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License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

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Old 05-17-2011, 07:39 PM
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Default License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

Is there some type of resistor that the same size as the bulb that I can install to keep the "bulb out" light from illuminating on the dash. I couldn't care less if the tag lights are actually working, so this my be a cheap fix for problem.
 
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Old 05-17-2011, 08:22 PM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

Solder? I had the exact same issue...
 
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Old 05-17-2011, 09:00 PM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

Originally Posted by Montana Crossfire
Solder? I had the exact same issue...
I don't follow please elaborate.
 
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Old 05-18-2011, 07:57 PM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

Anyone else go through this?
 
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Old 05-18-2011, 08:49 PM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

I had the same situation with my Blaze Red Limited and am beginning to have it on the SRT.
Being it has been over 3 years the method is hazy but as I remember I soldered a wire to each end of the bulb and soldered them to the brass/copper contacts. I knew if I ever needed to change the bulbs it would take several minutes longer with the soldering gun to reproduce.
As I remember I tried to bend the contact points but the way they held the bulb in the lens made the bend impossible. Like I said I am going to have to do the same or something simular to my SRT which everytime I have a bulb out light it is the right licence plate bulb.
Mike
 
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Old 05-18-2011, 08:59 PM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

Here's something that just happened to me yesterday. A friend accidently slamed my hatch and I imediently got a bulb out light. Ive canbus bulbs from factorykiss as lic plate bulbs that have been working great up until now. The funny thing is, both both are lit but I think something came loose somewhere.

Can I solder canbus bulbs in like you mentioned to keep them more secure?
 
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Old 05-19-2011, 01:45 AM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

Originally Posted by Montana Crossfire
Every time I have a bulb out light (on my SRT) it is the right license plate bulb.
Originally Posted by green-ghost
A friend accidentally slammed my hatch and I immediately got a bulb out light. Ive canbus bulbs from factorykiss as license plate bulbs that have been working great up until now. The funny thing is, both both are lit but I think something came loose somewhere.
FWIW, my right light is out, too. There could be a design flaw in the right license plate bulb or wires.

When I buy my replacement bulbs, I will do so from a vendor on this continent
 
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Old 05-19-2011, 09:31 AM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

I had the same thing happen to my Canbus LED's in the hatch. One of the electrodes actually came off and I purchased new one and they've been a lot better.

I ended up with these ones and found them a much better quality:

2pcs(1 pair) canbus error free 6418 36mm smd led bulbs on eBay.ca (item 270593927092 end time 09-Jun-11 17:45:21 EDT)

They look great and are shipped from the US.
 
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Old 05-20-2011, 11:12 AM
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Default Re: License plate bulbs keep blowing. :(

I had a set of those US-shipped "canbus compatible" license plate lights as well (chose them over FactoryKiss because I'm impatient and wanted them fast!) and my right went out last week - intermittent "bulb out" light combined with intermittent weird flickering. I ordered some FactoryKiss lights and when they show up in a few weeks, I'll take everything apart and try to identify the failure condition that killed mine.

Supposedly some people have issue with water getting into the license plate light area, and covering the exposed sides of the light with packing tape helps - others have also mentioned voltage spikes blowing the regulators, which sounds less likely (as regulators are designed to be decently robust) but still plausible (in which case the solution would be a better voltage regulator / LED driver).

It's interesting that it tends to be the right side that goes - I haven't noticed a difference between my R and L lamps or enclosures, but my R was the first to go out...
 
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