Did something stupid yesterday

[belfert]

One of the my red LED clearance lights quit working.  I didn't have another red one so I used an orange LED one instead.  Since the plastic covers are colored I guess I thought the LEDs were white.  It turns out the orange light has orange LEDs instead of white ones.  Now the light has an reddish orange look to it.  I guess it is better to have something than a non-working light.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Depends on the officer that stops you.

One may think a burned out clearance light is okay as stuff happens and you may get a warning, while putting on the wrong colored lens is a violation of DOT rules and may get you a ticket.  Always carry a box of doughnuts just in case. 

[belfert]

I have the right color lens, but the LEDs under the lens are the wrong color.  Maybe I would be better off just cutting the wire to the light.  I don't think I will have time to get another light tonight.

[gumpy]

I wouldn't worry about it. I ran for about 8 years with all my clearance lights burned out. No problems. Never got stopped. I replaced them all this year.

[chessie4905]

You could temporarily cover the lens with that transparent red tape used to repair broken tail light lenses.

[scanzel]

I ran my bus around for the last 5 plus years with no front or rear clearance lights, finally painted the front roof area this year and put all new ones on. Still need to do the rears and paint the rear cap. Never ran it at night so maybe I lucked out on getting stopped.

[Jon]

I'm kind of amazed that running around without the proper lighting is characterized as not a big deal. If the stuff people can see is inoperative I can only imagine what such pesky things like brakes are like.

[gumpy]

I'm kind of amazed that running around without the proper lighting is characterized as not a big deal. If the stuff people can see is inoperative I can only imagine what such pesky things like brakes are like.

What are brakes?  Did my bus come with them? 


For crying out loud, we're talking about clearance lights here. Don't make wild assumptions about non-related mechanical stuff which you know nothing about.

[Stormcloud]

I replaced all the taillight bulbs on my S10 truck (one of the toads) as one of the previous owners had installed amber bulbs in every socket. Amber shining through a red lens does give a slightly different glow, and they are way better with standard white bulbs.

[Tony LEE]

I'm kind of amazed that running around without the proper lighting is characterized as not a big deal. If the stuff people can see is inoperative I can only imagine what such pesky things like brakes are like.

Not really an issue. My MC8 even with the very modest number of top and bottom lights and side reflectors common for that era, still has about 3 times more lights than is required by the regulations.  And anyway, who ever drives at night.

[digesterman]

It would bug the hell out of me if even one of my bulbs wasn't working

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

As I understand the law in CA, it doesn't matter how many lights are on the new model buses, every light that came on the model bus you are driving must be on there and must work. You can't just inadvertently remove a light like I wanted to do when I had a real hassle trying to run new wiring to my starboard mid-ship light and almost gave up.  Other states may have other laws. But I too, like all of my lights working as I want everyone to see me at night.

[belfert]

I stopped at Fleet Farm this evening and bought a new proper red LED clearance light.  It took all of about 20 minutes to replace and now all of my lights work again and are the right color. 

I have spent many thousands of dollars on fixing my brakes over the years.  Everything was new in 2006 except the brake chambers and some of the slack adjusters.  Slack adjusters and brake chambers have been replaced in the past five years.  I have the brakes checked every year.  I have never said no to any needed brake repairs.

[belfert]

As I understand the law in CA, it doesn't matter how many lights are on the new model buses, every light that came on the model bus you are driving must be on there and must work. You can't just inadvertently remove a light like I wanted to do when I had a real hassle trying to run new wiring to my starboard mid-ship light and almost gave up.  Other states may have other laws. But I too, like all of my lights working as I want everyone to see me at night.

I quit using the original brake/tail/turn signals at the rear of my bus because the bulbs randomly lost connection in the sockets.  I replaced them with LED lights mounted in a different spot.  I covered the original lights with sign vinyl that matches the color of bus because I had heard that any visible lights need to be working even if you have the legally required lights.

[bobofthenorth]

What Jon said X 2.

Jon's brother John Law can't stop every vehicle on the road.  Why run around with a sign saying "STOP ME!"  Not to mention that clearance lights are a safety issue.