Bill Idaho
Newly Enlightened
Hello gents, it has been a year or two since I last posted. I started on CP forums due to my USGI military searchlight a decade ago. (It is still sitting in my driveway, but I digress.......)
Anyway, a handful of years ago I bought a pair of JW Speaker TS4000s. At that time I think they were among the brightest OFF-ROAD lights going. I drive a lot across the desert, and up in the mountains, so....why not! Buy once, cry once, right?
Several months ago, the meth-heads that live behind my house backed into my vehicle (and for whatever reason failed to tell me). The impact pushed the front light mount bar (homemade) into the front bumper, which took out the fender, which took out the AC condenser, etc......
I discovered one of the lights worked, the other did not. Upon further inspection, I found the impact pushed the one light back into a piece of bumper trim, forcing the "Deutsch" connector (I think that is what they are called) to push the two prongs inside the light housing into to housing. I could shake the light and hear it rattling around inside. (Oddly, the lens was not damaged at all!)
I called JW Speaker and spoke with one of their CS people. They said those are sealed units, and could/would not open it up. That wasn't the answer I wanted to hear.
So, with a new pair ordered by the body shop after the $5000 (!!!) in front end repairs, and a delivery time in early November, I figured I have nothing to lose by trying my hand at it. I carefully took a knife blade and got in between the lens and the housing, very slowly prying the lens away. after an hour, I finally made some headway. Then, I wa sable to put two small flat bladed screwdrivers next to each other, and slowly walk around the edge until it broke loose ( not in a bad way). Once I had it opened, I could disassemble the individual lenses and the reflector housing inside. Sure enough, I found the broken "terminal" and where it was pushed out of it proper location. I am heading to a local electrical/electronics supply house here in town, as my brother who works on stuff like this for a living says that might be a standard part. If so, fine. If not, I can make a small plate to hold it in place.
Film at 11.
Anyway, a handful of years ago I bought a pair of JW Speaker TS4000s. At that time I think they were among the brightest OFF-ROAD lights going. I drive a lot across the desert, and up in the mountains, so....why not! Buy once, cry once, right?
Several months ago, the meth-heads that live behind my house backed into my vehicle (and for whatever reason failed to tell me). The impact pushed the front light mount bar (homemade) into the front bumper, which took out the fender, which took out the AC condenser, etc......
I discovered one of the lights worked, the other did not. Upon further inspection, I found the impact pushed the one light back into a piece of bumper trim, forcing the "Deutsch" connector (I think that is what they are called) to push the two prongs inside the light housing into to housing. I could shake the light and hear it rattling around inside. (Oddly, the lens was not damaged at all!)
I called JW Speaker and spoke with one of their CS people. They said those are sealed units, and could/would not open it up. That wasn't the answer I wanted to hear.
So, with a new pair ordered by the body shop after the $5000 (!!!) in front end repairs, and a delivery time in early November, I figured I have nothing to lose by trying my hand at it. I carefully took a knife blade and got in between the lens and the housing, very slowly prying the lens away. after an hour, I finally made some headway. Then, I wa sable to put two small flat bladed screwdrivers next to each other, and slowly walk around the edge until it broke loose ( not in a bad way). Once I had it opened, I could disassemble the individual lenses and the reflector housing inside. Sure enough, I found the broken "terminal" and where it was pushed out of it proper location. I am heading to a local electrical/electronics supply house here in town, as my brother who works on stuff like this for a living says that might be a standard part. If so, fine. If not, I can make a small plate to hold it in place.
Film at 11.
