LED Roof Lights

[SShafranko]

I installed the Recon LED roof lights 2 years ago. I caulked the bottom of the light housing and the screw holes very well. I have had moisture in every single light since i intalled them. Now one of the lights is dead. Aren't LED's suppose to last a gizillion hours? I guess that is why the $59 dollar price tag. Anyway i opened it up and you cannot change the bulb you have to change the entire light. So i have to purchase the kit and reinstall every light again? Yea OK! I think i will be going back to the halogen set up and maybe replace the bulb with a LED bulb. What do you all think?

 

[Mobius1]

I bought the cab clearence lights as a add on option. They have been fine since I installed them. I had to drill 15 holes (3 for each light) And i sealed the base of each clearence light and the screw holes. HAve not had a drop of water or anything get underneath. I just recently had to remove a light cause the bulb had popped.



Other than that they have been great. I think the led bulb would work fine for you

 

[AWise]

I also have the Recon cab lights and I also had to drill 15 holes to install since my truck didn't come with the factory cab lights. I do not have any leaks into the cab even at the car wash, but my lights have moisture in them and I KNOW it didn't come from underneath the lights as I coated the bottom with sealer before installing. I think the "sealed" LED lights are not sealed as tight as they claim and after a year or so they let the moisture in. While I love the look of my lights I am disappointed in the quality of the product, I expected more form a $100 set of lights...

 

[SShafranko]

I also have the Recon cab lights and I also had to drill 15 holes to install since my truck didn't come with the factory cab lights. I do not have any leaks into the cab even at the car wash, but my lights have moisture in them and I KNOW it didn't come from underneath the lights as I coated the bottom with sealer before installing. I think the "sealed" LED lights are not sealed as tight as they claim and after a year or so they let the moisture in. While I love the look of my lights I am disappointed in the quality of the product, I expected more form a $100 set of lights...

I do waterproofing for a living. When i tell you i sealed those lights i really sealed them. The moisture is coming from somwhere else probably around the plastic. If you go crazy sealing the entire assembly you could probably resolve the moisture issue. Did the light blow because of the moisture? Why did you drill so many holes? I did not have factory lights either and i drilled one hole for each light and tapped into the factory roof light harness in the pillar.

 

[AWise]

I do waterproofing for a living. When i tell you i sealed those lights i really sealed them. The moisture is coming from somwhere else probably around the plastic. If you go crazy sealing the entire assembly you could probably resolve the moisture issue. Did the light blow because of the moisture? Why did you drill so many holes? I did not have factory lights either and i drilled one hole for each light and tapped into the factory roof light harness in the pillar.

I drilled 3 holes for each light, 1 for the wires and 2 screw holes. I tapped into the harness in the pillar as well. I haven't had any of might lights fail yet and hope they don't anytime soon as it will be a pain to get them off.

I think the moisture gets in where the top lens is "sealed" to the base. I imagine after being in the hot sun and cold winters they flex and the joint comes apart just enough to let moisture in. It looked like the weakest point to me when I was installing them.

 

[SShafranko]

I'm sorry i wasn't thinking. I also drilled for each screw which makes it 15 holes. Dah You are right about the plastic cover joint. When i took my screws off the plastic top came off without prying very easily. I guess you could seal that joint also actually you probably should seal it when installing the lights. My kit also did not come with rubber washers for the screws and my friend's did. Go figure.

 

[fluemasterjr]

I replaced my factory lights with the recon kit due to a leaking roof. that was about 2 years ago and now have 2 light that are burnt out and 1 that flashes on and off. Any one know where to get led's?? i think it is a 196 bulb my locale part stores cant get them.

 

[Gene Heck]

I had a similar problem with moisture in my cab lights on my 96 after I bought it. A couple of the lenses had moisture in them. The lights were add on oems by the previous owner but the shop that installed them kinda butched the wiring (cut real short) but they work. What I did to stop the moisture was to use dielectric grease to help seal the lenses and gaskets to the roof and I went to the local True Value and got stainless screws as my original screws were rusted pretty bad. I think that because the screws are recessed down into the lenses body which leaves a little pocket or "well" that they hold moisture and winter road salt and started rusting letting the moisture in. Luckily I got this in time as a few of the screw shanks were probably 1/2 of their original diameter due to rusting. I also filled the screw holes with dielectric grease before putting the SS screws in and then put the grease flush to the top of the screw hole after the screws were tightened. That was probably 3 yrs ago I guess and I haven't had any moisture since then. I know that when the time comes for a bulb replacement that the screws won't be a problem now.

 

[THorn]

Just a side note. I had a bulb go out on my factory clearance (cab) lights. I bought a set of LED replacement bulbs off e-bay. Installed them with a generous amount of di-electric grease and have had no problems. I will be slowing replacing ALL non driving/fog lights with LED replacement bulbs as they go out. I have learned from wiring (and re-wiring) boat trailers over the years that nothing is better then the LEDs and of course, a good ground!

 

[Yo Hoot]

I just bought the Chrysler upgraded replacement cablights. These are the ones that come with gaskets. $13 each. I think I'll put led bulbs in them.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I too have the Recon's, they leak where the lens seals to the base, the rubber washers are shot from UV exposure in less than 6 months, overall a poor quality product. They look nice and so on, but the cheap Chinese quality just isn't there. If someone made a quality OEM style lens that was clear, you would have a good light by just adding amber LED's, the two piece design of the Recon's is just a poor design.



I notice all of the 2010 HD photos appear to have clear lenses, I am hoping that retrofitting those on the older trucks will be a quality solution.



196 LED bulbs are readily available, that isn't a problem.

 

[SShafranko]

I think i am going to order another set, replace the dead one, and seal all covers with a urethane sealer and see if that keeps the moisture out. This way i will have four replacements sitting on the shelf.

 

[SShafranko]

Took apart the lens from the housing and siliconed the entire thing. Two days later moisture in every light again. I give up. I thing that condensation is the cause somehow, and i don't have the time to do the research for Recon. Three of us have the same problem.



I found another set of lights made by Putco which are considerably more expensive than the Recon lights to the tune of $140. 00. Has anyone tryed these and are they constructed any better than the Recon plastic lights?

 

[SWithrow]

I do waterproofing for a living. When i tell you i sealed those lights i really sealed them. The moisture is coming from somwhere else probably around the plastic. If you go crazy sealing the entire assembly you could probably resolve the moisture issue. Did the light blow because of the moisture? Why did you drill so many holes? I did not have factory lights either and i drilled one hole for each light and tapped into the factory roof light harness in the pillar.

I pulled my recon lights off because of the moister and leaking problem. The lights are a two part unit (Base and lens) that is where the leaking is coming from. Recon did not use enough sealant on the lens.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Took apart the lens from the housing and siliconed the entire thing. Two days later moisture in every light again. I give up. I thing that condensation is the cause somehow, and i don't have the time to do the research for Recon. Three of us have the same problem.



I found another set of lights made by Putco which are considerably more expensive than the Recon lights to the tune of $140. 00. Has anyone tryed these and are they constructed any better than the Recon plastic lights?

Just a guess, but maybe the moisture is coming from a completely different place. . . the CHMSL as well as rear window seal often leak or let water seep in, and the moisture could be migrating to your lamps from there. As an experiment you could pop the lights out then seal plastic over each hole and see if it gets condensation on it during the night.

 

[SShafranko]

Its very possible although i did check everything and haven't found any sign of moisture anywhere. I will look again. Thanks

 

[rholcom2]

Replace Lens and LEDs

So, it sounds that the synopsis is to buy the Factory Part (Part # 55077559AD). If LED's are desired then replace the 196 bulbs with LED's. Has anyone used the wedge style replacement LED's at Super Bright LEDs - Miniature Wedge Base Bulbs? I am curious to know any and all feedback.

 

[SWithrow]

So, it sounds that the synopsis is to buy the Factory Part (Part # 55077559AD). If LED's are desired then replace the 196 bulbs with LED's. Has anyone used the wedge style replacement LED's at Super Bright LEDs - Miniature Wedge Base Bulbs? I am curious to know any and all feedback.

Don't waist your money, they burn out slowly and by the end of the first year only two of mine were working. I went back to the standard bulbs.

 

[rholcom2]

Type of Sealant

Don't waist your money, they burn out slowly and by the end of the first year only two of mine were working. I went back to the standard bulbs.

Yes, I prefer to only do things once. So, I will steer clear of the LED's and opt for the incandescent bulbs. I have the new lenses and gaskets on order. Would you suggest the use of this Permatex Clear RTV Silicone Sealant? The Permatex brands seem to be the "run of the mill" sealers and readily available.

 

[SWithrow]

Yes, I prefer to only do things once. So, I will steer clear of the LED's and opt for the incandescent bulbs. I have the new lenses and gaskets on order. Would you suggest the use of this Permatex Clear RTV Silicone Sealant? The Permatex brands seem to be the "run of the mill" sealers and readily available.

I have a new set of stock clearance lights on my truck without any sealant, also i drove it through a high pressure car wash at least 10 times and no leaks. If your nylon inserts are worn (I screwed my old lights down too tight and messed up the two nylon nuts that pop into the roof. ) they are super easy to replace.