- May 13, 2024
- 114
- 355
- Funster No
- 103,088
- MH
- Adria Matrix Axess
- Exp
- Caravan since 1983 - Motorhome since 1997
This may not be the 'proper' slot for this little rambling, but, . . . . .
'Marker lights are typically installed at the highest 4 corners, front and rear, of motorhomes.
Nowadays they are LED units, and each little unit usually comprises 4 individual LEDs.
On my vehicle these rear units are installed in a fairing that also contains the high-level brake light. Quite naturally this fairing is secured to the rear of the vehicle with screws and tons of liberally applied sealant.
Needless to say, a few days before the vehicle is due to go for its MoT, one of the rear units failed completely.
Nowhere, in any of the vehicle documentation, is there any mention of which fuses may be responsible for the behaviour of these rear marker lights, let alone whether they are are both covered by the same fuse.
So, rather than check every fuse in the entire vehicle, probably causing more problems by so doing, I bit the bullet, assumed the unit was defunct, and bashed on regardless.
Previously, the other rear marker light had packed up rather gradually, as the number of illuminated individual LEDs diminished slowly.
Replacing the first failed unit was no easy task, as I had no wish to remove the entire fairing just to replace one LED marker light.
The ones initially fitted to my Adria had plain coloured lenses with red coloured LEDs, whereas the only replacements I could find ‘on t’internet’ were white LEDs with red lenses.
Having replaced the first failed unit, a few years ago, I have been driving around with different coloured rear marker lights, a cosmetic issue which had previously caused the MoT chappies some consternation.
Regardless, when the first unit failed, I purchase two rear units, and two for the front, as I assumed, quite correctly as it happened, that further failures were on the cards.
I have since replaced one of the front units, so I have a spare in waiting for the other front one to pack up.
Getting the newly failed marker light off the rear fairing was no easy task, as it is set in a moulded recess which is a pain in the backside to access with any sort of tool which might be suitable for removing sealant.
The two retaining screws came out easily enough. Interestingly they were of different diameters and lengths, for no apparent reason. The assumption is that the chap who originally installed the marker lights had some sort of ‘issue’ with the process, and, in the one instance, had to use a larger screw than was initially necessary ?
I spent over an hour freeing the unit from the mass of randomly located sealant that held it in place, in order that I could pull it out of its recess and enable some access to the wiring.
The old wiring was chopped off where it joined the LED unit. I then fiddled and diddled (technical terms) through a very small aperture, gradually removing more sealant and exposing more of the wiring to daylight.
Once the length of wiring exposed was deemed sufficient unto my needs, I carefully elongated the aperture slightly, in order that I would have sufficient space to accept the small connectors which I would use to connect the new unit to the old wiring.
These small connectors were modified (in no uncertain terms) from a standard strip of 3Amp connectors.
A single connector was cut from the strip, and the entire plastic covering was removed. The single brass connector, with its two retaining screws was cut in half, and each half was trimmed as small as possible, to ensure that they would both pass through the hole in the recess.
The ends of the exposed wiring were trimmed, cleaned, and soldered, and the new unit was connected, using the modified connectors, once the lengths of wire had been shortened and soldered to suit.
Both the connectors were carefully wrapped with insulating tape, and then they were judiciously pushed through the aperture, leaving just sufficient space to allow some sealant to be applied before the new marker light was screwed into place.
This job was a complete pain in the backside; it took about 4 hours, from start to finish, and I dare say there may be more efficient ways of accomplishing such a task.
Notwithstanding, the rear marker lights now both have the same-coloured lenses, and they both work.
Sadly as I tested them on completion of the task, I turned on the ignition to be greeted by “AIRBAG FAILURE”, . . . . . . . such is life !
'Marker lights are typically installed at the highest 4 corners, front and rear, of motorhomes.
Nowadays they are LED units, and each little unit usually comprises 4 individual LEDs.
On my vehicle these rear units are installed in a fairing that also contains the high-level brake light. Quite naturally this fairing is secured to the rear of the vehicle with screws and tons of liberally applied sealant.
Needless to say, a few days before the vehicle is due to go for its MoT, one of the rear units failed completely.
Nowhere, in any of the vehicle documentation, is there any mention of which fuses may be responsible for the behaviour of these rear marker lights, let alone whether they are are both covered by the same fuse.
So, rather than check every fuse in the entire vehicle, probably causing more problems by so doing, I bit the bullet, assumed the unit was defunct, and bashed on regardless.
Previously, the other rear marker light had packed up rather gradually, as the number of illuminated individual LEDs diminished slowly.
Replacing the first failed unit was no easy task, as I had no wish to remove the entire fairing just to replace one LED marker light.
The ones initially fitted to my Adria had plain coloured lenses with red coloured LEDs, whereas the only replacements I could find ‘on t’internet’ were white LEDs with red lenses.
Having replaced the first failed unit, a few years ago, I have been driving around with different coloured rear marker lights, a cosmetic issue which had previously caused the MoT chappies some consternation.
Regardless, when the first unit failed, I purchase two rear units, and two for the front, as I assumed, quite correctly as it happened, that further failures were on the cards.
I have since replaced one of the front units, so I have a spare in waiting for the other front one to pack up.
Getting the newly failed marker light off the rear fairing was no easy task, as it is set in a moulded recess which is a pain in the backside to access with any sort of tool which might be suitable for removing sealant.
The two retaining screws came out easily enough. Interestingly they were of different diameters and lengths, for no apparent reason. The assumption is that the chap who originally installed the marker lights had some sort of ‘issue’ with the process, and, in the one instance, had to use a larger screw than was initially necessary ?
I spent over an hour freeing the unit from the mass of randomly located sealant that held it in place, in order that I could pull it out of its recess and enable some access to the wiring.
The old wiring was chopped off where it joined the LED unit. I then fiddled and diddled (technical terms) through a very small aperture, gradually removing more sealant and exposing more of the wiring to daylight.
Once the length of wiring exposed was deemed sufficient unto my needs, I carefully elongated the aperture slightly, in order that I would have sufficient space to accept the small connectors which I would use to connect the new unit to the old wiring.
These small connectors were modified (in no uncertain terms) from a standard strip of 3Amp connectors.
A single connector was cut from the strip, and the entire plastic covering was removed. The single brass connector, with its two retaining screws was cut in half, and each half was trimmed as small as possible, to ensure that they would both pass through the hole in the recess.
The ends of the exposed wiring were trimmed, cleaned, and soldered, and the new unit was connected, using the modified connectors, once the lengths of wire had been shortened and soldered to suit.
Both the connectors were carefully wrapped with insulating tape, and then they were judiciously pushed through the aperture, leaving just sufficient space to allow some sealant to be applied before the new marker light was screwed into place.
This job was a complete pain in the backside; it took about 4 hours, from start to finish, and I dare say there may be more efficient ways of accomplishing such a task.
Notwithstanding, the rear marker lights now both have the same-coloured lenses, and they both work.
Sadly as I tested them on completion of the task, I turned on the ignition to be greeted by “AIRBAG FAILURE”, . . . . . . . such is life !
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