The LED Taillight Install Chronicles (because I feel like it) (no babes)
03-20-2012, 10:21 PM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
The LED Taillight Install Chronicles (because I feel like it) (no babes)
Chapter 1... Buy set of facelift LED taillights from Carlos. Hellofa deal, great guy. Ooooh, nice! They'll look good on the silver coupe.
Chapter 2... Play with the lights on the bench, re-engineer the wiring of the second resistor. Wow, resistor gets really HOT (noticed after small plastic bag touches resistor, melts and smokes). Burn finger. Design/build aluminum heat sink to hold resistors and keep them away from other meltable stuff. Burn finger again. Get piece of bread; toast on resistor. Weekend is here, let's put 'em in.
Chapter 3... Right side installed with minimal blood, sweat. But before we mount the heat sink on the tail light screw, let's test it. Yes, that looks super! All working, looking good. Install heat sink on screw, tighten nut; fine... all supported away from heat-sensitive stuff. Take a well-deserved break, and let's see those lights again. Hmm, stop light not working, running light acting strange. Take harness out, check entire circuit...resistor is cold?? Old light works. Start to put aluminum heat sink/resistor holder onto screw with power on...sparks?! Back to the bench... discover one resistor shorts to ground, but still reads 5.7 ohms.
Chapter 4... OK, fabricate new heat sink/resistor mount, but isolate from body ground. Works good... on to the left!
Chapter 5... Install left side... more metal bending, smaller access hole, lots more blood and sweat. During install, just after I mention to my casually observing wife "If I drop this nut it will disappear down into the unknown...". TINK. sh*t. bad karma. Nut gone. Screwed. Tears mix w/blood,sweat/cursing.
Chapter 6... Search through 5# can of assorted nuts and bolts collected over 50 years. Of course nothing metric (assume metric, or just fine thread, idk.) More cigars and liquids to help mental situation. Suddenly remember box o'parts in attic from 1987 Volvo. Lol, there is the exact same nut! What are the chances?! Good karma!
Chaper 7... Finish install (8 hours, including design/re-design heat sinks and cigar/beverage/pee breaks), test, test, test... admire new look. Best part; wife agrees they look good!
(wonder if anyone has burned anything in their trunk from the little LED 'toaster resistors'?)
So, another nice mod thanks to members on this forum (Brabus Monoblock VI from Ducatinolo, LED tails from 2MCHCAR)!
Next... try to post pics (tech-challenged. obviously)
This forum provides information, cool parts, and laughs. Can't ask for more. Thanks, alla y'all!
Chapter 2... Play with the lights on the bench, re-engineer the wiring of the second resistor. Wow, resistor gets really HOT (noticed after small plastic bag touches resistor, melts and smokes). Burn finger. Design/build aluminum heat sink to hold resistors and keep them away from other meltable stuff. Burn finger again. Get piece of bread; toast on resistor. Weekend is here, let's put 'em in.
Chapter 3... Right side installed with minimal blood, sweat. But before we mount the heat sink on the tail light screw, let's test it. Yes, that looks super! All working, looking good. Install heat sink on screw, tighten nut; fine... all supported away from heat-sensitive stuff. Take a well-deserved break, and let's see those lights again. Hmm, stop light not working, running light acting strange. Take harness out, check entire circuit...resistor is cold?? Old light works. Start to put aluminum heat sink/resistor holder onto screw with power on...sparks?! Back to the bench... discover one resistor shorts to ground, but still reads 5.7 ohms.
Chapter 4... OK, fabricate new heat sink/resistor mount, but isolate from body ground. Works good... on to the left!
Chapter 5... Install left side... more metal bending, smaller access hole, lots more blood and sweat. During install, just after I mention to my casually observing wife "If I drop this nut it will disappear down into the unknown...". TINK. sh*t. bad karma. Nut gone. Screwed. Tears mix w/blood,sweat/cursing.
Chapter 6... Search through 5# can of assorted nuts and bolts collected over 50 years. Of course nothing metric (assume metric, or just fine thread, idk.) More cigars and liquids to help mental situation. Suddenly remember box o'parts in attic from 1987 Volvo. Lol, there is the exact same nut! What are the chances?! Good karma!
Chaper 7... Finish install (8 hours, including design/re-design heat sinks and cigar/beverage/pee breaks), test, test, test... admire new look. Best part; wife agrees they look good!
(wonder if anyone has burned anything in their trunk from the little LED 'toaster resistors'?)So, another nice mod thanks to members on this forum (Brabus Monoblock VI from Ducatinolo, LED tails from 2MCHCAR)!
Next... try to post pics (tech-challenged. obviously)
This forum provides information, cool parts, and laughs. Can't ask for more. Thanks, alla y'all!
03-21-2012, 10:17 PM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Jerry is a great person to do business with! 
I'm glad that you have everything sorted out and are happy with your purchase!
+1 on the pics!
I'm glad that you have everything sorted out and are happy with your purchase!
+1 on the pics!
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TTIWWOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
03-22-2012, 06:54 PM
#10
Banned
Thread Starter
The final mount; keeps resistor away from ground in case of internal short, keeps it away from melty stuff. It all gets hot.
Here's another pic, so you can quit hitting my head!
Here's another pic, so you can quit hitting my head!
