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Clearance/Marker Lights

Yahoo Message Number: 69231
On our 02 Intrigue there are 12 marker lights (aka clearance lights) - amber and red and they are desperately in need of replacement. It's not just the lenses as the bases are deteriorating and cracking. So today I launched into the project of replacing them with original equipment Bargman lights. Sounds simple ... not!
CC filled the hole behind the light with a huge amount of clear silicone sealant that formed a blob totally encasing the wiring and it was a very difficult task to finally cut away the blob of silicone without damaging the wires. The next chore was trying to clean up the old silicone on the painted surface around and under the old fixture. Pick! Pick! Pick! Scrape! Scrape! Scrape! Surely there is an easier way to remove old silicone. Acetone was suggested so I tried that. Alcohol was suggested so I tried that. What a mess!
Has anyone changed out their old marker lights and if so do you have any tips for easing the pain? I especially would appreciate any tips for removing old silicone without all the sticky globs.

Thanks, Steve

2002 Intrigue #11382

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69232
Steve,

I had the same problem, but was fortunate enough to be able to access the bad lights from inside the rear closet access panel. Like you said, CC just filled the hole and inside wires with excess silicone and the only way to get it out is by cutting with a box cutter or knife. Acetone won't do anything. It made no sense why they used such a large amount of silicone, all they had to do was plug the hole and then you could pull the wires through and re-seal when done. Inside the coach the silicone was in very big globs, completely unnecessary!

Tom

Trans-Specialists/Lifeline Batteries/Pressure Pro
01 Magna 5999
www.trans-specialists.net

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69243

Steve:

I've had some success with laquer thinner but, once RTV sets it is a bear to remove which is usually a good thing.
I replaced the lights on our '00 Intrigue and then '05 Inspire's faded to clear in a year. The hour or so it takes for each light adds up to a couple of long days and I don't want to do it again.
I used the OEM lights to replace the Intrigue's originals and it wasn't 6 months after that the lenses started to fade to clear. So this last time I installed LED based lights on the Inspire, there are lots of sources for them. After 2 years in the FL sun, no signs of fading and the LEDs are head and shoulders above the incandescent lamps of the originals. Even if the lenses fade I believe the LEDs are the same color so the appearance at night will still be the correct shade. Before you spend all that time I hope you will consider using my wasted time on the Intrigue and "upgrade" the fixtures themselves to something that will look better and last longer. I don't think I'll need to change a bulb/LED/lense/housing ever again on the Inspire. Only time will prove that but so far they look as good today as two years ago.
I also changed the tail/stop lights to LEDs - fantastic improvement.

Just my .02 and some food for thought.

Bob (rthandren@...)
'05 Inspire 51178

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69446
Steve

Are you going to use LED lights. I am waiting for a member of the group to figure out how to replace rear tail lights with LEDS.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69447
Bob

Did you just replace the rear tail light bulb with one of the conversion bulb units?

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69509
Dan asked whether I was going to use LED lights to replace my deteriorated Clearance/Marker lights. The answer is "no" and not for any other reason than I already have all the replacement light fixtures. I might also say that in the 7 years that we've had the coach I might have replaced one or maybe two clearance light bulbs so I see no compelling reason to buy much more expensive light fixtures. LEDs may be brighter but I don't recall ever driving our coach at night and there is no concern in using less power while driving as one might argue the case for interior lights to conserve power when running off the inverter.
My main concern in raising the subject of the marker lights was and still is trying to remove the original silicone that was so generously applied by Country Coach. I'm still fighting that issue and still haven't found anything that will clean off the surface silicone. But I guess that means that silicone is the perfect substance because it has no solvents other than "elbow grease".

Steve

2002 Intrigue #11382

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69537
The same thing happens to mine but it takes place over a longer period of time. No one can find the leak but are more than willing to refill the system with freon. The only person I can recommend is Link Automotive in Nashville, TN. He owns a CC and knows exactly what he's doing. I'm sure there are others but I haven't found them.

John Pratt

2006 Allure 31308

Re: Clearance/Marker Lights

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 69538
Steve,

It is not easy. I have replaced many of my lights as well. I found using a plastic scrapper and 3M Sealant & Adhesive Cleaner to be the only solution that worked for me. You will fine the 3M cleaner at an automotive paint supply or a NAPA store. Use the plastic scrapper and clean as much off as you can using it. Then put the cleaner on a rag to remove the residual. Be careful using acetone, it can damage the paint.
Not sure what you planning to use in putting the lights back on. The original sealant that CC used was a Dow Corning 733 clear. It is UV resistant and will hold up better than most.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511