this gratis for the cost of postage and materials.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2016, 07:23:46 PM »

That first socket looks like the tubing over the wires may make it too deep.

Take up Patrick on his offer.

Tom · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2016, 07:48:00 PM »

Some good advice.

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2016, 07:48:00 PM »

pehayes · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2016, 07:54:12 PM »

BTW, there is a secondary issue compounded by the plastic reflectors and cheap sockets. The hand brake switch is activated by a tiny ball bearing which passes through the brake handle perch. It gets dirty and sticky and my hold the brake light ON 100% of the time. If so, the bulb heat will soon melt your reflectors out of shape. Good idea to inspect that switch and its drive ball and keep it clean.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

jetmechmarty · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2016, 08:00:47 PM »

Quote from: rodekyll on March 06, 2016, 07:45:07 PM

Why not splice in an LED berry and be forever done with bulb problems (and pick up a few more watts for the headlight)?

That's very interesting. Is the light as bright as the incandescent lamp?

jetmechmarty · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2016, 08:05:14 PM »

Quote from: pehayes on March 06, 2016, 07:54:12 PM

BTW, there is a secondary issue compounded by the plastic reflectors and cheap sockets. The hand brake switch is activated by a tiny ball bearing which passes through the brake handle perch. It gets dirty and sticky and my hold the brake light ON 100% of the time. If so, the bulb heat will soon melt your reflectors out of shape. Good idea to inspect that switch and its drive ball and keep it clean.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

My rubber boot that covers that switch is missing. Are those boots still available? That's a good tip that would not have occurred to me until I learned it the hard way. Those lessons may stick, but I don't learning that way if I don't have to.

RayB · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2016, 09:10:08 PM »

Are there separate bulbs for tail and stop light duty?
Also I wonder if one could go to a junk yard and snip off the bulb sockets from a car and then jus splice wires

RayB · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2016, 09:52:31 PM »

RK
Thanks for tips

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2016, 10:42:44 PM »

Quote from: jetmechmarty on March 06, 2016, 08:00:47 PM

That's very interesting. Is the light as bright as the incandescent lamp?

When I had my California, I put a 3 watt LED in one side. That 3 watt LED wasn't as bright as the 1157 incandescent in the other side. So I went with a 5 watt, and it was brighter than then the 1157.

Not all LED replacements are equal. Plus you lose the license plate illumination if that matters to you.

LowRyter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2016, 11:14:46 PM »

It takes Patrick Hayes sockets + reinforcement of the turn signals + regular adjustment on the hand brake light switch.

jetmechmarty · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2016, 07:12:19 PM »

I have to do more research, but this LED looks like it will illuminate the license plate. This after the socket situation has been addressed.

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2016, 07:35:14 PM »

If it is a white LED, you probably do NOT want it.
How many watts is it?

jetmechmarty · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2016, 07:45:43 PM »

Quote from: OMG on March 07, 2016, 07:35:14 PM

If it is a white LED, you probably do NOT want it.
How many watts is it?

It's available in warm white, cool white, or red. The whites are 50/270 lumens. The red is considerably less. Why not white?

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb-w-stock-cover-dual-function-36-smd-led-tower-bay15d-retrofit-car/1689/#/tab/Overview

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2016, 09:23:56 AM »

Quote from: jetmechmarty on March 07, 2016, 07:45:43 PM

Why not white?

It gets complicated.

An LED is a single color. The LED color white does not exist. So they typically take a BLUE LED, smear some phosphor over it to glow red/green and to dim the blue. So you end up with a cool (blue) white. The red lens on the taillight will block the blue and block the green, maybe even block some of the red spectrum. So in crude numbers, you may only end up with 1/3 of the light from the white LED. With a red LED, all of the light should pass through the lens.
It is complicated by the fact that the red LED may not match the red lens.
Toss in the fact that white LEDs ago and lose brightness faster then a simple single color red LED will.

It is an experiment.

Dilliw · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2016, 09:39:24 AM »

I've used this one for years and it lights the license plate just fine. One of the LEDs flickers now but it's not obnoxious.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-led-bulbs/1157-led-bulb-dual-function-25-led-motorcycle-bulb/170/767/

Vagrant · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2016, 05:47:39 PM »

crap George! you could have bought a good cigar for $12.99 instead. get your priorities straight.

Dilliw · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2016, 08:50:07 PM »

Quote from: Vagrant on March 08, 2016, 05:47:39 PM

crap George! you could have bought a good cigar for $12.99 instead. get your priorities straight.

I could have bought 4 of those sticks you tote!

jetmechmarty · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:09:54 PM »

I got my lights back from Patrick Hayes. A big thank you to him! They now function perfectly. They even came with detailed installation instructions.

News:

Author Topic: '98 EV tail lights (Read 4673 times)

Wildguzzi.com