2016 Durango SXT: can the tail light assembly be worked on instead of replacing the whole thing? Just figured after 5 years that someone has done this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Durango2016
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2016 Durango SXT: can the tail light assembly be worked on instead of replacing the whole thing? Just figured after 5 years that someone has done this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Yes....
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Just use the search box at the top and search for Racetrack Repair. You'll find some threads about how to do it.
Awehlage: I have been waiting for two weeks for someone to approve my entry into that group. I get Nada, zip, zilch.
Awehlage: I have been waiting for two weeks for someone to approve my entry into that group. I get Nada, zip, zilch.
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rbepic4gATgmailDOTcom
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Moderator asked if you answered all the questions? Maybe try again...
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It turns out I only answered the first question and it wasn't obvious that I had to scroll down for two more questions.
I'm making an attempt to repair my liftgate race track light on my 2014 Limited. Yesterday, I successfully separated the lens from the housing using a Dremel tool with a plastic cutting disc. I got a pretty clean cut, and I will clean up the edge of the housing with a light sanding before epoxy the lens back to it, and then run a silicone bed around the outisde edge to try to keep the water out (second and third pictures are before initial cleanup). The lower left and right LED sections are burned out as usual based on water buildup in the housing. The lower left shows litlte damage other than some corrosion on the contacts, but the lower right is really mangled. I have ordered a waterproof 30' LED RGB Strip light from Amazon and I'm going replace the entire light track top and bottom and splice it into the wiring harness rather than try to splice in new sections for the burned out pieces. I think I'll try to hot glue the new lights over the old. They are obscured from view so they don't have to look cosmetically perfect. If that goes well I'll JB weld the lens back to the housing and reinstall.
![113835]( "113835")
![113836]( "113836")
![113837]( "113837")
Are those BURN or SCORTCH marks on the inner white housing? That seems like a serious concern if there is that much heat being generated when these things fail. That certainly looks like a concern for Dodge and/or NHTSA to me. It's one thing to say a few LEDs aren't working. It's another to say they are getting hot enough to burn plastic like that. Eesh.
I can't say for sure whether it melted (it sure looks like it is) or if it's just corrosion from the board being waterlogged, but that section is certainly jacked up. I'm goint to sand that part and use some plastic friendly spray paint to recolor it. I'm not sure why that would happen - my kids have these type of lights in their rooms and they are reallly low voltage and wattage.
But this tail light is certaily not designed well, and I can't imagine why they can't make them waterproof, or at least make them less susceptible to water entering.
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That looks like quite an ordeal,but would love to know how you make out with this. Was wondering if the tail light itself can be split like that.( lens from bucket ). I’m sure someone has attempted that? Maybe?
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What LED strip are you using to replace? Was told to use this product to prevent water (even if it enters the housing) from shorting out the LEDs. If mine ever go out (knock on wood) I will be repairing myself if warranty does not cover it.
MG Chemicals 419D Premium Acrylic Conformal Coating, Clear Finish, 12 oz. Aerosol MG Chemicals 419D Premium Acrylic Conformal Coating, Clear Finish, 12 oz. Aerosol: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
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I ordered these, they are waterproof - the light strip has a bead of clear coating (sort of like plasti dip) over the lights and electronics.
I'm not sure why Dodge did not use something similar. Instead, they used a bunch of segmented circuit boards with no waterproofing, and then soldered each section together with short wire pigtails. So they're prone to failure if water enters, and may also fail at the solder points over time.
I just need to check that the light spacing and luminosity is similar. I will power up both sets and make sure they are similar.
I can't wait to see how this turns out I'm embarrassed to drive around other Dodge's when my taillight looks like it was made by kia with all the segments burnt out.
Today I cleaned up and painted the white insert. It took the paint well and there is no longer any visible scorching or discoloration of the plastic.
I received the lights from Amazon. I compared them to another set that I had lying around, and against the ones that were originally in the assembly. Although this picture doesn't show it, the ones Dodge sourced are considerably brighter. I was hoping that the denser light layout on the ones I bought would even things out, but I'm not so sure.
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I put the ones I got today in the housing to see how they look. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference if I set them to red or white, once the lens is in place they look pretty similar. I am going to order a few more sets, one red only, and one white only, and try to find the brightest ones I can get.
According to this video, 5630 LED's are the brightest out there, but I can't seem to find a ribbon set that uses them. The ones I got today are 5050's.,
Later tonight I'll carry the assembly outside and compare the color and brightness to the tail lights, perhaps they'll be close enough to use.
White:
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Red:
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I received the lights from Amazon. I compared them to another set that I had lying around, and against the ones that were originally in the assembly. Although this picture doesn't show it, the ones Dodge sourced are considerably brighter. I was hoping that the denser light layout on the ones I bought would even things out, but I'm not so sure.
I put the ones I got today in the housing to see how they look. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference if I set them to red or white, once the lens is in place they look pretty similar. I am going to order a few more sets, one red only, and one white only, and try to find the brightest ones I can get.
According to this video, 5630 LED's are the brightest out there, but I can't seem to find a ribbon set that uses them. The ones I got today are 5050's.,
Later tonight I'll carry the assembly outside and compare the color and brightness to the tail lights, perhaps they'll be close enough to use.
White:
Red:
My repair
www.dodgedurango.net
Repair the race track light and how it works
This failure by Dodge to supply the correct gasket thickness and material has created issues with the tail light partially failing . If it completely failed there is a good chance the the NHTSA would force a recall but for most its just sections that burn out. Not knowing how it was made I...
www.dodgedurango.net
Thanks, Cambo, I actually was looking at your post yesterday. One of the light sets I ordered is the one you are using, it seems like a pretty good candidate.My repair
Repair the race track light and how it works
This failure by Dodge to supply the correct gasket thickness and material has created issues with the tail light partially failing . If it completely failed there is a good chance the the NHTSA would force a recall but for most its just sections that burn out. Not knowing how it was made I...
2014 Durango SXT Plus RWD 3.6L White Knuckle--2018 Durango SXT AWD 3.6L Granite Crystal Anodized Pkg
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I like the red.
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