Tail Gate Lights

[Profister]

HI All,

I am posting my version of fixing DELICA tail gate light in pictures as promised. All you need to know is that the light assembly is accessible from inside the tail gate and you also need to have some soldering skills. The pictures will tell you the rest. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask me.

The replacement bulb and the sealant bought from Canadian Tire.

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The original assembly taken apart.

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The replacement bulb soldered to the wires.

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All the parts put together.

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The assembly is mounted back to the tail gate.

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Now it is DELICA, not ICA!

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[coach]

Nice...thanks for posting....I was going to, but you beat me to it. I did everything the same except put the light back in the van today.

But, I bought a different bulb, exactly the same package, but it's a #2040/BP.
Hope it works as well as yours.

[Profister]

Yes, I was choosing between 2 bulbs and I had in my mind that someone either on our forum or on the UK one mentioned that the original bulb was a halogen; that is why I bought the more expensive one ($10).

[Mystery Machine]

Nice work there Profister! :)

I hope you don't mind, but I put a copy of this in the FAQ section so that it doesn't get lost too quicky? (A very handy guide...)

Thanks,

Bruce.

[Profister]

No problem Bruce. I hope my post will be helpful for other people.

Sergiy.

[mararmeisto]

Although mine are not burned out in the Moon Machine, I was thinking of making the conversion Mystery Machine suggested (different colours for the 'DELI' and 'CA' portions) with LEDs. Will have to pull that whole light bar off to do that though, I suspect, in order to pull out the fibre optics and move the divider from between the 'L' and the 'I'. But first I have to wire for a trailer brake.

[Mystery Machine]

Will have to pull that whole light bar off to do that though, I suspect....

I reckon that is what you'll need to do - although be careful when removing it....otherwise you might snap some of the clips that hold it on.

I want to do the same to mine (DELICA) but can't remember if the fibre optic is 'fibre' or a solid 'prism'?? Let me know how you get on? (AKA.....write a nice guide! )

[torchard]

So just to confirm, you slide the fibre optic strand over the new bulb once it's been replaced? I had a look tonight and I do have the sockets. The section of bulb base crumbled in my hands, but this seems normal for this fix. I gave it a light tug and twist and the fibre didn't budge from the bulb. Maybe some WD will free it?...

Thanks,

--T

[BCDelica]

Great pictorial Profister!

Won't be attempting it though; a Del here wants to buy my Delicas'.

Kev

[mararmeisto]

So just to confirm, you slide the fibre optic strand over the new bulb once it's been replaced? I had a look tonight and I do have the sockets. The section of bulb base crumbled in my hands, but this seems normal for this fix. I gave it a light tug and twist and the fibre didn't budge from the bulb. Maybe some WD will free it?...

Thanks,

--T

No, a tug will only tear the strands (if you can manage to tug that hard). As can be seen in the first picture of my conversion post Can you see me now?, the strands of fibre optics only go half-way across the light bar (this is why one side will burn out and not the other). The strands are bundled into a flat ribbon, and that ribbon is held in place with a piece of flat bar and a couple of screws. On the left side of that first picture, you can see the strands as they are about to go through the light bar to the rear, where they will match up with the bulb socket/cup.

The bulb is inside a cup, and the cup is bolted to the door. The cup sits over a plate which has the ends of the fibre optics bound together. Between the fibre ends and the bulb is a lens to focus the light. The plastic cup probably crumbled in your hands due to age and heat.

[torchard]

Thanks. I removed the three screws that hold the light pot to that plate and it looks as if the strand is the only thing still attached and it appears to fit over the bulb. Granted this was done in the half-light. Thoughts?

--T

[torchard]

I was instructed on the UK site to remove only the single rear screw, in order to remove the bulb holder and leave the bigger unit attached. Does this seem correct?

--T

[mararmeisto]

I was instructed on the UK site to remove only the single rear screw, in order to remove the bulb holder and leave the bigger unit attached. Does this seem correct?

--T

Yes, that single screw holds the bulb in place with a locking arm/plate. If you unscrew the complete holder (the three screws), then you can clearly see the ends of the fibre optic strands. The bigger holder contains the lens/prism which focuses the bulbs light into the ends of the strands.

The light shines into the ends of the strands and then 'leaks' out the sides behind the lens which has 'D E L' or 'I C A' on them. There is a piece of green plastic between the strands and the lettered lens, which gives the lettering its distinctive green glow.

[torchard]

great thanks. I'll see if I can get that bad boy loose (that wee screw is looking a litle weathered).

--T

[josh]

So at the risk of sounding naive... how would you be able to change the colour of on of the sides... do you need a different colour fiber optics? or just a different colour lens? (I haven't taken anything apart, but was just curious).

Josh