off topic- sewed my own tail lights
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 3:45 pm
being very stubborn and cheap, I decided to fix my own tail lights. one problem was that volvo uses this silly idea with a printed circuit board to connect to the bulb holders. then the tail lights keep failing because of bad contact with the silly circuit board.
so I made plastic washers, mounted normal bulb holders to them and used twist ties to connect the two wafers together. to change bulbs I just need to undo the twist ties.
I found a source for unused LED stop signal lights so I robbed one of the covers for the red plastic.
I attempted to bend the stuff, my first attempt with a blowtorch got it a little too hot, it bent too abruptly and it sort of made the plastic white where it got a bit too hot.
on my second attempt I held it over my toaster until it got warm enough, that worked pretty well.
I made some cardboard patterns and found I can cut the stuff pretty easily with a hacksaw.
i made a new light lens by gluing 4 pieces together. I used super glue.
I learned that that type of glue leaves a white residue. what happens is that the fumes from it fog the lens. Its a weird problem but evidently it is caused by dampness and the fumes or something ..
the white haze was mostly on the inside, the car is my winter beater so Im not getting super fussy. I glued the lens back in with white silicone.
I found a little terminal strip to use to make all the connections neat. then I can put it back...
I might convert it to LED's I found some single filament bulbs that fit. the volvo has a bulb failure light. it comes on if the amperage draw to the lights is abnormal so I might have to cu tthe wire to make the indicator go out if I use the LED bulbs.
the reflectors arent' perfect but I think itll work. It just looks a little less ghetto than red tape lol..
I know its way off topic but I thought I'd share anyway.. it probably wasn't worth the time if I counted the hours, but at least I didn't really spend much.. so I guess I sort of won. lol..
here's some pics, I included my first attempt at bending the stuff. I had to glue a little piece on the end. it didnt' fit perfect but if the car was a real gem I could probably do better. Im not sure how super glue fares in the wet but Ill find out when and if it falls apart I guess
so I made plastic washers, mounted normal bulb holders to them and used twist ties to connect the two wafers together. to change bulbs I just need to undo the twist ties.
I found a source for unused LED stop signal lights so I robbed one of the covers for the red plastic.
I attempted to bend the stuff, my first attempt with a blowtorch got it a little too hot, it bent too abruptly and it sort of made the plastic white where it got a bit too hot.
on my second attempt I held it over my toaster until it got warm enough, that worked pretty well.
I made some cardboard patterns and found I can cut the stuff pretty easily with a hacksaw.
i made a new light lens by gluing 4 pieces together. I used super glue.
I learned that that type of glue leaves a white residue. what happens is that the fumes from it fog the lens. Its a weird problem but evidently it is caused by dampness and the fumes or something ..
the white haze was mostly on the inside, the car is my winter beater so Im not getting super fussy. I glued the lens back in with white silicone.
I found a little terminal strip to use to make all the connections neat. then I can put it back...
I might convert it to LED's I found some single filament bulbs that fit. the volvo has a bulb failure light. it comes on if the amperage draw to the lights is abnormal so I might have to cu tthe wire to make the indicator go out if I use the LED bulbs.
the reflectors arent' perfect but I think itll work. It just looks a little less ghetto than red tape lol..
I know its way off topic but I thought I'd share anyway.. it probably wasn't worth the time if I counted the hours, but at least I didn't really spend much.. so I guess I sort of won. lol..
here's some pics, I included my first attempt at bending the stuff. I had to glue a little piece on the end. it didnt' fit perfect but if the car was a real gem I could probably do better. Im not sure how super glue fares in the wet but Ill find out when and if it falls apart I guess