I have an extra set of the green circuit "boards that have given up the ghost.
This winter I am going to rework them to hardwired mode.
Who knows how long the repairs I have had to make to the ones in the coach now will last. It seems that moisture gets in and corrodes the copper circuits.
Up here in the winter it will be a good productive use of my time for the dull, dreary months.
Excellent, Norm.
Should keep you out of trouble for ................................
Another cottage industry is born! ^.^d
Well, I have started to redo the taillight assemblies.
So far I have removed everything except the six pin connector that hooks up with the coach--on each bulb housing.
Then I totally cleaned each housing after removing the bulb sockets and the printed green circuit "board". Amazing how much corrosion was present!
I identified the function of each bayonet connector and each bulb socket so I knew what goes where (I hope).
I then proceeded to take the male bayonet connectors out of the nylon housing block and soldered a 6" lead wire to each bayonet connector. Then reinstalled the bayonets into the nylon block housing. I added an adhesive to keep the pins from backing out when under assembly with the coach's connector. It also waterproofs the wire and solder so corrosion won't occur. What else but SHOE GOO!
I have ordered 1156 and 1157 bulb sockets with the mounting tabs on their bases so I can insert each one into its proper location and then mechanically fasten them in place using 1/16" dia pop rivets. I used a rotary rasp on the original socket holes in the main housings to let me insert the new bulb socket holders in from the rear. I need to run a ground wire to each socket/rivet as the main housings are non-metallic.
So, I am now waiting for the new bulb sockets.
I also believe I will be able to use LED bulbs in the reworked assemblies.
Main problem I foresee is that until we get the coach out of storage come mid-April I won't be able to try out the new arrangements. I test every connection now with my battery charger but nothing works as well as the real thing.
If, or I should say when, I make the switch with the taillights that are now in the coach I will have enough material (bulb sockets, wire, rivets, and washers) along with knowledge to do those taillights. Thus I will have a "spare" set!!
Here is what I have "discovered" so far.
Don't see making a lot of money on this, as it would cost someone a couple hundred bucks or more if I did it for them. Time intensive to do it.
For those of us who have the Isuzu Impulse taillights
Well, I wired up the 1156 & 1157 sockets just like the schematic I posted earlier, and guess what??
Works perfectly!
I first mounted the sockets in their proper location, using 1/8"x 1/2" long aluminum pop rivets and backing washers (also aluminum)
Very, very rigid mounting by the way. I passed one end of a grounding wire between the pop rivet and the socket flange on each socket. Then ran a common ground to the proper bayonet connector. I soldered EVERY connection, then shrink wrapped each connection, then SHOE GOOed each wire to the housing. NO wires bouncing around and coming loose for me!!
I tested each and every bulb in their appropriate socket/function and everything works great!
Wherever a wire went thru the original Izuzu housing I added Shoe Goo to keep the wires in place, prevent chaffing, and corrosion. Want to hold something down--HARD AND TIGHT AND SEALED?? Use Shoe Goo!!
Shoe Goo also went on the "back" side of each socket so the sockets stayed in place.
I must say that the wiring ain't pretty, but it will do the job and hold up very well.
I will post pics tomorrow of both taillight assemblies, also front and rear pics.
I tested each "circuit" with my battery charger so I knew what wire went where.
Next project will--after my hip replacement--be to order LED lights for each side. (4) 1156 and (4) 1157 LEDs.
Like I said--Ain't pretty but does the job.
The pics show the bulb side and wires going all over the place, then the back side showing how I pop riveted the socket bases onto the Isuzu board.
NH,
In this case function trumps looks by a long shot. This should help others out as there are a lot of coaches that are still on the road with those tail light assemblies just waiting to fall apart when touched.
Mike
Been there done that... new sockets, and I bypassed the plastic circuit stuff and ran good old fashiined wires.not the taillamps work. Yay!
Well, the new LED lights for my wiring job showed up.
(4) 1156 "bulbs" (used for backup sockets and for the turn signal sockets. These bulbs are single function so no need for double function.
(4) 1157 "bulbs-(2) on each side as these bulbs are RUN/BRAKE in the circuit.
Spent about $28 total for all the LED bulbs from Yitamotors on Amazon.
Tested every one with my battery charger and WOW!! Are these bulbs ever bright!! Delivery was as quoted and arrived on the day they posted.
Now I have to wait until spring when we get the coach home and I can swap these upgraded lights for the old ones in the coach.
Been a nice project to keep me busy until I can get back on my feet after first breaking the ball off my left hip, three screws that went astray, and then a whole hip replacement a week ago this last Monday.
Did you change your front turn signal bulbs to led also? If so you may need a led specific flasher as the turn signals may not flash as intended. With the toad hooked up it may not matter. Hope you get well soon. BTW i was over at tract of my farmland 100 miles east of me Sunday, and several years ago all the rural roads were given names so emergency responders could find them easier, did a u-turn at an intersection looked up at the roadsign and low and behold the property is on Nighthawk road.
Didn't/Couldn't change front turn signal bulbs.
Probably will have to address the quick flashing feature when spring comes and the coach is home.
Coach is in storage 30 miles away.
Hip replacement has and is keeping me grounded.
The front lights are not the problem the problem.
Corroded and no longer functioning taillights were/are a problem.
1984 thru 1987 Isuzu Impulse taillights have become pretty much extinct.
So I decided to repair/redo one set for the coach as long as I had the spare no longer working properly set of lights.
Hopefully I will never have to take the new setup out due to non-functioning problems.
"Hip replacement has and is keeping me grounded."
Nitehawk, been there and done that twice both done 5 weeks apart, Doc said 3 months I would be good to go--HE LIED--
It will get better but it takes time, I was able to go and do SLOWLY after about 6 months
IT has been 4 years now and the only time I notice them is if I try to act 25 and pick up something too heavy and walk. The next day I can feel the hips
Chris
Not many things excite me anymore but I am really enthusiastic about my "fix" of the Isuzu taillights!! I got so tired of having to try to repair them when I found something went bad while either getting ready to go camping or when we arrived at our CG.
I keep them on my desk here in the office along with a battery charger, just so I can show everybody how bright the LED replacements are compared to the old bulbs, along with how deteriorated the old plastic circuit "boards" are and now how I can just drop the light assembly on to the carpet and everything still lights up.
COME ON SPRING!!! I am counting days until I can put the lights in the coach when I get the coach home.
Simple achievements , often the best .
Real wires are always better than thin copper ribbons printed on thin plastic sheets. Kudos.