Cannot replace turn signal bulb

[Steve 2014]

I cannot figure out how to replace the tail light bulb on my truck. I got the assembly out and it is different than anything else I have seen online. I included a picture does anyone know how to change this bulb. It's on a 2014 ram 1500. I can't imagine that you need to replace the whole thing.

 

[Graygoose]

have a pic of the other side?

 

[2016Bighorny]

Looks to me like you have a Laramie trim factory LED tail light assembly right there... there is no replaceable bulb (except for reverse) they are a non-serviceable LED assembly from Ram. If this is what your light looks like:

...then you would need to purchase a new complete assembly like pictured...

 

[Steve 2014]

Yes mine looks like the one pictured 2016 Bighorny. It is the Laramie trim package. I was afraid that I would have to replace the whole thing. Sounds like a bad design to me.

 

[Steve 2014]

Is this available aftermarket ?

 

[2016Bighorny]

Rockauto.com has a few aftermarket options. But.. I don't think they are much less than the OEM factory ones.

 

[NJMOPAR]

Would probably be cheaper to just replace both with an aftermarket set. Gives you more options to customize too, and a set is probably less than the cost of one dealer replacement.

 

[BobSacomano]

Looks to me like you have a Laramie trim factory LED tail light assembly right there... there is no replaceable bulb (except for reverse) they are a non-serviceable LED assembly from Ram. If this is what your light looks like:

...then you would need to purchase a new complete assembly like pictured...

As a Ram owner of less than a year, this shocks me... you can't replace the bulb? That's the kind of thing that makes me wanna swear at somebody.

 

[BWL]

Curious if you can change to non led ones as that's what I want to do with mine if one burns out. I prefer $4 bulbs vs $400 ones. Not like they help me see better. My neighbor has already had 1 headlight and 1 tail light replaced on his 2017. Headlight was warranty, but the tail light wasn't and was over $400 on his sport.

 

[crazykid1994]

As a Ram owner of less than a year, this shocks me... you can't replace the bulb? That's the kind of thing that makes me wanna swear at somebody.

Not just a ram feature. Any lights that are led will require a full replacement if even just a part of it goes out. This is coming from an electrician who services and install all sorts of lighting and other electrical stuff for houses and businesses. Leds are integrated into the board hence why they are not changeable. Higher trim models use led lights. Lower trim models use old style with bulbs.

 

[BWL]

My whole house is led lights and they can all be replaced without changing the fixtures except for a couple newer fixtures I have in the garage. Also had a set of aftermarket headlights with led surrounds that could be changed individually. They can make them replaceable. They just don't.

 

[crazykid1994]

My whole house is led lights and they can all be replaced without changing the fixtures except for a couple newer fixtures I have in the garage. Also had a set of aftermarket headlights with led surrounds that could be changed individually. They can make them replaceable. They just don't.

You have older style fixtures with retrofit style stuff or just led bulbs. Most new fixtures themselves that are led are integrated boards. When I replace street lights or even garage led fixtures the leds are on a board not a screw in light. The older style stuff when you retrofit them it’s easy. Unscrew and screw in. Hence led bulbs for vehicles. It’s cheaper for newer lights to swap the whole fixture than to try and repair the led boards.

 

[Graygoose]

You have older style fixtures with retrofit style stuff or just led bulbs. Most new fixtures themselves that are led are integrated boards. When I replace street lights or even garage led fixtures the leds are on a board not a screw in light. The older style stuff when you retrofit them it’s easy. Unscrew and screw in. Hence led bulbs for vehicles. It’s cheaper for newer lights to swap the whole fixture than to try and repair the led boards.

I could use you to visit my pad, I need all new LEDs LOL

 

[BWL]

You have older style fixtures with retrofit style stuff or just led bulbs. Most new fixtures themselves that are led are integrated boards. When I replace street lights or even garage led fixtures the leds are on a board not a screw in light. The older style stuff when you retrofit them it’s easy. Unscrew and screw in. Hence led bulbs for vehicles. It’s cheaper for newer lights to swap the whole fixture than to try and repair the led boards.

You are correct. All the fixtures I have are led ready vs integrated. After all the integrated stuff I've replaced such as my mirror lights twice per side on my old truck, the led fixture that I got warranty replaced after a few months and the bench light that has 1 head dead already after 2 years. Plus my neighbors 2017 with a headlight and a tail light already replaced I see the integrated lights as disposeable fixtures. Led bulbs are cheap and if 1 light goes out in say my hallway I don't have to replace 5 fixtures or have a mis matched one if the manufacturer has discontinued the design. I know integrated is becoming the new norm, but I plan to avoid them if at all possible.

 

[MADDOG]

It's a little hard to compare a tail light with a bunch of little LED mini-bulbs on a board to household LED lighting. They just are not the same type of bulb. Consider your household LED bulb set up for 110 volts vs. teeny LEDs rated at 12 volts.

In side that tail light is a circuit board with a bunch of LED bulbs and when they fail you don't replace them. You'll notice that your HVAC and other backlit controls are also small teeny LEDs and guess what...you don't replace those, either unless you have the tools to test, then remove, then replace and solder them back in place.

Sure, LEDs are great lights for a tail light but when they go bad, it's not good.

It's not bad design so much as it is different designs for differing applications.

 

[crazykid1994]

You are correct. All the fixtures I have are led ready vs integrated. After all the integrated stuff I've replaced such as my mirror lights twice per side on my old truck, the led fixture that I got warranty replaced after a few months and the bench light that has 1 head dead already after 2 years. Plus my neighbors 2017 with a headlight and a tail light already replaced I see the integrated lights as disposeable fixtures. Led bulbs are cheap and if 1 light goes out in say my hallway I don't have to replace 5 fixtures or have a mis matched one if the manufacturer has discontinued the design. I know integrated is becoming the new norm, but I plan to avoid them if at all possible.

I agree. I use old style fixtures and use retrofit lights in them. It’s cheaper in the long run.

It's a little hard to compare a tail light with a bunch of little LED mini-bulbs on a board to household LED lighting. They just are not the same type of bulb. Consider your household LED bulb set up for 110 volts vs. teeny LEDs rated at 12 volts.

In side that tail light is a circuit board with a bunch of LED bulbs and when they fail you don't replace them. You'll notice that your HVAC and other backlit controls are also small teeny LEDs and guess what...you don't replace those, either unless you have the tools to test, then remove, then replace and solder them back in place.

Sure, LEDs are great lights for a tail light but when they go bad, it's not good.

It's not bad design so much as it is different designs for differing applications.

Different but in theory the same concept. And actually quite a few leds in houses are designed for 12-24v. They have electronic drivers built in to regulate voltage. Many are the same led chip themselves as automotive actually. A lot of newer led designs are very universal.

 

[Alla Lighting LED]

yes, for the vehicle with stock LED tail lights assembly, currently it is unable to replace the bulb directly, the only option right now is to replace the whole tail lights assembly.

 

[Richard Kim]

Got the same error message on my 2016 Laramie 2500. Driver side tail light LED bar went out. Researched and ordered these:

ACANII - For 2013-2018 Dodge Ram 1500 2500 3500 [Black Edition] LED Tube Tail Lights Lamps Assembly Driver & Passenger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R8DLR16/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_dpcQFbJY370DT

Apparently they are direct replacement for our LED tail lights. Will install and update everyone.