Upgraded tail light bulb change

[rodknu]

Maybe someone can help me here... I have the upgraded tail lights with the full lens that is attached with double sided tape (I think). They have been on there 23 years so removal might destroy the lease and my research seems to indicate you can change the bulbs from the inside of the coach, I want to change the bulbs. How do I do that without removing interior walls. Can I reach them if I remove the original speakers housings? I cannot see how to get to them otherwise.....
Thanks,
Rod

 

[Matt Colie]

Rod,
The access you need is way below the speakers. There should be a cover plate inside that lines up with both tail lights.
It had to be there to connect the original wiring. The newer (that you seem to have) do not have the lamp holder as part of the reflector, but instead have a plastic holder that bayonets into the reflector.
There is also a connector there for the trailer wiring. Not all coaches had the trailer connection completed.

Matt

 

[Matt Colie]

Rod,
I was just looking at pictures. My left is accessible, but the right is inside that box with a receptical on the top. In my coach that can be gotten to through the blanket chest.
Hope this helps.
Matt

 

[rodknu]

Rod,
I was just looking at pictures. My left is accessible, but the right is inside that box with a receptical on the top. In my coach that can be gotten to through the blanket chest.
Hope this helps.
Matt

Heh, heh, Thanks Matt and you are absolutely right... no way to reach from the speaker housing. My coach has a "built in bed platform" installed by Cinnabar covered in carpet and finished very nicely. Having said that, thus far, I see no openings to get at the tail lights from the inside. I will explore more. The blanket box has no accessible panels inside it but I may be able to remove the whole box... same for the other side. Or, I bite the bullet and attempt to remove the lenses. I find I can order new lenses here (maybe) https://www.carparts.com/details/GM...VSubjBx2pPwbnEAQYAiABEgKvFfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[rodknu]

UPDATE... well, I really can't find a satisfactory way to access the back of the tail lights from the inside. Soooooo...... I am going to attack removing the lease and see if I can do so without breaking the lease or dinging up the beautiful paint job. The black seal between the lenses and paint seems very hard and brittle and "stuck tight". First thing I am going to try is light heat from a heat gun... there might even be a product that helps release double sided tape (which I still assume is what the gasket is...) I will post results positive OR negative....

 

[LarryW]

I am surprised that your "upgraded" tail lenses are glued (using double stick) to the body. I have the upgraded lenses and they are held in place with 4 screws, one in each of the four corners, with a gasket between the lens and the body. Just wondering what is going on here. Are these the "upgraded" lenses that you have?

One moment, please...

FYI, maybe take a look at the rest of that album to see what is behind the lens.

 

[rodknu]

Larry thanks. Mine are the same as yours with the same screws. When I removed the screws the lenses were still firmly attached by the black gasket and the gasket was hard and stuck tight. I could not break it loose with a screwdriver and felt hard and brittle like it was glued. Lenses were installed by Cinnabar 23 years ago so I really don’t know what the gasket is or how it was attached. Thus
my thought at this point was to lightly heat the gasket to see if it will soften enough to remove the lenses.

 

[LarryW]

Have you tried a 1 1/2" wide puddy knife or gasket scraper with a hammer and lightly tap it between the lens and the gasket? I would think that a screwdriver that is only 1/4" wide would apply enough point pressure that the chances of cracking the lens would be greater. JWIT.

 

[rodknu]

Have you tried a 1 1/2" wide puddy knife or gasket scraper with a hammer and lightly tap it between the lens and the gasket? I would think that a screwdriver that is only 1/4" wide would apply enough point pressure that the chances of cracking the lens would be greater. JWIT.

Good point Larry, I will give that a try....