Life expectancy of LED indicator light strip?
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 356
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From: Leicestershire, UK
RE: Life expectancy of LED indicator light strip?
ORIGINAL: jerryassburger
...some moron jabbed something through the little lenses over the LEDs!
...some moron jabbed something through the little lenses over the LEDs!
Interestingly, I washed my bike yesterday and the neutral light started working, albeit only dimly and flickering. It's stopped working again now. Forecast is for possible rain showers on my drive home tonight, so maybe by the time I get home it might have got wet enough to work again. The other LEDs in the strip workOK and are unaffected by whatever is affecting the neutral indicator.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Life expectancy of LED indicator light strip?
ORIGINAL: Simon UK
Sounds like you must have been parked in a classy neighbourhood. Or did one of your own neighbours object to your loud pipes?!
Interestingly, I washed my bike yesterday and the neutral light started working, albeit only dimly and flickering. It's stopped working again now. Forecast is for possible rain showers on my drive home tonight, so maybe by the time I get home it might have got wet enough to work again. The other LEDs in the strip workOK and are unaffected by whatever is affecting the neutral indicator.
ORIGINAL: jerryassburger
...some moron jabbed something through the little lenses over the LEDs!
...some moron jabbed something through the little lenses over the LEDs!
Interestingly, I washed my bike yesterday and the neutral light started working, albeit only dimly and flickering. It's stopped working again now. Forecast is for possible rain showers on my drive home tonight, so maybe by the time I get home it might have got wet enough to work again. The other LEDs in the strip workOK and are unaffected by whatever is affecting the neutral indicator.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 356
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From: Leicestershire, UK
RE: Life expectancy of LED indicator light strip?
ORIGINAL: cHarley
In that case, it sounds like you may have a bad connection problem, not a bad LED.
In that case, it sounds like you may have a bad connection problem, not a bad LED.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 356
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From: Leicestershire, UK
RE: Life expectancy of LED indicator light strip?
Well, the replacement LED unit was on back-order so it took four weeks before it arrived at the dealership. It is now fitted and, so far, working. The dealership did replace it under the warranty, so credit to Thames Valley H-D for doing that and not trying to tell me I had to pay for it.
Now I'll just wait for the next time I ride in the rain or wash the bike to see if it goes wrong again.
Now I'll just wait for the next time I ride in the rain or wash the bike to see if it goes wrong again.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
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From:
My OIL LED did the same thing - I have the LED strip also. I bend/twist the circuit board a bit, and it lights intermittantly.
I have an extended service plan and I expect to have it covered; if not, I'll insist on it. It's not a "bulb" - it's an electrical component. Glad to know the cost, though - it's about what I'd figured for a PCB, 5 LEDs and some other surface-mount components, and the associated harnesses.
I'll hear back on Wednesday about it.
I have an extended service plan and I expect to have it covered; if not, I'll insist on it. It's not a "bulb" - it's an electrical component. Glad to know the cost, though - it's about what I'd figured for a PCB, 5 LEDs and some other surface-mount components, and the associated harnesses.
I'll hear back on Wednesday about it.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
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From:
As a followup... The Extended Service Plan WILL cover replacement. This is apparently not too rare, as on the XL forum there are a couple of folks having issues with the LED strip. My dealer says 2-3 days to get the part - so not that many are failing.
If I were not under warranty, I would try re-melting the solder connecting the appropriate wires to the circuit board. Sometimes a void/bubble forms when being soldered, and what looks like a good connection may not be. Paint a bit of flux on the connection, then re-melt. This may not work, but it's worth a try.
If I were not under warranty, I would try re-melting the solder connecting the appropriate wires to the circuit board. Sometimes a void/bubble forms when being soldered, and what looks like a good connection may not be. Paint a bit of flux on the connection, then re-melt. This may not work, but it's worth a try.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
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From: Nashville, TN
I know the warranty doesn't cover bulbs but LED's are a different animal and your case is worth fighting for if necessary. The life expectancy for an LED is on the order of 10+ years with constant use. When it could be replaced as a single "bulb" that was not a big deal, but if it is now an assembly that's a different case. If the dealer can't cover it under warranty, I would protest loudly to the MoCo.
I've replaced 2 of the little individual bulbs. Very easy to replace, and cost about $3.00
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
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Hi Simon, I think the led strips' problem comes from the bad ciurcuit connection. The led strip consists of groups of leds in parallal. Even some leds are affected by bad outer condition, but other leds still work. It shouldn't be a bad led. Why not choose some water-proof and shock-proofled strip lights *_*
Tks,
David
Tks,
David
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Elyria, OH
I have an led taillight on my 02. And a few of the leds quit working. Turned out that the whole circuit board didn't get covered with the epoxy and the solder points corroded. I resoldered the leds with jumper wires to a good point on the trace and covered with epoxy. I would suspect you have a similar issue. Remove the strip and inspect it. If you can't do it, someone who repairs electronics stuff should be able to repair it. Once you have it fixed, get your wife's favorite color of finger nail polish and paint over the whole board. That should seal out moisture from messing it up again.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 375
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From: Jackson NJ
I had the same problem with an 07. The neutral LED no longer works but all the others continue to work. I got the same response from the dealer. Expensive item and not covered under the warranty.
I dont think its a LED issue, but suspect that its a circuit board problem. Replacing the whole unit is the likely best solution. I've thought about replacing it but have actually learned to live with it.
I dont think its a LED issue, but suspect that its a circuit board problem. Replacing the whole unit is the likely best solution. I've thought about replacing it but have actually learned to live with it.