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Water in LED Tail Lights Redux

Printed From: r-pod Nation
Category: Forest River r-pod
Forum Name: Maintenance Issues, Tips and Tricks
Forum Description: Have you ever wondered how something works? Found a good way to do something? Discovered the hard way what NOT to do? Share them here.
URL: http://www.rpodNation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4654
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 5:16pm
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Topic: Water in LED Tail Lights Redux
Posted By: jimqbaum
Subject: Water in LED Tail Lights Redux
Date Posted: 23 Oct 2017 at 8:22pm
I have water inside my lens of the led tail light assembly. Reading the posts from others it mentions pretty much replacing the unit. The factory says it's a sealed unit? If so, the how is the water getting in there? Must not be much of a seal. I don't have any leaks from the rear window or anywhere else.
I attempted taking the unit off by removing the three screws and it seems to be attached by glue as well? It looks like the unit comes in two parts from viewing the schematic; a red lens and a connecting body of sorts for the lens which would include the electronics for the whole shebang. My wife had a no nonsense approach to the whole thing by saying "why don't ya just drill a small hole and let the water out?"
Has anyone actually taken the fool thing apart by breaking the faulty seal?


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Have A Splendid Day



Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2017 at 9:06am
It's a sonically welded piece. Some have seemed to have an incomplete weld or something.. and leak.

Remove the screws, then use a paint scraper etc, to work the silicone seal loose. Wire in new light, after cleaning all the old silicone off, screw back in place, re-silicone.

We had one leak, I drilled a small hole in the bottom to let it drain.. after a year or so, a couple LEDs failed, so then I changed the light.


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Mark, Susie, Micah, and The Maggie.
'11 RP177(sold) '17 Lance 2295 http://www.rpodnation.com/some-of-our-mods-so-far-with-pics_topic2786.html" rel="nofollow - FurPodsMods
'17 Ford F250 CCSB


Posted By: jimqbaum
Date Posted: 24 Oct 2017 at 8:30pm
Splendid reply. The sonic welding process would definitely explain everything.
Thanks.


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Have A Splendid Day


Posted By: Countrygent
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2017 at 4:09pm
I had the right tail light with half the LED's working, the other half were dim ... thought maybe it was my 7 pin connector, but not after a good cleaning and making sure I had full contact.  Then recently the left started the same thing.

I don't like the idea of them failing, that is the only turn signal visibility back there in traffic, so called up Forest River for replacement, they will send the OEM part for $16.66 each.  Beats a service call and I'll have peace of mind knowing they are fixed and good to go.

With so many owners reporting similar issues, it seems to be a moisture/condensation/weak design/cheap manufacture issue.  Welcome to the new global supply chain of ... dubious junk.



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2012 Hood River Edition 177
Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab 4x4 6cyl Manual
Little Bigpod


Posted By: Lark
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2017 at 9:58am
See my previous posts,  I found that the back of the taillight assembly had a coating of sealant or mastic on the areas that the diodes had failed.  I think this caused them to overheat.  I replaced both taillights and used silicon to seal them up and they now have worked fine for about 2000+ miles.  I drive with the lights on all the time.  

Lark  F-150  2015 R-179


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Lark



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