Escape 21 LED tail lights?

**John in Santa Cruz** · 11-03-2020, 11:24 PM

I have a 2014 Escape 21, and 2 of those multi-LED tail lights have lost several of their LEDs... does anyone know what brand/part these are? thankfully, the brake lights are working, but 2 of the high lights have most of the tail/running light LEDs out.

oh, does anyone know if these can be replaced without having to cut into the interior liners?

**Donna D.** · 11-03-2020, 11:42 PM

John, Techfan has a write-up in this thread. You'll have to pick through the thread to find all the info. Hope it helps: https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...ghts-5155.html

**Donna D.** · 11-03-2020, 11:45 PM

The part number is here, direct link: https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post241698

**John in Santa Cruz** · 11-03-2020, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna D.

The part number is here, direct link: https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...tml#post241698

ah, thanks, I just skimmed that whole 4 page thread and missed it

lotsa talk about sikaflex vs proflex :-/

**John in Santa Cruz** · 11-07-2020, 02:19 AM

so I now have two, heh. guess I'll have to drill out the rivets and remove one to see what the wiring is going to be like, hoping I can do it outside, and not have to cut the liner inside the rear cabinet. If I have to cut, I do believe I'll wax pen a reference line and mark in the middle of the rear window, and measure everything on the outside from there, then match that on the inside tp make a careful slice in the vinyl liner.

i have a unopened tube of Sikaflex around here somewhere, its only a year or two old, so should still be good?

7th Heaven · 11-07-2020, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I have a 2014 Escape 21, and 2 of those multi-LED tail lights have lost several of their LEDs... does anyone know what brand/part these are? thankfully, the brake lights are working, but 2 of the high lights have most of the tail/running light LEDs out.

oh, does anyone know if these can be replaced without having to cut into the interior liners?

I've had to replace a few as well...

Here you go:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C10QNOY

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RBVQ9C

I found mine had enough slack that I was able to remove without needing access from inside.

I added blade connectors to the wires to make a future replacement easier

7th Heaven · 11-07-2020, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I have a 2014 Escape 21, and 2 of those multi-LED tail lights have lost several of their LEDs... does anyone know what brand/part these are? thankfully, the brake lights are working, but 2 of the high lights have most of the tail/running light LEDs out.

oh, does anyone know if these can be replaced without having to cut into the interior liners?

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

so I now have two, heh. guess I'll have to drill out the rivets and remove one to see what the wiring is going to be like, hoping I can do it outside, and not have to cut the liner inside the rear cabinet. If I have to cut, I do believe I'll wax pen a reference line and mark in the middle of the rear window, and measure everything on the outside from there, then match that on the inside tp make a careful slice in the vinyl liner.

i have a unopened tube of Sikaflex around here somewhere, its only a year or two old, so should still be good?

rivets? mine were screwed in.

Centex · 11-07-2020, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

.... i have a unopened tube of Sikaflex around here somewhere, its only a year or two old, so should still be good?

Just FYI and FWIW if you look at the Product Data Sheet for the specific SikaFlex product those include shelf-life info.

Available here
https://usa.sika.com/en/industry/pro.../sikaflex.html

Many cartridges are listed at 12mos / 77*F storage, apparently some cartridges have a 'Best Used By' or 'Expiration Date' stamp, but YMMV.

Have Fun with your project!

Rossue · 11-07-2020, 09:01 AM

Hey Alf! How'd Escape do those new style markers on your 5.0? Can you see the old holes?

**Donna D.** · 11-07-2020, 10:48 AM

I really like the long, flat tail lights. IF you have a panic stop, it's really obvious you're stopping because the back end of the trailer glows red!

I need to change one of the upper lights this next year. Several LEDs are out. I'm going to replace with the exact same type. BUT, I'm thinking of gluing (JB Weld?) a backer plate made out of aluminum to the entire length/width. Maybe that would keep the tail light from warping? OR, I have a bunch of RV EZ gutter. Maybe I'll cut three exact lengths and press it right above the tail lights. The way the EZ gutter is shaped, water running off the roof should flow over the top of the tail lights. Hummmm.

tdf-texas · 11-07-2020, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I'm thinking of gluing (JB Weld?) a backer plate made out of aluminum to the entire length/width.

The best stuff for attaching aluminum to gelcoat that I have found would be 3M 5200. The bond between the plate and the trailer would be completely waterproof and the aluminum plate could be made such that a flat surface is made to the lens.

You wouldn't have to go all the way across the trailer - just make the plates to fit the lens and attach the plates to the gelcoat. Any curve would be taken up by the 5200.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-...3241623&rt=rud

Just make absolutely sure that the plate is where you want it before the 5200 sets. Once set, the only way to get it off is to cut it off.

Rossue · 11-07-2020, 11:01 AM

I think the idea of an aluminum backer plate holds promise and think it would be glued to the lens- not the trailer.

Ron in BC · 11-07-2020, 11:10 AM

You want to be able to replace the lens in the future. You don't want to have to throw the old lens away with the backer plate.

Ron

**Donna D.** · 11-07-2020, 11:35 AM

I can buy the entire tail light for < $18. I can't even find just the lens, even Bargman doesn't have it. And no, I wouldn't glue the tail light to the body of the trailer, just the backer plate to the tail light. All of this is in the thinking stage. Nothing will be done until next Spring.

padlin · 11-07-2020, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

so I now have two, heh. guess I'll have to drill out the rivets and remove one to see what the wiring is going to be like, hoping I can do it outside, and not have to cut the liner inside the rear cabinet. If I have to cut, I do believe I'll wax pen a reference line and mark in the middle of the rear window, and measure everything on the outside from there, then match that on the inside tp make a careful slice in the vinyl liner.

i have a unopened tube of Sikaflex around here somewhere, its only a year or two old, so should still be good?

John, when I replaced the drivers side led strip I found the wires very short but was able to tug on them some to get more play. You can see in the picture that ETI taped the wires to the fiberglass, I think tugging it pulled it out of some of the tape.