Tail Lights question

[ChiefRudy]

Well this morning on my way home from my girlfriends.... My girlfriend was trailing behind me going to her job and noticed my center tail light was out.

So I got two questions...

One. Do KJs like to eat tail light bulbs? This is gonna be my 2nd rear light replacement on a 2 year old jeep.

Two. Is the center light the same bulb as the other two rear brake lights?
I've already replaced on of them and have extras and I didn't look at it yet because it's to cold out here :-(

Thanks guys!!!

UPDATE:

I sat here eating and realized of course it wouldn't be the same bulb for center rear. So my question is What is the part number for the center rear bulb? I hate looking through those books at the Auto parts store. Thanks!!

 

[JeepJeepster]

Look through the books..

Never had a blown bulb on my 04..

 

[ChiefRudy]

Look through the books..

Never had a blown bulb on my 04..

Must be nice to have never blown a bulb yet


Well thats what I'll be doing. I'm heading out now to buy the my stuff.

 

[hyde]

921 bulb. We just discussed this on another topic.
I replaced my tails 3 times in 5 years. It is my first time replacing 3rd brake (center) lamp.

http://jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37204

 

[ChiefRudy]

Thanks for the info. I got my bulb already. They got rid of the book and put a computer in. I like them A lot better... until some jerk off comes along and breaks it

 

[JeepJeepster]

I would say it depends on what type of driving you do. I drive in the city a lot but most of my miles are on the hw.

hyedipin probably uses the brakes a heck of a lot more than I do since hes in NYC.

 

[ChiefRudy]

I do like a 50/50 of highway and City Driving.

 

[hyde]

I am waiting for my fogs to go out, so a fog replacement topic should become handy soon...

 

[jnaut]

Well this morning on my way home from my girlfriends.... My girlfriend was trailing behind me going to her job and noticed my center tail light was out.

So I got two questions...

One. Do KJs like to eat tail light bulbs? This is gonna be my 2nd rear light replacement on a 2 year old jeep.

I lost my center tail bulb twice in the first year I owned it, haven't lost the third one in the three years since. So, who knows what was going on in that first year.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

My sister has been driving for 3 years on the same CHMSL bulb. Her previous car had a LED strip for the CHMSL.

In 4 years I've replaced 4 CHMSL bulbs. Doesn't make sense... Glad I have an LED CHMSL now...

 

[Ry' N Jen]

We are the second owner of our 2004 Sport and according to the service records I am the first to replace the CHMSL.(unless the previous owner replaced it themselves, but I doubt it very much as this was a lease return with full documentation.)
I did notice however that the light housing is very discoloured from heat and has slight melting around the edge where the bulb receptical plugs into the housing.

I see several KJ's driving around town with the same bulb burnt out and one which I/we see on a regular basis is always being driven with an operator who likes to ride their brake pedal!
In all seriousness, I think that the electrical system puts out a little too much power for that circuit, but only intermittently.
Next time mine burns out, I'll be replacing with an L.E.D. 921 multi bulb.

 

[jnaut]

I see several KJ's driving around town with the same bulb burnt out and one which I/we see on a regular basis is always being driven with an operator who likes to ride their brake pedal!
In all seriousness, I think that the electrical system puts out a little too much power for that circuit, but only intermittently.
Next time mine burns out, I'll be replacing with an L.E.D. 921 multi bulb.

Word. I think there's a design issue with that circuit, wiring, receptacle. I can't remember if I bought a 921LL (long life) when I replaced mine the second time. I believe the first time the dealer did it, then when the second burned out, I did it. LIke I say, it's been good for the three years after that, so who knows.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Word. I think there's a design issue with that circuit, wiring, receptacle. I can't remember if I bought a 921LL (long life) when I replaced mine the second time. I believe the first time the dealer did it, then when the second burned out, I did it. LIke I say, it's been good for the three years after that, so who knows.

I always replaced mine with the 921LL.... that didn't work either. Maybe I just have REALLY BAD LUCK with 921s?

 

[Ry' N Jen]

I can't remember the last time I saw a bulb not made in some part of Asia.
That's probably the reason they blow, or suck!

 

[Marlon_JB2]

I can't remember the last time I saw a bulb not made in some part of Asia.
That's probably the reason they blow, or suck!

Heh. Funnies.

Sometimes I wonder if Canadians are more "American" overall than actual Americans!

 

[ChiefRudy]

I am waiting for my fogs to go out, so a fog replacement topic should become handy soon...

Well i'm 1/2 way there. I'm not sure if the dealership replaced the bulbs too but I had both fog lamps replaced b/c I was getting water inside of them.

 

[liv42dy]

Life of the bulbs are about the same in all vehicles, statistics state that it all depends on the type of driving you do and how often you use the old break pedal. Most of the folks that engage in city driving and stop and go the bulbs loose their life rapidly. also the over use of your old pedal on a regular basis will blow ot the tail lamps. the bulb itself becomes hotter using the second filament for the stop light thus burning quicker. Has nothing to do with the electrical system. If you were having issues with power surges on the 12 volt system...wich would never happen you would need to worry about bigger problems. the PCM controls it and if it did happen it would shut itself down. Just some logical input

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Life of the bulbs are about the same in all vehicles, statistics state that it all depends on the type of driving you do and how often you use the old break pedal. Most of the folks that engage in city driving and stop and go the bulbs loose their life rapidly. also the over use of your old pedal on a regular basis will blow ot the tail lamps. the bulb itself becomes hotter using the second filament for the stop light thus burning quicker. Has nothing to do with the electrical system. If you were having issues with power surges on the 12 volt system...wich would never happen you would need to worry about bigger problems. the PCM controls it and if it did happen it would shut itself down. Just some logical input

I won't say there's a CHMSL issue in the KJ, but...

2 of my CHMSL replacements were with a Dodge... pretty much once every 6 months. That also doesn't explain my cousin's on her 2nd as well after 9 months... with the same car.... and the two dealerships admitting there is a problem with this particular vehicle that they don't know how to resolve.

So it depends I think... driving style certainly has something to do with it, but it may be the vehicle itself. My mom has a '01 Kia... all of the bulbs other than the headlights are original.

Now, moving on... , I think the KJers should see how much modification it takes to fit the KK's LED CHMSL.

 

[jnaut]

Life of the bulbs are about the same in all vehicles, statistics state that it all depends on the type of driving you do and how often you use the old break pedal. Most of the folks that engage in city driving and stop and go the bulbs loose their life rapidly. also the over use of your old pedal on a regular basis will blow ot the tail lamps. the bulb itself becomes hotter using the second filament for the stop light thus burning quicker. Has nothing to do with the electrical system. If you were having issues with power surges on the 12 volt system...wich would never happen you would need to worry about bigger problems. the PCM controls it and if it did happen it would shut itself down. Just some logical input

The only problem I have with this logic is then statistically, all of your taillights should have roughly the same life 'average'. Anecdotally speaking, I did less city/stop/start driving in the first year I owned my jeep, when I lost two 3rd tail lamps. The last three years have been heavy stop and go driving-- almost all city, and it's lasted me the whole time.

It's definitely logical to assume the more on/off/constant on your bulb suffers, the faster it'll burn out. But considering I've driven other cars for longer under tougher circumstances and never changed a bulb, I'm still leaning towards an "issue" with the 3rd brake light. But again, my case is anecdotal and as I stated before, I don't know what bulbs the dealer used on the first two swaps. Hard to say.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Heh. Funnies.

Sometimes I wonder if Canadians are more "American" overall than actual Americans!

I consider it this way. I am North American!
While I lived in Europe, that's all the locals called me!

As far as vehicle electrics is concerned, I have noticed that 9 out of 10 Chevy Silverado pick-ups and their GMC labeled version have the drivers side day time running light burnt out. I have spoken to a few people with these trucks and they all say it's a bloody nuisance and they are tired of going back to the dealer to have them replaced. (under warranty, non-warranty)
But in GMC's case it's probably their "Planned obsolescence" they introduced in 1969 with the Impala.