Cab light blow out!! Help!

[bigtruck94]

I was driving and it was raining and one of my lights blew out. I doubt it's the bulb because it's sealed up pretty good. I don't know of it's the wiring or if a little rain got into it? any ideas?

 

[97RangerXLT]

What do you mean "blew out" did it just quit working? the bulb explode? the kerosene lantern that you had duct taped to the front of the vehicle went out becuase of the wind?

If the bulb just went out, it is probably just that: the bulb died (your truck is 20 years old if it is the 94 in your profile). If it exploded, maybe a drop of water hit it from a bad seal or crack in the lens. Or if it is a recent replacement and if you touched the bulb with your bare fingers, the oils on your fingers can cause them to just explode. be careful when installing them, if you touch them wipe them off with some alcohol before putting them into the fixture.

AJ

 

[Scrambler82]

Pull the bulbs, check to see if they are good.
If blow out filaments then maybe just old bulbs or cheap ones, sometimes you will need a multimeter to check if the filament is good.
If the bulbs are good and still no light then maybe the grounding system went to he!!, wet conditions can cause it, especially under pressure from the driving.
Use a meter or lighted probe and see if power is there and if the ground is good.
After that replace all bulbs (if applicable) with LED type bulbs and reseal all of the housings.

Post what you find.

 

[bigtruck94]

I don't know. I'll just take the light off and take a look at it. If it isn't the bulb, would I have to replace the whole light?

 

[Scrambler82]

That is basicly what you have to do.
Look and see what is wrong and then if you find nothing you need to look deeper.

As far as replacing the light housing, all depends on what is wrong.
Sometimes it might just be a bad wire connection, sometimes the mounting for the socket is bad.
Again wait and see what you find out about the light once you take it apart and then post your findings.

 

[bigtruck94]

The light mount was loose. I'm assuming some water crawled into it and maybe screwed the bulb up or the wiring. I'll keep all of you updated.

 

[bigtruck94]

I found out it wasn't the bulb. The light is still good though. I unscrewed the upper insulation and I think I might of found the problem. The splice connector that is holding the two wires together is cracked. Do you thin I need to splice it again or????

 

[johnday]

Is that your headlight you're talking about? If so, what is the Ttap being used for? I don't think the "crack" would affect much, but the connection itself may be faulty. Myself, I'd use a better method than the Ttap, soldering, and then insulating with liquid tape would be a good way to do it. I don't trust Ttaps, I've seen too many connections with them that failed. If possible, a weather resistant, read that heat shrink, butt connector would a good one as well.

 

[bigtruck94]

Is that your headlight you're talking about? If so, what is the Ttap being used for? I don't think the "crack" would affect much, but the connection itself may be faulty. Myself, I'd use a better method than the Ttap, soldering, and then insulating with liquid tape would be a good way to do it. I don't trust Ttaps, I've seen too many connections with them that failed. If possible, a weather resistant, read that heat shrink, butt connector would a good one as well.

No my cab lights. All of them are spliced. If you look in the pic, there isn't any moisture inside, so it's not the weather really.

 

[Scrambler82]

bigtruck94

Get rid of any T-Taps you can find in the area and solder everything.

You may have found your problem with damaged connections or at least one problem.

Best bet is to solder all connections and use Heat Shrink that has adhesive inside so it will seal up the connection.

Check the power coming to the lights, if all is OK there then decide if you want to redo all of the connections.

Start with the first light making sure to add the heat shrink to the wire before joining and soldering.
Wrap the wires together getting a good mechanical bond then solder it, heating from the bottom until the solder can flow in from the top and do not over heat the solder joint.
Don’t over heat the heat shrink either but make sure you can see the adhesive coming out the ends.

Also, make sure all connections are cleaned up and all lights are working, shake the wiring a little to make sure they all have good connections… then shrink the Heat Shrink.

Don’t mean to imply that you do not know how to solder just my background in Quality Assurance coming out.

Rewire it, that way future problems will be eliminated.

 

[bigtruck94]

That is an another thought I had. I will try that!

 

[bigtruck94]

UPDATE
I replaced the whole light and rewired it. While I was working on that, I also wired a switch to it. Works better than ever! Thanks guys!