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Old 02-15-2018, 04:14 PM   #1
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Replacing tail lights

1988 Saturn t-1550. How do you get the wires out of the tail lights. I have to replace the entire assembly.
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Old 02-15-2018, 10:15 PM   #2
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H'mm, I have not had an 88 apart before but have you unscrewed the fixture from the body of the camper?

On the newer ones, they drilled about a 1" hole in the siding. They wire nutted the tail light wires to the camper DOT wiring, siliconed the wire nut to help keep corrosion out of the wire nut and stuffed all that back in the wall through the 1" hole. To get to the wire nuts, you pull one of the lights wires and fish them back out the hole out in the open.

Does your sound anything like that?

See here


The wires handing out of the 1" hole


Hope this helps

John
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Old 02-16-2018, 06:59 AM   #3
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The wires go into the back of the light base. The new ones did not come with any wires attached.
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Old 02-16-2018, 09:08 AM   #4
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Any chance of a pic or a link to the new one? Do they have screw terminals on the outside or solder lugs to, make the wire connection?

The older ones that I have seen are fairly standard for the time period with 3 wire pigtails wires (about 4 to 5" long) coming out of the back. Is this what you older one looks like?

Trying to understand the problem you are having.

On the older ones with the pigtails, the wires were riveted into the bulb socket connections. (ground, turn and stop) So you really did not unhook them at the rivit, you did at the end of the pigtail wire. If that is the issue as you new one has no pigtails, then can you just cut the wire off at the edge of the old fixture and then attach that wire to the new light? Not seeing the issue I can't think of what it is your up against.

Hope this helps

John
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Old 02-16-2018, 09:54 AM   #5
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Mine has been modified but maybe it will give you some ideas.



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Old 02-16-2018, 12:53 PM   #6
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Mine has been modified but maybe it will give you some ideas.



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Interesting setup Tommie, but your wall mounted lights are replacements as well- Bargman #92 series. Those do come with wire pigtails that go through the back of the light and into pigtails in the trailer. Correct original equipment for Sunlines 1997 to 2007, but not for yours. Yours, and every Sunline from about 1976 through 1992 originally had the square corner Peterson V29514/29511, with or without backup lights.
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Old 02-16-2018, 04:16 PM   #7
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Thanks Sunline Fan, good to know. I am not sure why the previous owner installed the other lights below the wall mounted lights except that I think they are LEDs.


Thanks,
Tommie
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Old 02-16-2018, 06:20 PM   #8
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The wires go into the back of the light base. The new ones did not come with any wires attached.
Yes they friction fit if you look closely you will see a small round hole it's meant to put something like a paperclip in to release the wires. It's far easier to cut the wire off of the old ones and skin them if your new lights have no wires there will be holes that you need to push the wires in they will go in fairly easily but come out hard. Pay attention to the color and match them up on the new ones holes.
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Old 02-17-2018, 11:07 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pagroundhog View Post
The wires go into the back of the light base. The new ones did not come with any wires attached.
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Originally Posted by mainah View Post
Yes they friction fit if you look closely you will see a small round hole it's meant to put something like a paperclip in to release the wires. It's far easier to cut the wire off of the old ones and skin them if your new lights have no wires there will be holes that you need to push the wires in they will go in fairly easily but come out hard. Pay attention to the color and match them up on the new ones holes.
OK, Mainah has it. The push in types. I have them on my flat bed trailer. I really hate them big time. Corrosion on the wires gets them in my case and then they stop working. They are fast to install, work good for about 1 to 2 years then it's downhill from there if the trailer has been outside very much or towed when it is wet out. They came with my flat bed trailer and a complete rewire and sealed LED upgrade is in it's future. They also used skotch type wire joints which are even worse than the plug in fixtures.

If you have this type, I would suggest you solder (tin) the ends of the wire before inserting them into the fixture. And after they are inserted, possibly apply some dielectric grease at the outside edge of the wire to the plastic housing to try and keep some of the moisture out.

Hope this helps

John
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Old 02-17-2018, 01:31 PM   #10
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Repair

pagroundhog: On my 1550 the wires went back in the hole behind the light. Not a good picture but maybe it will help. Frank
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Old 02-17-2018, 04:47 PM   #11
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OK, Mainah has it. The push in types. I have them on my flat bed trailer. I really hate them big time. Corrosion on the wires gets them in my case and then they stop working. They are fast to install, work good for about 1 to 2 years then it's downhill from there if the trailer has been outside very much or towed when it is wet out. They came with my flat bed trailer and a complete rewire and sealed LED upgrade is in it's future. They also used skotch type wire joints which are even worse than the plug in fixtures.

If you have this type, I would suggest you solder (tin) the ends of the wire before inserting them into the fixture. And after they are inserted, possibly apply some dielectric grease at the outside edge of the wire to the plastic housing to try and keep some of the moisture out.

Hope this helps

John
Yes good plan, RV light fixture leave a great deal to be desired in general I guess it's so anyone can deal with them. Even the factory one are pretty cheap and I don't even want to go there with clearance lights!
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